SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REGULATING VEHICLE ACCESS

• US 20180319368A1
• Filed: 05/10/2018
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scoot Rides, Inc. (Bird Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scoot Networks, Inc. (Bird Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keating, Michael, Passmore, J. Loren, Russo, Peter R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/28 characterised by quick release, e.g. snap on connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

A method for regulating vehicle access comprises receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request to access a vehicle. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for permitting a user to access a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

(a) viewing on a graphical user interface of a mobile electronic device of said user, a plurality of two-wheeled vehicles in a geographic location, which plurality of two-wheeled vehicles comprises said two-wheeled vehicle, wherein said two-wheeled vehicle comprises a control unit for regulating access to said two-wheeled vehicle;

(b) using said graphical user interface to select said two-wheeled vehicle from said plurality of two-wheeled vehicles in said geographic location;

(c) when said mobile electronic device is at or in proximity to said two-wheeled vehicle, using said graphical user interface to request access to said two-wheeled vehicle, wherein said request causes said mobile electronic device to transmit over a network an access request to a remote computer server, which computer server (i) processes said access request and (ii) transmits an access signal to said control unit, wherein said access signal permits said user to access said two-wheeled vehicle; and

(d) accessing said two-wheeled vehicle upon said control unit of said two-wheeled vehicle receiving said access signal from said computer server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating said user prior to providing said access to said two-wheeled vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said user is authenticated using identifying information of said user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said two-wheeled vehicle is a motor scooter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said two-wheeled vehicle is a bicycle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is permitted to use said two-wheeled vehicle if said mobile electronic device of said user is coupled to said two-wheeled vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said user is permitted to use said two-wheeled vehicle if said mobile electronic device of said user is coupled to said control unit of said two-wheeled vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said control unit tracks one or more components of said two-wheeled vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more components of said two-wheeled vehicle comprise a removable battery.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said control unit is in communication with one or more sensors to enable tracking of said two-wheeled vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more sensors comprise a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more sensors comprise a weight sensor that detects a presence of said user in said two-wheeled vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is permitted to use said two-wheeled vehicle if said control unit or said mobile electronic device detects that said user is wearing a safety device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from said mobile electronic device of said user, a selection of a destination location of said two-wheeled vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, on said graphical user interface of said mobile electronic device of said user, a designated geographic location and said destination location of said two-wheeled vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile electronic device comprises a computer processor that is programmed to monitor an operational state of said two-wheeled vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said operational state of said two-wheeled vehicle includes one or more of a geographic location, speed, and level of a battery of said two-wheeled vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said two-wheeled vehicle is powered in whole or in part by electrical energy.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said electrical energy is provided by a battery onboard said two-wheeled vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said battery is removable from said two-wheeled vehicle.