Monitoring and Rewards Methodologies for "Green" Use of Vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of encouraging energy-efficient and environmentally sound operation of vehicles including steps ofcollecting data from in-vehicle sensors regarding dynamic energy-efficiency related parameters of vehicle operation,calculating dynamic energy-efficiency parameters from said data collected in said collecting step,transmitting selected portions of said data collected in said collecting step and selected ones of said dynamic energy-efficiency parameters to a station,computing an incentive based on data and parameters transmitted in said transmitting step, anddisplaying or awarding a said incentive in connection with a transaction at a station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Energy-efficiency related data corresponding to dynamic energy-efficiency related operational parameters of a vehicle are collected from in-vehicle sensors and energy-efficiency parameters may be computed therefrom. The energy efficiency-related parameters and energy-efficiency parameters are then transmitted either directly of through a wireless and/or network link(s) to a station at which a transaction with a vehicle operator may be performed. An incentive based on efficiency of vehicle operation is computed and awarded to provide feedback to a vehicle operator to provide information concerning efficient vehicle operation and to encourage efficient and environmentally responsible vehicle operation. Both energy efficiency and environmental effects may be displayed at the station or substantially continuously and in substantially real time within the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of encouraging energy-efficient and environmentally sound operation of vehicles including steps of
collecting data from in-vehicle sensors regarding dynamic energy-efficiency related parameters of vehicle operation, calculating dynamic energy-efficiency parameters from said data collected in said collecting step, transmitting selected portions of said data collected in said collecting step and selected ones of said dynamic energy-efficiency parameters to a station, computing an incentive based on data and parameters transmitted in said transmitting step, and displaying or awarding a said incentive in connection with a transaction at a station.
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14. A system for informing vehicle operators of vehicle operation efficiency, said system comprising
a vehicle, said vehicle including sensors for measuring dynamic energy-efficiency related parameters of operation of said vehicle, a processor for computing energy-efficiency parameters from said energy-efficiency related parameters, and means for communicating data from said sensors and said processor externally of said vehicle, a means for receiving said data communicated to a station, and means for computing and accumulating or awarding incentives based on at least a portion of said data.
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20. A computer readable medium for providing program signals to a processor, said program signals, when run on said processor, causing said processor to perform steps of
collecting data from in-vehicle sensors regarding dynamic energy-efficiency related parameters of vehicle operation, calculating dynamic energy-efficiency parameters from said data collected in said collecting step, transmitting selected portions of said data collected in said collecting and selected ones of said dynamic energy-efficiency parameters, computing an incentive based on data and parameters transmitted in said transmitting step, and awarding said incentive.
Specification