Systems and methods for regulating vehicle access

• US 9,586,559 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scoot Rides, Inc. (Bird Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scoot Networks, Inc. (Bird Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keating, Michael, Passmore, J. Loren, Russo, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/668,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20160023636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/28 characterised by quick release, e.g. snap on connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

A method for regulating vehicle access comprises receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request to access a vehicle. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) an electronic control unit that is programmed to permit use of said vehicle by a user when coupled to an electronic device of said user, wherein said electronic control unit comprises a communication interface that brings said electronic control unit in communication with said electronic device; and

(b) a housing having a support member that removably mounts said electronic device of said user during use of said vehicle, wherein said housing comprises a lid that seals said electronic device in said housing.

2. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an electronic switch that (i) permits use of said vehicle when said lid seals said electronic device in said housing, and (ii) disables said vehicle from use when said lid does not seal said electronic device in said housing.

4. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface is configured to bring said electronic control unit in communication with a server configured to regulate vehicle access.

5. The electronic control system of claim 4, wherein said electronic control unit is configured to receive access signal from said server to permit said user to use said vehicle.

6. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is adapted to permit use of said vehicle if said electronic control unit detects an access signal in a memory location of said electronic control unit or a memory location of said electronic device.

7. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is configured to permit access to said vehicle if, based on geographic information of said user indicating that a geographic location of said user is within a given distance from a designated geographic location at which said vehicle is disposed.

8. The electronic control system of claim 7, wherein said geographic information of said user is provided by said electronic device of said user.

9. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit is configured to permit said user use of said vehicle if said electronic control unit or said electronic device detects that said user is wearing a safety device.

10. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a motor scooter.

11. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is powered in whole or in part by electrical energy.

12. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a mobile electronic device.

13. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein said support member comprises at least one mounting bracket that mates with said electronic device.

3. An electronic control system for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) an electronic control unit that is programmed to permit use of said vehicle by a user when coupled to an electronic device of said user, wherein said electronic control unit comprises a communication interface that brings said electronic control unit in communication with said electronic device; and

(b) a housing having a support member that removably mounts said electronic device of said user during use of said vehicle, wherein said electronic device is an instrument cluster of said vehicle.

14. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said electronic unit is configured to permit access to said vehicle if, based on said geographic information of said user indicating that a geographic location of said user is within a given distance from a designated geographic location at which said vehicle is disposed.

15. The electronic control system of claim 14, wherein said electronic device is configured to provide said geographic information of said user.

16. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said communication interface is configured to bring said electronic control unit in communication with a server configured to regulate vehicle access.

17. The electronic control system of claim 16, wherein said electronic control unit is configured to receive access signal from said server to permit said user to use said vehicle.

18. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said electronic control unit is adapted to permit use of said vehicle if said electronic control unit detects an access signal in a memory location of said electronic control unit or a memory location of said electronic device.

19. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said electronic control unit is configured to permit said user use of said vehicle if said electronic control unit or said electronic device detects that said user is wearing a safety device.

20. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said support member comprises one or more mounting brackets that mate with said electronic device.

21. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle is a motor scooter.

22. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle is powered in whole or in part by electrical energy.

23. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein the electronic control system is disposed in said housing.

24. The electronic control system of claim 3, wherein said electronic device is a mobile electronic device.