Managing autonomous vehicles

• US 10,753,754 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2018
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Delizio
• Original Assignee: Andrew Delizio
• Inventors: DeLizio, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/875,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20180202822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method for an autonomous vehicle obtaining services can include: detecting, by the autonomous vehicle, a need for service; sending, over a network interface of the autonomous vehicle, a request for service; determining a rendezvous location at which service will be received; maneuvering, by the autonomous vehicle, to the rendezvous location; receiving, by the autonomous vehicle over a network, an authentication code; in response to receiving the authentication code, enabling, by the autonomous vehicle, access to components of the autonomous vehicle; determining, by the autonomous vehicle, that the service is complete; and transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle, an indication that the service is complete.

Claims

1. A method for an autonomous vehicle obtaining services, the method comprising:

determining, by an autonomous vehicle, that the autonomous vehicle needs a service;

transmitting, over a wireless network by the autonomous vehicle, a request for the service to a fleet controller;

receiving, by the fleet controller, the request for the service;

determining, by the fleet controller, a meeting location at which the service will be provided;

transmitting, by the fleet controller, the meeting location and the service request to the autonomous vehicle and to a plurality of electronic devices each associated with one of a plurality of service providers;

presenting, by an electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, the service request in a graphical user interface (GUI);

detecting, by the electronic device, an indication that a service provider of the plurality of service providers has accepted the service request;

transmitting, by the electronic device over the wireless network, a service acknowledgment indicating the service request was accepted by the service provider;

receiving, by the fleet controller, the service acknowledgment;

transmitting, by the fleet controller, an authentication code to the electronic device;

receiving, by the electronic device, the authentication code;

maneuvering, by the autonomous vehicle, to the meeting location;

requesting, over a local area network, the authentication code from the electronic device;

enabling, by the autonomous vehicle, access to components of the autonomous vehicle;

transmitting, by the electronic device over the wireless network, a service status indicator indicating status of the service;

receiving, by the fleet controller, the service status indicator;

transmitting, by the fleet controller over the wireless network, the service status indicator to the autonomous vehicle;

receiving, by the autonomous vehicle, the service status indicator;

querying, by the autonomous vehicle, sensor information associated with the service;

determining, by the autonomous vehicle, that the sensor information is consistent with the service status indicator;

transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle over the wireless network, an indication that the service is complete;

receiving, by the fleet controller the indication that the service is complete; and

providing, by the fleet controller, value to the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor information indicates a level of fuel in the autonomous vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the meeting location is a gas station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service status indicator indicates at least one of a quantity of fuel provided to the autonomous vehicle, volume of fluids added to the autonomous vehicle, and indication that the service is complete.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing value to the service provider includes transferring monetary value to an account associated with the service provider.

6. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums including computer-executable program code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes at least one of the processors to perform operations for enabling autonomous vehicles to obtain service, the computer executable program code comprising:

program code to determine, by an autonomous vehicle, that the autonomous vehicle needs a service to a fleet controller;

program code to transmit, over a wireless network by the autonomous vehicle, a request for the service;

program code to receive, by the fleet controller, the request for the service;

program code to determine, by the fleet controller, a meeting location at which the service will be provided;

program code to transmit, by the fleet controller, the meeting location and the service request to the autonomous vehicle and to a plurality of electronic devices each associated with one of a plurality of service providers;

program code to present, by an electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, the service request in a graphical user interface (GUI);

program code to detect, by the electronic device, an indication that a service provider of the plurality of service providers has accepted the service request;

program code to transmit, by the electronic device over the wireless network, a service acknowledgment indicating the service request was accepted by the service provider;

program code to receive, by the fleet controller, the service acknowledgment;

program code to transmit, by the fleet controller, an authentication code to the electronic device;

program code to receive, by the electronic device, the authentication code;

program code to maneuver, by the autonomous vehicle, to the meeting location;

program code to request, over a local area network, the authentication code from the electronic device;

program code to enable, by the autonomous vehicle, access to components of the autonomous vehicle;

program code to transmit, by the electronic device over the wireless network, a service status indicator indicating status of the service;

program code to receive, by the fleet controller, the service status indicator;

program code to transmit, by the fleet controller over the wireless network, the service status indicator to the autonomous vehicle;

program code to receive, by the autonomous vehicle, the service status indicator;

program code to query, by the autonomous vehicle, sensor information associated with the service;

program code to determine, by the autonomous vehicle, that the sensor information is consistent with the service status indicator;

program code to transmit, by the autonomous vehicle over the wireless network, an indication that the service is complete;

program code to receive, by the fleet controller the indication that the service is complete; and

program code to provide, by the fleet controller, value to the service provider.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 6, wherein the sensor information indicates a level of fuel in the autonomous vehicle.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 6, wherein the meeting location is a gas station.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 6, wherein the service status indicator indicates at least one of a quantity of fuel provided to the autonomous vehicle, volume of fluids added to the autonomous vehicle, and indication that the service is complete.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 6, wherein the program code to provide value to the service provider includes transferring monetary value to an account associated with the service provider.