IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,507,046
Granted Patent B2
US 12,507,046 · App. 17/730,870 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Passenger support system

Inventors: Felice Ling (Cambridge, MA); Linh Pham (Cambridge, MA); Moira Doherty (Boston, MA)
Assignee: Motional AD LLC
H04W4/42B60R25/01B60R25/31G08G1/0129G08G1/205H04W4/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,507,046
App. No.
17/730,870
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Among other things, techniques are described for a passenger support system. In an example, a reported number of passengers associated with on-demand mobility transportation services is obtained in response to passengers opting-in to a passenger support system. The reported number of passengers is compared with a vehicle detected number of passengers. In response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers, a remote customer assistant is enabled.

Claims (29)

1 . A method, comprising:

obtaining, using at least one processor, a reported number of passengers associated with on-demand mobility transportation services in response to at least one passenger opting-in to a passenger support system, wherein an area is identified as a safety risk based on a number of passengers opting-in to the passenger support system in the area being greater than a number of historical requests to opt-in to the passenger support system in the area;

comparing, using the at least one processor, the reported number of passengers with a vehicle detected number of passengers; and

enabling, using the at least one processor, a remote customer assistant in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote customer assistant monitors a cabin of the vehicle in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote customer assistant automatically notifies emergency services in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers, doors are unlocked and windows are rolled down to enable views inside the vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle detected number of passengers is an occupancy number determined using at least one sensor located within the vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote customer assistant causes the vehicle to emit visual and auditory alerts in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an on demand mobility cloud service obtains the reported number of passengers and the vehicle detected number of passengers, and the on demand mobility cloud service enables the remote customer assistant in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

8 . A system, comprising:

at least one processor, and

at least one non-transitory storage media storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

obtain a reported number of passengers associated with on-demand mobility transportation services in response to at least one passenger opting-in to a passenger support system, wherein an area is identified as a safety risk based on a number of passengers opting-in to the passenger support system in the area being greater than a number of historical requests to opt-in to the passenger support system in the area;

compare the reported number of passengers with a vehicle detected number of passengers; and

enable a remote customer assistant in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote customer assistant monitors a cabin of the vehicle in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote customer assistant automatically notifies emergency services in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers, doors are unlocked and windows are rolled down to enable views inside the vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle detected number of passengers is an occupancy number determined using at least one sensor located within the vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote customer assistant causes the vehicle to emit visual and auditory alerts in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

14 . At least one non-transitory storage media storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

obtain a reported number of passengers associated with on-demand mobility transportation services in response to at least one passenger opting-in to a passenger support system, wherein an area is identified as a safety risk based on a number of passengers opting-in to the passenger support system in the area being greater than a number of historical requests to opt-in to the passenger support system in the area;

compare the reported number of passengers with a vehicle detected number of passengers; and

enable a remote customer assistant in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

15 . The at least one non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the remote customer assistant monitors a cabin of the vehicle in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

16 . The at least one non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the remote customer assistant automatically notifies emergency services in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers.

17 . The at least one non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein in response to the reported number of passengers being unequal to the vehicle detected number of passengers, doors are unlocked and windows are rolled down to enable views inside the vehicle.

18 . The at least one non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle detected number of passengers is an occupancy number determined using at least one sensor located within the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: LING, FELICE; PHAM, LINH; DOHERTY, MOIRA
To: MOTIONAL AD LLC
Reel/Frame 059902/0318 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63180396 · Apr 27, 2021
Related Publication 20220345861A1 · Oct 27, 2022
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