IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,266,016
Granted Patent B2
US 12,266,016 · App. 18/185,535 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Purchasing and monetizing of mobile autonomous units

Inventors: Jennifer L. Copeland (San Francisco, CA); Suzanne M. Fisi (Clayton, CA); Simone O. Harvey (Berkeley, CA); David C. Hatch (Pacifica, CA); Muhammad Farukh Munir (Pittsburg, CA); Aaron Francis Colfax Petrik (Alameda, CA); Darrell L. Suen (San Ramon, CA); Timothy R. Ward (Mesa, AZ); Steven J. Wirt (Oakland, CA); Ryan J. Wyler (Gilbert, AZ); Nancy B. Zimmerman (Fairfax, CA); Chris Kalaboukis (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
G06Q40/06B60P3/32G01W1/10G05D1/0088G06Q30/0641H02J3/004H02J2300/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,266,016
App. No.
18/185,535
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Purchasing, maintaining, and deriving revenue from mobile autonomous units is facilitated by providing a mobile autonomous unit marketplace in which equity shares in mobile autonomous units can be bought, sold and traded. Valuation of mobile autonomous units within the marketplace can be a function of a variety of factors such as the mobile autonomous unit's primary geographic region, and the number, diversity, and time management of revenue streams available to the mobile autonomous units.

Claims (50)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of revenue streams for a mobile autonomous unit, the mobile autonomous unit including an enclosure for a person to ride therein; and

activating the plurality of revenue streams by causing the mobile autonomous unit to move between at least two locations such that the plurality of revenue streams are simultaneously generating revenue while the mobile autonomous unit is moving between the at least two locations,

wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by a person's use of the mobile autonomous unit; and

wherein another of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by the mobile autonomous unit itself.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is configured as a living space and as a tenancy space.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile autonomous unit includes an electricity generating device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the electricity generating device includes at least one solar panel.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams includes sale of energy generated by the mobile autonomous unit.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams includes one of:

i) a lodging in the mobile autonomous unit;

ii) a riding in the mobile autonomous unit to a destination;

iii) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a workspace; and

iv) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a social space.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two locations is selected based on a predicted weather at the one of the at least two locations.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the one of the at least two locations is selected based on a pre-defined geographical area in which the mobile autonomous unit spends more time than in any other pre-defined geographical area.

9. A system, comprising:

a mobile autonomous unit including an enclosure for a person to ride therein;

at least one readable and writable data storage device storing data related to a plurality of pre-defined geographical areas and the mobile autonomous unit;

at least one processor; and

memory encoding instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:

identify a plurality of revenue streams for the mobile autonomous unit; and

activate the plurality of revenue streams by causing the mobile autonomous unit to move between at least two locations such that the plurality of revenue streams are simultaneously generating revenue while the mobile autonomous unit is moving between the at least two locations,

wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by a person's use of the mobile autonomous unit; and

wherein another of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by the mobile autonomous unit itself.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the enclosure is configured as a living space and as a tenancy space.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mobile autonomous unit includes an electricity generating device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the electricity generating device includes at least one solar panel.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality revenue streams includes sale of energy generated by the mobile autonomous unit.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams includes one of:

i) a lodging in the mobile autonomous unit;

ii) a riding in the mobile autonomous unit to a destination;

iii) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a workspace; and

iv) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a social space.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein one of the at least two locations is selected based on a predicted weather at the one of the at least two locations.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one of the at least two locations is selected based on a pre-defined geographical area in which the mobile autonomous unit spends more time than in any other pre-defined geographical area.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of revenue streams for a mobile autonomous unit, the mobile autonomous unit including an enclosure for a person to ride therein, the plurality of revenue streams including a revenue stream from sale of energy generated by the mobile autonomous unit; and

causing the mobile autonomous unit to move to a location to generate energy based on a predicted weather at the location such that the plurality of revenue streams are simultaneously generating revenue while the mobile autonomous unit is moving to the location,

wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by a person's use of the mobile autonomous unit; and

wherein another of the plurality of revenue streams is generated by the mobile autonomous unit itself.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the mobile autonomous unit includes an electricity generating device including at least one solar panel.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the predicted weather is predicted to be sunny.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 ,

wherein the enclosure is configured as a living space and as a tenancy space; and

wherein one of the plurality of revenue streams includes one of:

i) a lodging in the mobile autonomous unit;

ii) a riding in the mobile autonomous unit to a destination;

iii) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a workspace; and

iv) a using of the mobile autonomous unit as a social space.

Assignments (2)
STATEMENT OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE Recorded Jun 17, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071679/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: COPELAND, JENNIFER L.; FISI, SUZANNE M.; HARVEY, SIMONE O.; HATCH, DAVID C.; MUNIR, MUHAMMAD FARUKH; PETRIK, AARON FRANCIS COLFAX; SUEN, DARRELL L.; WARD, TIMOTHY R.; WIRT, STEVEN J.; WYLER, RYAN J.; ZIMMERMAN, NANCY B.; KALABOUKIS, CHRIS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063016/0706 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16852890 · Apr 20, 2020
Continuation 15423792 · Feb 3, 2017
Related Publication 20230222596A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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