IP Library Granted Patent US 12,496,999
Granted Patent B2
US 12,496,999 · App. 18/522,078 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Systems and methods for regulating vehicle access

Inventors: Michael Keating (San Francisco, CA); J. Loren Passmore (San Francisco, CA); Peter R. Russo (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: SCOOT RIDES, INC.
B60R25/20B60R25/33G06Q50/40G07C9/29G07C9/30G08G1/005G08G1/205H04B1/3877H04M1/72448H04W4/023H04W4/40H04W4/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,496,999
App. No.
18/522,078
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for regulating vehicle access comprises receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request to access a vehicle. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.

Claims (35)

1 . A vehicle electronic control unit, comprising:

a first communication interface configured to provide communication with a remote server;

a second communication interface configured to connect to a user electronic device; and

a processor coupled to the first communication interface and the second communication interface and configured to:

establish a connection to the user electronic device via the second communication interface;

provide access to use of a vehicle with which the vehicle electronic control unit is associated based at least in part on establishment of the connection to the user electronic device via the second communication interface and an access authorization data provided by the remote server;

receive vehicle use information from the user electronic device via the second communication interface when network connectivity between the user electronic device and the remote server is lost; and

transmit the vehicle user information to the remote server via the first communication interface.

2 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the access authorization data is received via the first communication interface.

3 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the access authorization data is obtained from the user electronic device via the second communication interface.

4 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the user electronic device receives the access authorization data from the remote server.

5 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle electronic control unit retrieves the access authorization data from a memory on the user electronic device.

6 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the user electronic device provides the access authorization data via the second communication interface.

7 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a wireless interface.

8 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 7 , wherein the wireless interface comprises one or more of Global System for Mobile Communication (GDM), near field communication (NFC), cellular, and radiofrequency.

9 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the remote server is configured to provide the indication to provide access to the vehicle based at least in part on a user interaction with the server via the user electronic device.

10 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 9 , wherein the user interaction is provided via an app on the user electronic device.

11 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 10 , wherein the user interaction includes using the app to make a reservation.

12 . The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 11 , wherein the remote server is configured to allow the user to make the reservation based at least in part on a first geolocation of the user electronic device relative to a second geolocation of the vehicle.

13 . A method to control a vehicle having a vehicle electronic control unit that includes a first communication interface configured to provide communication with a remote server, the method comprising:

establishing a connection to a user electronic device via a second communication interface;

providing access to use of the vehicle based at least in part on establishment of the connection to the user electronic device via the second communication interface and an access authorization data provided by the remote server;

receiving vehicle use information from the user electronic device via the second communication interface when network connectivity between the user electronic device and the remote server is lost; and

transmitting the vehicle user information to the remote server via the first communication interface.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the access authorization data is received via the first communication interface.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the access authorization data is obtained from the user electronic device via the second communication interface.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the user electronic device receives the access authorization data from the remote server.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle electronic control unit retrieves the access authorization data from a memory on the user electronic device.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the user electronic device provides the access authorization data via the second communication interface.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium to control a vehicle having a vehicle electronic control unit that includes a first communication interface configured to provide communication with a remote server, comprising computer instructions for:

establishing a connection to a user electronic device via a second communication interface;

providing access to use of the vehicle based at least in part on establishment of the connection to the user electronic device via the second communication interface and an access authorization data provided by the remote server;

receiving vehicle use information from the user electronic device via the second communication interface when network connectivity between the user electronic device and the remote server is lost; and

transmitting the vehicle user information to the remote server via the first communication interface.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the remote server is configured to allow the user to make a reservation based at least in part on a first geolocation of the user electronic device relative to a second geolocation of the vehicle.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: KEATING, MICHAEL; PASSMORE, J. LOREN; RIEGEL, DANIEL; RUSSO, PETER R.
To: SCOOT NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072668/0983 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: SCOOT NETWORKS, INC.
To: SCOOT NETWORKS (ABC), LLC
Reel/Frame 072669/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: SCOOT NETWORKS (ABC), LLC
To: SCOOT RIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 072669/0156 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 17531610 · Nov 19, 2021
Continuation 16557687 · Aug 30, 2019
Continuation 15976303 · May 10, 2018
Continuation 15653275 · Jul 18, 2017
Continuation 15411916 · Jan 20, 2017
Continuation 14668781 · Mar 25, 2015
Continuation PCTUS2013061465 · Sep 24, 2013
Provisional Application 61705594 · Sep 25, 2012
Related Publication 20240198956A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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