Vehicle sharing system and method for allocating vehicles based on state of charge
US6850898B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S30/14
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shared vehicle system includes a central facility, at least one vehicle distribution port facility and a plurality or fleet of vehicles, each having a vehicle subsystem. In general, the central station and port facility and the vehicle subsystems communicate in a manner to allow a user to enter information at a port facility. That information is then communicated to the central facility, where the information is processed to select a vehicle from the fleet to allocate to the user at the port facility. Selection of a vehicle for allocation to a user may be based on selecting an available or soon to be available vehicle according to various algorithms that take into account the vehicles state of charge. The central station also communicates with the port facility and the vehicle subsystem to notify the user of the selected vehicle, to provide secure user access to the selected vehicle, to monitor the location and operating status of vehicles in the fleet, to monitor the state of charge of electric vehicles and to provide other functions. The vehicles communicate with the central station to notify the central station of the PIN number of the individual attempting to use the vehicle,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.