SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING FLEET-SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IMMEDIATE VEHICLE TO A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Abstract

System (12) for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics of a vehicle (10) to one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the system (12) comprises: one or more controllers (20) in wireless communication with a centralized computer system containing one or more databases (44) for storing fleet-specific characteristics, wherein the one or more controllers (20) execute instructions to: to undergo a passive wireless interaction with the one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the passive wireless interaction includes the determination that the one or more personal electronic devices (14) are in a predefined proximity to the vehicle (10) without human interaction; and in response to the passive wireless interaction, to transmit one or more fleet-specific features to the one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the one or more fleet-specific features are shared by a fleet of vehicles, the fleet comprising an immediate vehicle (10) and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes, where one or more common attributes include one or more of the following: vehicle origin, functionality and a general company that controls the vehicle fleet.

Description

introduction

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics of an immediate vehicle to one or more personal electronic devices, wherein the fleet comprises the immediate vehicle and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes.

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with several different features, functions, and options. For example, end users or customers can choose a specific vehicle based on one or more of its attributes, according to their own needs and preferences. Furthermore, instead of owning a vehicle, many users today rent one or participate in a car-sharing or ride-sharing arrangement. However, a user may not be familiar with the specific features and capabilities of a particular vehicle. This can be especially true if a person usually rents or participates in a ride-sharing arrangement rather than owning their own vehicle.

[0003] In addition to the challenges mentioned above, some users may have concerns about using a shared or rented vehicle for a number of reasons. For example, a user might be hesitant to drive a shared vehicle if they are unaware of its disinfection status. This means that users may be concerned about driving a vehicle if they are not informed about a specific disinfection schedule for that particular vehicle. As another example, users might be hesitant to use an autonomous vehicle if they are unaware of statistics regarding automated mileage for a specific make or manufacturer of the vehicle.

[0004] Although current vehicles fulfill their intended purpose, there is a need in technology and industry for a concept that informs users about the various features of a vehicle.

[0005] DE 10 2013 225 742 A1 discloses a system in which a server, upon request from a wireless communication device, provides temporary security information which is used to encrypt messages between the wireless communication device and a central module. DE 10 2019 101 120 A1 describes a vehicle-side access system ("Comfort Access") in which a mobile device transmits a digital key, the vehicle verifying its integrity and storing the key with associated permissions in a key list. Summary

[0006] A system for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics of a vehicle to one or more personal electronic devices is disclosed in several respects. The system comprises one or more controllers in wireless connection or communication with a centralized computer system containing one or more databases for storing the fleet-specific characteristics. The one or more controllers execute instructions to initiate passive wireless interaction with the one or more personal electronic devices. This passive wireless interaction includes ensuring that the one or more personal electronic devices are within a predefined proximity of the vehicle without human interaction.In response to the passive wireless interaction, the one or more controllers transmit one or more fleet-specific features to the one or more personal electronic devices, wherein the one or more fleet-specific features are shared by a fleet of vehicles, and the fleet of vehicles comprises an immediate vehicle and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes.

[0007] In one aspect, passive wireless interaction involves setting up or establishing wireless communication between one or more controllers and one or more personal electronic devices based on a near-field or short-range communication protocol.

[0008] In another aspect, the predefined proximity is a communication area or communication range of the short-range communication protocol that connects the one or more controllers and the personal electronic device.

[0009] In yet another aspect, the short-range communication protocol is defined by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.xx standards.

[0010] According to the invention, the one or more common attributes of one or more of the following include: vehicle origin, functionality and a general organization or company that controls the vehicle fleet.

[0011] In another aspect, the vehicle origin includes one or more of the following details: a make, model, or mobility company that provides autonomous software for the immediate vehicle.

[0012] In one aspect, passive wireless interaction includes the detection that the vehicle and the personal electronic device are in a predefined proximity to each other, based on distance measurement or proximity sensing.

[0013] In yet another aspect, proximity detection includes receiving coordinates that specify the location of one or more personal electronic devices, determining a distance between the personal electronic device and the vehicle based on the coordinates of the personal electronic device, and comparing the distance between the personal electronic device and the vehicle with the predefined proximity.

[0014] In one aspect, the fleet-specific features include one or more of the following: explanatory videos and information, statistics relating to automated mileage traveled for a specific make or manufacturer of the vehicle, cleaning and disinfection plans, statistics relating to environmental compatibility, and available access features.

[0015] In one aspect, a system for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics of a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises one or more personal electronic devices in wireless communication with a centralized computer system containing one or more databases for storing the fleet-specific characteristics. Each of the personal electronic devices contains one or more controllers that execute instructions to undergo active wireless interaction with the one or more information transmission objects. The active wireless interaction includes determining that the personal electronic device is within a predefined proximity of the vehicle, based on an intentional action by a person.In response to the completion of active wireless interaction, the centralized computer transmits one or more fleet-specific features to the one or more personal electronic devices, wherein the one or more fleet-specific features are shared by a fleet of vehicles, and the fleet of vehicles comprises an immediate vehicle and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes.

[0016] In another aspect, the intentional act consists of individually scanning a symbol with a camera of a personal electronic device.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the symbol identifies the fleet to which the immediate vehicle belongs.

[0018] In one aspect, the symbol identifies a corresponding Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle in question.

[0019] In another aspect, the symbol is located on an exterior or interior surface of the vehicle.

[0020] In one aspect, the symbol is a decal or sticker placed on a passenger-side window of the vehicle.

[0021] In another aspect, the symbol is displayed via a screen located inside the vehicle.

[0022] In one aspect, the intentional act consists of placing a personal electronic device near an inductively coupled reader transponder or tag attached to the vehicle in order to initiate a connection.

[0023] In another aspect, the one or more common attributes include: vehicle origin, functionality, and a general company that controls the vehicle fleet.

[0024] In yet another aspect, the vehicle origin includes one or more of the following details: a make, a model, or a mobility company that provides the autonomous software for the immediate vehicle.

[0025] In one aspect, the fleet-specific features include one or more of the following: explanatory videos and information, statistics relating to automated mileage traveled for a specific make or manufacturer of the vehicle, cleaning and disinfection plans, statistics relating to environmental compatibility, and available access features.

[0026] Further applications will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Brief description of the drawings

[0027] The drawings described here are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary vehicle that includes the disclosed system for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics to one or more personal electronic devices according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary symbol, which is a quick-response (QR) code arranged on a vehicle windshield, according to an exemplary embodiment; and Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the personal electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed description

[0028] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application or uses.

[0029] Referring to Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary vehicle 10 that incorporates the system 12 disclosed herein. The system 12 communicates or transmits fleet-specific characteristics of the vehicle 10 to one or more personal electronic devices 14 located within a predefined proximity of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 can be any type of vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a sedan, truck, off-road vehicle, van, or motorhome. In one embodiment, the vehicle 10 is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; however, it is understood that a vehicle manually controlled by a person can also be used. As explained below, the fleet-specific characteristics of the vehicle 10 are shared by a fleet of vehicles, the fleet comprising an immediate vehicle (i.e., the vehicle 10) and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes.The one or more common attributes are described below, but include attributes such as the vehicle's origin (e.g., a make or model), functionality (e.g., wireless charging), or a general company that controls the vehicle fleet (e.g., a rental car company). The disclosed system 12 comprises one or more controllers 20 in electronic communication with one or more transmit / receive devices or transceivers 22, an antenna 24, and one or more vehicle systems 26. The one or more transceivers 22 and the antenna 24 wirelessly connect the one or more controllers 20 of the vehicle 10 to a backend office 30 and the personal electronic device 14.

[0030] As explained below, the system 12 transmits the fleet-specific characteristics in response to passive or active wireless interaction with the personal electronic device 14. Specifically, passive wireless interaction involves determining that the personal electronic device 14 is within a predefined proximity of the vehicle 10 without human interaction and includes establishing wireless communication with the personal electronic device 14 based on a short-range communication protocol or, alternatively, by proximity detection, both of which are described below. In contrast, active wireless interaction involves determining that the personal electronic device 14 is within a predefined proximity of the vehicle 10 based on an intentional action by a person.As explained below, in one embodiment, active wireless interaction may, for example, involve individually scanning a symbol 32 (see . Fig. 2) act, wherein symbol 32 is a special image that identifies the specific identity of vehicle 10.

[0031] The fleet comprises the immediate vehicle (e.g., vehicle 10) in combination with one or more additional vehicles that share common attributes, with the one or more common attributes applicable to the fleet being applied in various ways. In one embodiment, two or more common attributes are combined to form a subcategory of vehicles that are part of a common main attribute. The main category might be, for example, the general company that controls the vehicle fleet, such as a car rental company (e.g., Hertz), and the subcategory might be a common vehicle origin (e.g., all vehicles manufactured by the General Motors Company).In one embodiment, a user can select one or more common attributes via one or more user interfaces 40 that are part of the personal electronic device 14. However, it is understood that in another approach, the one or more attributes of the vehicle fleet are predefined, and a user might not be able to select the common attributes. In a further embodiment, a user can locate vehicles within a predefined distance of the immediate vehicle that are part of the group of vehicles. For example, a user might choose to search for all vehicles manufactured by General Motors Company that include wireless charging within a predefined distance (e.g., all vehicles manufactured by General Motors Company that can be wirelessly charged within five kilometers).

[0032] The personal electronic device 14 can be any type of communication device for sending or transmitting and receiving data, which includes one or more user interfaces 40 for transmitting information to a user. In the Fig. In the example shown, the user interface 40 is a touchscreen; however, it is understood that other devices, such as a loudspeaker, can also be used. The personal electronic device 14 can be, for example, a smartphone or a laptop computer. The one or more vehicle systems 26 can be any vehicle system or subsystem for transmitting information relating to the operation of the vehicle 10 to the one or more controllers 20, such as artificial intelligence systems, automated driving systems such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a propulsion system, an energy storage system, or a driver monitoring system.

[0033] The passive wireless interaction with the personal electronic device 14 will now be described. Specifically, in one embodiment, the passive wireless interaction comprises establishing wireless communication between the one or more controllers 20 of the vehicle 10 and the personal electronic device 14 based on a short-range communication protocol. Wireless communication is established when the personal electronic device 14 is within a predefined proximity of the vehicle 10. In one embodiment, the predefined proximity is the communication area or range of a specific short-range communication protocol that connects the one or more controllers 20 of the vehicle 10 and the personal electronic device 14.In a non-restrictive embodiment, the short-range communication protocol is defined by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.xx standards.

[0034] In one example, the short-range communication protocol is a wireless local area network (also known as Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11 standard), and the communication range is approximately 45 to 90 meters, depending on the environment. Thus, the predefined proximity is approximately 45 to 90 meters, depending on the environment. In another example, the short-range communication protocol is based on IEEE 802.15.1, and the communication range is approximately 10 meters.

[0035] In response to the determination that short-range wireless communication is established between the one or more controllers 20 of the vehicle 10 and the personal electronic device 14, the one or more controllers 20 of the system 12 retrieve the fleet-specific characteristics that define the properties of the vehicle 10 from one or more centralized computers 42 that are part of the backend office 30. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the centralized computers 42 contain one or more databases 44 for storing the fleet-specific characteristics that specify the properties of the vehicle 10.

[0036] The fleet-specific characteristics, which specify the properties of the vehicle 10, are then transmitted to the personal electronic device 14. In response to receiving the fleet-specific characteristics, the personal electronic device 14 transmits them via the user interface 40. For example, if the user interface 40 is a touchscreen, the personal electronic device 14 transmits the fleet-specific characteristics by displaying information relating to the fleet-specific characteristics on the touchscreen. Alternatively, the user interface 40 can also be a speaker or other audio device for transmitting the fleet-specific characteristics by means of sound.

[0037] In another embodiment, the passive wireless interaction includes detecting that the one or more controllers 20 of the vehicle 10 and the personal electronic device 14 are in a predefined proximity to each other, based on proximity detection. During distance measurement or proximity detection, the one or more controllers 20 receive coordinates that specify the location of the personal electronic device 14. In one embodiment, the coordinates that specify the location of the personal electronic device 14 are, for example, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinates.The one or more controllers 20 determine a distance between the personal electronic device 14 and the vehicle 10 based on the coordinates of the personal electronic device 14 and compare this distance to the predefined proximity. Instead of relying on a specific short-range communication protocol, in this example the predefined proximity simply indicates that the personal electronic device 14 is within a predefined distance range of the vehicle 10.In response to the determination that the distance between the personal electronic device 14 and the vehicle 10 is equal to or less than the predefined proximity, the one or more controllers 20 retrieve the fleet-specific characteristics that define the properties of the vehicle 10 from one or more centralized computers 42 that are part of the backend office 30. In an alternative embodiment, the one or more controllers 20 include the telephone controllers 46, wherein the telephone controllers 46 retrieve the fleet-specific characteristics from one or more centralized computers 42.

[0038] The active wireless interaction with the personal electronic device 14 will now be described. Specifically, the active wireless interaction includes determining that the personal electronic device 14 is in the predefined proximity of the vehicle 10 in response to the detection of an intentional action performed by a person. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the personal electronic device 14 with the user interface 40, one or more controllers 46, a camera 48, one or more antennas 50, and a communication circuit 52, which is coupled to the antenna 50 for inductively coupled communication. The one or more controllers 46 of the personal electronic device 14 are in electronic connection or communication with the user interface 40, the camera 48, and the communication circuit 52.

[0039] Referring to Fig. In one embodiment, as described in Figures 1-3, the intentional act is the individual scanning of symbol 32 by means of the camera 48 of the personal electronic device 14. The one or more controllers 46 of the personal electronic device 14 undergo active wireless interaction with one or more information transmission objects. In one embodiment, the one or more information transmission objects comprise symbol 32, wherein symbol 32 is a specific image that identifies the fleet, including the immediate vehicle (e.g., vehicle 10). In another embodiment, symbol 32 identifies the immediate vehicle by means of a corresponding vehicle identification number (VIN). In the non-restrictive embodiment, as described in Figures 1-3, the symbol 32 is a specific image that identifies the fleet, including the immediate vehicle (e.g., vehicle 10). Fig. As shown in Figure 2, symbol 32 is a Quick Response (QR) code located on a passenger window 60 of vehicle 10; however, Fig. 2 are merely examples of their kind, and symbol 32 is not limited to a QR code. In another example, symbol 32 could be another customer-specific barcode or image that can be scanned by the camera of the personal electronic device 14, such as, but not limited to, a University of Cordoba augmented reality code (ArUco). Although Fig. 2. Where the symbol 32 is also illustrated as a decal affixed to a passenger window 60 of the vehicle 10, it is understood that the symbol 32 is also affixed to any other external or internal surface of the vehicle 10. Although Fig. Figure 2 illustrates that symbol 32 is printed on a sticker or decal. In another embodiment, symbol 32 is displayed on a screen located inside the vehicle 10. Specifically, during vehicle startup, one or more controllers 20 instruct a screen to display symbol 32.

[0040] The camera 48 of the personal electronic device 14 transmits image data representing the symbol 32 to the one or more controllers 46 of the personal electronic device 14. The one or more controllers 46 of the personal electronic device 14 decode the symbol 32. As mentioned above, the symbol 32 can identify either the fleet that includes the immediate vehicle or, alternatively, the corresponding VIN of the immediate vehicle. If the symbol 32 identifies the fleet to which the immediate vehicle belongs, the one or more controllers then retrieve the fleet-specific characteristics that specify the properties of the vehicle 10 from the centralized computers 42 that are part of the backend office 30. The fleet-specific characteristics specifying the properties of the vehicle 10 are then transmitted to a user via the one or more user interfaces 40.For example, fleet-specific characteristics can be displayed on a touchscreen or display.

[0041] Alternatively, if symbol 32 identifies the corresponding VIN of the immediate vehicle, the one or more controllers 20 then compare the common attributes that apply to the immediate vehicle with the one or more common attributes of the vehicle fleet. As mentioned above, the one or more common attributes can be selected by a user, or alternatively, the one or more attributes of the vehicle fleet are predefined. Upon determining that the common attributes of the immediate vehicle match the one or more common attributes of the vehicle fleet, the one or more controllers then retrieve the fleet-specific characteristics that specify the properties of vehicle 10 from the centralized computers 42 that are part of the backend office 30.The fleet-specific characteristics that specify the properties of the vehicle 10 are then transmitted to a user via one or more user interfaces 40.

[0042] With reference to Fig.1-3 continuing, in another embodiment, the one or more information transmission objects comprise an inductively coupled reader transponder or tag 56 attached to the vehicle 10, and the intentional act is the individual placement of the personal electronic device 14 near an inductively coupled reader tag 56 attached to the vehicle 10 in order to initiate a connection. Specifically, the communication circuit 52, which is part of the personal electronic device 14, acts as a power supply to provide current to the inductively coupled reader tag 56 when the personal electronic device 14 is placed near the inductively coupled reader tag 56.

[0043] In one embodiment, the one or more common attributes include, but are not limited to, the vehicle origin, the functionality, or the general company that controls the fleet. In one embodiment, the vehicle origin includes one or more of the following: a make, model, or mobility company that provides the autonomous software for the immediate vehicle. The functionality includes any feature that the immediate vehicle may have, such as wireless charging, the type of powertrain (e.g., if the immediate vehicle is a hybrid vehicle, etc.), the type of propulsion engine (e.g., internal combustion engine, electric vehicle (EV), etc.), the type of drive system (e.g., two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and the like).The general entity that controls the vehicle fleet can be any type of organization, such as, but not limited to, a car rental company, a taxi or ride-sharing service, or the vehicle manufacturer. A fleet, for example, could include all vehicles manufactured by General Motors Corporation.

[0044] The fleet-specific features of vehicle 10 will now be described. In one embodiment, the fleet-specific features include, but are not limited to, explanatory videos and information, statistics relating to automated mileage for the specific make or manufacturer of vehicle 10, cleaning and disinfection plans, statistics relating to environmental impact, and available access features. The explanatory videos and information may include explanatory videos relating to the vehicle's automated driving technology. The statistics relating to automated incidents or events may include the number of automated mileage, the number of hours in automated operation, and the number of automated journeys performed.The number of events can indicate the number of events during the day and the number of events at night, or the number of events involving an animal / pedestrian / cyclist or another vehicle. The statistics can include an event type indicating how the vehicle was stopped (e.g., impact with an object with the front of the vehicle, impact with the side of the vehicle while leaving the lane or during a lane change, and / or impact with the rear of the vehicle while reversing).

[0045] The cleaning and disinfection plans specify how often and when a vehicle belonging to the fleet is cleaned and disinfected. For example, the cleaning and disinfection plan might indicate when a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system was last disinfected to eliminate bacteria and germs, or when the interior surfaces of vehicle 10 were last wiped down. The environmental impact statistics indicate how environmentally friendly vehicle 10 is in terms of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and recyclability. These statistics might, for example, specify which vehicle components are at least partially made from recycled materials. Finally, the available access features refer to technologies that can assist the user in operating a vehicle.For example, available accessibility features can support blind or visually impaired individuals, people who are hard of hearing or deaf, people with motor or speech impairments, and people with cognitive disabilities. An example of an accessibility feature is special buttons or a special touchscreen to assist people with unsteady or shaky hands. Another example of an accessibility feature is the ability to stream audio directly to a person's hearing aid.

[0046] With general reference to the figures, the disclosed system offers various technical effects and advantages by informing a user about one or more fleet-specific vehicle characteristics with minimal effort required from the user. Existing websites allow a person to enter a specific VIN to learn about its specific features and options, but this is considered cumbersome by many. The disclosed system can provide reassurance to a user who is hesitant about getting into an unfamiliar vehicle, such as a rented, shared, or taxi.

[0047] Controllers can refer to or be part of an electronic circuit, a combinational logic circuit, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor (shared or shared, dedicated or as a group) that executes code, or a combination of some or all of the above, as in a system-on-a-chip. Controllers can also be based on a microprocessor, such as a computer with at least one processor, memory (RAM and / or ROM), and associated input and output buses. The processor can operate under the control of an operating system residing in memory. The operating system can manage computer resources so that computer program code, embodied as one or more computer software applications, such as an application in memory, can contain instructions that are executed by the processor.In an alternative embodiment, the processor can execute the application directly, in which case the operating system can be omitted.

[0048] The description of the present revelation is by its very nature merely exemplary, and variations that do not deviate from the core of the present revelation are to be considered as falling within the scope of the present revelation. Such variations are not to be regarded as a deviation from the spirit and scope of the present revelation.

Claims

[1] System (12) for transmitting fleet-specific characteristics of a vehicle (10) to one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the system (12) comprises: one or more controllers (20) in wireless communication with a centralized computer system containing one or more databases (44) for storing fleet-specific characteristics, wherein the one or more controllers (20) execute instructions to: to undergo a passive wireless interaction with the one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the passive wireless interaction includes the determination that the one or more personal electronic devices (14) are in a predefined proximity to the vehicle (10) without human interaction; and in response to the passive wireless interaction, to transmit one or more fleet-specific features to the one or more personal electronic devices (14), wherein the one or more fleet-specific features are shared by a fleet of vehicles, the fleet comprising an immediate vehicle (10) and a group of vehicles that share one or more common attributes, where one or more common attributes include one or more of the following: vehicle origin, functionality and a general company that controls the vehicle fleet. [2] System (12) according to claim 1, wherein the passive wireless interaction comprises establishing wireless communication between the one or more controllers (20) and the one or more personal electronic devices (14) based on a short-range communication protocol. [3] System (12) according to claim 2, wherein the predefined proximity is a communication range of the short-range communication protocol that connects the one or more controllers (20) and the personal electronic device (14). [4] System (12) according to claim 2, wherein the short-range communication protocol is defined by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.xx standards. [5] System (12) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle origin comprises one or more of the following: a brand, a model or a mobility company that provides autonomous software for the immediate vehicle (10). [6] System (12) according to claim 1, wherein the passive wireless interaction includes the detection that the vehicle (10) and the personal electronic device (14) are in the predefined proximity to each other, based on the detection of proximity. [7] System (12) according to claim 1, wherein the proximity detection comprises: a reception of coordinates indicating the location of one or more personal electronic devices (14); a determination of a distance between the personal electronic device (14) and the vehicle (10) based on the coordinates of the personal electronic device (14); and a comparison of the distance between the personal electronic device (14) and the vehicle (10) and the predefined proximity. [8] System (12) according to claim 1, wherein the fleet-specific features comprise one or more of the following: explanatory videos and information, statistics relating to automated mileage traveled for a specific make or manufacturer of the vehicle (10), cleaning and disinfection plans, statistics relating to environmental compatibility and available access features.

Images