A ridesharing system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for detecting passengers in a vehicle by means of seat sensors and / or cameras located in the vehicle and providing the vehicle user with benefits in predetermined contents in the event that the trip is performed with more than one passenger in order to encourage the sharing of the vehicle with more than one person.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A RIDESHARING SYSTEM

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a system for detecting passengers in a vehicle by means of seat sensors and / or cameras located in the vehicle and providing the vehicle user with benefits in predetermined contents in the event that the trip is performed with more than one passenger in order to encourage the sharing of the vehicle with more than one person.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] The increase in the number of vehicles in traffic leads to an increase in greenhouse gases which have an adverse effect on climate change due to carbon dioxide gases. Internal combustion vehicles and electric vehicles have an impact on the environment. Internal combustion engines consume fossil fuels to generate power and cause the emission of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere in the process. Although electric vehicles produce zero exhaust emissions as they do not consume fossil fuels, the electricity used for charging the electric vehicle may still be generated from fossil fuel consuming power plants. Today, encouraging people to public transportation can be considered as a solution in order to prevent the emission damage caused by vehicles in the environment.

[0007] The Chinese patent document no. CN112446761A, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a blockchain-based ridesharing system. The invention subject to the said Chinese patent document provides systems and methods for ride sharing using a blockchain. Systems and computer-readable media are disclosed, describing ridesharing using blockchain. Exemplary methods may include determining a state associated with a user of a ridesharing vehicle from at least one first device associated with the ridesharing vehicle; identifying a confirmation of the state by one or more second devices; and adding a transaction to a blockchain, the transaction comprising a description of the state, the confirmation, and a link to a trip footage of the state.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to realize a system for detecting passengers in a vehicle by means of seat sensors and / or cameras located in the vehicle and providing the vehicle user with benefits in predetermined contents in the event that the vehicle is shared with more than one person.

[0010] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0011] “A Ridesharing System” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an inventive ridesharing system.

[0013] The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0014] 1. System

[0015] 2. Detection Unit

[0016] 3. B lockchain N etwork

[0017] 4. Server

[0018] An inventive system (1) for detecting passengers in a vehicle by means of seat sensors and / or cameras located in the vehicle and providing the vehicle user with benefits in predetermined contents in the event that the vehicle is shared with more than one person comprises at least one detection unit (2) which is located on the vehicle and is configured to enable persons inside the vehicle to be detected by means of sensors and / or cameras located on the seats; at least one blockchain network (3) which is configured to keep records of the benefits provided to vehicle users in a decentralized and encrypted way; and at least one server (4) which is configured to be in communication with the detection unit (2) and the blockchain network (3) through any communication protocol; to be triggered upon starting the vehicle; to decide whether there is a passenger other than the driver in the vehicle through the communication established with the detection unit (2); not to take any action when there is no one in the vehicle other than the driver; to determine the number of passengers in the vehicle via seat sensors and / or image processing when there are passengers other than the driver in the vehicle; and to assign a benefit to the vehicle user based on the number of passengers s / he has shared the vehicle with; and to keep a record of the benefit in the blockchain network (3).

[0019] The detection unit (2) included in the inventive system (1) is a sensor and is configured to be in communication with the server (4) and to share information with the server (4) when a person sits on the vehicle seat. The number of persons in the vehicle can be calculated by means of the detection unit (2), which is a sensor. In another preferred embodiment, the detection unit (2) is a camera and is configured to be in communication with the server (4) and to share the images it receives from the vehicle with the server (4) by processing them in order to determine the number of persons.

[0020] The blockchain network (3) included in the inventive system (1) is in communication with the server (4) and is configured to be managed by the server (4). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the blockchain network (3) is configured to keep a record of the benefits assigned to the vehicle users therein in a decentralized and encrypted way and is configured to not allow the data stored therein to be modified or deleted. The server (4) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the detection unit (2) by using any remote communication protocol and to exchange data with the detection unit (2) through this established communication. The server (4) is configured to be triggered upon starting the vehicle; to receive sensor data and / or image content from the detection unit (2) in order to determine the presence of passengers in the vehicle; to decide the presence and number of passengers in the vehicle by analyzing the data and content; and to keep a record of the predetermined benefits depending on the number of passengers in the blockchain network (3) by providing them to the vehicle user. In the preferred embodiment, the server (4) is configured to be in communication with the vehicle control unit; to receive the information of the distance travelled by the vehicle and to decide the amount of benefit to be provided depending on the number of passengers and keep a record of it in the blockchain network (3). In this way, the earned benefits increase when the vehicle makes a long trip with more than one passenger. The server (4) calculates a trip score as the square of the number of persons participating in the trip and proportional to the distance travelled.

[0021] For example,

[0022] O: Occupant count excluding driver,

[0023] X: Distance travelled,

[0024] RSTc: Ridesharing Carbon Token point.

[0025] RSTc= O2*X

[0026] The server (4) calculates the amount of generated carbon as 0 as the benefit (token) is 0 in a situation wherein the driver travels 500 km alone (0 x 0 x 0 x 500 = 0). If three persons excluding the driver travel 500 km, the benefit is calculated as 4500 tokens (3 x 3 x 500 = 4500).

[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the server (4) is configured to provide tokens as a benefit and to enable separate assignment for the vehicle user and passengers. In this way, both the vehicle user is encouraged to share his / her vehicle with passengers and passengers are encouraged to travel with shared vehicles. In the preferred embodiment, the server (4) is configured to enable tokens that can be used to pay tolls on highways and provide tax deductions to be generated and assigned.

[0028] Industrial Application of the Invention

[0029] With the inventive system (1), it is enabled to encourage people to share vehicles.

[0030] In this way, the number of vehicles on the highways is reduced, traffic jams do not occur, and exhaust emissions are reduced. For this purpose, tokens are assigned both to the vehicle user and the passengers depending on the number of persons traveling determined through sensors or cameras in the vehicle. Increasing the distance or duration of the trip increases the gained benefits. Therefore, a system which provides benefits for the environment and for the persons traveling is obtained.

[0031] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “A Ridesharing System (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (1) for detecting passengers in a vehicle by means of seat sensors and / or cameras located in the vehicle and providing the vehicle user with benefits in predetermined contents in the event that the vehicle is shared with more than one person; characterized by at least one detection unit (2) which is located on the vehicle and is configured to enable persons inside the vehicle to be detected by means of sensors and / or cameras located on the seats; at least one blockchain network (3) which is configured to keep records of the benefits provided to vehicle users in a decentralized and encrypted way; and at least one server (4) which is configured to be in communication with the detection unit (2) and the blockchain network (3) through any communication protocol; to be triggered upon starting the vehicle; to decide whether there is a passenger other than the driver in the vehicle through the communication established with the detection unit (2); not to take any action when there is no one in the vehicle other than the driver; to determine the number of passengers in the vehicle via seat sensors and / or image processing when there are passengers other than the driver in the vehicle; and to assign a benefit to the vehicle user based on the number of passengers s / he has shared the vehicle with; and to keep a record of the benefit in the blockchain network (3).

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the detection unit (2) which is a sensor and is configured to be in communication with the server (4) and to share information with the server (4) when a person sits on the vehicle seat.

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the detection unit (2) which is a camera and is configured to be in communication with the server (4) and to share the images it receives from the vehicle with the server (4) by processing them in order to determine the number of persons.

4. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the blockchain network (3) which is in communication with the server (4) and is configured to be managed by the server (4).

5. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the blockchain network (3) which is configured to keep a record of the benefits assigned to the vehicle users therein in a decentralized and encrypted way and is configured to not allow the data stored therein to be modified or deleted.

6. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (4) which is configured to establish communication with the detection unit (2) by using any remote communication protocol and to exchange data with the detection unit (2) through this established communication.

7. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (4) which is configured to be triggered upon starting the vehicle; to receive sensor data and / or image content from the detection unit (2) in order to determine the presence of passengers in the vehicle; to decide the presence and number of passengers in the vehicle by analyzing the data and content; and to keep a record of the predetermined benefits depending on the number of passengers in the blockchain network (3) by providing them to the vehicle user.

8. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (4) which is configured to be in communication with the vehicle control unit; to receive the information of the distance travelled by the vehicle and to decide the amount of benefit to be provided depending on the number of passengers and keep a record of it in the blockchain network (3).

9. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (4) which is configured to provide tokens as a benefit and to enable separate assignment for the vehicle user and passengers.

10. A system (1) according to Claim 9; characterized by the server (4) which is configured to enable tokens that can be used to pay tolls on highways and provide tax deductions to be generated and assigned.

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