Methods and systems for defining vehicle user profiles and managing user profiles via cloud systems and applying learned settings to user profiles

• US 9,229,905 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, Angel A. Penilla
• Inventors: Penilla, Albert S., Penilla, Angel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brushaber, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US13/842,158
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• 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 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 20/325 using wireless networks
• 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: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 and systems are provide access to cloud services over the Internet for managing a user profile of a vehicle on a cloud processing system connected to the Internet. One example method includes receiving requests to access the user profile to define settings for one or more vehicles. The method includes receiving input to user settings at the vehicle at the cloud processing system. The method includes processing the input over time to learn behavior associated with the input to the use settings. The method includes transmitting settings to the vehicle to be automatically implemented based on the learned behavior. The method being executed by a processor. The profile can be transferred to one or more vehicles, can be set for a temporary period of time, can be set with wireless payment systems, and is accessible over the Internet to accept changes or updates.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to manage a profile for a user account;

identifying, by the server, a vehicle type from the profile;

receiving, by the server, a plurality of settings for the profile that identifies a vehicle having the vehicle type, the settings being stored on a profile database of a cloud services system that includes the server;

transferring, by the server, the profile to the vehicle identified in the plurality of settings, the transferring being via wireless communication transfer over the Internet, the profile configured to be applied so that the settings are implemented by the vehicle;

receiving, by the server, communication from the vehicle to update the profile with setting changes made at the vehicle or learned from user input at the vehicle,

receiving, by the server, data from the vehicle to detect a violation of a setting in the profile; and

automatically sending, by the server, a notification to a predefined administrator of the profile to identify the violation,

wherein for updates to the profile based on changes learned from user input at the vehicle, the method further includes,

accessing, by the server, a plurality of profiles of different users stored in the profile database;

detecting, by the server, pattern similarities in changes made to settings in vehicles associated with the profiles of different users;

providing a suggested setting for the vehicle to the user account of the profile, the suggested setting being based on the user input at the vehicle and refined using the detected pattern similarities of the different users,

wherein the communication from the vehicle to update the profile based on changes learned from user input occurs after acceptance of the suggestion is received from the user account of the profile, the method being executed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is caused to be disabled at the vehicle if a user associated with the user account is not validated to be using the vehicle with the profile, and sending a notification to the predefined administrator of the user account, the notification including a link to a user interface that enables communication with electronics of the vehicle, (a) to view images in and around the vehicle, or (b) to control an instrument of the vehicle, or (c) to remotely grant a guest profile for the vehicle, or (d) to sound an alarm at the vehicle, or (e) to establish a two-way audio/video communication with a person that is proximate to the vehicle from a remote location of a device connected to the Internet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile is activated on the vehicle when credentials of a user of the user account are verified, and wherein the user is verified using biometrics, and the biometrics automatically select a role for the vehicle that allow access to certain predefined preferences in the user profile for the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is associated with automatic purchase settings that link the vehicle use to a financial institution to enable a transaction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the automatic purchase settings include a verification during use of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle is being accessed by a user associate with the user account.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of settings are automatically adjusted and updated in the profile in response to learned user behavior, the learned user behavior being from use of the vehicle over time and settings made over time in the vehicle.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to manage a profile for a user account;

identifying, by the server, a vehicle type from the profile;

receiving, by the server, a plurality of settings for the profile that identifies a vehicle having the vehicle type, the settings being stored on a profile database of a cloud services system that includes the server;

transferring, by the server, the profile to the vehicle identified in the plurality of settings, the transferring being via wireless communication transfer over the Internet, the profile configured to be applied so that the settings are implemented by the vehicle;

receiving, by the server, communication from the vehicle to update the profile with setting changes learned from user input at the vehicle,

wherein the profile stored in the profile database is accessible via a device using a connection to the Internet;

wherein the device is one of a portable device, or a computer, or a vehicle computer interface, wherein the user account is provided with notifications requesting approval of a learned setting from the user input over time, the notification being presented via an application, the application providing access to a history of learned settings and a history of approval or disapproval of the learned settings.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the profile includes one or more roles of predefined settings, each of the roles is provided with a login, and each role when logged in provides predefined settings to the vehicle, and wherein each role enables or disables certain systems or functions of the vehicle, and use of the vehicle in accordance with each role saves a history of user for access at the cloud services system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each role can include one or more of fuel use settings, or driving characteristics settings, or location based settings, or time based use and restrictions settings, or automatic purchase settings, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the profile is caused to be disabled at the vehicle if a user associated with the user account is not validated to be using the vehicle with the profile, and the notifications are sent to a predefined administrator of the user account, the notification including a link to a user interface that enables communication with electronics of the vehicle, (a) to view images in and around the vehicle, or (b) to control an instrument of the vehicle, or (c) to remotely grant a guest profile for the vehicle, or (d) to sound an alarm at the vehicle, or (e) to establish a two-way audio/video communication with a person that is proximate to the vehicle from a remote location of a device connected to the Internet.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the profile is activated on the vehicle when credentials of a user of the user account are verified.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user is verified at least in part using biometrics, and the biometrics automatically assist in selecting a role for the vehicle that allows access to certain predefined preferences in the user profile for the vehicle.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to manage a profile for a user account;

identifying, by the server, a vehicle type from the profile;

receiving, by the server, a plurality of settings for the profile that identifies a vehicle having the vehicle type, the settings being stored on a profile database of a cloud services system that includes the server;

transferring, by the server, the profile to the vehicle identified in the plurality of settings, the transferring being via wireless communication transfer over the Internet, the profile configured to be applied so that the settings are implemented by the vehicle;

receiving, by the server, communication from the vehicle to update the profile with setting changes learned from user input at the vehicle,

wherein the profile stored in the profile database is accessible via a device using a connection to the Internet;

wherein, the user account is provided a notification requesting approval of a recommended learned setting from the user input that were made over time in the vehicle, the notification being accessible via an application, the application providing a user interface of a history of learned settings and a history of approval or disapproval of the learned settings and processing the approvals and disapprovals to determine a probability that the user will accept a future recommended learned setting, and if the probability is below a predefined threshold, the future recommended learned settings is not provided as a notification to the user account.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of settings include one or more of tracking and metrics, or comfort, or entertainment, or driving modes, or refueling routing and purchase.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the profile is caused to be disabled at the vehicle if a user associated with the user account is not validated to be using the vehicle with the profile, and sending notifications to a predefined administrator of the user account, the notification including a link to a user interface that enables communication with electronics of the vehicle, (a) to view images in and around the vehicle, or (b) to control an instrument of the vehicle, or (c) to remotely grant a guest profile for the vehicle, or (d) to sound an alarm at the vehicle, or (e) to establish a two-way audio/video communication with a person that is proximate to the vehicle from a remote location of a device connected to the Internet.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the profile is activated on the vehicle when credentials of a user of the user account are verified.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user is verified at least in part using biometrics, and the biometrics are used to automatically select a role for the vehicle that allows access to certain predefined preferences in the user profile for the vehicle.

18. A method for managing a profile of a user account of a vehicle, comprising

receiving a plurality of settings for the profile, the settings being stored on a profile database of a cloud services system;

transferring the profile to the vehicle identified in the plurality of settings, the transferring being via wireless communication transfer over the Internet, the profile being applied so that the settings are implemented by the vehicle;

receiving communication from the vehicle to update one or more settings of the profile with setting changes learned from user input at the vehicle over time, wherein the profile is disabled at the vehicle if a user associated with the user account is not validated to be authorized for use in the profile; and

sending a notification over the Internet automatically to an administrator of the user account, the notification including a link to a user interface that enables communication with electronics of the vehicle, (a) to view images in and around the vehicle, or (b) to control an instrument of the vehicle, or (c) to remotely grant a guest profile for the vehicle, or (d) to sound an alarm at the vehicle, or (e) to establish a two-way audio/video communication with a person that is proximate to the vehicle, or (f) to view a recommendation for making a setting for the vehicle based on setting changes learned from user input at the vehicle, the user interface accessed via the link is presented on a display of one of a computing device that is remote from the vehicle, a portable device, or a vehicle computer interface,

wherein communication from the vehicle to update the profile with the one or more settings based on setting changes learned from user inputs is configured to occur after receiving approval of the recommendation for making a setting for the vehicle, the method being executed by a processor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the profile is activated on the vehicle when credentials of a user of the user account are verified.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the user is verified using at least one biometric input of the user, the biometric input is configured to automatically select a role for the vehicle that allow access to certain predefined preferences and settings identified in the user profile for using the vehicle.