Selective control of an optional vehicle mode

• US 8,452,532 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• 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): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/462,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 701/410, 701/425, 701/439, 701/453, 701/533, 705/14.1
• US Class Current: 701/425
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

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 preferred 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.

Claims

1. A method for selective control of a vehicle operational mode, comprising:

obtaining information regarding a compliance state relative to a given administrative standard defining a predetermined vehicle operation mode of a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area, the compliance state corresponding to a first benefit that accrues based on conformity with the given administrative standard;

identifying, via a processor, a preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit, which preferred consequential result correlates with one or more optional vehicle operational modes;

accepting, via a user input device, a user-selection to implement the one or more optional vehicle operational modes; and

implementing the one or more optional vehicle operational modes in a manner to attain the preferred consequential result, wherein the implemented vehicle operational mode modifies a conformity status regarding the given administrative standard.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-selection to implement the one or more optional vehicle operational modes prevents full conformity with the given administrative standard by the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

responsive to the implementation of the one or more optional vehicle operation modes, forfeiting all or part of the first benefit due to the modified conformity status regarding the given administrative standard, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to the implementation of the one or more optional vehicle operation modes, obtaining a second benefit that accrues due to the modified conformity status, which second benefit is based on a qualification with another compliance state applicable to the vehicle, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said obtaining the second benefit includes:

obtaining the second accrued benefit based on a qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said obtaining the second benefit includes:

obtaining the second accrued benefit based on an exemption from the predetermined vehicle operation mode, which exemption requires additional payment or other consideration to qualify for the exemption.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information regarding the one or more possible travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective accrued benefits.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained 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.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is accessible prior to accepting the user-selected implementation of the one or more optional vehicle operational modes.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is accessible prior to choosing a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

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

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said obtaining information regarding the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

obtaining information 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 factor, safety mode, safety certification, environmental mode, environmental certification.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit includes:

acquiring information regarding two or more possible consequential results which are respectively based on selective implementation of different optional vehicle operation modes.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit includes:

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit includes:

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired 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.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit includes:

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible prior to accepting the user-selected implementation of the one or more optional vehicle operation modes.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the one or more possible consequential results prior to accepting the user-selected implementation includes:

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible prior to choosing a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the one or more possible consequential results prior to accepting the user-selected implementation includes:

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible prior to prior to proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

confirming availability of the identified 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.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a mobile communication device or a communication device located remotely from the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a communication device accessible to one or more of the following;

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

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability that is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at a specified destination.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information regarding travel via alternative routes or areas which have different respective compliance states and/or accrued benefits based on an applicable given administrative standard.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

forfeiting all or part of the corresponding benefit, responsive to the modified conformity status that occurs from traveling via a chosen alternative route or area, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information regarding travel to a specified destination via alternative routes or areas that are respectively subject to an applicable given administrative standard, wherein availability of the identified preferred consequential result is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at the specified destination.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving information regarding one or more possible consequential results respectively available at one or more of the following types of alternate specified destinations;

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

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

forfeiting all or part of the corresponding benefit, responsive to the modified conformity status that occurs from traveling to the specified destination via a chosen route or area, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result available upon arrival at the specified destination.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

confirming the availability at a specified destination of the identified preferred consequential result that 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.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

confirming the availability of the identified preferred consequential result at one or more of the following types of specified destination;

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.

32. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded instructions, the encoded instructions configured to be executed by a processor to perform the following method for selective control of a vehicle operational mode:

obtaining information regarding a compliance state relative to a given administrative standard defining a predetermined vehicle operation mode of a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area, wherein the compliance state corresponds to a first benefit that accrues based on conformity with the given administrative standard;

identifying a preferred consequential result correlated with an optional vehicle operational mode; and

implementing a user-selection of the optional vehicle operational mode in a manner to attain the identified preferred consequential result that is different from the first benefit, wherein the implemented vehicle operational mode modifies a conformity status of the given administrative standard.

33. The computer program product of claim 32 wherein said method feature implementing the user-selection of the optional vehicle operational mode prevents full conformity with the given administrative standard by the vehicle.

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

obtaining information indicative of forfeiting all or part of the first benefit due to the modified conformity status regarding the given administrative standard, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

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

obtaining information regarding a second benefit that accrues due to the modified conformity status, which second benefit is based on a qualification with another compliance state applicable to the vehicle, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein said method further includes:

obtaining information regarding the second accrued benefit based on a qualification with two or more compliance states applicable to the vehicle.

37. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein said method further includes:

obtaining information regarding the second accrued benefit based on an exemption from the predetermined vehicle operation mode, which exemption requires additional payment or other consideration to qualify for the exemption.

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

obtaining information regarding the one or more possible travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective accrued benefits.

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

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

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

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained 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 32 wherein said method further includes:

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is accessible prior to the user-selection of the one or more optional vehicle operational modes.

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

obtaining information regarding one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit, wherein the obtained information is accessible to a user prior to a 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 32 wherein said method further includes:

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

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

obtaining information 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 factor, safety mode, safety certification, environmental mode, environmental certification.

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

acquiring information regarding two or more possible consequential results which are respectively based on selective implementation of different optional vehicle operation modes.

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

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

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

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired 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.

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

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible to a user prior to the implementation of the optional vehicle operation mode.

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

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible to a user prior to choosing a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

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

acquiring information regarding one or more possible consequential results, wherein the acquired information is accessible to a user prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

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

confirming availability of the identified 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.

52. The computer program product of claim 51 wherein said method feature confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle.

53. The computer program product of claim 51 wherein said method feature confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a mobile communication device or a communication device located remotely from the vehicle.

54. The computer program product of claim 51 wherein said method feature confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability indicated on a communication device accessible to one or more of the following;

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

55. The computer program product of claim 51 wherein said method feature confirming availability of the identified preferred consequential result includes:

confirming availability that is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at a specified destination.

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

receiving information regarding travel via alternative routes or areas which have different respective compliance states and/or accrued benefits based on an applicable given administrative standard.

57. The computer program product of claim 56 wherein said method further includes:

obtaining information indicative of forfeiting all or part of the corresponding benefit, due to the modified conformity status that occurs from traveling via a chosen alternative route or area, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result.

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

receiving information regarding travel to a specified destination via alternative routes or areas that are respectively subject to an applicable given administrative standard, wherein availability of the identified preferred consequential result is dependent upon arrival of the vehicle at the specified destination.

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

receiving information regarding one or more possible consequential results respectively available at one or more of the following types of alternate specified destinations;

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

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

obtaining information indicative of forfeiting all or part of the corresponding benefit, due to the modified conformity status that occurs from traveling to the specified destination via a chosen route or area, wherein the modified conformity status does not prevent attainment of the identified preferred consequential result available upon arrival at the specified destination.

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

obtaining information indicative of confirming the availability at a specified destination of the identified preferred consequential result that 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.

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

obtaining information indicative of confirming the availability of the identified preferred consequential result at one or more of the following types of specified destination;

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.