IP Library Granted Patent US 12,600,262
Granted Patent B2
US 12,600,262 · App. 18/417,726 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Vehicle managing energy at a location during an event

Inventor: Christopher A. Ferone (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60L55/00G06Q50/06B60L2240/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,600,262
App. No.
18/417,726
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a vehicle, a first amount of time until the vehicle arrives at a location experiencing a power outage, determining, by the vehicle, a second amount of time until a threshold associated with one or more devices in the location is exceeded, and the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time, and directing, by the vehicle, an energy storage unit associated with the location to power the one or more devices.

Claims (72)

1 . A method performed by a server, the method comprising:

determining a first amount of time until a vehicle arrives at a location experiencing a power outage;

determining a second amount of time until a minimum amount of energy required to maintain an operation of a device at the location is exceeded, wherein the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time; and

in response to the determining the second amount of time, directing an energy storage unit associated with the location to power the device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the first amount of time comprises:

identifying a current location of the vehicle; and

estimating an amount of time for the vehicle to travel to the location from the current location.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

identifying the device;

identifying the device as a priority device; and

determining the minimum amount of energy.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

identifying the device as a priority device, and

wherein the directing of the energy storage unit comprises:

establishing an energy cycle to supply intermittent power to the priority device, while ceasing to power a non-priority device at the location.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining that the vehicle requires additional energy before arriving at the location based on the first amount of time and the second amount of time;

obtaining the additional energy before; and

responsive to arriving at the location, initiating an energy share between the vehicle and the energy storage unit.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

inviting one or more additional vehicles to travel to the location and initiate energy sharing with the energy storage unit; and

responsive to receiving an acceptance from the one or more additional vehicles, obtaining additional energy before traveling to the location.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving an energy status notification from the device; and

determining the second amount of time based on the energy status notification.

8 . A system, comprising:

a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory to configure the processor to:

determine a first amount of time until a vehicle arrives at a location experiencing a power outage;

determine a second amount of time until a minimum amount of energy required to maintain an operation of a device at the location is exceeded, wherein the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time; and

in response to the second amount of time being determined, direct an energy storage unit associated with the location to power the device.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the processor determines the first amount of time, the processor is configured to:

identify a current location of the vehicle; and

estimate an amount of time for the vehicle to travel to the location from the current location.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

identify the device;

identify the device as a priority device; and

determine the minimum amount of energy.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

identify the device as a priority device, and

wherein, when the processor directs the energy storage unit, the processor is configured to:

direct the energy storage unit to supply intermittent power to a non-priority device at the location.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor:

determine that the vehicle requires additional energy before arriving at the location based on the first amount of time and the second amount of time;

obtain the additional energy before; and

responsive to arriving at the location, initiate initiates an energy share between the vehicle and the energy storage unit.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor:

invite one or more additional vehicles to travel to the location and initiate energy sharing with the energy storage unit; and

responsive to an acceptance from the one or more additional vehicles, obtain additional energy before traveling to the location.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor:

receive an energy status notification from the device; and

determine the second amount of time based on the energy status notification.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:

determining a first amount of time until a vehicle arrives at a location experiencing a power outage;

determining a second amount of time until a minimum amount of energy required to maintain an operation of a device at the location is exceeded, wherein the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time; and

in response to the determining the second amount of time, directing an energy storage unit associated with the location to power the device.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the determining of the first amount of time comprises:

identifying a current location of the vehicle; and

estimating an amount of time for the vehicle to travel to the location from the current location.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

identifying the device;

identifying the device as a priority device; and

determining the minimum amount of energy.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein instructions cause the processor to perform:

identifying the device as a priority device, and

wherein the directing of the energy storage unit comprises: establishing an energy cycle to supply intermittent power to the priority device, while ceasing to power a non-priority device at the location.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

determining that the vehicle requires additional energy before arriving at the location based on the first amount of time and the second amount of time;

obtaining the additional energy before; and

responsive to arriving at the location, initiating an energy share between the vehicle and the energy storage unit.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

inviting one or more additional vehicles to travel to the location and initiate energy sharing with the energy storage unit; and

responsive to receiving an acceptance from the one or more additional vehicles, obtaining additional energy before traveling to the location.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2026
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 075707/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2024
From: FERONE, CHRISTOPHER A.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066227/0816 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250236204A1 · Jul 24, 2025
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