Method and Apparatus for Remote Racing

• US 20140051489A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pierucci, Joe Phillip, Brozovich, Shawn Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to communicate with a remote server to provide and obtain vehicle performance information, wherein the processor is further configured to receive and present a list of one or more available race opponents respond to the server with an opponent selection present a countdown timer and measure and report to the server one or more vehicle statistics relating to a race beginning at the end of the countdown timer.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to communicate with a remote server to provide and obtain vehicle performance information, wherein the processor is further configured to receive and present a list of one or more available race opponents respond to the server with an opponent selection present a countdown timer and

measure and report to the server one or more vehicle statistics relating to a race beginning at an end of the countdown timer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive and present confirmation that an opponent has accepted a challenge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive and transmit one or more parameters of a desired opponent'"'"'s vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle statistics include a distance-of-race.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle statistics include a finish time of race.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle statistics include a top speed during race.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle statistics include speed, acceleration and braking information for the vehicle over the distance of the race.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive data relating to an opponent'"'"'s vehicle statistics and is further configured to present a comparison based on the received statistics and the measured statistics.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the comparison is in the form of a visual virtual race-recreation.

10. A system comprising:

a vehicle-based processor configured to;

receive criteria relating to a desired opponent for a virtual race, the virtual race occurring in real time between two opponents driving vehicles in varied geographic locations, responsive to the criteria, present a list of possible opponents meeting the criteria, receive and transmit a selection of an opponent to a remote server,

receive confirmation of the selection, and, based on the confirmation of the selection, present a display relating to a start of the race,

receive confirmation from a vehicle driver that the driver is ready to begin the race, transmit the confirmation to the server and receive remote confirmation that the opponent is ready to begin the race,

receive a time designation to start a countdown timer, begin the countdown timer at the designated time, and

record and report vehicle data developed during a duration of the race.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria includes a vehicle configuration.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria includes an engine size.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria includes a number of cylinders.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria identifies a specific opponent.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

communicating from a vehicle computing system to a remote server to provide and obtain vehicle performance information;

receiving and presenting a list of one or more available race opponents;

responding to the server with an opponent selection;

presenting a countdown timer; and

measuring and reporting to the server one or more vehicle statistics relating to a race beginning at an end of the countdown timer.

16. The method of claim 15, further including receiving and presenting confirmation that an opponent has accepted a challenge.

17. The method of claim 15, further including receiving and transmitting one or more parameters of a desired opponent'"'"'s vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15, further including receiving data relating to an opponent'"'"'s vehicle statistics and presenting a comparison based on the received data and the measured data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the comparison is in the form of a visual virtual race-recreation.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle statistics include speed, acceleration and braking information for the vehicle over the distance of the race.