IP Library Granted Patent US 10,329,827
Granted Patent B2
US 10,329,827 · App. 15/945,365 · Granted Jun 25, 2019

Detecting objects within a vehicle in connection with a service

Inventors: David McAllister Bradley (Pittsburgh, PA); Jean-Sebastien Valois (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
E05F15/70B60N2/002B60R11/04G05D1/0088G05D1/0212G05D1/0276G06Q10/08G06Q10/083G06Q50/30E05Y2400/44E05Y2400/45E05Y2900/548
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,329,827
App. No.
15/945,365
Granted
Jun 25, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for monitoring a vehicle used in providing a service is disclosed. The system detects when the service is complete, and upon detecting that the service is complete, the system determines, from one or more sensors of the vehicle, that an object which should have been removed from the vehicle after completion of the transport service, remains in the vehicle. The system then automatically initiates performance of a remedial action.

Claims (43)

1. A method for monitoring a vehicle that is operating to provide transport services, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:

receiving, from a remote system, instructions for the vehicle to provide a first transport service from a start location to a destination;

receiving first image information of an interior of the vehicle from one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

identifying, from the first image information, an object that has been placed in the interior of the vehicle in connection with the first transport service;

prior to completion of the first transport service, receiving second image information of the interior of the vehicle from the one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle by comparing the first image information and the second image information; and

in response to determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle, initiating performance of a remedial action.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an image recognition process on the first image information and the second image information to recognize the object based on visual characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle receives the second image information and compares the first image information and the second image information as the vehicle travels to the destination.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transport service is a delivery service and the object is an item to be delivered.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically transmitting a notification that the object is no longer present in the vehicle to a computing system that arranged the first transport service.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically communicating, over one or more networks, a message to a computing device associated with a driver of the vehicle, the message notifying the vehicle that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the message includes an image of the object or results of the comparison between the first image information and the second image information.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the object was placed in the vehicle by a user who entered the vehicle at the start location.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically communicating, over one or more networks, a message to a computing device associated with the user, the message notifying the user that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

associating the object with a profile or account of the user.

11. A vehicle comprising:

one or more sensors generating sensor data; and

a control system to execute instructions that cause the vehicle to perform operations including:

receiving, from a remote system, instructions for the vehicle to provide a first transport service from a start location to a destination;

receiving first image information of an interior of the vehicle from one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

identifying, from the first image information, an object that has been placed in the interior of the vehicle in connection with the first transport service;

prior to completion of the first transport service, receiving second image information of the interior of the vehicle from the one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle by comparing the first image information and the second image information; and

in response to determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle, initiating performance of a remedial action.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising performing an image recognition process on the first image information and the second image information to recognize the object based on visual characteristics.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle receives the second image information and compares the first image information and the second image information as the vehicle travels to the destination.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first transport service is a delivery service and the object is an item to be delivered.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically transmitting a notification that the object is no longer present in the vehicle to a computing system that arranged the first transport service.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically communicating, over one or more networks, a message to a computing device associated with a driver of the vehicle, the message notifying the vehicle that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the message includes an image of the object or results of the comparison between the first image information and the second image information.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining that the object was placed in the vehicle by a user who entered the vehicle at the start location.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein initiating performance of the remedial action includes automatically communicating, over one or more networks, a message to a computing device associated with the user, the message notifying the user that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an on-board computing system of a vehicle, cause the on-board computing system to perform operations including:

receiving, from a remote system, instructions for the vehicle to provide a first transport service from a start location to a destination;

receiving first image information of an interior of the vehicle from one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

identifying, from the first image information, an object that has been placed in the interior of the vehicle in connection with the first transport service;

prior to completion of the first transport service, receiving second image information of the interior of the vehicle from the one or more cameras positioned within the vehicle;

determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle by comparing the first image information and the second image information; and

in response to determining that the object has been removed from the interior of the vehicle, initiating performance of a remedial action.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054919 FRAME: 0026. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: UATC, LLC
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059692/0280 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2021
From: UATC, LLC
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054919/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: BRADLEY, DAVID MCALLISTER; VALOIS, JEAN-SEBASTIEN
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051548/0430 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM CHANGE OF NAME TO ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050353 FRAME 0884. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT CONVEYANCE SHOULD BE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 051145/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 12, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 050353/0884 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15629372 · Jun 21, 2017
Continuation 15449110 · Mar 3, 2017
Continuation 14708611 · May 11, 2015
Related Publication 20180223584A1 · Aug 9, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,189,724