Methods and Systems for Generating Recommendations to make Settings at Vehicles via Cloud Systems

• US 20150304406A1
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, Angel A. Penilla
• Inventors: Penilla, Angel A., Penilla, Albert S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/06 using only one supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/665 Light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 : specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 : Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 : involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 : Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 : Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 : the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for processing information associated with vehicles via one or more servers of a cloud system. One example method includes establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with a vehicle and a server. The communication link is over a wireless network and the communication link is established in association with a user account. The communication link is established for one or more sessions The method further includes receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs to the vehicle. The plurality of actions are received during the one or more sessions, and generating, by the server, a recommendation to program a setting at the vehicle. One or more of the plurality of actions at the vehicle during the one or more sessions are processed to determine a confidence score associated with generating the recommendation to program the setting. Generation of the recommendation occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold. The server then sends to the user account the recommendation to enable programming of the setting for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for processing information associated with a vehicle, comprising,

establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with the vehicle and a server, the communication link being over a wireless network, the communication link being established in association with a user account, the communication link being established for one or more sessions;

receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs to the vehicle, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions;

updating, by the server, data associated with the user account to identify the plurality of actions at the vehicle;

generating, by the server, a recommendation to program a setting at the vehicle, wherein one or more of the plurality of actions for the vehicle made during the one or more sessions are analyzed to determine a confidence score associated with generating the recommendation to program the setting, wherein generation of the recommendation occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold; and

sending, by the server, to the user account the recommendation to program the setting for the vehicle, the computing device enabling access to the user account;

wherein the device associated with the vehicle is configured to enable programming of the setting to the vehicle, wherein the method is at least executed by a processor of the server.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein particular ones of the plurality of actions that show a repeating pattern of occurrences will cause an increase to the confidence score;

wherein the predefined threshold requires a set number of occurrences of particular actions to occur.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the confidence score increases in response to detecting that particular ones of actions reoccur multiple times or at about a similar time or date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actions input at the vehicle or settings recommended are related to or associated with one or more of a temperature of the vehicle, a window defrost mode in the vehicle, heating a seat or seats of the vehicle, an emergency signal of the vehicle, an emergency signal for help, a radio station, an application, retrieving data from an application, setting a restriction or enabling a feature for the vehicle, disabling the vehicle, selecting an audio setting, making a reservation for service, reporting an error in the vehicle, setting a position of mirrors of the vehicle, setting to open or crack windows upon reaching a temperature, setting notifications for recharging a battery if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting reminders to charge upon reaching a predefined battery state if an electric vehicle, setting parameters to identify nearby charge stations if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting advertisement settings allowed to be displayed via a screen of the electric vehicle, setting maps data, setting communications data, setting navigation data, setting display settings data, setting customization of display applications on the screen of the vehicle, setting suspension parameters for the vehicle, setting auto lock/unlock controls of the vehicle, activating an alarm, setting instructions to receive video feedback from the vehicle upon detection of alarm conditions, setting to call for help when an accident is detected, setting time of day on vehicle clocks based on local time;

setting navigation parameters in the vehicle, setting preferred radio stations, setting sensitivity of collision detection sensors, setting sensor programming, or combinations of two or more thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving sensor data from the vehicle, the sensor data being associated or related to particular ones of the plurality of actions, the sensor data or data indicative of the sensor data being related to respective actions that are associated to the user account.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving sensor data from the vehicle, wherein the sensor data includes one or more of a sensed temperature, a geo-location, a speed, a vehicle condition, a proximity of surrounding vehicles or obstacles, voice data, image data, video data, touch data, gesture data, biometric data, surrounding vehicle shared sensor data, or a combination of two or more thereof.

8. The method claim 1, further comprising,

sending, by the server, data to at least partially populate a user interface of a display device with a control icon to accept or decline the recommendation, the data sent is via the wireless network to the computing device;

wherein the computing device is one of a vehicle computing device, or a mobile computer device, or a tablet computing device, or a smart phone computing device, or an internet terminal computing device, or a non-portable computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

processing, by the server, weather information associated with a geo-location location of the vehicle;

adjusting the confidence score of the recommendation based on the weather information;

wherein the recommendation is for a temperature setting of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

accessing third-party user accounts;

examining the third-party user accounts to identify similar actions or patterns to those of the user account;

adjusting the confidence score of the recommendation based on the examining, the adjusting being weighted to provide more significance to the user account than third-party user accounts.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the confidence score changes over time based on changes in action patterns detected.

4. The method as recited in 3, wherein for actions that reoccur multiple times at about a similar time or date infer an increased likelihood that the recommendation will be programmed to the vehicle.

12. A method for processing information associated with a vehicle, comprising,

establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with the vehicle and a server, the communication link being over a wireless network, the communication link being established in association with a user account, the communication link being established for one or more sessions, and the server is configured to receive a plurality of actions associated with inputs to the vehicle, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions;

generating, by the server, a recommendation to program a setting at the vehicle, wherein one or more of the plurality of actions provided to the vehicle during the one or more sessions are analyzed to determine a confidence score associated with generating the recommendation to program the setting, wherein generation of the recommendation occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold;

receiving, by the server, sensor data from the vehicle, the sensor data identifying a number of occupants in the vehicle; and

sending, by the server, to the user account the recommendation to program the setting for the vehicle, the recommendation being adjusted based on the number of occupants in the vehicle, the computing device enabling access to the user account to enable acceptance of the setting on the vehicle, wherein the method is at least executed by a processor of the server;

wherein the computing device is one of a vehicle computing device, or electronics of the vehicle, or a mobile computer device, or a tablet computing device, or a smart phone computing device, or an internet terminal computing device, or a non-portable computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the recommendation being adjusted acts to change a type of the setting that is recommended to program;

wherein the setting is a first type when only a driver is occupying the vehicle, and the setting is a second type when a passenger is occupying the vehicle along with the driver, wherein the driver is associated with the user account.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user account enables identification of preferences of the driver, wherein the preferences are at least partially used to select the first or second type of setting.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising,

detecting an identity of the passenger or the driver, wherein the detected identify is at least partially used in making selection of the first or second type of setting.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor data is sensed or obtained, the sensor data includes one or more of an actual sensed temperature, a geo-location of the vehicle, camera images, biometric data, a time of day and/or a week day, data from an online calendar, a speed, a vehicle condition, occupant identification, biometric detection data of occupants in the vehicle, proximity of surrounding vehicles or obstacles, voice data, video data, touch data, gesture data, surrounding vehicle shared sensor data, or a combination of two or more thereof.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the actions input at the vehicle or settings recommended are related to or associated with one or more of a temperature of the vehicle, a window defrost mode in the vehicle, heating a seat or seats of the vehicle, an emergency signal of the vehicle, an emergency signal for help, a radio station, an application selection, a reservation setting, retrieving data from an application, setting a restriction or enabling a feature for the vehicle, disabling the vehicle, pre-stating a vehicle, selecting an audio setting, making a reservation for service, reporting an error in the vehicle, adjusting seat settings, setting a position of mirrors of the vehicle, setting to open or crack windows upon reaching a temperature, setting notifications for recharging a battery if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting reminders to charge upon reaching a predefined battery state if an electric vehicle, setting parameters to identify nearby charge stations if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting advertisement settings allowed to be displayed via a screen of the electric vehicle, setting maps data, setting communications data, setting navigation data, setting display settings data, setting customization of display applications on the screen of the vehicle, setting suspension parameters for the vehicle, setting auto lock/unlock controls of the vehicle, activating an alarm, setting instructions to receive video feedback from the vehicle upon detection of alarm conditions, setting to call for help when an accident is detected, setting time of day on vehicle clocks based on local time;

setting navigation parameters in the vehicle, setting preferred radio stations, setting sensitivity of collision detection sensors, setting sensor programming, or combinations of two or more thereof.

18. A method, comprising,

establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with a vehicle and a server, the communication link being over a wireless network, the communication link being established in association with a user account, the communication link being established for one or more sessions;

receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs to the vehicle, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions;

generating, by the server, a recommendation to program a setting at the vehicle, wherein one or more of the plurality of actions at the vehicle during the one or more sessions are processed to determine a confidence score associated with generating the recommendation to program the setting, wherein generation of the recommendation occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold; and

sending, by the server, to the user account the recommendation to program the setting for the vehicle, the computing device enabling access to the user account to enable making the setting to the vehicle;

wherein the user account stores one or more additional recommendations received from the server over time, the recommendation and the additional recommendations being queued in association with the user account to enable selection of which one or more of the recommended settings is to be made to the vehicle, wherein the method is at least executed by a processor of the server.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein sensor data is sensed or obtained from the vehicle by the server, the sensor data includes one or more of an actual sensed temperature, a geo-location of the vehicle, camera images, biometric data, a time of day and/or a week day, data from an online calendar, a speed, a vehicle condition, occupant identification, biometric detection data of occupants in the vehicle, proximity of surrounding vehicles or obstacles, voice data, image data, biometric data, video data, touch data, gesture data, surrounding vehicle shared sensor data, or a combination of two or more thereof;

wherein the actions input at the vehicle or settings recommended are related to or associated with one or more of a temperature of the vehicle, a window defrost mode in the vehicle, heating a seat or seats of the vehicle, an emergency signal of the vehicle, an emergency signal for help, a radio station, an application selection, a reservation setting, retrieving data from an application, setting a restriction or enabling a feature for the vehicle, disabling the vehicle, pre-stating a vehicle, selecting an audio setting, making a reservation for service, reporting an error in the vehicle, adjusting seat settings, setting a position of mirrors of the vehicle, setting to open or crack windows upon reaching a temperature, setting notifications for recharging a battery if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting reminders to charge upon reaching a predefined battery state if an electric vehicle, setting parameters to identify nearby charge stations if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, setting advertisement settings allowed to be displayed via a screen of the electric vehicle, setting maps data, setting communications data, setting navigation data, setting display settings data, setting customization of display applications on the screen of the vehicle, setting suspension parameters for the vehicle, setting auto lock/unlock controls of the vehicle, activating an alarm, setting instructions to receive video feedback from the vehicle upon detection of alarm conditions, setting to call for help when an accident is detected, setting time of day on vehicle clocks based on local time;

setting navigation parameters in the vehicle, setting preferred radio stations, setting sensitivity of collision detection sensors, setting sensor programming, or combinations of two or more thereof;

wherein the computing device is one of a vehicle computing device, or electronics of the vehicle, or a mobile computer device, or a tablet computing device, or a smart phone computing device, or an internet terminal computing device, or a non-portable computing device.

20. The method of claim 18,

wherein particular ones of the plurality of actions that show a repeating pattern of occurrences will cause an increase to the confidence score;

wherein the predefined threshold requires a set number of occurrences of particular actions to occur.