Vehicle equipment for autonomous vehicle enhancement system
First Claim
1. Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) vehicle equipment configured to be installed on an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- an AVES vehicle control system configured to be operably connected to a vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle, the AVES vehicle control system being in communication with an AVES Central Operations Center (COC);
an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system including a microphone and speaker, the IVR being operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; and
an interactive touchscreen operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC;
wherein the AVES vehicle control system transmits a vehicle ID, real-time vehicle location, real-time vehicle availability, real-time vehicle operational state, real-time vehicle condition and real-time vehicle fuel/power-charge level to the AVES COC;
wherein the AVES vehicle control system receives from the AVES COC an assigned user trip request including unique trip ID, trip PIN and trip information;
wherein the trip information includes pickup location, pickup date/time, destination location, any intermediate stop location(s) and trip route;
wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location at the pickup time by transmitting to the vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle at least one of the trip information and driving commands;
wherein the IVR system and/or the interactive touchscreen identifies the unique trip ID and prompts the user for the trip PIN to authenticate the trip request; and
wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle along the trip route after receiving the trip from the user and authenticating the trip request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present application is directed to an Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) and method for monitoring and managing a virtual or existing fleet of autonomous vehicles in a transportation network and dispatching the autonomous vehicles to users. The AVES includes an AVES Central Operations Center (COC) that communicates with AVES vehicle equipment installed in the autonomous vehicles and AVES applications installed on computing devices accessible by the users. The AVES improves the operating efficiency of a transportation network by monitoring the condition of autonomous vehicles, optimizing the geographical distribution of the autonomous vehicles and optimizing assignment of the autonomous vehicles to users requesting services. The AVES COC monitors and controls the autonomous vehicles via the AVES vehicle equipment. The AVES COC communicates with the users via the AVES applications to provide services to the users. The AVES vehicle equipment and the AVES applications installed on the computing devices communicate with each other to fulfill user request for services.
91 Citations
26 Claims
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1. Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) vehicle equipment configured to be installed on an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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an AVES vehicle control system configured to be operably connected to a vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle, the AVES vehicle control system being in communication with an AVES Central Operations Center (COC); an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system including a microphone and speaker, the IVR being operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; and an interactive touchscreen operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; wherein the AVES vehicle control system transmits a vehicle ID, real-time vehicle location, real-time vehicle availability, real-time vehicle operational state, real-time vehicle condition and real-time vehicle fuel/power-charge level to the AVES COC; wherein the AVES vehicle control system receives from the AVES COC an assigned user trip request including unique trip ID, trip PIN and trip information; wherein the trip information includes pickup location, pickup date/time, destination location, any intermediate stop location(s) and trip route; wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location at the pickup time by transmitting to the vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle at least one of the trip information and driving commands; wherein the IVR system and/or the interactive touchscreen identifies the unique trip ID and prompts the user for the trip PIN to authenticate the trip request; and wherein the AVES vehicle control system guides the autonomous vehicle along the trip route after receiving the trip from the user and authenticating the trip request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of guiding an autonomous vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) vehicle equipment configured to be installed on an autonomous vehicle; wherein the AVES vehicle equipment comprises; an AVES vehicle control system configured to be operably connected to a vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle, the AVES vehicle control system being in communication with an AVES Central Operations Center (COC); an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system including a microphone and speaker, the IVR being operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; and an interactive touchscreen operatively connected to the AVES vehicle control system for communicating with the AVES COC; the AVES vehicle control system transmitting a vehicle ID, real-time vehicle location, real-time vehicle availability, real-time vehicle operational state, real-time vehicle condition and real-time vehicle fuel/power-charge level to the AVES COC; the AVES vehicle control system receiving from the AVES COC an assigned user trip request including unique trip ID, trip PIN and trip information; wherein the trip information includes pickup location, pickup date/time, destination location, any intermediate stop location(s) and trip route; wherein the AVES vehicle control system guiding the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location at the pickup time by transmitting to the vehicle computer system of the autonomous vehicle at least one of the trip information and driving commands; the IVR system and/or the interactive touchscreen identifying the unique trip ID and prompting the user for the trip PIN to authenticate the trip request; and the AVES vehicle control system guiding the autonomous vehicle along the trip route after receiving the trip from the user and authenticating the trip request. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification