SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE COST OF EFFICIENT VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented system for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles comprising:
- a vehicle equipped with a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to perform a specified set of operations, the vehicle further comprising a data communication interface;
a fuel pump of electrical charging station having a data communication interface, wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station and the vehicle establish a digital data communication channel using the data communication interfaces as the vehicle is being refueled or charged;
wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station provides an amount of fuel or electricity to the vehicle and, after or during fueling or recharging, transmits an indication of the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle to a third party server;
wherein the third party server is maintained by a third party having a contractual relationship with an owner/operator of the vehicle in which the vehicle has been provided to the owner/operator at a reduced cost in exchange for an agreement by the owner/operator to provide the third party a supplemental payment based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by vehicle, wherein in response to receipt of the indication of the amount of fuel or electric consumed by the vehicle, the third party charges the owner/operator a supplement amount based on the amount of fuel or electricity used by the owner/operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are described for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles. For example, a computer-implemented system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: a vehicle equipped with a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to perform a specified set of operations, the vehicle further comprising a data communication interface; a fuel pump of electrical charging station having a data communication interface, wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station and the vehicle establish a digital data communication channel using the data communication interfaces as the vehicle is being refueled or charged; wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station provides an amount of fuel or electricity to the vehicle and, after or during fueling or recharging, transmits an indication of the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle to a third party server; wherein the third party server is maintained by a third party having a contractual relationship with an owner/operator of the vehicle in which the vehicle has been provided to the owner/operator at a reduced cost in exchange for an agreement by the owner/operator to provide the third party a supplemental payment based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by vehicle, wherein in response to receipt of the indication of the amount of fuel or electric consumed by the vehicle, the third party charges the owner/operator a supplement amount based on the amount of fuel or electricity used by the owner/operator.
91 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented system for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles comprising:
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a vehicle equipped with a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to perform a specified set of operations, the vehicle further comprising a data communication interface; a fuel pump of electrical charging station having a data communication interface, wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station and the vehicle establish a digital data communication channel using the data communication interfaces as the vehicle is being refueled or charged; wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station provides an amount of fuel or electricity to the vehicle and, after or during fueling or recharging, transmits an indication of the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle to a third party server; wherein the third party server is maintained by a third party having a contractual relationship with an owner/operator of the vehicle in which the vehicle has been provided to the owner/operator at a reduced cost in exchange for an agreement by the owner/operator to provide the third party a supplemental payment based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by vehicle, wherein in response to receipt of the indication of the amount of fuel or electric consumed by the vehicle, the third party charges the owner/operator a supplement amount based on the amount of fuel or electricity used by the owner/operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented system for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles comprising:
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a vehicle comprising; a data communication interface for connecting the vehicle to a data communication network, a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to implement a vehicle usage measurement module actively monitoring one or more variables related to vehicle usage, at least one of the variables comprising an amount of fuel and/or electricity consumed by the vehicle over a specified period of time; a third party service comprising one or more servers and a user account database for storing data related to the vehicle and a user of the vehicle, the servers having a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to perform the operations of; establishing a communication channel with the vehicle over the data communication network; receiving from the vehicle usage measurement module an indication of an amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle; calculating a supplemental usage charge based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle; applying the supplemental usage charge to the user account database; and communicating the supplemental usage charge to the user of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles comprising:
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communicatively connecting a vehicle to a data communication network, actively monitoring one or more variables related to vehicle usage, at least one of the variables comprising an amount of fuel and/or electricity consumed by the vehicle over a specified period of time; storing data related to the vehicle and a user of the vehicle within a user account database; establishing a communication channel with the vehicle over the data communication network; receiving from the vehicle an indication of an amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle; calculating a supplemental usage charge based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle; applying the supplemental usage charge to the user account database; and communicating the supplemental usage charge to the user of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification