Remote processing of selected vehicle operating parameters

• US 8,396,624 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US12/587,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 701/34.2, 701/34.4, 701/409, 701/58, 701/65, 701/66
• US Class Current: 701/34.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

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 detection and processing of vehicle operational mode data, comprising:

using one or more processors to perform the steps of;

establishing an identity for a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area that is subject to a given administrative standard;

presenting user-access to varied compliance states and corresponding benefits of the compliance states pursuant to the given administrative standard, which corresponding benefits accrue to a qualified recipient based on a detected conformity status of the vehicle when traveling via the particular route or area; and

receiving a notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle that confirms an implementation during an applicable period of at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain a preferred consequential result correlated with the at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred consequential result that includes an award or value or advantage different from the corresponding benefit available pursuant to the given administrative standard.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining remotely from the vehicle a deviation of the conformity status caused by the selected optional vehicle operational mode, wherein the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible information that indicates the correlation between the preferred consequential result and one or more optional vehicle operational modes.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data that confirms forfeiture of all or part of the corresponding benefit, due to the detected conformity status that occurs from traveling via the particular route or area that is subject to the given administrative standard.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data indicating a cost or penalty or other detriment arising from the detected conformity status regarding the given administrative standard.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing user-accessible comparative information indicating that the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data regarding 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.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding the further accrued benefit that is based on qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding 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.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible compliance data indicative of one or more alternative travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective corresponding benefits.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing conformity status information accessible to a user via a communication device in the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing conformity status information accessible 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 owner or fleet manager of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the user-accessible compliance data is indicated via a communication link or on a communication device accessible to one or more of the following;

administrative standard enforcement entity, vehicle insurance entity, government agency, provider of corresponding benefit, provider of preferred consequential result.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle, providing conformity status information accessible 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.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing user-accessible comparative information regarding the deviated conformity status as compared with an award or value or advantage included as part of the preferred consequential result.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible to a user via a communication device in the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more destinations associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more varied alternative routes or areas associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information regarding two or more preferred consequential results which are respectively based on implementation of different optional vehicle operational modes.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising includes:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible via a communication device 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.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record for consequential result information accessible to a user prior to the implementation of the at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible to a user prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area or proceeding during a temporal travel period, subject to the given administrative standard.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

maintaining the external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible on a communication device or via a communication link to confirm availability of the preferred consequential result to one or more of the following;

vehicle, operator, driver, passenger, vehicle owner, vehicle lessor, vehicle lessee, vehicle fleet owner, vehicle fleet manager, government agency, entity providing the consequential result, entity providing the corresponding benefit.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing confirmation on a remote data record indicating the selected optional vehicle operational mode also enables conformity with one or more possible compliance states relative to the given administrative standard.

30. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded instructions for executing a method for detection and processing of vehicle operational mode data, wherein the method includes the following operations:

establishing an identity for a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area that is subject to a given administrative standard;

presenting user-access to varied compliance states and corresponding benefits of the compliance states pursuant to the given administrative standard, which corresponding benefits accrue to a qualified recipient based on a detected conformity status of the vehicle when traveling via the particular route or area; and

receiving a notification directly or indirectly from the vehicle that confirms an implementation during an applicable period of at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain a preferred consequential result correlated with the at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred consequential result that includes an award or value or advantage different from the corresponding benefit available pursuant to the given administrative standard.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information includes:

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred consequential result that includes an award or value or advantage different from the corresponding benefit available pursuant to the given administrative standard.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

maintaining an external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible to a user prior to the implementation of the at least one selected optional vehicle operational mode sufficient to attain the preferred consequential result.

34. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said method feature maintaining an external data record includes:

maintaining the external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible on a communication device 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.

35. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said method feature maintaining an external data record includes:

maintaining the external data record that includes preferred consequential result information accessible to a user via a communication device in the vehicle.

36. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said method feature maintaining an external data record includes:

maintaining the external data record that includes preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more destinations associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

37. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said method feature maintaining an external data record includes:

maintaining the external data record that includes preferred consequential result information indicative of one or more varied alternative routes or areas associated with a particular preferred consequential result.

38. The computer program product of claim 31 herein said method feature providing user-accessible information includes:

providing user-access to an external data record located separate from the vehicle, which external data record includes information regarding two or more preferred consequential results which are respectively based on implementation of different optional vehicle operational modes.

39. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information includes:

maintaining an external data record located separate from the vehicle, which external data record includes consequential result information accessible via a communication device 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.

40. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information includes:

maintaining an external data record located separate from the vehicle, which external data record includes consequential result information accessible to a user prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area or proceeding during a temporal travel period, subject to the given administrative standard.

41. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information includes:

maintaining an external data record located separate from the vehicle, which external data record includes consequential result information accessible via a communication link to confirm availability of the preferred consequential result 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.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein said method feature maintaining the external data record includes:

maintaining the external data record including the preferred consequential result that is different from the corresponding benefit available pursuant to the given administrative standard.

43. The computer program product of claim 30 including encoded instructions for the following operation:

determining pursuant to the given administrative standard a deviation of the conformity status caused by the selected optional vehicle operational mode.

44. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data 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.

45. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data indicating a cost or penalty or other detriment arising from the deviated conformity status regarding the given administrative standard.

46. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible comparative information indicating that the deviated conformity status does not prevent attainment of the preferred consequential result.

47. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data regarding 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.

48. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding the further accrued benefit that is based on qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

49. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding 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.

50. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said method feature presenting user-access to varied compliance states and their corresponding benefits includes:

providing user-accessible compliance data that is indicative of one or more alternative travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective corresponding benefits.

51. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data including conformity status information accessible to a user via a communication device in the vehicle.

52. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data including conformity status information accessible 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.

53. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible compliance data regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the pertinent 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.

54. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible compliance data including pertinent information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the pertinent information is accessible to a user prior to implementation of the at least one selected optional vehicle operation mode.

55. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible compliance data including pertinent information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective corresponding benefit, wherein the pertinent information is accessible to a user prior to making a choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

56. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

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

57. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

responsive to receiving the notification from the vehicle, providing user-accessible compliance data including conformity status information accessible 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, environment guideline.

58. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

providing user-accessible comparative information regarding the deviated conformity status as compared with an award or value or advantage included as part of the consequential result.

59. The computer program product of claim 30 further including encoded instructions for the following operation:

maintaining another data record including documented confirmation that delineates a description of the award or value or advantage included as part of the preferred consequential result and/or that delineates a qualified recipient.