Unlocking an electric bicycle via a mounted device
Various embodiments provide for a bike-supported communication network that manages and facilitates communications between components of an electric bicycle and a wireless network. In some embodiments, the systems and methods determine that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with a mount disposed on the electric bicycle, and cause a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount.
1. A method for securing an electric bicycle, the method comprising:
determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with a mount disposed on the electric bicycle; and
causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is no longer in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle; and
causing the lock assembly to lock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device no longer contacts the mount.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes sending a signal via a bike supported network to the lock assembly.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes causing the lock assembly to lock a rear wheel of the electric bicycle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes causing the lock assembly to operate a motor, a battery park, or a controller of the electric bicycle to operate in a locked mode of operation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over a near field communications (NFC) protocol when the mobile device contacts the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over a near field communications (NFC) protocol when the mobile device is proximate to the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over an RFID protocol when the mobile device is proximate to the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mount is disposed on handlebars of the electric bicycle and is in wireless communication with the lock assembly.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable method whose contents, when executed by a computing system of the electric bicycle, causes the computing system to perform a method for securing an electric bicycle, the method comprising:
determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with a mount disposed on the electric bicycle; and
causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is no longer in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle; and
causing the lock assembly to lock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device no longer contacts the mount.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes sending a signal via a bike supported network to the lock assembly.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes causing the lock assembly to lock a rear wheel of the electric bicycle.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein causing a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount includes causing the lock assembly to operate a motor, a battery park, or a controller of the electric bicycle to operate in a locked mode of operation.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over a near field communications (NFC) protocol when the mobile device contacts the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over a near field communications (NFC) protocol when the mobile device is proximate to the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein determining that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with the mount disposed on the electric bicycle includes:
receiving an identifier from the mobile device over an RFID protocol when the mobile device is proximate to the mount; and
determining the identifier is associated with a user authorized to operate the electric bicycle.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable method of claim 10 , wherein the mount is disposed on handlebars of the electric bicycle and is in wireless communication with the lock assembly.
19. A system for managing operations of an electric bicycle, the system comprising:
a device mount that determines a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is attached; and
a controller that controls operations of the electric bicycle in response to receiving a signal from the device mount that the mobile device attached to the device mount is associated with an authorized user of the electric bicycle.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the electric bicycle is provided by a fleet of electric bicycles; and
wherein the mobile device is associated with an authorized user of the fleet of electric bicycles.