IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,370,391
Granted Patent B1
US 11,370,391 · App. 17/208,790 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Autonomous vehicle authorized use determination

Inventors: Ryan Gammelgard (Bloomington, IL); Justin Davis (Normal, IL)
Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
B60R25/1004B60R25/023B60R25/25B60R25/305B60R25/31G06V20/56B60R2025/1016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,370,391
App. No.
17/208,790
Filed
Mar 22, 2021
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B1
Examiner
TUN, NAY L
Art Unit
2687
USPC
340/426.18
Abstract

Autonomous vehicle methods and systems are described herein for communicating with an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to remotely control operation of the vehicle, to detect and remove unauthorized passengers, to deliver loads, to receive registration information for the vehicle, to provide accessibility information to the vehicle, and/or to receive sensor or other environmental data to integrate with an electronic game or other extended reality experience.

Claims (43)

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting an alert or adjusting control of a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features in response to identifying an unauthorized individual in the vehicle or initiating entry to the vehicle, comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor of a vehicle, a signal from at least one sensor or transmitter associated with the vehicle;

identifying, by the at least one processor, an individual in the vehicle or initiating entry to the vehicle based upon the signal received from the at least one sensor or transmitter associated with the vehicle;

determining, by the at least one processor, that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle; and

adjusting, by the at least one processor, control of the vehicle based upon the determination that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle by opening a door of the vehicle and applying brakes of the vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the individual comprises creating, by the one or more processors, a profile of the individual by using a facial recognition technique; and

the determining that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle comprises:

(i) receiving, by the one or more processors, a profile of a person authorized to be in the vehicle; and

(ii) comparing, by the one or more processors, the profile of the person authorized to be in the vehicle with the profile of the individual to determine that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle comprises determining that the individual is:

lighting a fire;

smoking;

committing an illegal activity;

vandalizing the vehicle;

inebriated; or

harming another person in the vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting control of vehicle comprises disabling the vehicle by ceasing to supply power to at least one component of an engine of the vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising sending an alert to a law enforcement agency.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the one or more processors, to a law enforcement agency, a video stream depicting an interior of the vehicle.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, to a mobile device of the individual, an alert informing the individual that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising activating an auditory alarm system of the vehicle to inform passengers of the vehicle to exit the vehicle because of a dangerous situation.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising audibly broadcasting an instruction for the individual to exit the vehicle; and wherein the audibly broadcasted instruction includes a name of the individual and is above a predetermined decibel level.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle comprises receiving a short-range wireless communication from a mobile device of the individual.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle comprises receiving biometric data of the individual.

12. A computer system configured to transmit an alert or adjust control of a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features in response to identifying an unauthorized individual in the vehicle or initiating entry to the vehicle, the computer system comprising one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to:

receive a signal from at least one sensor or transmitter associated with a vehicle;

identify an individual in the vehicle or initiating entry to the vehicle based upon the signal received from the at least one sensor or transmitter associated with the vehicle;

determine that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle; and

adjust control of the vehicle based upon the determination that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle by opening a door of the vehicle and applying brakes of the vehicle.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the determination that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle comprises determining that the individual is:

lighting a fire;

smoking;

committing an illegal activity;

vandalizing the vehicle;

inebriated; or

harming another person in the vehicle.

14. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the control of the vehicle comprises disabling the vehicle by

ceasing to supply power to at least one component of an engine of the vehicle.

15. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are further configured to send an alert to a law enforcement agency.

16. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are further configured to send, to a law enforcement agency, a video stream depicting an interior of the vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are further configured to send, to a mobile device of the individual, an alert informing the individual that the individual is not authorized to be in the vehicle.

18. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are further configured to activate an auditory alarm system of the vehicle to inform passengers of the vehicle to exit the vehicle because of a dangerous situation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2021
From: GAMMELGARD, RYAN; DAVIS, JUSTIN
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 055769/0300 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63159772 · Mar 11, 2021
Provisional Application 63158968 · Mar 10, 2021
Cited By (7)
US 12,362,964 US 12,411,923 US 12,552,344 US 12,589,714 US 12,597,040 US 12,662,083 US 12,675,331