Awarding privileges to a vehicle based upon one or more fuel utilization characteristics

• US 8,855,907 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Eckhoff, Philip A., Gates, William H. III, Hagelstein, Peter L., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Langer, Robert, Leuthardt, Eric C., Lieberman, Erez, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Schnall-Levin, Michael, Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/387,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/22, 701/99, 701/93, 701/70, 701/123, 701/29.1, 180/65.275, 180/65.29, 903/930, 320/132, 320/109, 320/101, 340/164, 340/455, 340/439, 705/7, 380/255, 455/3.05
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A device may include a determination module for determining at least one of a status indicative of combustible fuel utilization or a status indicative of electricity utilization for propelling a hybrid vehicle; and a transmitter coupled with the determination module for transmitting the at least one of the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization or the status indicative of electricity utilization for the hybrid vehicle to an off-site entity.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a determination module for determining a status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for propelling a vehicle;

a transmitter coupled with the determination module and configured to transmit to an off-site entity the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle; and

a receiver for receiving data indicative of a privilege allocated upon receipt of the transmitted status, wherein the privilege comprises at least one of permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated roadway, permission for the vehicle to drive into a region, permission for the vehicle to cross a pre-designated bridge, permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated parking lot, permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated parking spot, or an advanced position in a queue for at least one of refueling the combustible fuel or recharging one or more batteries.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle via at least one of a radio signal, a microwave signal, a terahertz signal, an infrared signal, an optical signal, an ultraviolet signal, a subsonic signal, an audible signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a magnetic signal.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a connector coupled with the transmitter for connecting to the off-site entity to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle to the off-site entity.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the connector comprises at least one of a serial port, a serial cable, a parallel port, a parallel cable, a network port, a network cable, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a USB cable, a fiber optic port, or a fiber optic cable.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle via a physical media.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle via at least one of a removable media, an optical disc, a Compact Disc (CD), a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R, a DVD+R, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a Blu-ray Disc (BD), a High-Definition DVD (HD DVD), a removable Hard Disk Drive (HDD), an external HDD, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, a memory card, or a smart key.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle via a visual indicator on the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle via a light positioned on at least one of a dashboard, a rear window ledge, or an exterior of the vehicle.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle represents a driving mode.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the driving mode represents utilization of combustible fuel for propelling the hybrid vehicle.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the driving mode represents utilization of electricity for propelling the hybrid vehicle.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle is related to a utilization of propulsion resources.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the utilization of propulsion resources is associated with at least one of a rate of combustible fuel utilization or an amount of combustible fuel utilization.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the utilization of propulsion resources is associated with at least one of a rate of electricity utilization or an amount of electricity utilization.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle represents an instantaneous status.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle represents an average over a time period.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle represents a cumulative utilization for a time period.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle represents a cumulative utilization for a geographic region.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver coupled with the determination module;

the device configured to associate the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle with a geographic region identified by the GPS receiver.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an aftermarket part.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a personal communication device, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a portable media player, or a mobile telephone.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the determination module comprises instrumentation coupled with the transmitter for determining the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the determination module comprises a receiver coupled with the transmitter for receiving the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle based upon a schedule.

26. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor coupled with the transmitter for scheduling transmission of the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle based upon a location.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle based upon a change in driving mode.

29. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a selection module for allowing the vehicle to selectively utilize one or more privileges based upon the transmitted status.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle in response to a query received from the off-site entity.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is for verifying the vehicle'"'"'s compliance with utilization restrictions.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is broadcast to the first vehicle and at least a second vehicle.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is directed to the vehicle.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is directed to the vehicle based upon an occupant of the vehicle.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is transmitted based upon a schedule.

36. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is transmitted based upon a location.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is transmitted based upon a change in driving mode.

38. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is transmitted before the vehicle enters at least one of a pre-designated roadway, a region, a pre-designated bridge, a pre-designated parking lot, a pre-designated parking spot, or a queue for at least one of refueling the combustible fuel or recharging one or more batteries.

39. The device of claim 30, wherein the query received from the off-site entity is transmitted based upon a past behavior of the vehicle.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated roadway.

41. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises permission for the vehicle to drive into a region.

42. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises permission for the vehicle to cross a pre-designated bridge.

43. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated parking lot.

44. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises permission for the vehicle to utilize a pre-designated parking spot.

45. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises an advanced position in a queue for at least one of refueling the combustible fuel or recharging one or more batteries.

46. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege comprises a qualification for at least one of a tax benefit, an insurance benefit, a reduction in fees, or a reduction in refueling costs.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege is at least one of reduced or eliminated when an alternate route including public transportation is available.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein the privilege is at least one of increased, reduced, or eliminated based upon a number of passengers in the vehicle.

49. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display coupled with the receiver for displaying information associated with the privilege allocated upon receipt of the transmitted status.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the display comprises at least one of an audio display or a visual display positioned in the vehicle.

51. The device of claim 49, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting information associated with the privilege allocated upon receipt of the transmitted status to an off-site entity.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the off-site entity comprises at least one of a database, an audio display, or a visual display.

53. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing data regarding the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the data regarding the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle is configured to be stored in an encrypted format.

55. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing data regarding the transmission of the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the data regarding the transmission of the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle is configured to be stored in an encrypted format.

57. The device of claim 1, wherein the status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for the vehicle is configured to be transmitted in an encrypted data format.

58. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting at least one of a vehicle identification, an operator identification, a time, a location, a direction, or a speed.

59. A device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting to an off-site entity a status indicative of combustible fuel utilization in comparison to electricity utilization for a hybrid vehicle; and

a receiver for receiving data indicative of a privilege allocated upon receipt of the transmitted status, wherein the privilege is increased, reduced, or eliminated based on at least one of an availability of an alternate route including public transportation or a number of passengers in the hybrid vehicle.