Denso International America, Inc.

Denso Corporation

Denso Corpora Tion

Mustafa Mahmoud

Robert Wunsche, Iii

Koji Shinoda

Hiroaki Shibata

Wan-ping Yang

Christian Munte

Yi Jiang

Thomas Shi

Feng Xue

Cameron Beyer

Thomas Newman

Hyunju Seo

Martin Nespolo

Nandhinee Kandasamy

Evan Shriner

Hyunjo Seo

A method of remotely activating a vehicle system of a vehicle, the vehicle being part of a vehicle-share enterprise, the method including generating a control signal based on session parameters associated with a vehicle-sharing session, preconditioning parameters associated with the vehicle-sharing session, and sensor data associated with the vehicle-sharing session, where the sensor data includes vehicle sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle associated with the vehicle-sharing session, client device sensor data from one or more sensors of a client device, or a combination thereof. The method includes, prior to initiating the vehicle-sharing session, broadcasting the control signal to the vehicle, where the control signal is configured to selectively control the vehicle system.

Methods and systems for preconditioning a vehicle prior to a vehicle-sharing session

A method and system are disclosed and include assigning a vehicle to a user. The method also includes obtaining contextual information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and the contextual information includes at least one of location information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, route information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and user information associated with a vehicle-sharing account corresponding to the user. The method also includes determining a cleanliness score based on the contextual information and determining whether the cleanliness score is less than a first threshold value. The method also includes transmitting, in response to (i) the cleanliness score being less than the first threshold value and (ii) a vehicle-sharing session corresponding to the vehicle-sharing request being complete, an alert that is configured to indicate that the vehicle needs to be cleaned.

Predictive cleanliness function for vehicle-sharing fleet

Methods and systems are disclosed and include determining, using a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, whether a user is authenticated to operate a vehicle-sharing vehicle. The method also includes, in response to determining the user is authenticated: (i) obtaining, using the processor, a height value, wherein the height value is associated with a vehicle-sharing account of the user and is displayed on an identification card of the user; (ii) determining, using the processor, whether a position of a vehicle control mechanism needs to be adjusted based on the height value; and (iii) in response to determining that the position of the vehicle control mechanism needs to be adjusted, adjusting, using the processor, the position of the vehicle control mechanism based on the height value.

Driver personalization for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method and system are disclosed and include obtaining, using a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium and in response to receiving a vehicle-sharing request, contextual information, which includes at least one of (i) vehicle selection history information associated with a vehicle-sharing account corresponding to the vehicle-sharing request, (ii) location information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and (iii) application information associated with a portable device corresponding to the vehicle-sharing request. The method also includes generating, using the processor, vehicle recommendations based on the contextual information. The method also includes transmitting, using the processor, a first set of vehicle recommendations to the portable device. The method also includes assigning, using the processor and in response to receiving a signal indicating a selection of a vehicle from the first set of vehicle recommendations, the vehicle to a user associated with the vehicle-sharing request.

Vehicle prioritization for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method and system are disclosed and include, in response to a user being located within a vehicle associated with the vehicle-sharing request, obtaining, using a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, image data corresponding to the user from a camera. The method also includes determining, using the processor, whether the image data corresponds to an image associated with a vehicle-sharing account of the user. The method also includes in response to determining the image data corresponds to the image, enabling, using the processor, the user to activate the vehicle.

Driver authentication for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method and system are disclosed and include determining, in response to receiving an integrated transportation request, a route based on (i) at least one of a location of a vehicle and a user, and (ii) a destination associated with the integrated transportation request. The method also includes determining a vehicle portion and a secondary transportation apparatus portion of the route based on at least one of (i) the location, (ii) the destination, (iii) an integrated transportation history associated with the user, (iv) traffic information retrieved from a mapping application, and (v) operating information of a secondary transportation apparatus. The method also includes displaying the vehicle portion while the vehicle is operating. The method also includes transmitting the secondary transportation apparatus portion to at least one of a portable device associated with the user and the secondary transportation apparatus.

Integrated transportation services for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method and system are disclosed and include obtaining image data from at least one camera located within a vehicle. The method also includes determining a behavior of an occupant based on the image data. The method also includes determining whether the behavior corresponds to a predetermined condition, which is associated with at least one of inhaling smoke, inhaling vapor, eating, and drinking. The method also includes generating, in response to the behavior corresponding to the predetermined condition, an alert corresponding to the predetermined condition. The method also includes transmitting the alert to a remote device.

Interior camera services for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method and system are disclosed and include obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor of a subject vehicle. The method also includes determining whether the sensor data indicates one of (i) a first vehicle has contacted the subject vehicle and (ii) the first vehicle is located within a threshold distance of the subject vehicle. The method also includes selectively activating, in response to one of (i) the first vehicle contacting the subject vehicle and (ii) the first vehicle being located within the threshold distance, at least one camera of the subject vehicle. The method also includes obtaining image data of the first vehicle from the at least one camera. The method also includes transmitting the image data to a remote computing system.

Exterior camera services for vehicle-sharing fleet

A method of registering a vehicle with a call center of a telematics system may entail turning a key within a vehicle ignition to begin a call from a telematics control module within the vehicle to a server at a telematics call center, connecting the telematics control module within the vehicle to the server at the telematics service center, sending a health check request from the telematics control module within the vehicle to the server at the telematics service center; and receiving a health check confirmation in the telematics control module within the vehicle from the server at the telematics service center. The method may further entail inquiring if such a health check request request-confirmation was successful. The method may also include a call fail counter and a message fail counter to automatically re-initiate a health check request and a successful answer to such a request.

Method of activating a telematics device

A method for reactivating a telematics device configured to make a data call via a roaming partner of a service provider is disclosed. The service provider has an authentication bypass feature which uses an authentication bypass key common to the telematics device and the service provider to allow the telematics device to make a data call without authentication. The method comprises setting the authentication bypass key on a server of the service provider equal to a previous authentication bypass key, wherein the previous authentication bypass key was used by the authentication bypass feature prior to deactivation of the telematics device. The method includes setting the authentication bypass key on the telematics device equal to the previous authentication bypass key. The method further comprises commencing the data call through the roaming partner by sending the authentication bypass key to the service provider from the telematics device via the roaming partner.

Authentication bypass method

A telematics system for a vehicle includes an infotainment module, a codec module, and a control module. The infotainment module outputs data to a speaker via a first audio data path. The codec module outputs data to the speaker via a second audio data path when a telematics function of the telematics system is triggered. The control module switches from the first audio data path to the second audio data path after the telematics function is triggered. The control module changes a state of a relay of the speaker and a gain of the codec module in a first predetermined order before outputting data to the speaker via the second audio data path.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Mustafa Mahmoud