Granted Patent B1

US 11,615,370 · App. 16/435,177 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Inventors: Jin Li (Sammamish, WA); Xingang Guo (Bellevue, WA); Shao-Wen Yang (Redmond, WA); Kaushik Mani (Seattle, WA); Taru Roy (Mountain View, CA); Ahmet Can Musabeyoglu (Sunnyvale, CA); Gerald J. Nievera (North Las Vegas, NV)

Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

G06Q10/08355B60R25/24G01C21/3492G06Q30/0641G06Q50/30G07C5/008

Abstract

Claims (98)

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

generating a first delivery route for delivering a first set of packages associated with a first operator via a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle including the first set of packages and a second set of packages associated with a second operator;

sending the first delivery route to at least one of a vehicle computing device associated with the delivery vehicle or a first operator computing device associated with the first operator;

determining that the first delivery route is complete;

determining a parking location for the delivery vehicle;

sending location data indicating the parking location to the at least one of the vehicle computing device or the first operator computing device to direct the delivery vehicle to the parking location;

sending the location data to a second operator computing device associated with the second operator to cause the second operator to travel to the parking location to access the delivery vehicle and deliver the second set of packages;

receiving, from the vehicle computing device, an indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within a geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device;

based on the indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within the geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device, causing a user interface to surface on the second operator computing device, the user interface comprising a selectable option enabling the second operator to signal an intent to access the delivery vehicle;

receiving, from the second operator computing device, an indication that the second operator selected the selectable option via the user interface; and

causing the vehicle computing device to transmit a signal to unlock the delivery vehicle to provide access to the second operator to operate the delivery vehicle on a second delivery route to deliver the second set of packages.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle computing device is coupled to the delivery vehicle via an onboard diagnostics port of the delivery vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

receiving, from the vehicle computing device, an indication of an amount of fuel remaining in the delivery vehicle;

determining that the amount of fuel is below a threshold amount;

identifying a fueling station is within a first threshold distance of the first delivery route;

generating an updated delivery route including a stop at the fueling station;

determining that the delivery vehicle is less than a second threshold distance from a pump associated with the fueling station;

causing a payment interface to surface on the first operator computing device;

receiving a request to authorize a transaction for a fuel purchase at the pump; and

sending, to a computing device associated with the fueling station, an authorization for the fuel purchase.

4. The system of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

identifying a traffic delay along the first delivery route;

generating an updated delivery route to avoid the traffic delay; and

sending the updated delivery route to the at least one of the vehicle computing device or the first operator computing device.

5. The system of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

receiving an order for a frequently purchased item, wherein the frequently purchased item is an item that is purchased a predetermined number of times over a predetermined time period;

determining that the frequently purchased item is on the delivery vehicle;

determining that a delivery location associated with the order is within a threshold distance of the first delivery route;

generating an updated delivery route to include a stop at the delivery location to deliver the frequently purchased item; and

sending the updated delivery route to the at least one of or the vehicle computing device or the first operator computing device.

6. A method comprising:

sending, to a first operator computing device associated with a first operator of a vehicle comprising packages for delivery, a route for delivering at least a first portion of the packages;

determining that the route is complete;

determining a parking location for the vehicle;

sending location data indicating the parking location to the first operator computing device and a second operator computing device associated with a second operator;

receiving, from a vehicle computing device associated with the vehicle, an indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within a geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device;

based at least in part on the indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within the geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device, causing output of data via the second operator computing device, the data indicating an option enabling the second operator to signal an intent to access the vehicle;

receiving, from the second operator computing device, an indication that the second operator indicated the option; and

causing the vehicle computing device to transmit a signal to unlock the vehicle to provide access to the second operator to operate the vehicle and deliver at least a second portion of the packages.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

identifying a traffic delay along the route;

generating an updated route to avoid the traffic delay; and

sending the updated route to the first operator computing device.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, from the vehicle computing device, an indication of an amount of fuel or charge remaining in the vehicle;

determining that the amount of fuel is equal to or less than a threshold amount;

identifying a fueling station proximate the route; and

generating an updated route including a stop at the fueling station.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the threshold amount is based at least in part on at least one of:

a predetermined amount of fuel or charge;

a predetermined number of miles the vehicle can operate prior to refueling or recharging;

a number of fueling stations in an operating environment of the vehicle;

an average distance between fueling stations in the operating environment; or

a number of fueling stations configured to communicate with at least one of the vehicle or the first operator computing device to coordinate payment for fuel or a charge.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is less than a threshold distance from a fuel pump or a battery charger associated with the fueling station;

causing a payment interface to surface on the first operator computing device;

receiving a request to authorize a transaction for a purchase at the fuel pump or battery charger; and

sending, to a computing device associated with the fueling station, an authorization for the purchase.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving an order for an item;

determining that the item is on the vehicle;

determining that a delivery location associated with the order is within a threshold distance of the route;

generating an updated route to include a stop at the delivery location to deliver the item; and

sending the updated route to the first operator computing device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the item comprises a frequently purchased item, the method further comprising:

identifying one or more items that are frequently purchased in an operating environment of the vehicle; and

causing the frequently purchased item to be loaded into the vehicle to enable an unscheduled delivery of the frequently purchased item.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining that the second operator is scheduled to operate the vehicle subsequent to the first operator; and

sending an identifier associated with the second operator to the vehicle computing device,

wherein the indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within the geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device includes the identifier associated with the second operator.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within the geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device is based at least in part on the vehicle computing device receiving a signal comprising an identifier associated with the second operator.

15. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining that the route is complete is based at least in part on at least one of:

an indication that a final package of a first portion of packages associated with the first operator has been delivered; or

a time associated with a completion of a work shift of the first operator.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more computing devices to perform acts comprising:

sending, to a first operator computing device associated with a first operator of a vehicle comprising packages for delivery, a route for delivering at least a first portion of the packages;

determining that the route is complete;

determining a parking location for the vehicle;

sending location data indicating the parking location to the first operator computing device and a second operator computing device associated with a second operator;

receiving, from a vehicle computing device associated with the vehicle, an indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within a geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device;

based at least in part on the indication that the vehicle computing device determined that the second operator computing device is within the geo-fence area generated by the vehicle computing device, causing output of data via the second operator computing device, the data indicating an option enabling the second operator to signal an intent to access the vehicle;

receiving, from the second operator computing device, an indication that the second operator indicated the option; and

causing the vehicle computing device to transmit a signal to unlock the vehicle to provide access to the second operator to operate the vehicle.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the vehicle computing device is coupled to the vehicle via an onboard diagnostics port.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , the acts further comprising receiving a condition associated with the vehicle from the vehicle computing device.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of:

an amount of fuel;

a battery charge;

a tire pressure; or

an amount of oil.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , the acts further comprising:

generating second route for delivering at least a second portion of the packages based at least in part on the condition; and

sending the second route to the at least one of the vehicle computing device or the second operator computing device.

Assignments (1)

Cited By (10)

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