IP Library Granted Patent US 12709244
Granted Patent B1
US 12709244 · App. 18/620,457 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Vehicle network systems and methods

Inventors: Sean Michael Wayne Craig (San Antonio, TX); Mounica Urity (Mountain View, CA); Matthew Robert Byrd (Boerne, TX); Noe Alberto Martinez (San Antonio, TX); Daniel Nathan Kalinoski (San Antonio, TX); Gregory David Hansen (Fuquay Varina, NC); Ashley Raine Philbrick (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
B60R25/102B60Q1/507B60Q5/005G06Q40/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709244
App. No.
18/620,457
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A vehicle network system includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions executable by the vehicle network system to cause the vehicle network system to identify presence of a first vehicle in a geographic area, identify a number of assets in the geographic area, and in response to the number of assets in the geographic area exceeding a threshold, control the first vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area.

Claims (45)

1 . A vehicle network system, comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

identify presence of a first vehicle in a geographic area;

identify a number of assets in the geographic area, wherein the assets comprise the first vehicle;

in response to the number of the assets in the geographic area exceeding a threshold, control the first vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area to monitor for occurrence of events in the geographic area; and

in response to the number of the assets in the geographic area subsequently falling below the threshold, control the first vehicle to autonomously transition to a stationary parked position.

2 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

identify presence of a second vehicle in the geographic area, wherein the assets comprise the second vehicle; and

in response to the number of the assets in the geographic area exceeding the threshold, control the first vehicle and the second vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area in a coordinated manner to monitor for occurrence of events in the geographic area.

3 . The vehicle network system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to control the first vehicle and the second vehicle to take turns to autonomously move through the geographic area in the coordinated manner to monitor for occurrence of events in the geographic area.

4 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle is registered to participate in the vehicle network system.

5 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the assets comprise vehicles insured by an insurance company, buildings insured by the insurance company, or both.

6 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic area is a parking lot or a neighborhood.

7 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

in response to detecting an event in the geographic area, instruct a first alert system of the first vehicle to provide an alert.

8 . The vehicle network system of claim 7 , wherein the event comprises a break-in at the first vehicle, and the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

in response to detecting the break-in at the first vehicle, instruct at least one alert system of at least one additional vehicle to provide at least one additional alert, wherein the assets comprise the at least one additional vehicle.

9 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to identify the presence of the first vehicle in the geographic area based on global position coordinates received from the first vehicle.

10 . The vehicle network system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to control the first vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area toward a location of an event in the geographic area in response to occurrence of the event in the geographic area.

11 . A vehicle network system, comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

identify a cluster of a plurality of assets;

generate a dynamic boundary that defines a dynamic geographic area for the cluster of the plurality of assets;

dynamically update the dynamic boundary that defines the dynamic geographic area in response to a change to the cluster of the plurality of assets due to movement of one or more assets of the plurality of assets;

identify presence of a first vehicle and a second vehicle in the dynamic geographic area, wherein the assets comprise the first vehicle and the second vehicle;

control the first vehicle and the second vehicle to autonomously move through the dynamic geographic area to provide security patrol services to the dynamic geographic area based on a total monetary value of the cluster of the plurality of assets being above a threshold; and

in response to detecting an event in the dynamic geographic area, instruct a first alert system of the first vehicle, a second alert system of the second vehicle, or both to provide an alert.

12 . The vehicle network system of claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a break-in at the first vehicle, and the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

in response to detecting the break-in at the first vehicle, instruct the second alert system of the second vehicle to provide the alert.

13 . The vehicle network system of claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a weather event, a crime event, a vehicle crash event, a fire event, a smoke event, a loud sound, a respective presence of an unexpected individual, a respective presence of an unexpected vehicle, or any combination thereof.

14 . The vehicle network system of claim 11 , wherein the event occurs at a building within the dynamic geographic area.

15 . The vehicle network system of claim 11 , wherein the alert comprises emitting light from a light emitter of the second vehicle, emitting a sound from a speaker of the second vehicle, or both.

16 . The vehicle network system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing system to cause the processing system to:

identify a number of assets in the dynamic geographic area; and

in response to the number of assets in the geographic area exceeding a threshold, control the first vehicle and the second vehicle to autonomously move through the dynamic geographic area to provide the security patrol services to the dynamic geographic area.

17 . A method of operating a vehicle network system, the method comprising:

identifying, using one or more processors, presence of a first vehicle in a geographic area;

identifying, using the one or more processors, a total estimated monetary value of assets in the geographic area, wherein the assets comprise the first vehicle; and

instructing, using the one or more processors, the first vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area, in response to the total estimated monetary value of the assets in the geographic area exceeding a threshold.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:

identifying, using the one or more processors, presence of a second vehicle in the geographic area wherein the assets comprise the second vehicle; and

instructing, using the one or more processors, the first vehicle and the second vehicle to autonomously move through the geographic area in a coordinated manner in response to the total estimated monetary value of the assets in the geographic area exceeding the threshold.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising instructing, using the one or more processors, a first alert system of the first vehicle to provide an alert in response to detecting an event in the geographic area.