Valet mode for restricted operation of a vehicle and cloud access of a history of use made during valet mode use

{
  "publication_number": "US10286919B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Valet mode for restricted operation of a vehicle and cloud access of a history of use made during valet mode use",
  "abstract": "A vehicle having logic for processing a valet mode of the vehicle. An example of the vehicle includes a display screen of the vehicle. The display screen is configured to render information regarding operational modes of the vehicle, where one of the operational modes includes a valet mode. The vehicle includes an on-board computer including a processor for enabling the valet mode in response to input instructions received during a privileged access for a user account to enable the valet mode. The valet mode is configured to set restrictions upon systems and operation of the vehicle. The systems of the vehicle including functional inputs of the vehicle and the operation of the vehicle including at least a speed restriction. The processor is further configured to cause a notification to be rendered on the display screen to indicate that a recording of use of the vehicle will be made while the vehicle is in the valet mode. The recording produces a history of use of the vehicle for one or more sessions of being in the valet mode.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A vehicle, comprising, a display screen of the vehicle, the display screen configured to render information regarding operational modes of the vehicle, the operational modes including a valet mode; an on-board computer including a processor for enabling the valet mode in response to input instructions received during a privileged access for a user account to enable the valet mode, wherein the valet mode cannot be overridden by a driver without said privileged access, and the valet mode is configured to be activated to set restrictions upon systems and operation of the vehicle and the processor is configured to process vehicle sensor data when the valet mode is active to track the restrictions, the systems of the vehicle including functional inputs of the vehicle, the processor is further configured to, automatically trigger a notification to be sent to the user account alerting of a violation of at least one of the restrictions based on said sensor data processed by the on-board computer while the vehicle is driven and the vehicle is in the valet mode, and render information on the display screen of the vehicle to alert a driver using the vehicle that the valet mode is active and that a recording of use of the vehicle by the driver is being made while the vehicle is in the valet mode, and the recording producing a history of use of the vehicle for one or more sessions of being in the valet mode, the history of use includes images taken of the driver from inside the vehicle while the vehicle is driven and the vehicle is in the valet mode; wireless communication logic connected with the on-board computer of the vehicle, the processor of the on-board computer is configured to use the wireless communication logic to enable wireless access to the vehicle via an application of a device, the application of the device enables input of the privileged access for the user account associated with the vehicle to enable communication with a network for viewing or interacting with settings of the operational modes of the vehicle and the history of use of the vehicle for one or more sessions when the vehicle was in the valet mode; and local storage of the vehicle for saving at least some data processed by the processor of the on-board computer, the local storage further including data associated with the user account so that the processor of the on-board computer enables login to the vehicle, the login providing access to a user profile for using the vehicle, the user profile defining settings for the operational modes including the valet mode, wherein login to the vehicle with an administrator login enables the privileged access for the user account; wherein login to the vehicle is provided via one or more user interfaces of the vehicle or via one or more user interfaces of the application of the device; wherein the administrator login to the vehicle provides access via an interface of the vehicle or via the application of the device to the settings of the operational modes of the user account, the settings of the operational modes are configured to be saved from time to time to cloud storage of a cloud server that manages the user account, the cloud server being remote from the vehicle.",
    "2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein vehicle sensors and vehicle electronics produce data collected and represent at least some data that is part of the recording of use of the vehicle while in the valet mode.",
    "3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising, a camera of the vehicle is used to capture the images taken from inside the vehicle of the driver in the vehicle, the images being part of a video recording of inside of the vehicle from inside the vehicle.",
    "4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the recording of use of the vehicle includes having the camera record a driver's face and displaying the recording of the driver's face on the display screen during a period of time while in the valet mode.",
    "5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication logic includes electronics and software for communication with the network to connect wirelessly with the cloud server and cloud storage, the cloud storage configured to store data for the user account and data for the history of use of the vehicle for the user account.",
    "6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes at least one microphone for capturing audio in and around the vehicle while in the valet mode.",
    "7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the process further enables the valet mode to set a travel distance restriction and assign alerts or notifications to be sent to the user account when the vehicle is detected to have traveled beyond the travel distance restriction which signals a violation, wherein data regarding the violation is saved to the history of use, and wherein the alerts or notifications are sent via one of an email, or a text, or mobile phone call, or a notification to the application of the device.",
    "8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor further enables the valet mode to set a restriction on trunk access of the vehicle and assign alerts or notifications to be sent to the user account upon detection of a violation, data regarding the violation being saved to the history of use, and wherein the alerts or notifications are sent via one of an email, or a text, or mobile phone call, or a notification to the application of the device.",
    "9. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein a privacy setting provides for disabling the camera of the vehicle.",
    "10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user profile of the vehicle is accessible upon verifying biometrics of at least one occupant of the vehicle.",
    "11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the biometrics includes one of face recognition processing, or fingerprint recognition processing, or voice detection processing, or retina scan processing, or password processing, or login processing, or combinations of two or more thereof.",
    "12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the history of use is used to generate one or more learned settings to be made part of one or more operational modes of the vehicle.",
    "13. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising, notification logic processed by the on-board computer, the notification logic configured to output one or more alerts when violations of at least one restriction set by the valet mode is detected, the alerts include one or more of audible alerts within the vehicle, sound alerts within the vehicle or text/icon alerts presented on the display screen of the vehicle or a device used to access the user account.",
    "14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one restriction is set based on a learned setting from previous uses of the valet mode via the user account."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/824,158 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Methods And Systems For Defining Vehicle User Profiles And Managing User Profiles Via Cloud Systems And Applying Learned Settings To User Profiles” which is claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/745,729, filed on Dec. 24, 2012, and entitled “Methods And Systems For Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging, Charging Systems, Internet Applications And User Notifications”, which are herein incorporated by reference.\n\nThis Application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/452,882, filed Apr. 22, 2012, and entitled “Electric Vehicle (EV) Range Extending Charge Systems, Distributed Networks Of Charge Kiosks, And Charge Locating Mobile Apps”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/478,436, filed on Apr. 22, 2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.\n\nThe present invention relates to systems and methods for enabling use of operational modes on vehicles, e.g., valet mode, and exchange/access of information with cloud-based processing systems.\n\nVehicles, such as motorized vehicles and electric vehicles have been around for some time. Vehicles provide a means that enable humans to drive from place to place. In today's world, vehicles have become an indispensable mode of transportation, and provide the freedom to travel at any time of day and for various distances. Vehicles can be publically operated or can be privately owned. Humans most commonly operate vehicles, no matter the type, whether electric or combustion engine based.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 12/06",
    "B60W 50/08",
    "G06F 21/32",
    "G06F 21/445",
    "G07C 2209/04",
    "G07C 5/008",
    "G07C 5/0808",
    "G07C 9/00571",
    "H04L 67/12",
    "H04L 67/125",
    "H04L 67/22",
    "H04L 67/306",
    "H04L 67/535",
    "H04N 5/76",
    "H04W 4/046",
    "H04W 4/40",
    "H04W 4/44"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60R 1/00",
    "B60R 25/104",
    "G11B 31/00",
    "H04N 5/76",
    "B60W 50/08",
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    "B60R 25/10",
    "G06F 21/44",
    "G06F 7/00",
    "H04L 29/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Emerging Automotive LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Angel A. Penilla",
    "Albert S. Penilla"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-03-27",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-14",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-14",
  "priority_date": "2011-04-22",
  "application_number": "US-201514672038-A",
  "family_id": "53544101",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
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