System and method for remotely modifying vehicle operations

• US 20090171555A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Nugent, Thomas J. JR., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18

Abstract

A method and control system for controlling an engine in a vehicle includes broadcasting a control signal including instructions for modification of a vehicle parameter to the vehicle during operation of the engine.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an engine in a vehicle, comprising:

broadcasting a control signal to the vehicle during operation of the engine,

wherein the signal includes instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes sending an electromagnetic control signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes broadcasting an optical control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes broadcasting an acoustic control signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting the control signal includes broadcasting to a plurality of vehicles.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting a second control signal to a second vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acknowledgement signal from the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the acknowledgement signal includes identifying information for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the acknowledgement signal includes location information for the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the acknowledgement signal includes information about the vehicle operating parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information about the vehicle operating parameter includes information about any changes made in response to the control signal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the acknowledgement signal includes information about a second vehicle operating parameter.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes selecting a control signal responsive to one or more acknowledgement signals.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information about the control signal to a remote compliance system.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes broadcasting verifying information selected to allow the vehicle to determine authenticity of the control signal.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identifying property of the vehicle, wherein the control signal is selected in response to the identifying property.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes a first set of instructions for a vehicle having a first characteristic, and a second set of instructions for a vehicle having a second characteristic.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes instructions to select one member of a group of preprogrammed instruction sets.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes selecting a control signal probabilistically.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter include a condition for performing the instructions.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter include a designated range for the vehicle operating parameter.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter includes a designated average value for the vehicle operating parameter within a time interval.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter include instructions for the modification of a plurality of vehicle operating parameters.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter are at least partially based upon previous compliance history of the vehicle.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting a control signal includes selecting a control signal responsive to an environmental parameter.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting a control signal responsive to an environmental parameter includes selecting a control signal responsive to a predicted environmental parameter.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the environmental parameter is local level of CO, CO₂, NO_x, O₃, or airborne particulates.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

20-21. -21. (canceled)

23-24. -24. (canceled)

28-29. -29. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

39. A control system for controlling an operating parameter of vehicles in a target area, comprising:

a control signal broadcast unit configured to broadcast a control signal including instructions for modification of a vehicle operating parameter to at least one vehicle in the target area.

41. The control system of claim 39, further comprising:

a signal determination unit configured to select instructions for modification of the vehicle operating parameter for incorporation into the control signal.

48. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to broadcast a control signal including instructions conditional on a vehicle characteristic.

54. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to broadcast a control signal including a designated value for the vehicle operating parameter.

58. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to broadcast a control signal including a designated time profile for the vehicle operating parameter.

59. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured determine a control signal for broadcast at least partially in response to previous compliance history of the vehicle.

60. The control system of claim 39, further comprising an acknowledgement signal receiving unit configured to receive an acknowledgement signal from the vehicle.

61. The control system of claim 60, wherein the acknowledgement signal receiving unit is configured to receive an acknowledgement signal indicating a compliance action taken by the vehicle.

65. The control system of claim 60, further comprising a compliance transmitter configured to transmit information about the acknowledgement signal to a remote compliance system.

68. The control system of claim 39, further comprising a vehicle identification unit configured to determine a property of the vehicle, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to broadcast the control signal responsive to the determined vehicle property.

71. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal includes verifying information selected to allow the vehicle to determine authenticity of the control signal.

72. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to send an electromagnetic control signal.

74. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to send an optical control signal.

75. The control system of claim 39, wherein the control signal broadcast unit is configured to send an acoustic control signal.

40. (canceled)

42-47. -47. (canceled)

49-53. -53. (canceled)

55-57. -57. (canceled)

62-64. -64. (canceled)

66-67. -67. (canceled)

69-70. -70. (canceled)

73. (canceled)