IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,544,635
Granted Patent B2
US 11,544,635 · App. 16/480,006 · Granted Jan 3, 2023

User input configured dynamic shuttle

Inventors: Lisa Scaria (Dearborn, MI); Candice Xu (Dearborn, MI); Brielle Reiff (Dearborn, MI); Henry Salvatore Savage (Dearborn, MI); Sarah Houts (Dearborn, MI); Jinhyong Oh (Dearborn, MI); Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G06Q10/02B60N2/01B60N2/0292B60N2/0296G05D1/0225G05D1/0285G05D2201/0212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,544,635
App. No.
16/480,006
Granted
Jan 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for reserving a vehicle with a desired vehicle characteristic are disclosed herein. A system includes a receiver to receive a request to reserve a vehicle, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic. The system includes a controller configured to determine a change to the vehicle that will satisfy the vehicle characteristic, and the system includes an implementation component configured to implement the change to the vehicle.

Claims (41)

1. A method for reserving a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a request to reserve a vehicle from a user device, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic;

identifying an available vehicle capable of providing the vehicle characteristic;

determining a change to the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic;

reserving the vehicle;

providing a notification to the vehicle or operator of the change and the reservation; and

changing the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic when the user device is within a threshold distance of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle characteristic indicates a seat configuration, a seat orientation, a seat characteristic, a workspace configuration, and a storage configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a notification to the vehicle comprises providing the notification to an autonomous vehicle and the vehicle implements the change without manual intervention.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a notification to the vehicle comprises providing the notification of the reservation to an autonomous vehicle and the vehicle drives to a reservation pickup location without manual intervention.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a change to the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic comprises determining a vehicle configuration scheme that includes a vehicle configuration option of all possible configuration options that are associated with the vehicle, wherein the all possible configuration options are based on a combination of available seats, available workspace options, and available vehicle features.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting a plurality of vehicle options to the user device, wherein the request indicates the desired vehicle characteristic that was selected from the plurality of vehicle options.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a notification that the vehicle has been reserved to the user that requested the vehicle.

7. A system for reserving a vehicle, the system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request to reserve a vehicle, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic;

a controller configured to determine a change to the vehicle that will satisfy the vehicle characteristic;

a dynamic grid system configured to implement the change to the vehicle when a user device associated with the request is within a threshold distance of the vehicle; and

a user interface configured to present a plurality of vehicle options to a user and wherein the request indicates the desired vehicle characteristic that was selected from the plurality of vehicle options, wherein the determination of the change to the vehicle that will satisfy the vehicle characteristic comprises determining a vehicle configuration scheme that includes a vehicle configuration option of all possible configuration options that are associated with the vehicle, and wherein the all possible configuration options are based on a combination of available seats, available workspace options, and available vehicle features.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the dynamic grid system is configured to implement, via a track attached to each grid unit of the dynamic grid system, at least one of a seat configuration, a seat orientation, a seat characteristic, a workspace configuration, or a storage configuration.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle and the dynamic grid system is configured to implement the change to the vehicle without manual intervention by a user.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle and the controller is further configured to drive the vehicle without manual intervention to a pickup location associated with the request to reserve the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the dynamic grid system may alter at least one of a position or an orientation of a grid unit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the grid unit is attached to at least one of a seat, a chair, a table, a luggage storage unit, or a bicycle storage unit.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the desired vehicle characteristic indicates a seat orientation, a seat configuration, a storage configuration, a workspace configuration, and a seat characteristic.

14. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a vehicle identification component configured to identify an available vehicle capable of providing the vehicle characteristic.

15. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a notification component configured to provide a notification of at least one of a reservation status of the vehicle or a vehicle characteristic status of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a notification of the change to an operator of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a schedule for the vehicle based on a plurality of requests to reserve the vehicle at different times.

18. A method for reserving a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a request to reserve a vehicle from a user device, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic;

identifying an available vehicle capable of providing the vehicle characteristic;

determining a change to the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic;

reserving the vehicle;

providing a notification to the vehicle or operator of the change and the reservation; and

changing the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic when the user device is within a threshold distance of the vehicle,

wherein determining a change to the vehicle to provide the vehicle characteristic comprises determining a vehicle configuration scheme that includes a vehicle configuration option of all possible configuration options that are associated with the vehicle, wherein the all possible configuration options are based on a combination of available seats, available workspace options, and available vehicle features.

19. A system for reserving a vehicle, the system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request to reserve a vehicle, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic;

a controller configured to determine a change to the vehicle that will satisfy the vehicle characteristic; and

a dynamic grid system configured to implement the change to the vehicle when a user device associated with the request is within a threshold distance of the vehicle,

wherein the desired vehicle characteristic indicates a seat orientation, a seat configuration, a storage configuration, a workspace configuration, and a seat characteristic.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2019
From: SCARIA, LISA; XU, CANDICE; REIFF, BRIELLE; SAVAGE, HENRY SALVATORE; HOUTS, SARAH; OH, JINHYONG; LAVOIE, ERICK MICHAEL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049830/0206 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190370701A1 · Dec 5, 2019