Promotional correlation with selective vehicle modes

• US 9,008,956 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• 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): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US12/592,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.3, 701/29.6, 701/33.4, 705/4, 705/13, 705/14.1, 705/14.11
• US Class Current: 701/123
• 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 promotional correlation with selective vehicle modes, comprising:

identifying a compliance state of a vehicle in a first vehicle operation mode selected via a vehicle operation control system and its corresponding extrinsic accrued benefit relative to a given administrative standard established by an administrative entity, the administrative standard defining one or more predetermined vehicle operation modes of a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area, wherein the accrued benefit is provided by the administrative entity;

obtaining identifier data for the vehicle;

establishing a preferred promotional result including an award or value or advantage that is different from the accrued benefit, which preferred promotional result correlates with at least one type of vehicle operation mode implemented during all or a portion of an applicable travel period via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard;

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result; and

receiving a notification regarding an administrative conformity status of the vehicle based on a second vehicle operation mode implemented by a user-selection made via the vehicle operation control system that is sufficient for the vehicle and/or a party associated with the vehicle to qualify for the preferred promotional result,

wherein the user-selection of the second vehicle operation mode is precipitated by one or more of the following type of control actions;

voice command, tactile touching, gesture, hand manipulation, foot manipulation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving the notification includes:

receiving the notification directly or indirectly from a detection and/or monitoring device in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving vehicle identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics for the vehicle traveling via the particular route or area.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics for a qualified recipient of the preferred promotional result.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said receiving identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics includes receiving identification characteristics for one or more of the following type of qualified recipients:

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

6. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded instructions for executing the following for promotional correlation with selective vehicle modes:

identifying a compliance state of a vehicle in a first vehicle operation mode selected via a vehicle operation control system and its corresponding extrinsic accrued benefit relative to a given administrative standard established by an administrative entity, the administrative standard defining one or more predetermined vehicle operation modes of a vehicle traveling via a particular route or area, wherein the accrued benefit is provided by the administrative entity;

obtaining identifier data for the vehicle;

establishing criteria for a preferred promotional result that is different from the accrued benefit, which preferred promotional result correlates with at least one type of vehicle operation mode implemented during all or a portion of an applicable travel period via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard;

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result that includes an award or value or advantage available to the vehicle and/or a party associated with the vehicle; and

processing a notification regarding an administrative conformity status of the vehicle based on a second vehicle operation mode implemented by a user-selection made via the vehicle operation control system that is sufficient to qualify for the preferred promotional result,

wherein the user-selection of the second vehicle operation mode is precipitated by one or more of the following type of control actions;

voice command, tactile touching, gesture, hand manipulation, foot manipulation.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

responsive to the notification, authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available to a qualified recipient associated with the vehicle.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available includes:

authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available based on the implemented vehicle operation mode that prevents full conformity with the given administrative standard by the vehicle.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available includes:

making the preferred promotional result available based on a qualification with two or more implemented vehicle operation modes during travel via the particular route or area.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available includes:

authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available based on a vehicle exemption from the predetermined vehicle operation mode, which exemption pursuant to the given administrative standard requires additional payment or other consideration to qualify for the exemption.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available to the qualified recipient associated with the vehicle includes:

making one or more preferred promotional results respectively available upon arrival at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

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

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the method feature making one or more preferred promotional results respectively available upon arrival includes:

making the preferred promotional result available at one or more of the following types of specified destination;

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.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the method feature making one or more preferred promotional results respectively available upon arrival includes:

making the preferred promotional result available 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.

14. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available to the qualified recipient includes:

making one or more of the following type of award or value or advantage available as part of the preferred promotional result;

priority access to battery recharge station, priority battery servicing, reduced cost for battery recharge, free battery renewal service, customized battery recharge, discounted cost for battery replacement, special warranty on new battery purchase, higher quality battery purchase at standard price.

15. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available to the qualified recipient includes:

making one or more of the following type of award or value or advantage available as part of the preferred promotional result;

reduced vehicle registration fees. reduced fuel price, priority fuel purchase, preferred parking location, reduced parking fee, tax credit, traffic lane usage, bridge usage, reduced toll rate, financial rebate, store discount, product discount, membership offer.

16. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the method feature authorizing the preferred promotional result to be available to the qualified recipient includes:

making an award or value or advantage available upon arrival at one or more of the following types of destination;

parking lot, road exit, traffic lane entry, traffic lane exit, bridge entry, bridge exit, retail store, service store, event location, event ticket office, transit station.

17. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving directly or indirectly from the vehicle the notification that indicates the implemented vehicle operation mode.

18. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving directly or indirectly from a communication device in the vehicle the notification that indicates the implemented vehicle operation mode.

19. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving directly or indirectly from an authorized party associated with the administrative standard the notification that indicates the implemented vehicle operation mode.

20. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving directly or indirectly from one or more of the following parties the notification that includes the implemented vehicle operation mode;

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

21. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result that is correlated with the type of vehicle operation mode implemented during travel via one or more possible travel routes or areas having different respective compliance states and/or different respective accrued benefits pursuant to their respective administrative standards.

22. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing preferred promotional result information that is indicated on a communication device accessible in the vehicle or accessible remotely from the vehicle or accessible on a mobile communication device.

23. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing preferred promotional result information that 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.

24. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing preferred promotional result information that is accessible prior to a user-selected implementation of one or more optional vehicle operational modes.

25. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing promotional result information that is accessible prior to a user-selected choice of a type of vehicle to travel via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

26. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing promotional result information that is accessible prior to the vehicle proceeding along the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard.

27. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature identifying the compliance state includes:

identifying the 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.

28. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result includes:

establishing two or more preferred promotional results which are respectively based on detection of different implemented vehicle operation modes.

29. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving the notification directly or indirectly from a detection and/or monitoring device in the vehicle.

30. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature obtaining identifier data for the vehicle includes:

processing vehicle identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics for the vehicle traveling via the particular route or area.

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

receiving vehicle identifier data from a communication device located in the vehicle or external to the vehicle or associated with the vehicle.

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

receiving vehicle identifier data from a communication device associated with one or more of the following;

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

33. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

processing identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics for a qualified recipient of the preferred promotional result.

34. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the method feature processing identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics includes:

receiving identification characteristics for one or more of the following type of qualified recipients;

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

35. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with the at least one predetermined vehicle operation mode implemented during travel via alternative routes or areas that are respectively subject to an applicable given administrative standard.

36. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature identifying the compliance state relative to the given administrative standard includes:

identifying one or more applicable compliance states and/or their respective accrued benefit based on a temporal period of travel subject to the given administrative standard.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with the at least one predetermined vehicle operation mode that is implemented during the temporal period of travel having different respective compliance states and/or different corresponding accrued benefits.

38. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the method further includes:

making the preferred promotional result available to a qualified recipient based on the implemented vehicle operational mode that prevents the vehicle from qualifying with the compliance state applicable during the temporal period of travel subject to the administrative standard.

39. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the method feature identifying the compliance state includes:

identifying the compliance state for the given administrative standard that defines the one or more predetermined vehicle operation modes of the vehicle traveling during one or more of the following types of temporal periods;

seasonal, storm occurrence, weather warning, weather situation, smog alert, time-of-day, night-time, commuter hours, imminent event, ongoing event, traffic congestion, road closure, dangerous road condition, road construction, road repair, travel accident.

40. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the method feature identifying the compliance state includes:

identifying the compliance state for the given administrative standard that defines the predetermined vehicle operation mode of the vehicle traveling during the temporal time period that includes a designated high-traffic time period or a designated air quality time period or a designated natural phenomenon time period.

41. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

making the preferred promotional result available to a qualified recipient based on the implemented vehicle operational mode that causes forfeiting all or part of the corresponding benefit, wherein the modified conformity status of the vehicle does not prevent attainment of the preferred promotional result.

42. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result includes:

establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result correlated with one or more implemented configurable vehicle operating parameters that achieve a preferable vehicle paradigm during all or a portion of travel via the particular route or area and/or during all or a portion of a temporal travel period, subject to the given administrative standard.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving the notification that includes confirmation of the one or more configurable vehicle operating parameters that maintain the preferable vehicle operation.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method feature receiving the notification that includes confirmation of the one or more configurable vehicle operating parameters includes:

receiving the notification directly or indirectly from a communication device and/or monitoring device and/or detection device in the vehicle.

45. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method feature receiving the notification that includes confirmation of one or more configurable vehicle operating parameters includes:

receiving confirmation of one or more of the following types of configurable vehicle operation parameters implemented in the vehicle;

number of passengers, battery-powered mode, combustion-powered mode, bio-fuel mode, bio-fuel blend mode, natural gas mode, electric power mode, low emission mode, calibrated miles/per/gallon mode, battery-charge mode, battery-discharge mode, low-temperature engine mode, electric/combustion hybrid mode, solely electric power mode, primarily electric power mode, solely fuel combustion mode, primarily fuel combustion mode, safety certification mode, environmental certification mode, emission content, zero emissions, approved catalytic converter, speed-limiter activated, turned-on headlights.

46. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

presenting a certification of an actual award or value or advantage included as part of the preferred promotional result.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the method feature presenting the certification includes:

encoding the certification on an electronic record associated with the vehicle and/or associated with 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 46 wherein the method feature presenting the certification includes:

presenting to a qualified recipient the certification of the actual award or value or advantage provided by or on behalf of one or more of the following;

vehicle manufacturer, vehicle sales entity, governmental entity, environmental entity, insurance company, insurance sales agent, fuel manufacturer, fuel sales entity, vehicle engine/component manufacturer, vehicle engine/component sales entity, “

green”

product company, “

green”

services company, “

green”

rebate entity.

49. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the method feature presenting the certification includes:

presenting the certification to a qualified recipient upon arrival at a specified destination associated with the preferred promotional result.

50. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the method feature presenting the certification to the qualified recipient upon arrival at the specified destination includes:

presenting the certification to one or more of the following type of qualified recipients upon arrival at the specified destination associated with the preferred promotional result;

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

51. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the method feature presenting the certification includes:

presenting the certification that delineates a identification of the qualified recipient of the actual award or value or advantage.

52. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the method feature presenting the certification includes:

presenting the certification that includes a description of the actual award or value or advantage.

53. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result includes:

establishing the preferred promotional result that correlates with the implemented vehicle operation mode to cause an over-ride or cancellation of a default vehicle operational mode during travel on the particular route or area and/or during travel during a temporal period, which is subject to the given administrative standard.

54. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

providing preferred promotional result information that indicates the correlation between the preferred promotional result and a specified time period for implementing the vehicle operation mode.

55. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature processing the notification includes:

receiving the notification indicating a partial achievement of a required implementation of the vehicle operation mode during the applicable travel period.

56. The computer program product of claim 55 wherein the method further includes:

authorizing a reduced or lesser preferred promotional result based on the partial achievement of the required implementation of the vehicle operation mode.

57. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

providing notice of the implemented vehicle operation mode to an entity associated with giving an award or value or advantage to a qualified recipient.

58. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method further includes:

making a data record of an actual award or value or advantage that is included as part of the preferred promotional result obtained by a qualified recipient.

59. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the method feature providing user-accessible information regarding the preferred promotional result includes:

providing preferred promotional result information regarding one or more of the following types of qualification criteria;

redemption expiration, non-transferability, geographic redemption boundaries, cumulative vehicle performance, previous promotional result status, value limitation, multiple/duplicate award disqualification.