Methods and systems for setting and transferring user profiles to vehicles and temporary sharing of user profiles to shared-use vehicles

• US 9,171,268 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, Angel A. Penilla
• Inventors: Penilla, Angel A., Penilla, Albert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US14/050,314
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/107, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/06 using only one supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/665 Light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 : Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 : Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 : involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 : Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 : Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 : Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0021 : Access to services on a time-basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 : for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Methods are provide access to cloud services over the Internet for locating and providing access to a shared vehicle of a shared vehicle network. One method includes receiving a request from a user device of a user to locate a vehicle to use for a shared period of time. The method enables providing an option of vehicles within a range of a location identified by the request. Then, detecting proximity of the user device to a selected vehicle proximate to the location identified by the request. The method enables transfer of a user profile of the user to the vehicle. The profile is configured to automatically set one or more user preferences of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving use data of the vehicle while the user profile is set for the vehicle. The user profile is deactivated on the selected vehicle when use of the vehicle is discontinued.

Claims

1. A method for locating and providing access to a shared vehicle of a shared vehicle network, comprising,

receiving, by a server, a request from a user device of a user to locate a vehicle to use for a shared period of time, the request being associated with a user account of the user;

providing, by the server, an option of vehicles within a range of a location identified by the request;

receiving data from the user device to identify proximity of the user device to a vehicle that is selected;

examining of a user profile of the user, wherein the examining includes identifying available vehicle settings of the vehicle to determine vehicle settings that are compatible to settings defined by one or more user preferences of the user profile;

transferring the user profile, wherein after transfer of the user profile the vehicle is configured to automatically set on the vehicle one or more of the available vehicle settings that are determined compatible with settings identified in one or more of the user preferences of the user profile; and

receiving, by the server, use data of the vehicle while the user profile transferred to the vehicle is active, the use data being associated to the user account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile is deactivated on the vehicle when use of the vehicle is discontinued.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user profile is saved to a cloud services database, the user profile being accessible and updatable via a device having Internet access, such that transfer of the user profile to other vehicles enables the automatic setting of one or more vehicle settings consistent with user preferences available on the vehicle during the use of the vehicle, and wherein the profile includes automatic payment settings to allow wireless payment for services.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle settings include one or more of radio settings, or user interface settings, or temperature settings for particular times of day, or temperature settings, or air settings, or display settings, or speed settings, or internet settings, or pairing settings, or remote access settings, or home control settings, or audio settings, or entertainment settings, or mapping settings, or heating settings, or payment settings, or sub-user settings, or key fob settings, or user ID settings, or biometric settings, or fingerprint settings, or eye scan settings, or role settings, or administrator settings, or login settings, or location based settings, or tracking settings, or calendar settings, or vehicle mode settings, or operational settings, or combinations of two or more settings, or learned settings from user historical use, or seat settings, or automatic payment settings, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that vehicle settings are compatible includes performing a mapping between settings associated with the user profile and the available vehicle settings of the vehicle, wherein at least some of the available settings of the vehicle are obtained from a database that identifies a type of the vehicle, wherein a type of the vehicle includes at least one of a vehicle make or a vehicle model.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user profile includes verifiable biometrics for the user associated with the user profile.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein face recognition is used to validate access to the vehicle that is selected, as defined by data in the user profile.

8. The method claim 2,

wherein the user profile includes a group of sub-users provided with access to the vehicle that is selected, and each sub-user is associated with one or more settings, or

wherein the user profile is transferable to one or more other vehicles, or

wherein the user profile is transferable to another vehicle for a period of time, or

wherein the user profile that is transferred is for a rental vehicle or the shared vehicle;

and

wherein upon deactivating the user profile of the selected vehicle or select other vehicles, settings are returned to a neutral setting that are not associated with the user profile.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the user profile is accessible via a computing device having access to the user account over the Internet, the user profile being editable to (a) adjust the user preferences, or (b) define access to one or more cameras of one or more vehicles, or (c) adjust settings, or (d) manage or access remote access controls of the vehicle, or combinations thereof.

10. A method, comprising,

receiving, at a server, information for a user profile of a user, the user profile defining one or more settings that are preferred to be set in vehicles if the vehicles support the settings;

identifying a selected vehicle for applying the user profile, the selected vehicle having a plurality of settable settings, the selected vehicle being one of a plurality of vehicles identified as available by the server;

determining, by the server, applicable settings for the selected vehicle, the applicable settings being settings that are preferred to be set as identified from the user profile and are compatible with settings that are settable in the selected vehicle; and

sending, by the server, the applicable settings for programming to the selected vehicle, wherein the applicable settings are programmed on the selected vehicle after receipt by the selected vehicle over a wireless connection, wherein the method is executed by the server, the server including a processor;

wherein the selected vehicle includes vehicle electronics for applying the programming to cause the applicable settings to be activated on the selected vehicle and communication circuitry for communicating via the wireless connection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending the applicable settings to the vehicle includes, sending the applicable settings directly to the vehicle electronics of the selected vehicle, or sending the applicable settings to a computing device for subsequent transfer to the selected vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising,

examining setting modifications over a period of time that defines a history use;

generating learned settings by analyzing the history of use; and

sending the learned settings to the user profile for use or transfer to the selected vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of settable settings of the selected vehicle are predefined for specific types of vehicles associated with automobile makers or automobile models;

wherein the settable settings include one or more of radio settings, or user interface settings, or temperature settings for particular times of day, or temperature settings, or air settings, or display settings, or speed settings, or internet settings, or pairing settings, or remote access settings, or home control settings, or audio settings, or entertainment settings, or mapping settings, or heating settings, or payment settings, or sub-user settings, or key fob settings, or user ID settings, or biometric settings, or fingerprint settings, or eye scan settings, or role settings, or administrator settings, or login settings, or calendar settings, or location based settings, or tracking settings, or vehicle mode settings, or operational settings, or combinations of two or more settings, or learned settings from user historical use, or seat settings, or automatic payment settings, or combinations of two or more thereof.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining of the applicable settings for the selected vehicle includes performing a mapping between settings associated with the user profile and settings obtained from an automobile database, wherein the user profile is deactivated on the selected vehicle when use of the vehicle is discontinued or when the user profile is switched to a new user profile or when the user profile is turned off or removed from the vehicle, and wherein upon deactivating settings of the selected vehicle are returned to a neutral setting.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the applicable settings for the selected vehicle are saved or stored in association to the user profile, the method further includes determining applicable settings for one or more other selected vehicles and saving said applicable settings to the user profile, such that the user profile can identify settings for two or more vehicles.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising,

verifying the user as associated with the user profile using one or more biometric evaluation systems, which include one or more of image detection, or face detection, or voice detection, or finger print detection, or password detection, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising,

associating one or more sub-user accounts to the user profile, the sub-user accounts having predefined privileges for the selected vehicle to enable or restrict settings or function of the selected vehicle.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected vehicle is a private vehicle or a shared vehicle associated with a car sharing system,

if the vehicle is associated with a car sharing system, the settable settings of the selected vehicle can be enabled or disabled using an administrator account of the car sharing system, or

if the vehicle is a private vehicle, the settable settings of the selected vehicle can be enabled or disabled using an administrator account that can define one or more sub-user accounts with the same or varying privileges for use of the selected vehicle,

the user profile being accessible via a computer having Internet access to the server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein particular sub-user accounts enable access to specific information concerning the selected vehicle, the information including one or more of vehicle sensors, vehicle electronics, vehicle mechanics, engine control, vehicle diagnostics, or combinations thereof,

wherein said particular sub-user accounts are accessible over the Internet for viewing or control using a password.

20. A method for managing a user profile of a vehicle via a cloud processing system being accessible over the Internet and wherein the vehicle is provided with wireless communication logic for connecting to the Internet for accessing the cloud processing system, comprising,

accessing the cloud processing system by the vehicle, the user profile having user settings for the vehicle, wherein certain of the user settings are determined to be compatible for use with the vehicle;

communicating to the cloud processing system by the vehicle, changes to user settings, the cloud processing system processing the changes and other changes to the user settings to learn behavior associated with the changes to the user settings; and

receiving by the vehicle, from time to time, automatic changes to the user settings of the vehicle, wherein a repeat pattern of the changes is qualified as learned behavior before the automatic changes are sent to the vehicle for programming on the vehicle, wherein the user profile is configured to be updated to account for the automatic changes made to the user settings of the vehicle,

wherein electronics of the vehicle enable connection of the vehicle to the Internet for enabling the accessing of the user profile, the communicating of changes and the receiving of the automatic changes, to and from, the cloud processing system, wherein the cloud processing system is accessible by vehicles having predefined access credentials, the method being executable by a processor;

wherein user settings for the user profile include one or more of radio settings, or user interface settings, or temperature settings, or air settings, or display settings, or speed settings, or internet settings, or pairing settings, or remote access settings, or home control settings, or audio settings, or entertainment settings, or map data settings, or heating settings, or payment settings, or sub-user settings, or key fob settings, or user ID settings, or biometric settings, or fingerprint settings, or eye scan settings, or role settings, or administrator settings, or login settings, or location based settings, or tracking settings, or calendar settings, or vehicle mode settings, or operational settings, or combinations of two or more settings, or learned settings from user said learned behavior, or seat settings, or automatic payment settings, or combinations of two or more thereof.