Self-driving Connected Taxis Insights from Patents

Alex G. Lee (alexglee@techipm.com)

https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/2853055

Japanese company Robot Taxi Inc. announced that it will start trials with self-driving taxi service beginning in

2016. US20150339928 illustrates the system for operating the autonomous vehicles taxi service. A user can request

a taxi service using an application that is running on the user's mobile device. The taxi service request can include

the number of passengers to ride in the autonomous vehicle and a requested vehicle type etc. The taxi service

control system receives the taxi service request from the user's mobile device. The taxi service control system

selects an autonomous vehicle from the operating autonomous vehicles to perform the taxi service for the user.

The taxi service provides the picking up the user at a pickup location at a selected pickup time and dropping off the

user at a drop-off location. The pickup location can be a current location associated with the mobile device or a

specific location defined in the taxi service request. The taxi service control system selects an autonomous vehicle

that is currently available to perform the taxi service from the list of autonomous vehicles based on the autonomous

vehicle's current proximity or distance to the pickup location. The selected pickup time for the taxi service can be

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an upcoming time. The taxi service control system identifies an autonomous vehicle that is available at the selected

pickup time from the list of autonomous vehicles.

After the autonomous vehicle is selected, the taxi service control system schedules the autonomous vehicle to

perform the taxi service for the user at the selected pickup time. The taxi service control system sends a

confirmation to the user that requested the taxi service, via the application on the user's mobile device. The taxi

service control system notifies the user when the autonomous vehicle is near the pickup location.

When the autonomous vehicle arrives at the pickup location, the user can be granted access to the autonomous

vehicle upon providing a form of authentication. The autonomous vehicle selects the best route to drive the user

from the pickup location to the drop-off location. The route can be optimized to reduce a distance traveled or an

amount of time to perform the taxi service. The user can request for the route to be altered when the autonomous

vehicle is traveling to the drop-off location. The taxi service control system calculates the cost associated with the

taxi service. The taxi service control system, using bank account information associated with the user, charges the

user for the taxi service.

US2015015849 illustrates the central monitoring system to control the autonomous taxi vehicles. The monitoring

system receives inputs from the vehicle travelling on a road in real-time. The inputs include information regarding

the environment surrounding the vehicle and other surrounding vehicles. Based on to the inputs, the central ©2015 TechIPm, LLC All Rights Reserved http://www.techipm.com/

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monitoring system determines if the monitored vehicle is approaching a hazardous condition. When it is

determined that the monitored vehicle is approaching a potentially hazardous condition, the central monitoring

system actuates the vehicle controls system (such as a brake system or steering system or collision avoidance

system of the vehicle) to avoid or minimize the risk of the hazardous situation. The vehicles communicate with the

central monitoring systems and other vehicles via the vehicle communication system.

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Internet of Things (IoT) Strategic Patent Development & Monetization for New Business Creation

Goldman Sachs defines the IoT as the third wave of internet revolution: By connecting billions of devices to the

internet, the IoT can open up a host of new business opportunities and challenges. Even though the IoT is getting a

huge attention recently the concept of interconnected billions of devices is not new and has been under

development for over 10 years. Thus, there are a large number of related patented technologies that can be

exploited for developing new products/services, and thus, new business for the emerging IoT market.

TechIPm has developed an insightful new patent development and monetization methodology for the emerging IoT

market.

Many patent applications and newly issued patents can be further developed for creating new values by amending

and creating claims and generating follow-on patents to encompass emerging technology and products/services

trends, market demands, and strategic exploitation goals. TechIPm provides consulting for improving existing

patents to obtain maximum ROI. TechIPm also provides consulting on developing new patents that can lead to new

IoT product/service development exploiting the strategic patent preparation & prosecution, white space analysis,

and scenario analysis.

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A strategically packaged patent portfolio is the collection of patents that the integrated value propositions of each

patent of the portfolio target specific value propositions that are provided by emerging new products/services.

Techipm develops the strategically packaged patent portfolio in alignment with a client’s specific IoT business

interests (e.g., smart home automation). TechIPm’s methodology for developing the strategically packaged patent

portfolio is based on a deep understating of the IoT technologies, extensive experiences in patent analysis and

development, and insights into the emerging IoT market. The strategically packaged patent portfolio can be used

for monetization through patent sale, patent licensing, commercialization, spin-off, patent banking, and patent-

backed financing. TechIPm also can provide consulting on developing monetization program for exploiting the IoT

strategically packaged patent portfolio.

For detailed information, please visit

http://www.slideshare.net/alexglee/best-practices-of-ip-patent-strategy-iot-internet-of-things-case-study

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