Vehicle system for varied compliance benefits

• US 8,352,107 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Nugent, Thomas J. Jr., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/587,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/31.4, 701/22, 701/14.1, 701/36, 903/930, 903/903, 185/65.265, 705/35, 705/39, 705/14.1, 705/14.25
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that is subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a possible consequential result related to a user-selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding administrative compliance states and their respective benefits, as well as regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode.

Claims

1. A method for managing vehicle operational mode data, comprising:

determining, via a processor, a compliance state for a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area that is subject to a given administrative standard, wherein the compliance with the given administrative standard provides an accrued benefit;

providing, via the processor, user-access to information regarding a preferred consequential result that is different from the accrued benefit, which preferred consequential result correlates with one or more optional vehicle operational modes;

accepting, via a user input device, a user-selection of at least one optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain the preferred consequential result;

responsive to the user-selection, implementing the selected optional vehicle operational mode which causes a deviation of a conformity status regarding the given administrative standard; and

transmitting, via a transmitter, information indicating the selected vehicle operational mode to an external person or entity associated with the preferred consequential result.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information that confirms forfeiture of all or part of the corresponding benefit, due to the deviated conformity status that occurs from traveling via the particular route or area that is subject to the given administrative standard, wherein the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information indicating a cost or penalty or other detriment arising from the deviated conformity status regarding the given administrative standard.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing user-access to comparative information indicating that the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting user-access to a further accrued benefit due to the deviated conformity status, which further accrued benefit is based on qualification with another compliance state applicable to the vehicle, wherein the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit includes:

presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit that is based on qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit includes:

presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit based on an exemption from the compliance state applicable to the vehicle, which exemption requires additional payment or other consideration to qualify for the exemption.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information to a user via a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information via a communication link to a user, which conformity status information is indicative of one or more alternative travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective corresponding benefits.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information via a communication link to one or more of the following;

an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information to a user regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the conformity status information is indicated on a communication device accessible to an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information to a user regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to implementing the user-selection of the at least one optional vehicle operation mode.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to a user'"'"'s choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area and/or during a temporal period, subject to the given administrative standard.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing conformity status information to a user regarding a compliance state that includes one or more of the following types of qualification requirements;

number of passengers, HOV lane account status, toll road account status, public road standard, public area standard, private road standard, private area standard, electric power mode, combustion/electric hybrid mode, combustion fuel content, bio-fuel content, natural gas fuel, engine efficiency, miles/per/gallon calibration, combustion emission, zero-emissions, exhaust content, maximum speed limitation, safety metric, environmental guideline.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing user-access to information regarding the preferred consequential result includes:

providing preferred consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection of the at least one optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain the preferred consequential result.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said providing preferred consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing preferred consequential result information on a communication device accessible to one or more of the following;

an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said providing preferred consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing preferred consequential result information to a user via a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said providing preferred consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more destinations associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said providing preferred consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more varied alternative routes or areas associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing user-access to information regarding the preferred consequential result includes:

providing user-access to information regarding two or more preferred consequential results which are respectively based on implementation of different optional vehicle operational modes.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing user-access to information regarding the preferred consequential result includes:

providing information via a communication device regarding one or more preferred consequential results, wherein the provided information is accessible prior to a user'"'"'s choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing user-access to information regarding the preferred consequential result includes:

providing information via a communication device regarding one or more preferred consequential results, wherein the provided information is accessible prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information via a communication link to confirm availability of the preferred consequential result that includes an award or value or advantage to one or more of the following type of qualified recipients;

vehicle, operator, driver, passenger, vehicle owner, vehicle lessor, vehicle lessee, vehicle fleet owner, vehicle fleet manager.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

presenting confirmation of availability of the preferred consequential result on a communication device accessible in the vehicle or on a communication device located remotely from the vehicle or on a mobile communication device.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

presenting confirmation of availability of the preferred consequential result that is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at a specified destination.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said presenting confirmation of availability of the preferred consequential result includes:

presenting confirmation of one or more possible consequential results respectively available to the qualified recipient at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

primary destination, secondary destination, alternate destination, intermediate destination.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information that confirms the availability of the preferred consequential result at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

battery recharge station, battery renewal facility, high-voltage recharge station, low-voltage recharge station, battery replacement station, priority battery service, fuel supply station, diesel combustion fuel station, gasoline combustion fuel station, natural gas fuel station, bio-fuel station, priority fuel service.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information that confirms the availability of the preferred consequential result at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

parking facility, overnight accommodation, residence, office facility, vehicle repair station, vehicle accessory store, Internet access location, public transit station, private transit site, rented-vehicle return site, vehicle inspection location, jurisdictional border, licensing authority, tax assessment site, monitoring unit, detection lane.

30. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded instructions, the encoded instructions configured to be by a processor to perform a method for managing vehicle operational mode data, wherein the method includes:

determining a compliance state relative to a given administrative standard applicable to a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area, wherein the compliance state qualifies the vehicle for a corresponding accrued benefit pursuant to the given administrative standard;

providing user-accessible information regarding a possible consequential result that correlates with one or more optional vehicle operation modes;

accepting a user-selection of at least one optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain the possible consequential result, wherein the possible consequential result is different from the corresponding accrued benefit;

responsive to the user-selection, implementing the selected optional vehicle operational mode which causes a deviated conformity status regarding the administrative standard;

transmitting information indicating the selected vehicle operational mode to an external person or entity associated with the preferred consequential result.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-accessible information that confirms forfeiture of all or part of the corresponding benefit, due to the deviated conformity status that occurs from traveling via the particular route or area that is subject to the given administrative standard, wherein the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the possible consequential result

32. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-accessible information indicating a cost or penalty or other detriment arising from the deviated conformity status regarding the given administrative standard.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-access to comparative information indicating that the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the possible consequential result.

34. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

presenting user-access to a further accrued benefit due to the deviated conformity status, which further accrued benefit is based on qualification with another compliance state applicable to the vehicle, wherein the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the possible consequential result.

35. The computer program product of claim 34 wherein said method feature presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit includes:

presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit that is based on qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

36. The computer program product of claim 34 wherein said method feature presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit includes:

presenting user-access to the further accrued benefit based on an exemption from the compliance state applicable to the vehicle, which exemption requires additional payment or other consideration to qualify for the exemption.

37. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information to a user via a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

38. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information via a communication link to a user, which conformity status information is indicative of one or more alternative travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective accrued benefits.

39. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information via a communication link to one or more of the following;

an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

40. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the conformity status information is indicated on a communication device accessible to an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

41. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information to a user regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to accepting the user-selection of the at least one optional vehicle operation mode.

42. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to a user'"'"'s choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

43. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the conformity status information is accessible prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

44. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing conformity status information to a user regarding a compliance state that includes one or more of the following types of qualification requirements;

number of passengers, HOV lane account status, toll road account status, public road standard, public area standard, private road standard, private area standard, electric power mode, combustion/electric hybrid mode, combustion fuel content, bio-fuel content, natural gas fuel, engine efficiency, miles/per/gallon calibration, combustion emission, zero-emissions, exhaust content, maximum speed limitation, safety metric, environmental guideline.

45. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the possible consequential result includes:

providing possible consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection of the at least one optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain the possible consequential result.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said method feature providing possible consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing possible consequential result information on a communication device accessible to one or more of the following;

an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the vehicle.

47. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said method feature providing possible consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing possible consequential result information to a user via a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

48. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said method feature providing possible consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing possible consequential result information indicative of one or more destinations associated with a particular possible consequential result.

49. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein said method feature providing possible consequential result information to a user prior to accepting the user-selection includes:

providing possible consequential result information indicative of one or more varied alternative routes or areas associated with a particular possible consequential result.

50. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method feature providing user-access to information regarding the possible consequential result includes:

providing user-access to information regarding two or more possible consequential results which are respectively based on implementation of different optional vehicle operational modes.

51. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method feature providing user-access to information regarding the possible consequential result includes:

providing information via a communication device regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the provided information is accessible prior to a user'"'"'s choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

52. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method feature providing user-access to information regarding the possible consequential result includes:

providing information via a communication device regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the provided information is accessible prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

53. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-accessible information via a communication link to confirm availability of the possible consequential result that includes an award or value or advantage to one or more of the following type of qualified recipients;

vehicle, operator, driver, passenger, vehicle owner, vehicle lessor, vehicle lessee, vehicle fleet owner, vehicle fleet manager.

54. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein said method further includes:

presenting confirmation of availability of the possible consequential result on a communication device accessible in the vehicle or on a communication device located remotely from the vehicle or on a mobile communication device.

55. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein said method further includes:

presenting confirmation of availability of the possible consequential result that is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at a specified destination.

56. The computer program product of claim 55 wherein said method feature presenting confirmation of availability of the possible consequential result includes:

presenting confirmation of one or more possible consequential results respectively available to the qualified recipient at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

primary destination, secondary destination, alternate destination, intermediate destination.

57. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-accessible information that confirms the availability at the specified destination of the possible consequential result, wherein the specified destination includes one or more of the following;

battery recharge station, battery renewal facility, high-voltage recharge station, low-voltage recharge station, battery replacement station, priority battery service, fuel supply station, diesel combustion fuel station, gasoline combustion fuel station, natural gas fuel station, bio-fuel station, priority fuel service.

58. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein said method further includes:

providing user-accessible information that confirms the availability of the possible consequential result at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

parking facility, overnight accommodation, residence, office facility, vehicle repair station, vehicle accessory store, Internet access location, public transit station, private transit site, rented-vehicle return site, vehicle inspection location, jurisdictional border, licensing authority, tax assessment site, monitoring unit, detection lane.