IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,505,706
Granted Patent B2
US 12,505,706 · App. 17/949,432 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

In-vehicle mode support for vehicle sharing circumstances

Inventor: Karl Nathan Clark (Belleville, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G07C5/02B60W50/14G07C5/08G07C9/00309B60W2050/146G07C2009/00769G07C2209/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,505,706
App. No.
17/949,432
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle determines that it is under use in a temporary-user state for which a temporary use period is defined. The vehicle, responsive to being under use in the temporary use state, engages a vehicle temporary use mode, including automatic capture of vehicle states when the mode is engaged. Further, the vehicle, responsive to the engagement of the temporary use mode, displays at least one of vehicle documentation or a selectable option to display vehicle documentation on a vehicle display. The vehicle additionally monitors the vehicle while use of the vehicle is performed during the temporary use period and notifies a driver, via the vehicle display, of vehicle use, determined by the monitoring, that does not conform to any restrictions defined by an agreement relating to the temporary use period.

Claims (18)

1 . A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

determine that a vehicle is under use in a temporary-user state for which a temporary use period is defined;

responsive to the vehicle being under use in the temporary use state, engage a vehicle temporary use mode, including automatic capture of vehicle states both responsive to engagement of the temporary use mode and while the mode is engaged, wherein the states include at least any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present when the mode is engaged as well as any DTCs newly occurring while the mode is engaged;

responsive to the engagement of the temporary use mode, display at least one of vehicle documentation or a selectable option to display vehicle documentation on a vehicle display;

monitor the vehicle while use of the vehicle is performed during the temporary use period; and

notify a driver, via the vehicle display, of vehicle use, determined by the monitoring, that does not conform to any restrictions defined by an agreement relating to the temporary use period.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle being under use in the temporary user state is determined based on a key was used to start the vehicle.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle being under use in the temporary user state is determined based on a detected wireless device predefined as belonging to a designated temporary user.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle states include an odometer reading.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle states include a fuel level reading.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit at least one DTC, captured while the mode is active to at least one of a remote server or a predefined mobile device of an owner of the vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle states include imaging at least an interior or exterior of a vehicle using vehicle cameras.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle documentation includes registration and insurance information.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to display, responsive to the engagement of the temporary use mode, information relating to at least one DTC, captured responsive to the engagement of the temporary use mode, on a display of the vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to notify the driver when the temporary use period is within a threshold of expiration.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the threshold of expiration is determined based at least in part on projected travel time to return the vehicle to a predesignated drop-off location.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the threshold of expiration is determined based at least in part on at least one of projected travel time or refueling time involved in returning a vehicle fuel level to a fuel level state captured when the mode was engaged.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2022
From: CLARK, KARL NATHAN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061166/0850 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240096141A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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