Multi-vehicle user-assistance systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A multi-vehicle user-assistance system, comprising:
- a mobile device having a mobile device communications platform and a location detection unit;
a plurality of participating vehicles, each participating vehicle including a vehicle communications platform, a vehicle location detection unit, and an exterior lighting component; and
a central server, including a central processing unit, to receive a request directly or indirectly from the mobile device communications platform, the request including a location of the mobile device, and the central processing unit programmed to;
identify any of the participating vehicles that are positioned within proximity of the location of the mobile device at a time of the request;
generate a vehicle lighting pattern using location information for each of the identified participating vehicles; and
transmit respective instructions to a select number of the identified participating vehicles, the respective instructions individually commanding the select number of number of the identified vehicles to activate the exterior lighting component such that together the select number of the identified participating vehicles execute the vehicle lighting pattern.
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Abstract
In an example of a multi-vehicle user-assistance method, a central server receives a request from a mobile device. The request includes a location of the mobile device. A central processing unit of the central server identifies a location of a plurality of participating vehicles positioned within proximity of the mobile device. The participating vehicles are unassociated with the mobile device. Instructions are respectively transmitted to at least some of the participating vehicles to activate an exterior lighting component i) as the mobile device is within proximity of the at least some of the participating vehicles or ii) as part of a vehicle lighting pattern.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A multi-vehicle user-assistance system, comprising:
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a mobile device having a mobile device communications platform and a location detection unit; a plurality of participating vehicles, each participating vehicle including a vehicle communications platform, a vehicle location detection unit, and an exterior lighting component; and a central server, including a central processing unit, to receive a request directly or indirectly from the mobile device communications platform, the request including a location of the mobile device, and the central processing unit programmed to; identify any of the participating vehicles that are positioned within proximity of the location of the mobile device at a time of the request; generate a vehicle lighting pattern using location information for each of the identified participating vehicles; and transmit respective instructions to a select number of the identified participating vehicles, the respective instructions individually commanding the select number of number of the identified vehicles to activate the exterior lighting component such that together the select number of the identified participating vehicles execute the vehicle lighting pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-vehicle user-assistance system, comprising:
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a mobile device having a location detection unit and a mobile device communications platform; a first vehicle associated with the mobile device, the first vehicle including a first vehicle communications platform and a first vehicle location detection unit; and a central server, including a central processing unit, to receive a request directly or indirectly from the mobile device communications platform, the request including a location of the mobile device and a first identifier, and the central processing unit programmed to; identify the first vehicle from the first identifier; identify a location of the first vehicle; identify a participating vehicle that is unassociated with the mobile device and is positioned between the location of the mobile device and the location of the first vehicle; continuously monitor the location of the mobile device; and transmit instructions to the participating vehicle to activate a lighting component of the participating vehicle as the mobile device is within proximity of the participating vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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13. A multi-vehicle user-assistance system, comprising:
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a mobile device having a location detection unit and a mobile device communications platform; a first vehicle associated with the mobile device, the first vehicle including a first vehicle communications platform and a first vehicle location detection unit; a plurality of participating vehicles; and a central server, including a central processing unit, to receive a request directly or indirectly from the mobile device communications platform, the request including a location of the mobile device and a first identifier, and the central processing unit programmed to; identify the first vehicle from the first identifier; identify a location of the first vehicle; identify any of the plurality of the participating vehicles positioned between the location of the mobile device and the location of the first vehicle along a path to the first vehicle; continuously monitor the location of the mobile device; and transmit respective instructions to each of the identified participating vehicles to sequentially activate the lighting component of each of the identified participating vehicles as the mobile device is within proximity of each of the identified participating vehicles.
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16. A multi-vehicle user-assistance method, comprising:
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receiving, at a central server, a request from a mobile device, the request including a location of the mobile device; by a central processing unit of the central server, identifying a location of a plurality of participating vehicles positioned within proximity of the mobile device, wherein the participating vehicles are unassociated with the mobile device; and by the central processing unit of the central server, respectively transmitting instructions to at least some of the participating vehicles to activate an exterior lighting component i) as the mobile device is within proximity of the at least some of the participating vehicles or ii) as part of a vehicle lighting pattern. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification