DE102015208271A1 - COMMUNITY VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Google Patents

Abstract

Data are collected regarding a pollution of the use of a community vehicle by a user. Based on the environmental impact, a score is calculated. The user is offered further use of the community vehicle at a price based at least in part on the rating.

Description

Private vehicles generally provide a flexible mode of transportation for commuters and travelers in urban environments. However, owning and maintaining a private vehicle can be costly, including the cost of the vehicle, fuel, insurance and maintenance. In addition, private vehicles increase congestion and pollution in urban environments. Public transport, including buses, trains, subways, etc. operated on a fixed timetable, is a cheaper alternative for commuters. Community transport alternatives reduce traffic jams and improve air quality. However, a commuter may have less flexibility in terms of departure and arrival times, as well as departure and arrival locations.

Another common mode of transport that provides a good level of flexibility, cost, ease of use and environmental impact is a community vehicle system. In this case, a fleet of vehicles is distributed over an operating area (eg a city) and a user can rent any vehicle of the fleet for a short period of time (eg a few hours a day). Once a user account is established, the user can identify a vehicle that he wishes to rent based on his location in the business area and rent the vehicle without further formalities. The user may then return the vehicle to the starting location or deliver the vehicle to an alternative location, as the user pleases. The community vehicle system reduces user commuting costs while reducing congestion and pollution. At the same time, the ability to pick up and deliver the vehicle at a user-specified time in a location determined by the user increases the flexibility of the user.

Community vehicles can contribute to emissions. This can then lead to a deterioration of the air quality, especially on days when the air quality is already bad, such. B. on smog days.

1 FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary community vehicle system. FIG.

2 is a detailed representation of an implementation of the system of 1 ,

3 FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram illustrating an example process for providing incentives based on a "green" score. FIG.

4 FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram for recommending a vehicle based at least in part on an environmental conditional evaluation.

In community vehicle systems, commuters can be offered additional eco-friendly options. For example, on smog days, commuters may be given the opportunity to use an electric vehicle instead of a fuel burning vehicle, which may contribute to reducing exhaust emissions.

Thus, in one example, air quality can be improved by providing incentives to commuters of a community vehicle system to favor the use of electric vehicles over the use of vehicles fueled with fuel (such as gasoline or diesel), with incentives for environmental factors , such as Ambient air quality. These and other operations disclosed herein may be provided in accordance with instructions contained in a central server or the like associated with one or more community vehicles, mobile devices, etc. via, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network), cellular, WiFi, and / or may include other technologies, is communicatively coupled.

Accordingly, on smog days where air quality is worse, users may be given additional incentives (eg, reduced fees, more centralized parking facilities, etc.) for choosing an electric vehicle or other less polluting vehicle (such as a hybrid vehicle) Hybrid electric vehicle). For example, the user via a display in the vehicle or via a mobile data processing device, such. As a smartphone or the like, notifications of special parking that can be provided when the driver operates the vehicle in a sufficiently green manner, such. By using less than the threshold fuel amount, wherein the threshold value is set based on the total distance to be traveled when starting or scheduling a trip by the operator. The parking facilities may be integrated in a parking application that manages parking spaces in a particular city where the vehicles are specially equipped for identification and provides an electronic signature with permission to park in a particular parking space, with a signal representing the electronic signature for enforcement purposes is monitored by the city. Those for successful driving with reduced emissions and / or reduced fuel consumption Provided parking spaces may be closer to an intended destination, for a longer duration, for a reduced fee and / or combinations thereof.

In another example, the ability to operate at reduced emissions via a game or similar application, e.g. On a mobile device, or providing an incentive thereto, each user being given a "green" rating in real time based on how "green" they have been driven. Such an application allows competition for driving with the lowest emissions among commuters. A user may be given a higher score as the percentage of a particular trip performed in an electric mode increases. The user may possibly see his rating as well as the green rating of friends in his network and / or other community vehicle system users in the network of the system. If the user wins the game, he can unlock additional incentives and has reason to boast. The green rating of the user can be displayed on the vehicle driven by him, so that the user has the feeling to contribute to the pollution of his city. For example, the green rating may reflect how many trees a user has rescued or the release of how many tonnes of CO ₂ into the atmosphere he has prevented.

In other examples, vehicle recommendations provided to a driver requesting a community vehicle may also be adjusted based on the green score of a user. For example, users with a tendentially higher green rating may prefer green driving, and they may typically be offered more "green vehicle" options. As another example, upon requesting a vehicle, the user may be notified of all electric vehicles available for rental near the user.

In addition to offering discounts on the use of an electric vehicle on smog days, users may also be notified of available discounts on the use of community trips. Multiple users may use the same community vehicle to travel in a common direction or along a partially overlapping route. For example, users may be grouped based on their route preferences, and then each member of the group may be offered incentives. For example, users can receive discounts, bonus points, and so on. Users can also sign up for teams riding together and compete with other teams for the best green rating.

In addition, advertisements for subscribers to the Passenger Cars Program that currently have no vehicle in use, based on environmental conditions in the vicinity of each user, or a particular group of users in a particular region / city. For example, reduced-charge alerts and / or reduced-charge ads may be issued to users in a specific region with a high smog warning, or users in that region may increasingly receive proposals for sharing car use by the central application on such days. Participants on such days may again receive rebate rebates or points for future rentals during such days if they can make their trip with less than the threshold level of emissions per mile.

During rental of the community vehicle, the vehicle may indicate a particular rating or ability of a user to drive at reduced emissions or reduced fuel consumption, showing the progress and improvements over time across different vehicles. Such scores may be accumulated across a number of vehicles for a given user by classifying fuel consumption and emissions for each vehicle type so that an overall score for driver performance may be obtained.

Furthermore, personalized vehicle recommendations may be provided to the user by an application on his mobile device, using the knowledge of the particular vehicle being driven, user preferences, user behavior, weather, trip start and end location to predict the user's area, and to select a vehicle with sufficient Fuel. The application can make the user a personalized offer to the area. Driver behavior on roads and overland roads can also be taken into account.

Now with reference to the drawings 1 a block diagram of an exemplary community vehicle system 100 that at least one vehicle 101 , and usually several vehicles 101 , z. B. a community vehicle such. As a motorcycle, a car, a large-capacity car, etc., includes. Every vehicle 101 includes a computer 105 that with a network 120 communicatively coupled. The vehicle 101 may also include a GPS (Global Positioning System) device 16 or the like in a vehicle 101 include. The vehicles 101 can roads with vehicles 102 not part of the Community vehicle system 100 are, ie not via a server 125 be available for common use.

A computer 105 of the vehicle 101 may be for communication on a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus or the like, and / or other wired or wireless protocols, e.g. As Bluetooth, etc., be designed, ie, the computer can be via various mechanisms in a vehicle 101 can be provided, communicate and can according to data from vehicle sensors, communication over the network 125 , z. From the server 125 , etc. received. The computer 105 may also have a connection to an on-board diagnostic connector (OBD II). Via the CAN bus, OBD II and / or other wired or wireless mechanisms. Furthermore, a navigation system 106 in the vehicle 101 provided and communicative with the computer 105 for providing location data, e.g. B. via a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, coupled. The computer 105 can the server 125 over a network 120 Data, the location information of the vehicle 101 include, provide.

The network 120 represents one or more mechanisms by which a vehicle computer 105 with a remote server 125 and / or a user device 150 can communicate. Accordingly, the network can 120 one or more different wired or wireless communication mechanisms, including any desired combination of wired (eg, cable and fiber) and / or wireless (eg, cellular, wireless, satellite, microwave, and radio frequency) communication mechanisms, and any one desired network topology (or topologies if multiple communication mechanisms are used). Exemplary communication networks include wireless communication networks (eg, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.101 etc.), local area networks (LAN) and / or large area networks (WANs), including the Internet, providing data communication services.

The server 125 may be one or more computer servers, each generally including at least one processor and at least one memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, including instructions for performing various steps and processes described herein. The server 125 can the data store 130 for storing one or more vehicles 101 data received or communicatively coupled thereto.

A user device 150 can be any of a variety of data processing devices that include a processor and memory, as well as communication capabilities. For example, the user device 150 a portable computer, tablet computer, smartphone, etc., with wireless communication capabilities using IEEE 802.101 , Bluetooth and / or cellular communication protocols. Furthermore, the user device 150 such communication skills for communication over the network 125 including with a vehicle computer 105 use. A user device 150 could with a computer 105 or other mechanisms of the vehicle 101 , such as a network in the vehicle 101 to communicate via known protocols like bluetooth etc. Furthermore, a user device could 150 be used to the computer 105 to provide a man-machine interface (HMI).

2 is a detailed representation of an implementation of the system 100 from 1 in a geographical area 200 , vehicles 101 in the geographical area 200 can with the server 125 , z. Over the network 120 (as in 1 can be seen), communicate. Furthermore, vehicles can 102 that are not part of the system 100 are, as mentioned above, in the geographical area 200 includes his. vehicles 101 in the geographical area 200 may be for use by a subscriber of the community vehicle system 100 are available or in use. For example, vehicles can 101 , in the 2 represented by unshaded boxes are available for use, whereas vehicles 101 represented by hatched boxes that are considered to be in use.

3 is a process flow diagram that is an example process 300 to provide incentives based on a "green" score. The process 300 could according to instructions in a computer 105 of a vehicle 101 and alternative or additional steps of the process 300 could be through the server 125 in communication with a computer 105 of a vehicle 101 over a network 120 be executed. Furthermore, here with respect to the computer 105 described operations, eg. B. Display of specific information, receiving inputs, etc., by a user device 150 in communication with the computer 105 and / or the server 125 be executed.

In any case, the process begins 300 in a block 305 in which provisions regarding the use of an identified vehicle 101 from an environmental point of view, z. By the server 125 or the computer 105 of the vehicle 101 , be performed. For example, a percentage of time could be a vehicle 101 in an electric vehicle (EV) mode.

Next is a display of the computer 105 in a block 310 a rating or rating that is sometimes referred to as the "green" rating and is based on the operation of the vehicle 101 refers. For example, the green score may be based on a percentage of time the vehicle is operating in EV mode and / or other factors as described above.

Next, a display of the computer will alert you 105 in a block 315 a user about incentives, such. B. a reduction of the fee or the price for the rental of the vehicle 101 that could be obtained if a green rating were increased by a certain percentage. For example, an increase of 10% greening could lead to a 5% reduction in the fee.

Next is in a block 320 a current green rating for the vehicle 101 evaluated. For example, the green rating could be compared to a predetermined threshold.

Next could be a display of the computer 105 in a block 325 a user of a vehicle 101 Incentives or offers submit, based on the evaluation of the green rating in block 320 based. For example, if the green rating exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user might be provided with certain incentives or offers as mentioned above, e.g. B. Access to special parking, additional discounts, etc., be rewarded. However, if a green rating does not exceed the predetermined threshold, less advantageous or less close parking, fewer discounts, etc., could be provided to a user. Furthermore, a user could be informed of additional discounts that could be earned by increasing the green rating, especially if a green rating of a user does not qualify the user for additional discounts. Furthermore, alternative greening formats could be displayed, eg a number of rescued trees, etc.

Next will be in a block 330 Driver behavior, driving history, etc. recorded, eg. As described above, and used to update a user profile. Furthermore, could be a display of the computer 105 based on such information to provide suggestions for further enhancing a green rating.

After the block 330 the process ends 300 ,

4 is a process flow diagram for a process 400 in which a user a vehicle 101 based, at least in part, on a rating of environmental conditions. For example, the steps of the process 400 according to the programming in a server 125 be executed. The process 400 starts in a block 405 in which environmental data is received and evaluated. For example, air quality data, such as. B. smog content, particle values, etc., are received.

Next is in a block 410 determines if the environmental data is below a predetermined threshold, e.g. B. whether an air quality reading, such. B. smog content or particle value is below a predetermined threshold. If so, next is a block 415 executed. Otherwise, next is a block 425 executed.

In the block 415 that after the block 410 performed when the ambient quality is below a threshold, users and / or potential users of vehicles 101 be notified, z. For example, the server could 125 a message that reduced prices for community vehicles 101 based on environmental concerns, over the network 120 to user devices 150 send, z. Using known messaging service mechanisms. For example, could be a rental price for a community vehicle 101 reductions and / or other discounts could be used for community users and / or shared use of a community vehicle 101 are given. In addition, additional incentives could be provided for using a community and environmentally friendly vehicle 101 are displayed, such. B. preferred availability of coveted parking, coupons or "green points" for more perks, etc.

Next, a user might be in a block 420 Proposals for the environmentally friendly use of a vehicle 101 based on a user profile as well as environmental conditions, e.g. For example, using an EV mode, etc. After the block 420 the process ends 400 ,

In the block 425 that after the block 410 if the ambient quality is not below a threshold, users and / or potential users of community vehicles may 101 in the system 100 be notified, z. For example, the server could 125 as described above send a message, the normal fees for the use of community vehicles 101 concerns, for. B. Fees without consideration of bad environmental conditions.

Next, a user might be in a block 430 Proposals for the environmentally friendly use of the vehicle 101 based on a user profile, e.g. B. as described above, submitted. After the block 430 the process ends 400 ,

Data processing devices such as those discussed herein generally each include instructions executable by one or more data processing devices, such as those identified above, and for executing blocks or steps of processes described above. Computer-executable instructions may be compiled or interpreted from computer programs constructed using a variety of programming languages and / or technologies, including, but not limited to, Java ^™ , C, C ++, Visual Basic, Java Script, Perl, alone or in combination. HTML, etc. In general, a processor (eg, a microprocessor) receives instructions from, for example, a memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions to thereby execute one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data may be stored and transmitted using a variety of computer-readable media. A file in a data processing device is generally a collection of data stored in a computer readable medium, such as a storage medium, random access memory, and so forth.

A computer-readable medium includes any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, etc. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic media and other persistent storage. Volatile media includes Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), which typically forms a main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical media, punched cards, paper tape, any other physical Media with a pattern of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a Flash EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

With regard to the media, processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that although the steps of such processes, etc., have been described as occurring according to a particular ordered sequence, such processes are described as being performed in a different order than described herein Steps could be exercised. Further, it should be understood that certain steps could be performed concurrently, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the present descriptions of systems and / or processes are provided for the purpose of illustrating particular embodiments and should in no way be construed as limiting the disclosed subject matter.

Accordingly, it should be understood that the above description is not intended to be limiting but illustrative. Many other embodiments and applications would be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description as the examples given. The scope of the invention should be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be construed in accordance with the claims appended hereto and / or in a final patent application based thereon, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled to be determined. It is expected and intended that future developments will occur in the art discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In summary, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter can be modified and varied.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• IEEE 802.101 [0019]
• IEEE 802.101 [0021]

Claims (10)

System comprising a computer with a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to: Collecting data relating to an environmental impact of a user's use of a community vehicle; Calculating a score based on the environmental impact; and Offering the user further use of the community vehicle at a price based at least in part on the rating. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes a record of when the vehicle is in an electric vehicle mode. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises an air quality evaluation. The system of claim 3, wherein the evaluation of the air quality is used as a factor in the pricing. The system of claim 1, wherein the information in a user profile is used as a factor in pricing. A method comprising: Collecting data relating to an environmental impact of a user's use of a community vehicle; Calculating a score based on the environmental impact; and Offering the user further use of the community vehicle at a price based at least in part on the rating. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes a record of when the vehicle is in an electric vehicle mode. The method of claim 6, wherein the data comprises an air quality evaluation. The method of claim 8, wherein the evaluation of the air quality is used as a factor in the pricing. The method of claim 6, wherein the information in a user profile is used as a factor in pricing.

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