Promotional incentives based on hybrid vehicle qualification

• US 8,457,873 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• 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): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/653,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/22, 701/36, 701/99, 701/123, 701/29.1, 701/29.3, 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 701/31.7, 701/32.3, 701/33.4, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/411, 701/412, 701/414, 701/415, 701/418, 701/423, 701/424, 701/425, 701/454, 701/465, 701/467, 701/468, 701/516, 701/517, 701/532, 701/533, 701/300, 340/988, 340/991, 340/995.12, 340/995.13, 340/995.27, 280/65.21, 280/65.265, 280/65.275, 280/65.28, 280/65.285, 280/65.29, 705/52, 705/53, 705/55, 705/76, 705/77, 705/78, 705/80, 705/14.1, 705/14.11, 705/14.25, 705/14.35, 705/14.36, 705/14.39, 705/14.4, 705/14.45, 705/14.58, 705/14.61, 705/14.62, 705/14.63, 705/14.64, 705/400, 705/500, 180/65.21, 180/65.265, 180/65.275, 180/65.28, 180/65.285, 180/65.29
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that may be 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 certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode. A further aspect may provide correlation between a selective operation mode of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle during an applicable travel period and a preferred consequential result available to a qualified recipient associated with the hybrid vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising non-transient computer-readable media having encoded instructions for executing the following method for promotional correlation with one or more selective hybrid vehicle modes, wherein the method includes:

providing user-accessible information indicating a correlation between a preferred consequential result and one or more possible hybrid vehicle operation modes of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle in accordance with a qualification state applicable to the particular route or area and/or applicable during the temporal travel period;

obtaining identification of at least one implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode of the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle, which implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode is detected during travel via a particular route or area and/or during a temporal travel period; and

confirming a vehicle certification status based on the implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode that is sufficient to qualify for the preferred consequential result.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with one or more of the following types of hybrid vehicle operation modes;

number of passengers, HOV lane standard, toll road standard, 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.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

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

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

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

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

receiving a confirming notification from an off-board sensor external to the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

receiving vehicle identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics for the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle traveling via the particular route or area and/or during the temporal travel period.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method feature receiving vehicle identifier data includes:

receiving vehicle identifier data from a communication device associated with the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method feature receiving vehicle identifier data includes:

receiving vehicle identifier data from an off-board sensor that is external to the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method feature receiving vehicle identifier data includes:

obtaining vehicle identifier data from a database correlation with a user ID.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said method feature receiving vehicle identifier data 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 electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

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

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method feature receiving identifier data indicative of one or more identification characteristics includes:

obtaining identification characteristics for a qualified recipient from a database correlation with a user ID or a vehicle ID.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said method feature 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 electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to confirming the vehicle certification status, making a promotional award or value or advantage available to a qualified recipient based on confirmation of the implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode during all or a portion of travel via the particular route or area and/or during all or a portion of the temporal travel period.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to confirming the vehicle certification status, authorizing one or more preferred consequential results to be respectively available upon arrival at one or more of the following types of specified destinations;

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

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said method feature authorizing one or more preferred consequential results to be respectively available upon arrival includes:

authorizing the preferred consequential result to be 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.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said method feature authorizing one or more preferred consequential results to be respectively available upon arrival includes:

authorizing the preferred consequential result to be 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.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to confirming the vehicle certification status, authorizing the preferred consequential result that includes a promotional award or value or advantage correlated with one or more hybrid vehicle operation modes implemented during all or a portion of the applicable travel period.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with the hybrid vehicle operation mode implemented during travel via alternative routes or areas.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with the hybrid vehicle operation mode implemented during one or more of the following types of temporal travel 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.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with the hybrid vehicle operation mode implemented during the temporal travel period that includes a designated high-traffic time period or a designated air quality time period or a designated natural phenomenon time period.

22. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to confirming the vehicle certification status, authorizing the preferred consequential result that includes a promotional award or value or advantage correlated with one or more configurable hybrid vehicle operating parameters that achieve a preferable hybrid vehicle paradigm during all or a portion of an applicable travel period.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

receiving a notification that includes confirmation of the one or more configurable hybrid vehicle operating parameters that achieve the preferable hybrid vehicle paradigm.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

receiving a confirming notification directly or indirectly from a communication device and/or monitoring device and/or detection device in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle and/or from a sensor located remotely from the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

receiving a notification confirming one or more of the following types of configurable hybrid vehicle operation parameters implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid 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 computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information indicating the correlation includes:

providing user-accessible information for the preferred consequential result correlated with at least one preferable hybrid vehicle paradigm implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with a limited velocity paradigm based on a maximum speed or minimum speed or speed range implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with a velocity paradigm to achieve a targeted destination arrival time.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the consequential result with a safety factor paradigm or an environmental benchmark paradigm implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred promotional result with an engine efficiency paradigm or a calibrated miles-per-gallon paradigm implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

31. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further includes:

correlating the preferred consequential result with at least one of the following type of preferable hybrid vehicle paradigms;

battery charging/discharging, exhaust paradigm for fuel emissions, fuel composition paradigm, multi-passenger threshold paradigm, electrical power paradigm, combustion power paradigm, calibrated temperature paradigm for a vehicle component.

32. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining a data record that includes a calendar-related log associated with the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle, wherein the calendar-related log includes status documentation for one or more hybrid vehicle operation modes implemented during travel via the particular route or area and/or during the temporal travel period.

33. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, making one or more of the following type of award or value or advantage available as part of the preferred consequential 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.

34. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, making one or more of the following type of award or value or advantage available as part of the preferred consequential 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.

35. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, 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.

36. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, presenting a certification of an actual promotional award or value or advantage included as part of the preferred consequential result.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

presenting to a qualified recipient the certification provided by or on behalf of a person or entity associated with the preferred consequential result.

38. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

encoding the certification on an electronic record associated with the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

39. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

encoding the certification on an electronic record associated with an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

40. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

posting the certification to an account record or an electronic card associated with the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

41. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

posting the certification to an account record or an electronic card associated with an operator or driver or passenger or owner or lessor or lessee or fleet manager of the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle.

42. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

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

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein said 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 consequential result;

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

44. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

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

45. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said method feature presenting the certification includes:

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

46. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, presenting to a qualified recipient the certification of the actual promotional 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.

47. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

responsive to said confirming the vehicle certification status, providing notice of the implemented vehicle operation mode to an entity associated with giving an award or value or advantage to a qualified recipient.

48. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information indicating the correlation includes:

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

49. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information indicating the correlation includes:

providing preferred consequential result information that indicates the correlation between the preferred consequential result and a cumulative record of performance regarding one or more specified vehicle operation modes implemented during all or a portion of an applicable travel period.

50. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

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

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

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

52. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining a first data record located remotely from the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle indicating one or more possible hybrid vehicle operation modes correlated with the preferred consequential result.

53. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature providing user-accessible information indicating the correlation includes:

providing preferred consequential result information regarding one or more of the following types of qualification criteria for a promotional award or value or advantage included as part of the preferred consequential result;

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

54. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining a data log record that provides corroboration for one or more hybrid vehicle operation modes implemented during travel via the particular route or area and/or during the temporal travel period.

55. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

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

56. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method feature confirming the vehicle certification status includes:

receiving a notification that includes cumulative performance data obtained for one or more specified vehicle operation modes implemented during all or a portion of an applicable travel period.

57. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining a second data record located separate from the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle indicating the certification status of the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle based on a cumulative performance of the implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode during an applicable travel period.

58. A system for promotional correlation with one or more selective hybrid vehicle modes, comprising:

one or more processing units for identifying at least one hybrid vehicle operation mode of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle traveling via a particular route or area and/or during a temporal travel period and for establishing availability of a preferred consequential result that correlates with at least one type of hybrid vehicle operation mode implemented in the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle in accordance with a qualification state applicable to the particular route or area and/or applicable during the temporal travel period;

a communication module providing user-accessible information indicating the correlation between the preferred consequential result and one or more possible hybrid vehicle operation modes; and

a certification module for receiving a notification confirming a vehicle certification status based on the implemented vehicle operation mode that is sufficient to qualify for the preferred consequential result.

59. A system for promotional correlation with selective hybrid vehicle modes, comprising:

a communication module for providing user-accessible information indicating a correlation between a preferred consequential result and one or more possible hybrid vehicle operation modes of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle in accordance with a qualification state applicable to the particular route or area and/or applicable during the temporal travel period;

one or more detection devices for obtaining identification of at least one implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode of the electric/combustion hybrid vehicle, which implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode is detected during travel via a particular route or area and/or during a temporal travel period; and

one or more processing units for determining a vehicle certification status based on the implemented hybrid vehicle operation mode that is sufficient to qualify for the preferred consequential result.