Promotional correlation with selective vehicle modes

• US 9,123,049 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• 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): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US12/592,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 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: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history

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 multi-mode vehicle in a user-selected first vehicle operation mode implemented via a vehicle operation control system 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, the compliance state corresponding to an extrinsic first benefit that accrues based on conformity with the given administrative standard, wherein the first benefit is provided by the administrative entity;

establishing criteria for a preferred promotional result including an award or value or advantage that is different from the first benefit, which preferred promotional result correlates with at least one type of second vehicle operation mode that includes a configurable vehicle operating parameter implemented by a user-selection made via the vehicle operation control system of the multi-mode vehicle during an applicable travel period via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard; and

receiving a notification from an on-board or remotely located communication module regarding a modified administrative conformity status of the vehicle based on confirmation of the implemented vehicle operation mode and/or the implemented vehicle operating parameter that are sufficient to qualify for the preferred promotional result.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said making the preferred promotional result available to the qualified recipient includes:

making an award or value or advantage available to one or more of the following type of qualified recipients based on the implemented vehicle operation mode;

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

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said making the preferred promotional result 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.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said making the preferred promotional result 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.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said making the preferred promotional result 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.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving 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.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the compliance state includes:

identifying the compliance state that includes one or more of the following types of qualification requirements;

number of passengers, I-10V 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result includes:

establishing the criteria for the preferred promotional result correlated with one or more implemented configurable vehicle operating parameters that achieve a preferable vehicle operation 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.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with at least one preferable vehicle operation implemented in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a battery charging/discharging mode implemented in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an exhaust mode for fuel emissions implemented in the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a fuel composition mode implemented in the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a multi-passenger threshold mode implemented in the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an electrical power mode or a combustion power mode for a hybrid engine in the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a calibrated temperature mode for a vehicle component.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a limited velocity mode based on a maximum speed or minimum speed or speed range implemented in the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a velocity mode to achieve a targeted destination arrival time.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a safety factor mode or an environmental benchmark mode implemented in the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an engine efficiency mode or a calibrated miles-per-gallon mode implemented in the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving the notification 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.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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.

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

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

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

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

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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.

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

identifying a compliance state of a multi-mode vehicle in a user-selected first vehicle operation mode implemented via a vehicle operation control system 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, the compliance state corresponding to an extrinsic first benefit that accrues based on conformity with the given administrative standard, wherein the first benefit is provided by the administrative entity;

establishing criteria for a preferred promotional result including an award or value or advantage that is different from the first benefit, which preferred promotional result correlates with at least one type of second vehicle operation mode that includes a configurable vehicle operating parameter implemented by a user-selection made via the vehicle operation control system of the multi-mode vehicle during an applicable travel period via the particular route or area subject to the given administrative standard; and

receiving and processing a notification from an on-board or remotely located communication module regarding a modified administrative conformity status of the vehicle based on confirmation of the implemented vehicle operation mode and/or the implemented vehicle operating parameter that are sufficient to qualify for the preferred promotional result.

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

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

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method feature making the preferred promotional result 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.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method feature making the preferred promotional result 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.

34. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method feature making the preferred promotional result 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.

35. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method feature receiving and 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.

36. The computer program product of claim 30 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.

37. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method feature receiving and processing the notification includes:

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

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

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

39. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method feature making the preferred promotional result available to the qualified recipient includes:

making an award or value or advantage available to one or more of the following type of qualified recipients based on the implemented vehicle operation mode;

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

40. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method further 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.

41. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method further 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.

42. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method feature establishing criteria for the preferred promotional result includes:

establishing the criteria for the preferred promotional result correlated with one or more implemented configurable vehicle operating parameters that achieve a preferable vehicle operation 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 further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with at least one preferable vehicle operation implemented in the vehicle.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a battery charging/discharging mode implemented in the vehicle.

45. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an exhaust mode for fuel emissions implemented in the vehicle.

46. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a fuel composition mode implemented in the vehicle.

47. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a multi-passenger threshold mode implemented in the vehicle.

48. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an electrical power mode or a combustion power mode for a hybrid engine in the vehicle.

49. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a calibrated temperature mode for a vehicle component.

50. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a limited velocity mode based on a maximum speed or minimum speed or speed range implemented in the vehicle.

51. The computer program product of claim 50 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a velocity mode to achieve a targeted destination arrival time.

52. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with a safety factor mode or an environmental benchmark mode implemented in the vehicle.

53. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an engine efficiency mode or a calibrated miles-per-gallon mode implemented in the vehicle.

54. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method feature receiving and processing the notification 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.

55. The computer program product of claim 30 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.

56. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein said receiving and 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.

57. The computer program product of claim 56 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.

58. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the method 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.