U.S. patent application number 15/613213 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-10 for system and method for inputting a second taxi-start location parameter for an autonomous vehicle to navigate to whilst reducing distraction.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ben Mandeville-Clarke. The applicant listed for this patent is Danum Harris-Lusk, Wireless Energy Industries Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Danum Harris-Lusk, Ben Mandeville-Clarke.
Application Number | 20180129221 15/613213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59350324 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180129221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mandeville-Clarke; Ben ; et
al. |
May 10, 2018 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING A SECOND TAXI-START LOCATION
PARAMETER FOR AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TO NAVIGATE TO WHILST REDUCING
DISTRACTION
Abstract
A system and method for enabling a user of a mobile
communications device to select or input a second taxi-start
location parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle to
navigate to within a pre-determined period of time and wherein the
successful registering and processing of the second taxi-start
location parameter overrides a previously user-inputted first
taxi-start location parameter. The system and method includes
executing a first set of programmatic instructions wherein the user
can, via a coupled user-interface device, select or input a second
taxi-start location parameter, and wherein the user-supplied input
comprises a second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to that is separated
by a distance from a previously user-inputted first taxi-start
location parameter, and wherein the distance separation is between
and inclusive of 12 metres and 4502 metres. The first set of
programmatic instructions is further operable to register and
process the second taxi-start location parameter generated between
6 seconds and 5581.2 seconds after the generation and processing of
the first taxi-start location parameter.
Inventors: |
Mandeville-Clarke; Ben;
(Tinbeerwah, AU) ; Harris-Lusk; Danum; (Tewantin,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Harris-Lusk; Danum
Wireless Energy Industries Pty Ltd |
Tewantin
Tinbeerwah |
|
AU
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mandeville-Clarke; Ben
Tinbeerwah
AU
|
Family ID: |
59350324 |
Appl. No.: |
15/613213 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15361484 |
Nov 27, 2016 |
9715233 |
|
|
15613213 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/017 20130101;
G08G 1/202 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; B60K 35/00 20130101; B60K
2370/1438 20190501; G01C 21/362 20130101; H04L 67/20 20130101; B64C
39/024 20130101; G05D 1/0094 20130101; B60K 2370/145 20190501; G06Q
50/30 20130101; B60K 2370/148 20190501; B64C 39/02 20130101; G01C
21/3667 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05D 1/02 20060101
G05D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2016 |
AU |
2016904562 |
Claims
1. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium operable to
store programmatic instructions, including a first set of
processor-readable programmatic instructions and a second set of
processor-readable programmatic instructions, wherein the first set
of processor-readable programmatic instructions comprises
instructions operable to: register a first user input generated at
a user interface device, wherein the first user input comprises
data comprising a second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to; wherein the second
taxi-start location parameter overrides a first taxi-start location
parameter previously user-selected, user-inputted, or inputted by
an algorithm; and wherein the second taxi-start location parameter
is located between 4 meters and 4502 metres from the first
taxi-start location parameter; and cause to be generated a data
packet comprising the second taxi-start location parameter; and
cause the data packet to be transformed into a modulated
electromagnetic signal.
2. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the second set of processor-readable programmatic
instructions comprises instructions operable to: retrieve from a
third-party server an assigned plurality of generated news items,
an assigned plurality of active links, an assigned limitation of
the number of viewers, and an assigned ordering of the generated
news items.
3. The non-transient computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the first processor facilitated execution of the first set
of processor-readable programmatic instructions further includes
instructions to: register and process a GPS-based indication of a
location of a substantially autonomous vehicle operable to navigate
to the second taxi-start location parameter, wherein the GPS-based
indication is received via an electromagnetic signal.
4. A communications device operable to enable a user to re-select
or re-determine a taxi-start location parameter for a substantially
autonomous vehicle to navigate to, the communications device
comprising: a user-interface device operable to listen for a first
user-input; a processor coupled to the user-interface device; a
non-transient computer-readable storage medium operable to store a
plurality of processor-readable programmatic instructions, wherein
the plurality of processor-readable programmatic instructions
comprises a first set of processor-readable programmatic
instructions and a second set of processor-readable programmatic
instructions; and the processor facilitated execution of the first
set of processor-readable programmatic instructions includes:
registering the first user-input generated at the user-interface
device, wherein the first user-input signal comprises a second
taxi-start location parameter for a substantially autonomous
vehicle to navigate to, and wherein the second taxi-start location
parameter is located between 4 meters and 4502 metres from a first
taxi-start location parameter; and wherein a data packet is
generated comprising a second taxi-start location parameter data
and transforming the data packet into a modulated electromagnetic
signal.
5. The communications device of claim 4, wherein the second set of
processor-readable programmatic instructions comprises instructions
operable to: retrieve from a third-party server an assigned
plurality of generated news items, an assigned plurality of active
links, an assigned limitation of the number of viewers, and an
assigned ordering of the generated news items.
6. The communications device of claim 4, wherein the first
processor facilitated execution of the first set of
processor-readable programmatic instructions further includes
instructions to: register and process a GPS-based indication of a
location of a substantially autonomous vehicle operable to navigate
to the second taxi-start location parameter, wherein the GPS-based
indication is received via an electromagnetic signal.
7. A method comprising: registering a first user input generated at
a user interface device, wherein the first user input comprises
data comprising a second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to; wherein the second
taxi-start location parameter overrides a first taxi-start location
parameter previously user-selected, user-inputted, or inputted by
an algorithm; and wherein the second taxi-start location parameter
is located between 4 meters and 4502 metres from the first
taxi-start location parameter; and causing to be generated a data
packet comprising the second taxi-start location parameter; and
causing the data packet to be transformed into a modulated
electromagnetic signal.
8. A method comprising: registering a first user input generated at
a user interface device, wherein the first user input comprises
data comprising a second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to; wherein the second
taxi-start location parameter overrides a first taxi-start location
parameter previously user-selected, user-inputted, or inputted by
an algorithm; and wherein the second taxi-start location parameter
is user-inputted between 6 seconds and 5581.2 seconds after the
first taxi-start location parameter was inputted; and causing to be
generated a data packet comprising the second taxi-start location
parameter; and causing the data packet to be transformed into a
modulated electromagnetic signal.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation and claims the benefit of
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,484 filed 27
Nov. 2016 which claims the benefit of foreign priority to A.U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 2016904562 filed 09 Nov.
2016. The contents of the prior applications mentioned above are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure relates to
autonomous vehicles, and more specifically to novel control and
communications technologies for one or more autonomous
vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A conventional request for a ride-sharing service typically
originates from a mobile communications device adapted to
communicate with a cellular or other wireless communications
network. The request originating from the mobile communications
device typically comprises data indicating the current geographical
position of the mobile communications device via utilization of
common geographical positioning systems, such as GPS satellites.
Alternatively, the request originating from the mobile
communications device may comprise a user-inputted "taxi-start
location" that the vehicle dispatched to service the user via
ride-sharing will arrive at within a pre-determined period of time
in order to collect the user lodging the request via the mobile
communications device and hence officially commence the
ride-sharing service and/or one or more associated users.
Occasionally, the user lodging the request via mobile
communications device for the ride-sharing service may decide to
change the user-inputted "taxi-start location" parameter to be a
non-matching "taxi-start location" parameter. As autonomous
vehicles and substantially autonomous vehicles are significantly
integrated into society's transport infrastructure, users of mobile
communications devices may opt to own an autonomous vehicle or
substantially autonomous vehicle asset for commercial or
recreational usage. Such users may wish to submit a first request
to their substantially autonomous vehicle asset to collect the user
at a first taxi-start location parameter. Prior to the
substantially autonomous vehicle navigating to within a
pre-determined distance of the user's requesting mobile
communications device, the user may wish to submit a second request
to their substantially autonomous vehicle asset to collect the user
at a second taxi-start location parameter substantially
non-matching with the first taxi-start location parameter. In an
alternative scenario, a user of a substantially autonomous vehicle
ride-sharing platform may submit a first request for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to collect the user at a first
taxi-start location parameter. Prior to the substantially
autonomous vehicle navigating to within a pre-determined distance
of the user's requesting mobile communications device, the user may
wish to submit a second request for a substantially autonomous
vehicle to collect the user at a second taxi-start location
parameter substantially non-matching with the first taxi-start
location parameter. A previously unconsidered aspect in the art is
ensuring that there is substantial non-distraction by a social
media network to the user specifically when a user of a mobile
communications device wishes to submit a change in the "taxi-start
location" parameter to be non-matching with a prior lodged
"taxi-start location" parameter and prior to the substantially
autonomous vehicle navigating to within a pre-determined distance
of the requesting mobile communications device.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] A problem realized by Applicants with usage of substantially
autonomous vehicles for, specifically, transport or ride-sharing
services for human users, non-human users, or goods and services,
is the occurrence of user-distraction during the changing of a
taxi-start location from a first location to a second,
distance-separated taxi-start location, for a particular transport
journey enabled by a substantially autonomous vehicle, due to the
interference of social media networks on the user-interface device
utilized to change the taxi-start location for the substantially
autonomous vehicle to navigate to from the first taxi-start
location to the second taxi-start location. The occurrence of
user-distraction due to the activities of a social media network
may limit the user from achieving desired travel preferences and
outcomes. Minimizing user-distraction due to a social media
network, at least during a period of time in which the user is
changing the service-start location from the first taxi-start
location to the second taxi-start location, is desired in order to
assist in maximising user engagement with the programmatic
instructions executed to facilitate the service-start location from
the first taxi-start location to the second taxi-start
location.
[0005] According to a preferred embodiment, a first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions executed by a
processor listens and registers user-supplied input via a
user-interface device, wherein the user-supplied input comprises a
second taxi-start location parameter for a substantially autonomous
vehicle to navigate to that is separated by a distance from a
previously user-inputted first taxi-start location parameter, and
wherein the distance separation is between and inclusive of 12
metres and 4502 metres. The first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions is operable to register and process the
second taxi-start location parameter generated between 6 seconds
and 5581.2 seconds after the generation and processing of the first
taxi-start location parameter. Simultaneous to the registering and
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter, a second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions may be executed
by the processor, wherein the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions includes maintaining a secure
communications link with a third party server and retrieving from
the third party server an assigned number of news items,
information links, active links, and wherein the assigned order of
news items is limited to a restricted number of users. The second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions may not
generate and send data to the user-interface device simultaneous to
the registering and processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter by the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions. The processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter further includes generating a data packet comprising the
user-inputted second taxi-start location parameter, converting the
data packet into a first modulated electromagnetic signal and a
second modulated electromagnetic signal and transmitting the data
packet via the first modulated electromagnetic signal and the
second modulated electromagnetic signal to a receiving antenna of a
substantially autonomous vehicle operable to register and process
the request, or a dedicated processing centre comprising an
intermediate aspect between the mobile communications device and an
appropriate substantially autonomous vehicle. The first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions is further operable to
listen for a confirmation data packet generated and transmitted
from the intermediate aspect and/or an appropriate substantially
autonomous vehicle and, upon registering the confirmation data
packet, to generate an output signal via the user-interface device
with a user-perceptible confirmation that the second taxi-start
location parameter has overridden the first taxi-start location
parameter.
[0006] According to one or more alternative embodiments, the
process steps of the preferred embodiment may be rearranged or
substituted or, in appropriate instances, removed entirely, without
affecting the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0007] According to one or more alternative embodiments, process
steps may be added in. For example, including the step of
determining that the current electrical energy available capacity
of a portable energy source coupled to the mobile communications
device is at least 15 percent of the total charge holding capacity
of the portable energy source. In a further example, a step may be
added in wherein at an instance in time after the registration and
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter, the second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions is operable to
generate output signals at the user-interface device comprising an
assigned order of news items.
[0008] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions is
operable to generate output signals simultaneous or substantially
simultaneous to the generation of output signals by the first set
of processor readable programmatic instructions wherein the output
signals generated by the processor readable second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions occupies no more than seven and
a quarter eighths of the total user-interactive area of an
electronics display comprising an aspect of the user-interface
device and a minimum of a twentieth of a first eighth of the
user-interactive area of the electronics display. If the limited
output signals generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions are audio, such audio output signals are
extant, in sum, for preferably no more than 27 seconds, and less
preferably up to a maximum of 5572.2 seconds. It may be necessary,
in one or more instances, for the user to access one or more
aspects of a social media network substantially simultaneous to the
registering and processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter.
[0009] According to aspects of the present disclosure, the second
taxi-start location parameter may be stored in a memory unit
coupled to the processor.
[0010] According to aspects of the present disclosure, user-input
comprising the second taxi-start location parameter includes one or
more user-inputs of an image-based or motion-image based
geolocational positional marker, a text-string of characters, a
plurality of audio signals convertible into a plurality of
electrical signals, a motion signal detectable by a motion sensor
and convertible into at least one electrical signal.
[0011] According to aspects of the present disclosure, the second
taxi-start location parameter comprises one or more of a physical
address, a road name, a commercial building name and/or address, a
residential building name and/or address, a latitude, a longitude,
a GPS coordinate, a readable map coordinate, a name of a person, or
a landmark name.
[0012] Further features of the preferred and alternative
embodiments and other aspects of the present disclosure as well as
the structure and operation of various embodiments are described in
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] To assist in understanding the preferred embodiments,
alternative embodiments, and various aspects of the present
disclosure, and to enable a person skilled in the art to put one or
more aspects of this disclosure into practical effect, preferred
embodiments, alternative embodiments, and various aspects of the
present disclosure will be described by way of example only with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure for replacing a first
taxi-start location parameter with a second taxi-start location
parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate
to.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a process
method wherein, subsequent to the confirmation data packet being
received, the data is stored in a memory unit.
[0026] FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of an embodiment depicting a
pertinent aspect of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 14 shows an example embodiment process method of
user-supplied input, facilitated by aspects of the user-interactive
device, of the second taxi-start location parameter.
[0028] FIG. 15 shows an example embodiment process method of
user-supplied input of the second taxi-start location
parameter.
[0029] FIG. 16 shows a map display, in accordance with aspects of
the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 17 shows a map display, in accordance with aspects of
the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 18 shows a map display embodiment as depicted on an
example mobile communications device, in accordance with aspects of
the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 19 shows a map display embodiment as depicted on an
example mobile communications device, in accordance with aspects of
the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 20 shows an example embodiment of a system capable of
determining a user of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions' desired second taxi-start location
parameter by taking advantage of a natural language converter.
[0034] FIG. 21 shows an example embodiment of a speech or audio
input process method for the purposes of determining a second
taxi-start location parameter.
[0035] FIG. 22 shows an exemplary environment for generating a news
feed in a social network environment in connection with the
execution of the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions.
[0036] FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of a typical social network
provider in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 24 shows a process method for assigning and processing
news items retrieved from a social network provider in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 25 shows an example embodiment processing and dispatch
system of the intermediate aspect in accordance with aspects of the
present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 26 shows an example embodiment process method for
determining a suitable substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate
to the second taxi-start location parameter performed by the
intermediate aspect.
[0040] FIG. 27 shows an example embodiment mobile communications
device in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 28 shows a map display embodiment depicting a GPS
tracking of a substantially autonomous vehicle navigating to the
second taxi-start location parameter at an instance in time, in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 29 shows a block diagram of aspects of a substantially
autonomous vehicle in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 30 shows an electronics display on a mobile
communications device wherein an aspect of the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions depicting a social
media network is simultaneously displayed with the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions depicting an aspect of
the registering and processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0044] The embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described in reference to preferred and alternative embodiments of
systems, apparatuses and methods that enable and facilitate
selecting or inputting a second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to, and wherein the
second taxi-start location parameter overrides and is non-matching
with a first taxi-start location parameter. Specifically, examples
will be described which illustrate particular features of the
preferred and alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.
The embodiments of the present disclosure, however, are not limited
to any particular features nor, limited by the examples described
herein. Therefore, the descriptions of the embodiments that follow
are for the purposes of illustration and not limitation.
[0045] In the present disclosure, an autonomous vehicle, an
autonomous vehicle taxi-service, or a substantially autonomous
vehicle, or a substantially autonomous vehicle taxi-service refers
to a substantially self-driving car, truck, bus, motorcycle, boat
or other vehicle that allows for the ferrying or transport of a
single or plurality of human and/or non-human occupants, including
commercial goods, products and services, or some combination
thereof, from a first geographical location to at least a second
geographical location over an arbitrary or pre-determined time
frame, time, or time-window. The terms autonomous vehicle and
substantially autonomous vehicle are readily interchangeable. An
autonomous vehicle refers to Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5
classification of autonomous vehicle as defined by the SAE
International Standard J3016, with an emphasis on Level 4 and Level
5 autonomous vehicles, wherein Level 5 autonomous vehicles or
substantially autonomous vehicles refers to a class of autonomous
vehicle that does not require human intervention to operate. Hence,
the autonomous vehicle may be partially or fully independent of
active human intervention.
[0046] In the present disclosure, an autonomous vehicle
taxi-service or a substantially autonomous vehicle taxi-service may
also be defined, where appropriate, as an autonomous vehicle
ride-sharing service for human, non-human occupants, commercial
goods, products and services, or some combination thereof, or a
substantially autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service for human,
non-human occupants, commercial goods, products and services, or
some combination thereof.
[0047] In the present disclosure, a user input/output device may
comprise, and is interchangeable with, a mobile communications
device, such as a smartphone, Blackberry, mobile phone, and the
like, a smart-watch, a smart device, a paging device, a PDA, a
"wearable" device, an "Internet of Things" device, a two way radio,
a notebook computer, a tablet, phablet, a plurality of networked
communications devices, a virtual reality device, an augmented
reality device, a holographic device, or any derivative thereof, or
an electronics device capable of connecting to a wireless
communications network or a telecommunications network. Each of
these devices may be classified as a computer.
[0048] In the present disclosure, all applicable software programs
and modules are stored as computer or processor-readable
programming instructions, programmatic instructions, or code on one
or more non-transient processor-readable storage mediums.
Processor-readable media includes both computer storage media and
communications media including any medium that facilitates the
transfer of a software program or module from one place to another.
A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by
a processor. By way of example, and not limitation, such
processor-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM,
solid-state drive, USB-compatible device, or other optical disk
storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices,
or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired
program code in the form of instructions or data structures that
can be accessed by mobile communication device, substantially
autonomous vehicle, or other user input/output device controllers.
Also, any connection is properly termed a processor-readable
medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,
server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic
cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless
technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in
the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes
compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc
(DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce
data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with
lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within
the scope of processor-readable media. Cloud or remote based
storage systems are also to be considered within the scope of
processor-readable media. Those with skill in the art will readily
recognize additional processor-readable storage mediums that fall
within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0049] In the present disclosure, all programmatic computer
instructions comprising software modules and software programs are
preferably executed by one or more appropriate processors, as
necessary, on the mobile communications device, or other user
input/output device, and on the substantially autonomous vehicle.
The processor may comprise one or more processors, controllers,
microcontrollers, microprocessors, digital signal processors,
analogue processors, field programmable gate array processors, and
the like. Those with skill in the art will readily recognize
additional processors that fall within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0050] In the present disclosure, a controller is considered
interchangeable with or equivalent to a processor.
[0051] In the present disclosure, one or more sets of processor
readable programmatic instructions may be implemented in one or
more appropriate and relevant software and/or hardware
combinations, including electrical circuitry.
[0052] In the present disclosure, the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions comprises one or more of the
process methods presented herein, but may additionally comprise
distinct process methods executed by the same processor or
processors as the application requires. Such distinct process
methods may optionally include displaying to the user the current
battery level, or sending a plurality of output signals to the
user-interactive interface not associated with the registering and
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter. The first
set of processor readable programmatic instructions is operable to
enable a user of the mobile communications device to select or
user-input a second taxi-start location parameter in accordance
with one or more preferred or alternative embodiments, or other
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0053] In the present disclosure, the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions is operable to maintain a secure
communications link with a third party server that is a social
network provider, and retrieve from the third party server an
assigned number of news items, information links, active links, and
wherein the assigned order of news items is limited to a restricted
number of users. The second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions may not generate and send data to the user-interface
device simultaneous to the registering and processing of the second
taxi-start location parameter by the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions, except in accordance with one
or more limitations described with reference to one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0054] In the present disclosure, a taxi-start location parameter
refers to the geographical location pinpointed, selected or
inputted by a user of a mobile communications device for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to in order to
effectively collect the user and/or other users of the
substantially autonomous vehicle's taxi-service and begin a
transport journey of a pre-determined length of time to at least
one pre-determined destination location parameter. The taxi-start
location parameter may comprise one or more of map or GPS
coordinates, latitude and/or longitude coordinates,
processor-readable reference numbers and/or characters, a street
address, a building identifying number, a postcode, a name of a
person, or any other relevant and appropriate geographical location
identifying characteristic.
[0055] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment flow diagram of a
process method of the present disclosure for replacing a first
taxi-start location parameter with a second taxi-start location
parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to in
order to collect the user or associates of the user of the mobile
communications device used to facilitate the exemplary process
method. This exemplary embodiment has the advantage of ensuring
that the user is non-distracted by a social media network during
the time-frame required to modify the taxi-start location parameter
from the first taxi-start location parameter to the second
taxi-start location parameter. This exemplary embodiment process
method is executed by a first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions or programming code preferably stored in
a memory unit associated with the mobile communications device and
accessible by the processor of the mobile communications
device--i.e. integrated in the mobile communications device's
protective housing, or via an accessible and preferably secure
cloud service, wherein the cloud service is stored on one or more
servers located external to the mobile communications device and
accessible via an appropriate internet or world wide web protocol
or protocols, or some combination thereof. In a step 30 the first
set of processor readable programmatic instructions is operable to
listen for user-supplied input. User supplied input may be
facilitated by one or more user-interactive interface devices (i.e.
user-interface device) operable to generate one or more specific
electric signals in direct response to user-supplied input. Example
user-interactive interfaces are detailed further in this
specification, however, non-limiting examples include a touch
screen, a 3D light display occupying a pre-determined area of
free-space, a natural language converter, a voice to text
converter, a keyboard, an infrared sensor, a motion sensor, an
electrical input sensor, a clicking device, a set of programmatic
instructions, some combination thereof, and the like. Those with
skill in the art will readily recognize available and appropriate
derivatives and alternatives. In this step 30, the user-supplied
input is directly related to replacement of a first taxi-start
location parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle
previously determined and selected or inputted by the user with a
second, substantially non-matching taxi-start location parameter.
In a step 32, the process method determines the presence of
user-input. Said user-input is directly related with the input of a
second taxi-start location parameter to override a previously
user-inputted first taxi-start location parameter. If, at the step
32, the determination of the user-input returns FALSE, the process
method returns or iterates back to the step 30. The checking of
TRUE or FALSE may necessarily occur once or a plurality of times
within a pre-determined time frame, as the application demands. If,
at the step 32, the process method returns TRUE, a step 34 is
executed. At the step 34, the exemplary process method determines a
second taxi-start location parameter for a substantially autonomous
vehicle to navigate to. Preferably, the user supplied input via an
appropriate user-interactive interface is wherein the input is a
second taxi-start location parameter that is non-matched at least
in an aspect to the previously inputted first taxi-start location
parameter and wherein, in geographical terms and measurements, the
second taxi-start location parameter is between 12 metres and 4502
metres distant from the first taxi-start location parameter in any
arbitrary direction and/or radius. This distance is inclusive of
geographical limitations and impediments to straight directional
travel, such as mountains, gullies, dense built-up areas,
government land, private property, water travel paths, dense
forests and the like. The second taxi-start location parameter
preferably comprises at least one differential geographical
identification coordinate to the first taxi-start location
parameter, or at least one address number that is differentiated.
For example, the locational coordinates of the second taxi-start
location parameter may be 25, 28 and the locational coordinates of
the first taxi-start location parameter may be 25, 43. The address
of the second taxi-start location parameter may be 27 Mayville
Road, and the address of the first taxi-start location parameter
may be 43 Irving Court. The address of the second taxi-start
location parameter may be Jessica White, and the address of the
first taxi-start location parameter may be 35 Greene Road. Those
with ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize suitable
alternatives. The State or Country identifier is expected in most
cases to be the same, however, in a few select instances, the State
or Country identifier may be different. The second taxi-start
location parameter is expected to be the taxi-start location that a
requested substantially autonomous vehicle will navigate to in
order to collect one or more patrons that may be the user of the
mobile communications device, or persons or physical items
associated with the user of the mobile communications device. As
the second taxi-start location parameter is geographically distinct
and differentiated to the first taxi-start location parameter,
wherein the distinctness is between 12 metres and 4502 metres
distant, the transit time for a selected or pre-determined
substantially autonomous vehicle to reach the selected or
user-inputted second taxi-start location parameter may be more or
less than the transit time for a selected or pre-determined
substantially autonomous vehicle to reach the selected or
user-inputted first taxi-start location parameter. As such,
different cost metrics may apply if the selected or pre-determined
substantially autonomous vehicle is an asset of a commercial
service, such as a ride-sharing service or a goods and/or services
delivery service. The costs may be greater or less. In a
non-limiting example, the commercial service may optionally
incorporate a cost discount, or at least no additional cost, to the
user of the mobile communications device if the distance
distinction between the first taxi-start location parameter and the
second taxi-start location parameter is closer to the 12 metre
mark. If the determination of the step 34 returns FALSE, the first
set of processor readable programmatic instructions may execute a
step 50 terminating the process method. Alternatively, upon
termination of the process method, the process method may
regenerate or be re-executed by the processor beginning with the
step 30. Alternatively, the step 34 may reiterate through a
pre-determined plurality of times with FALSE being returned a
pre-determined number of times prior to the step 50 being executed.
If the step 34 returns TRUE, a step 36 is executed by the first set
of processor readable programmatic instructions. At the step 36, a
determination is made as to whether a second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions is active and being processed by
the processor. The determination further includes determining that
an active plurality of electrical output signals sent by the
processor to the user-interactive interface does not comprise data,
output or returns generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions. This determination may be partially or
fully made by the processor processing and sending a plurality of
output signals to the user-interactive interface, wherein the
plurality of output signals does not comprise output signals from
the second set of processor readable programmatic instructions and
this status quo does not change until at least the second
taxi-start location parameter has overridden the first taxi-start
location parameter. This determination may further be made by the
processor, ensuring via feedback processes, that there are minimal
errors in the output electrical signals currently being sent to the
user-interactive interface (i.e. no output electrical signals
comprising data from the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions). The second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions is processed by the processor to maintain
a secure channel of communication via a wireless and/or wireless
communications protocol (e.g. DSL, satellite, fibre optic, copper,
cellular network, wireless area networks, etc.) with a third party
server to perform or facilitate the steps of: generating news
items, attaching information links, attaching active links,
limiting the number of viewers of the news items, and assigning an
order. The secure channel of communication may, for example be SSL,
or another encrypted protocol serving a purpose of encrypting
communications between a client device and a third party server
located beyond the client device's Local Area Network, or
derivatives or substitutes thereof. The third party server, which
is preferably a social network provider, for example, may be any
computer system, plurality of interworking computer systems,
microprocessors, CPUs, or any other hardware and/or software
combination adapted to execute one or more sets of processor
readable programmatic instructions to perform the steps of:
generating news items, attaching information links, attaching
active links, limiting the number of viewers of the news items,
assigning an order, and sending or transmitting the assigned order
to the client device (i.e. the mobile communications device of the
present disclosure). The user of the mobile communications device
on which the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions is processed and executed may have previously, via the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions,
performed parameter-defining steps or toggles in order to determine
user specific limitations relating to the steps of: generating news
items, attaching information links, attaching active links,
limiting the number of viewers of the news items, assigning an
order. As the step 36 is executed by the processor, the second set
of processor readable programmatic instructions is actively
performing or executing the steps of: generating news items,
attaching information links, attaching active links, limiting the
number of viewers of the news items, assigning an order. If the
step 36 returns FALSE, the process method may terminate at the step
50. If the step 36 returns TRUE, a step 38 is executed. At the step
38, a determination is made to determine if the user-supplied input
at the user-interactive interface consisting of the second
taxi-start location parameter was inputted between 6 seconds and
5581.2 seconds after the generation or user-input of the first
taxi-start location parameter. The determination may be a basic
time difference between the execution of aspects of processor
readable programmatic instructions (which may, in some instances,
be the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions)
for registering and processing a first taxi-start location
parameter and the execution of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions for registering and processing a second
taxi-start location parameter. If the user-supplied input
consisting of the second taxi-start location parameter was not
generated between 6 and 5581.2 seconds after the generation of the
first taxi-start location parameter, the process method terminates
and the second taxi-start location parameter does not override the
first taxi-start location parameter. If the user-supplied input
consisting of the second taxi-start location parameter was
generated between 6 and 5581.2 seconds after the generation of the
first taxi-start location parameter, the process method returns
TRUE, and a step 40 is executed. At the step 40, the process method
generates a transmissible data packet comprising an information
signal comprising an instruction to override the first
user-inputted taxi-start location parameter with the second
user-inputted taxi-start location parameter; the instruction is
inclusive of the user-inputted second taxi-start location
parameter. The data packet may be a single data packet comprising
the information load, or a plurality of data packets with each data
packet comprising an equal or unequal portion of the total required
information load. The one or more data packets comprising the
instruction to override the first taxi-start location parameter
with the second taxi-start location parameter, inclusive of the
second taxi-start location parameter, may further include
additional non-related information or data as the application
requires. The one or more data packets generated may be generated
to be compliant with the particular transmission parameters of the
wireless communications network(s) the mobile communications device
is connected to, including bandwidth parameters, modulation
parameters, and the like. At the step 42, the process method
directs the electromagnetic transmission of a data packet
comprising the second taxi-start location parameter from the mobile
communications device to the controller or processor of a
substantially autonomous vehicle assigned to travel to the
user-defined taxi-start location parameter. The electromagnetic
signal comprising the data packet may travel directly to the
receiving antenna of the appropriate substantially autonomous
vehicle, or may travel via one or more terrestrial antennas/relays
and/or orbital bodies, such as one or more satellites to the
receiving antenna of the appropriate substantially autonomous
vehicle. In some instances, the electromagnetic signal comprising
the data packet may be directed to an intermediate aspect, wherein
the intermediate aspect is a central processing network adapted to
process user-defined requests and parameters for a substantially
autonomous vehicle taxi-service. This intermediate aspect may
receive the electromagnetic signal comprising the data packet,
recognize the request, discover an appropriate substantially
autonomous vehicle to service the request, which may or may not be
the same substantially autonomous vehicle previously dispatched to
the first taxi-start location parameter, convert the request into
an appropriate format recognized by the
processor/controller/electronics of the substantially autonomous
vehicle and if necessary, modify the request with additional
pertinent parameters, such as updated costing parameters, updated
destination schedules for the substantially autonomous vehicle in
question, and the like. Subsequent to this, the intermediate aspect
may generate a further electromagnetic signal comprising one or
more data packets comprising the second taxi-start location
parameter to override the first taxi-start location parameter,
along with any additional affixed parameters as described
previously. This further electromagnetic signal is transmitted to
the receiving antenna of the appropriate substantially autonomous
vehicle. In some cases, an additional electromagnetic signal may be
generated by the intermediate aspect comprising the updated costing
parameters, for example. This additional electromagnetic signal may
be transmitted back to the mobile communications device of the
present disclosure and adapted to be processed by the processor and
a set of processor readable programmatic instructions which in some
instances may be the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions, and outputted to the user via one or more electrical
signals sent to the user-interactive interface. At a step
44, the process method listens for a confirmation data packet from
the controller of the substantially autonomous vehicle dispatched
to the second taxi-start location parameter and/or the intermediate
aspect. This confirmation data packet, which in some instances may
be a plurality of data packets, comprises information confirming
that the second taxi-start location parameter is the taxi-start
location parameter that the substantially autonomous vehicle will
navigate to in order to service the user's transport request. At a
step 46 the process method determines if the confirmation data
packet has been received. If the step 46 returns TRUE, a step 48 is
executed. At the step 48, an output signal consisting of one or
more electrical signals is generated and sent to the
user-interactive interface confirming the second taxi-start
location parameter is the taxi-start location parameter that the
substantially autonomous vehicle will navigate to in order to begin
a user-requested transport journey to at least one pre-determined
destination location. The user discernible output may be a
graphical display, text, voice, or video confirmation. In some
instances, the confirmation data packet may instead, or in
addition, be a series of GPS-based or otherwise geolocational-based
data packets depicting the substantially autonomous vehicle
maneuvering its travel route on a viewable map associated with the
first set of processor readable programmatic instructions, as
described further in this disclosure. If the step 46 returns FALSE,
the process method returns to the step 44. This may iterate through
a pre-determined number of times, or until the process method
returns TRUE. A failure to receive a confirmation data packet at
the step 46 after a pre-determined time-window has lapsed may
indicate that the data packet comprising the second taxi-start
location parameter was not successfully processed and affirmed by
the substantially autonomous vehicle and/or the intermediate
aspect, meaning the substantially autonomous vehicle is still set
to arrive at the originally requested location at the originally
requested time or time-frame or time-window. This may be because
the data packet was not successfully processed by the intermediate
aspect and/or the controller of the substantially autonomous
vehicle due to errors in transmission via the wireless
communications network, due to errors in the circuitry or software
of the mobile communications device and/or the substantially
autonomous vehicle, due to an outage or errors in the computer
systems and/or software systems of the intermediate aspect, or due
to the request for the second taxi-start location parameter to
override the first taxi-start location parameter not complying with
one or more of the limitations described in the exemplary process
method.
[0056] After the step 48 has been successfully executed through,
the process method is terminated at the step 50.
[0057] If, at any stage of execution of this exemplary embodiment
process method, the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions encounters an interruption, upon resolving the
interruption, the process method may resume at the step that was
being executed prior to the interruption. In some embodiments, for
energy conservation or efficiency reasons, such resuming of the
process method after an arbitrary or pre-determined period of
interruption may not be possible or desirable. In such instances,
the process method may be forced to be re-executed or re-processed
from the step 30, the step 32, or the step 34.
[0058] In alternative embodiments of this process method, in order
to ensure a streamlined and energy efficient process, one or more
returns of FALSE by the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions may not immediately result in the
termination of the process method. In some embodiments, termination
of the process method may not occur until the process method has
executed through all steps to their logical conclusion and
satisfactory results are not returned that would enable an
effective registering and processing of a second taxi-start
location parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle to
navigate to and overriding of a previously user-inputted or
selected first taxi-start location parameter. In some embodiments,
some of which will be explained with the assistance of further
figures in this disclosure, one or more of the steps described
above may be rearranged into a different order, or one or more of
the steps may be eliminated without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments,
to assist energy efficiency and overall effectiveness, the step 46
may be eliminated.
[0059] The transmission of the data packet by the mobile
communications device and/or the data packet transmitted by the
intermediate aspect, may involve generating a first modulated
electromagnetic signal and a second modulated electromagnetic
signal, wherein the first modulated electromagnetic signal and the
second modulated electromagnetic signal are spacially distinct by
at least a pre-determined order of angular, frequency, amplitude or
phase magnitude and wherein in some instances neither the first
modulated electromagnetic signal nor the second modulated
electromagnetic signal comprise the centre frequency, and
modulating the data packet into controller-readable and
reconstructable aspects of the first modulated electromagnetic
signal and the second modulated electromagnetic signal,
respectively. Exact copies of the data packet may additionally be
generated and transmitted by the mobile communications device
and/or the intermediate aspect in order to account for, and
overcome, losses such as atmospheric absorption, multi-path fading,
bit-error-ratio deficiencies, and the like, as those with ordinary
skill in the art will readily understand. The first modulated
electromagnetic signal and the second modulated electromagnetic
signal may be any appropriate radio wave or microwave or light or
infrared wave. It is imperative that the data packet retains its
structural integrity whilst being transmitted through the
atmospheric or free-space medium between the mobile communications
device and the substantially autonomous vehicle or between the
mobile communications device and the intermediate aspect and
between the intermediate aspect and the substantially autonomous
vehicle. It may be desirable if copies of the data packet are not
needed to reconstruct the data of the second taxi-start location
parameter at the receiving antenna and/or controller of the
substantially autonomous vehicle and/or the intermediate aspect, as
sending the change of taxi-start location parameter request
efficiently and quickly is critical in order to satisfy consumer
demands and to reroute the substantially autonomous vehicle to
service other consumers as efficiently as possible in order to
minimize costs, maximise revenues, and ensure positive or continued
positive reputation of the substantially autonomous vehicle
taxi-service owner or operator. Copies of the interruption signal
may involve additional time-length. Hence, in line with this, it
may be desirable for the first modulated electromagnetic signal and
the second modulated electromagnetic signal to be captured as a
waveform with the spatially distinct characteristics substantially
removed by the intermediate aspect receiving and processing the
first modulated electromagnetic signal and the second modulated
electromagnetic signal and/or the receiving antenna and/or
controller coupled to the substantially autonomous vehicle
receiving and processing the first modulated electromagnetic signal
and the second modulated electromagnetic signal.
[0060] In the above preferred embodiment, the determination at the
step 36 may be additionally made by checking the size of the memory
(in a standard such as "bytes" or some derivative or substitute
thereof) allocated to data or information intended to be converted
into electrical signals to be sent to be outputted at the
user-interactive interface compared to the relative size of the
required outputs for the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions and the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions. The determination at the step 36 may be
made by the processing of the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions by the processor involving the usage of
less memory and processing to store and process data related to the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions compared
to when the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions involves sending one or more electrical signals
comprising data to be outputted at the user-interactive interface
and/or the processing of the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions by the processor wherein processing does
not include executing programmatic instructions to send one or more
output electrical signals to the user-interactive device comprising
data from the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions. In some embodiments, the determination step 36 may be
performed reiteratively independently, as well as simultaneous or
substantially simultaneous to one or more of the other steps of the
process method.
[0061] Where processing power or capacity of the processor coupled
to the mobile communications device to enable processing of the
process methods of the present disclosure allows, some of these
described steps may be executed in parallel where appropriate. For
example, the steps 34, 36, and 38 may be executed simultaneously,
close to simultaneously, or otherwise in parallel. However, it
would be less appropriate for the steps 30, 32, and 34 to be
executed simultaneously, close to simultaneously, or otherwise in
parallel.
[0062] Alternative embodiments of the exemplary process method of
FIG. 1 will now be detailed and described with reference to FIGS.
2-11.
[0063] Turning now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. The process method steps of FIG. 2 are the same
as the exemplary embodiment, with the differentiating steps being a
step 52 instead of the step 36 and a step 54 being executed after
the step 48 in the embodiment presented. The difference between the
step 38 and the step 52 is that the step 52 comprises the
additional parameter of ensuring that the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions is sufficiently authenticated to
the third party server. This generally means authentication details
such as a username and/or password or other encrypted or secret
code is not required prior to the simultaneous or substantially
simultaneous processing of the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions by the processor with the processing of
the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions by
the processor during at least a portion of the first pre-determined
period of time. Authentication of the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions may be via an encryption
algorithm such as SSL or appropriate derivatives and substitutes
thereof. The step 52 also comprises the additional parameter (i.e.
the limited exceptions aspect) of the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions being operable to generate
output signals simultaneous to the generation of output signals by
the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions
wherein the output signals generated by the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions occupies no more than seven and
a quarter eighths of the total user-interactive area of an
electronics display screen comprising the user-interface device and
a minimum of a twentieth of a first eighth of the user-interactive
area of the electronics display screen. If the limited output
signals generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions are audio, such audio output signals are
extant, in sum, for preferably no more than 27 seconds, and less
preferably up to a maximum of 5572.2 seconds
[0064] In derivative embodiments, the step 54 may be executed
iteratively before, after, or simultaneous with any of the steps
30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 as the application requires.
At the step 54, a determination is made that re-authentication of
the second set of processor readable programmatic instructions
incorporating generating news items, attaching information links,
attaching active links, limiting the number of viewers of the news
items, and assigning an order to the appropriate third-party server
at least occurs after a time of 360 seconds has elapsed after the
initiation of the execution of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions, and specifically aspects related to
overriding a first taxi-start location parameter with a
non-matching second taxi-start location parameter. Such
re-authentication may typically involve requiring the user of the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions to
re-input their username and/or password details and/or other type
of authentication details either manually or automatically. Prior
to that, re-authentication may not occur except for a failing of
electrical hardware, such as memory or electrical power supply, the
failing of which negatively affects all sets of processor readable
programmatic instructions currently being executed by the
processor.
[0065] In all applicable embodiments, the exception to the
respective determinations performed by the steps 36 and 52 is
wherein the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions performs the respective steps of: generating news
items, attaching information links, attaching active links,
limiting the number of viewers of the news items, and assigning an
order and wherein at an instance in time simultaneous with an
instance in time in which the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions is being executed and sending output
electrical signals to the user-interactive interface, the second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions may generate
and send a limited plurality of output electrical signals to
manifest as an output parameter at the user-interactive interface.
Such limitations include ensuring that a graphic, motion-based
graphic, or string of textual characters manifesting at the
user-interactive interface as a result of the output electrical
signals generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions are limited in their electronics display
manifestation physical dimensions to occupy no more than seven and
a quarter eighths of the total user-interactive area of an
electronics display screen utilized as the user-interface device
and a minimum of a twentieth of a first eighth of the
user-interactive area of the electronics display screen. If the
limited output electrical signals generated by the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions are audio, such audio
output signals are extant, in sum, for preferably no more than 27
seconds, and less preferably up to a maximum of 5572.2 seconds
[0066] Turning now to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. The process method steps of FIG. 3 are the same
as the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2, with the differentiating
step being a step 56 being executed after the step 48 in the
embodiment presented. At the step 56, a plurality of output
electrical signals are generated and sent to the user-interactive
interface. The plurality of output electrical signals comprises
data from the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions actively being processed by the processor, and
specifically an assigned order of news items retrieved from
communications with the third-party server. The step 56 may be
substantially user-centric and user-controlled, i.e. via an
appropriate user-data input device, such as a touch-pad, a
microphone, a motion sensor, and the like. Since the second
taxi-start location parameter has successfully been implemented via
the prior steps of this process method, the need for
non-distraction by a social media network is substantially reduced
and hence this step enables effective communication with, or
viewing of activities and events of, friends, family, comrades,
associates, partners, strangers, and the like without restriction.
The step 56 may be executed within a pre-determined or arbitrary
amount of time after the execution of the step 48. Such amount of
time may be substantially user-defined.
[0067] Turning now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement of a select number of the steps of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 2. Specifically, the step 38 and the
step 52 are reversed in their executional order. In this
embodiment, the step 38 occurs prior to the step 52. That is, At
the step 38, a determination is made to determine if the
user-supplied input at the user-interactive interface consisting of
the second taxi-start location parameter was selected or inputted
between 6 seconds and 5581.2 seconds after the generation or
user-input of the first taxi-start location parameter. If the
user-supplied input consisting of the second taxi-start location
parameter was not generated between 6 and 5581.2 seconds after the
generation of the first taxi-start location parameter, the process
method terminates and the second taxi-start location parameter does
not override the first taxi-start location parameter. If the
user-supplied input consisting of the second taxi-start location
parameter was generated between 6 and 5581.2 seconds after the
generation of the first taxi-start location parameter, the process
method returns TRUE, and the step 52 is executed. However, it
should be noted that in some derivative embodiments, the steps 38
and steps 52 may be executed simultaneously, close to
simultaneously, or otherwise in parallel. If the processing power
or capacity of the mobile communications device does not allow for
substantial parallel processing, the step 38 is prioritized to be
executed prior to the step 52. After the step 48, the process
method terminates at the step 50.
[0068] Turning now to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement of a select number of the steps of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 2 and a substitute step.
Specifically, the step 52 is arranged to be executed prior to a
substitute step 58 (substituting the step 32), wherein the step 58
includes listening for user-supplied input via a suitable
user-interactive interface currently communicating to the user at
least one output electrical signal generated by the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions. After the successful
execution of the step 34 and a return value of TRUE, the step 38 is
subsequently executed. After the step 48, the process method
terminates at the step 50. In this embodiment, it may be
advantageous from a non-distraction stance to determine that the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions is not
generating substantial output electrical signals beyond the scope
of appropriate limitations and restrictions before executing the
process method further by prompting user input for the second
taxi-start location parameter.
[0069] Turning now to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement of a select number of the steps of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 2. Specifically, upon successful
execution of the step 34, the step 38 is subsequently executed.
Upon the successful execution of the step 38, the steps 40 and 42
are executed, respectively. In this particular embodiment, the step
52 is interposed between the respective steps 42 and 44. It should
be noted that in some instances, where processing capabilities and
memory resources allow, the steps 34 and 38 may be executed
substantially simultaneously or in parallel. It should be noted
that although the step 52 is, in this embodiment, executed between
the steps 42 and 44, it may, where hardware and/or software
resources allow, be executed simultaneously, substantially
simultaneously, or otherwise in parallel with one or more of the
other steps 30, 32, 34, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 56.
[0070] Turning now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement and substitution of a select number of
the steps of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2. Specifically,
the determining step 52 is substituted with a step 60. The step 60
is, in this non-limiting embodiment, interposed between the steps
34 and 38, respectively. At the step 60, a determination is made to
ensure that a portable energy source powering the mobile
communications device and hence enabling the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions to be executed by the processor
is at least at 15 percent total capacity of electrical energy
remaining, but preferably a higher capacity of electrical energy
remains that can be discharged. This is to ensure another aspect of
non-distraction to the user while performing the respective steps
of overriding the first taxi-start location parameter with the
second taxi-start location parameter. If insufficient electrical
energy remains stored in the portable energy source to be
discharged, the user may be unable to efficiently modify the
taxi-start location parameter. Ensuring that the required energy
amount remains may be determined by further sets of processor
readable programmatic instructions executed by the processor which
monitors the electrical energy capacity remaining in the portable
energy source and modifies the operation of various aspects of the
mobile communications device, such as screen display brightness or
average or instantaneous processor energy usage, in response to
various electrical energy capacity thresholds being met. In this
non-limiting embodiment, if the electrical energy capacity of the
portable energy source is below 15 percent, the process method is
terminated at the step 50. It should be noted that in some
embodiments, the determination step 60 may be performed
reiteratively and simultaneous to, substantially simultaneous to,
or substantially in parallel with the execution of one or more of
the steps of 30, 32, 34, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48.
[0071] Turning now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement of a select number of the steps of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 7. Specifically, the step 60 is
executed prior to the step 30. Hence, in this embodiment, compared
to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the successful execution of the step
34 is followed by the step 38. If the determination at the step 60
is not successful in resulting with the desired outcome, it may not
be desirable for the process method to commence further, due to the
possibility of enhanced distraction to the user desiring to
substitute the first taxi-start location parameter with the second
taxi-start location parameter. If the process method illustrated in
this FIG. 8 is executed through to successful logical conclusion,
the step 50 terminates the process method after the execution of
the step 48.
[0072] Turning now to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting inclusion of an additional step over the alternative
embodiment of FIG. 8. Specifically, step 52 is included in the
process method. Step 52 is executed subsequent to the successful
execution of the step 34. Following the successful execution of the
step 52, the step 38 is executed. Although this is the presented
order, it should be noted that the step 52 may be executed
simultaneous with, or substantially in parallel with, one or more
of the other steps of the process method. This alternative
embodiment presents, for the first time in this disclosure, both
steps (52 and 60) designed to reduce user distraction whilst the
user attempts to override the first taxi-start location parameter
with the second taxi-start location parameter.
[0073] Turning now to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting inclusion of an additional step over the alternative
embodiment of FIG. 9. Specifically, at the logical conclusion of
the step 48, the step 56 is subsequently executed wherein a
plurality of output electrical signals are generated and sent to
the user-interactive interface. The plurality of output electrical
signals comprises data from the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions actively being processed by the
processor, and specifically an assigned order of news items
retrieved from communications with the third-party server. The step
56 may be substantially user-centric and user-controlled, i.e. via
an appropriate user-data input device coupled to, or comprising an
aspect of, the user-interface device, such as a touch-pad, a
microphone, a motion sensor, and the like. Since the second
taxi-start location parameter has successfully been implemented via
the prior steps of this process method, the need for
non-distraction is reduced and hence this step enables effective
communication with, or the viewing of activities or events of,
friends, family, comrades, associates, partners, strangers, and the
like, without restriction. The step 56 may be executed within a
pre-determined or arbitrary amount of time after the execution of
the step 48. Such amount of time may be substantially
user-defined.
[0074] Turning now to FIG. 11, an alternative embodiment process
method is depicted. This alternative embodiment presents a
non-limiting rearrangement of a select number of the steps of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 9. Specifically, the step 60 for
determining the appropriate electrical energy capacity remaining in
a portable energy source coupled to the mobile communications
device is executed after the step 52 and prior to the step 38. The
step 52, as in FIG. 9, is executed after the step 34. In some
instances, it may be suitable, due to the availability of the
necessary processor and memory resources, for the steps 52 and 60
to be executed substantially simultaneously, simultaneously, or
otherwise in parallel thereof. Similarly, it may be suitable, due
to the availability of the necessary processor and memory
resources, for the steps 34 and 38 to be executed substantially
simultaneously, simultaneously, or otherwise in parallel thereof.
In the instances that this occurs, this means that the step 32 may
be followed by the step 52, or the step 60 may be followed by the
step 40. Similarly, in some instances, it may be suitable for the
steps 34, 38, 52, and 60 to be executed substantially
simultaneously, simultaneously, or otherwise in parallel.
[0075] FIG. 12 presents a flow chart of an embodiment of a process
method wherein, subsequent to the confirmation data packet being
received from the substantially autonomous vehicle or the
intermediate aspect at the step 46 in any of the preferred or
alternative embodiments presented in FIGS. 1 to 11, a step 62 is
executed. At the step 62, the second taxi-start location parameter
and/or the confirmation data packet is retrievably stored in a
memory unit. The memory unit may be the same memory module used to
retrievably store the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions and/or the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions, or the memory module may be a coupled
memory module or a non-coupled memory module. For example, the
memory module may be a magnetic disk drive, static or dynamic RAM
or a derivative or substitute thereof, a solid state storage
device, virtual memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, ROM,
PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, any appropriate combinations, and the like.
Memory module may be hardware and/or software compartmentalized in
the mobile communications device, or may be a memory module
accessible via a preferably secure communications protocol, such as
over a local area network or a wide area network--for example, a
cloud storage device, or a remote computer server. Memory module
may be located on any other appropriate electronics device, as the
application requires.
[0076] FIG. 13 presents a flow diagram of an embodiment of the
present disclosure. The embodiment presented in this FIG. 13 may be
executed by the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions substantially simultaneous with the execution of any
of the preferred or alternative embodiments detailed in the FIGS. 1
to 11. The process method of this FIG. 13 begins with the execution
of the respective steps of 30 and 32 until steps 30 and 32 have
iterated through a pre-determined number of times, or until user
supplied input is detected at the user-interactive interface. If
user supplied input is detected at the user-interactive interface,
a step 64 is executed. At the step 64, a determination is made as
to whether the user supplied input is a second taxi-start location
parameter that is not an exact match with a previously user
supplied input of a first taxi-start location parameter. This
determination may be made, for example, by comparing the size (e.g.
bytes) occupied in memory or the processor resources consumed by,
respectively, the first taxi-start location parameter and the
second taxi-start location parameter. Alternatively, in another
non-limiting example, this determination may be made by a
match-determining algorithm to determine the similarities in the
textual, image, audio, or positional characteristics of,
respectively, the first taxi-start location parameter and the
second taxi-start location parameter. If a result of a non-match is
returned by the step 64, a step 66 is executed. If a result of a
match is returned by the step 64, the process method is terminated
at the step 50. At the step 66, the process method calculates the
relative distance between the first taxi-start location parameter
and the second taxi-start location parameter. Such calculation may
be performed by an aspect of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions adapted to perform such distance
calculations--e.g. by measuring the distance between the first
taxi-start location parameter and the second taxi-start location
parameter via the units of distance utilized by a coupled map or
other geographical positioning imagery, system, or device, or an
aspect of the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions in coordination with an appropriate GPS module, or
other distance tracking software and/or hardware. Such calculations
may be performed to assist in determining that the distance between
the second taxi-start location parameter and the first taxi-start
location parameter is between 12 metres and 4502 metres in any
arbitrary or pre-determined direction, in keeping with the
requirements of the present disclosure. Additionally, the distance
calculations may assist in calculation of the most appropriate
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to the second
taxi-start location parameter that will maximise the resources of
the ride-sharing network, wherein the request for the second
taxi-start location parameter is lodged as part of a ride-sharing
service. Such calculations may be made, for example, by one or more
substantially autonomous vehicles that are linked via a secure
wireless communications protocol to at least one other
substantially autonomous vehicle, or may be made by the
intermediate aspect, or some combination thereof. Additional
calculations performed by at least one substantially autonomous
vehicle in secure wireless communications with at least one other
substantially autonomous vehicle, or the intermediate aspect, is to
utilize the distance calculation difference to determine
appropriate costing parameters, such as the total cost required to
be levied to the user's account linked to the intermediate aspect
or one or more substantially autonomous vehicles for the
substantially autonomous vehicle to transit from the second
taxi-start location parameter to a pre-determined destination
parameter and/or for the substantially autonomous vehicle to
transit or navigate from the first taxi-start location parameter to
the second taxi-start location parameter. After the execution of
the step 66, a step 68 stores the resulting data of the distance
calculation in an appropriate memory module. The resulting data of
the distance calculation may be transmitted via a data packet
modulated into a transmissible electromagnetic signal and
transmitted to the intermediate aspect or the receiving antenna of
the appropriate substantially autonomous vehicle simultaneous with
the execution of the steps 40 and 42, respectively, or subsequent
to the step 46, depending on the specific application
requirements.
[0077] FIG. 14 depicts an example embodiment process method of
user-supplied input, facilitated by aspects of the user-interactive
device, of the second taxi-start location parameter. In this
embodiment, the process method commences when touch pressure is
applied to a geographical location image (i.e. a digital or
electronic map) at a step 70. The digital or electronic map may
comprise an image or motion-image at a particular pre-defined
aspect of the map associated with the previously selected first
taxi-start location parameter and/or associated with the desired
second taxi-start location parameter. If the step 70 returns FALSE,
the step 70 may reiterate a pre-determined number of times or until
the step 70 returns TRUE. If the step 70 returns TRUE, the process
method checks to determine if touch pressure has been released at a
step 72. The detection of the presence of touch pressure may be
performed with commonly known methods in the art and will not be
discussed further here. If the step 72 returns FALSE, the step 72
may reiterate a pre-determined number of times or until the step 72
returns TRUE. If the step 72 returns TRUE, a step 74 is executed.
At the step 74, the image or motion-image (i.e. the "map marker")
from the aspect of the map associated with the first taxi-start
location parameter is superimposed and stationed upon the aspect of
the map associated with a centre of the previously applied touch
pressure. The centre of the applied touch pressure is associated
with the second taxi-start location parameter. In an alternative
embodiment of the step 74, the image or motion-image at the aspect
of the map associated with the first taxi-start location parameter
may instead be "draggable" by initial touch pressure application to
the aspect of the touch-screen displaying the image or motion-image
associated with the first taxi-start location parameter, followed
by a period of uninterrupted touch pressure that is non-stationary
and may follow an arbitrary or pre-determined trajectory across the
plane or plurality of planes of the touch-screen. The image or
motion-image remains non-stationary for the duration of the
non-stationary touch pressure until the touch pressure is released
from the touch-screen. At the point-of-release of the touch
pressure, the image or motion-image becomes stationary, and the
aspect of the map upon which the image or motion-image becomes
stationary is defined as the second taxi-start location parameter,
as long as the distance between the first taxi-start location
parameter and the second taxi-start location parameter is between
and inclusive of 12 metres and 4502 metres. In most instances of
this particular process method, if this distance parameter is not
complied with--as calculated, for example, by the process method of
FIG. 13--the image or motion-image may return to its previous
stationary point or aspect (i.e. the first taxi-start location
parameter). Subsequently, which may also be substantially
simultaneously or in parallel, a determination is made of the map
coordinates of the centre aspect of the previously applied touch
pressure now superimposed with the image or motion-image map
marker. Such determination may be made depending upon the
particular geographical location identifiers utilized by the map.
For example, the map may comprise a series of consecutive
coordinates of increasing value positioned along the horizontal "x"
axis, and a series of consecutive coordinates of increasing value
positioned along the vertical "y" axis. If the geographical
positional identifier coordinates are arranged in the format of "x,
y", the geographical positional identifier coordinates of the
second taxi-start location parameter may be, in a non-limiting
example, "15, 22". In addition, it may be suitable for the
geographical positional identifier coordinates of the second
taxi-start location parameter to be interpretable by the
intermediate aspect computer processes and/or the controller of the
substantially autonomous vehicle in order to accurately ascertain
the second taxi-start location parameter in real terms. In some
cases, this may involve ensuring the positional identifier
coordinates can be efficiently converted into a format recognizable
by the intermediate aspect and/or the controller of the
substantially autonomous vehicle. This conversion may be programmed
to occur as an aspect of the execution of the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions, or as an aspect of
the particular processor readable programmatic instructions
executed by the computer systems of the intermediate aspect or may
be programmed to occur as an aspect of the particular processor
readable programmatic instructions executed by the controller of
the substantially autonomous vehicle required to navigate to the
second taxi-start location parameter, or some combination thereof.
The updated map file and particular map coordinates associated with
the image or motion-image that is the second taxi-start location
parameter is subsequently stored in a memory unit at the step 78.
In some embodiments, the steps 70, 72, 74, 76, and 78 may be
executed through a plurality of times before the user achieves a
second taxi-start location parameter that is congruent with the
user's aims. The user has the flexibility to force the iteration of
these steps through an arbitrary number of times, provided that the
total time elapsed between the determined first taxi-start location
parameter and the selection or inputting of the second taxi-start
location parameter is between, and inclusive of, 6 and 5581.2
seconds.
[0078] FIG. 15 depicts an example embodiment process method of
user-supplied input of the second taxi-start location parameter
that shares several of the same steps as the example embodiment
process method of FIG. 14. Specifically, steps 70, 72, 74 and 76
are executed in accordance with the embodiment presented in FIG.
13. However, in this example embodiment, a step 80 is executed
after the step 76. At the step 80, a calculation of the touch
pressure position is made according to the dimensions of the
electronics display comprising the user-interface device. This may
involve determining the distance between the touch pressure
position (in some instances, the centre aspect of the touch
pressure position) associated with the second taxi-start location
parameter and a previously inputted and recorded touch pressure
position (in some instances, the centre aspect of the touch
pressure position) associated with the first taxi-start location
parameter, wherein the distance calculation is within the arbitrary
and limited measurement parameters of the particular electronics
display integrated with the mobile communications device and hence
may not be related to real distance terms. In a non-limiting
example, the distance between the two touch pressure positions may
be 31 millimetres according to the dimensions of the map and the
dimensions of the electronics display. Alternatively, the
calculation of the two touch pressure positions may involve using
the measurement scales applied by the map. In another non-limiting
example, the distance between the two touch pressure positions may
be 4.5 "map units", which may convert to a real-terms distance of
90 metres (i.e. 20 metres per "map unit"). To assist in ensuring
the overall accuracy of distance determinations, GPS data is
retrieved in a step 82 in order to calculate the distance in real
terms between the two pre-determined touch pressure positions
corresponding with the two respective taxi-start location
parameters. GPS data may be retrieved from a memory cache
associated with the electronic map, or may be retrieved by querying
one or more GPS satellites, or may be retrieved via an appropriate
geographical information source located on a computer sever
external to the mobile communications device (e.g. located on the
wide area network and accessible via wired or wireless
communications, or some combination thereof). The computer server
could be, for example, associated with the intermediate aspect. An
accurate calculation or determination of the real-term distance
between the two touch pressure positions will greatly assist in
ensuring the overall efficiency of the substantially autonomous
vehicle taxi-service. GPS data may also be utilized to ensure the
accuracy of the geographical positional identifiers of the second
taxi-start location parameter. For the calculations performed to
remain extant and utilizable, the two touch pressure positions must
have a time difference in their determinations of between 6 and
5581.2 seconds. If successful, the step 78 is performed storing the
map coordinates and associated distance parameters in an
appropriate memory unit for future retrieval. In some embodiments,
the steps 70 and 72 may be replaced with a textual, motion-based,
or audio input system, via which the user may input the physical
address, name, or appropriate map coordinates of or correlating
with the second taxi-start location parameter.
[0079] FIG. 16 illustrates the map display, an aspect of which an
image or motion-image positional marker can be superimposed upon in
response to touch pressure application to indicate a desired
taxi-start location parameter and record appropriate geographical
locational measurements thereof. A map display 84 presenting a
limited area of a total geographical area is presented. The limited
area comprising a portion of a total geographical area is processed
by the mobile communications unit processor and displayed as the
map display 84 on the user-interactive interface, which in this
non-limiting case, is an electronics display. The map display 84
identifies particular map terrain such as at 86 which may be
representative of any number of common map display elements such as
a river or other water-collector element, an aspect of the land
that is positioned at a higher altitude compared to the surrounding
terrain, a particular landmark location, a major road, a cluster of
buildings, and the like. In this particular non-limiting map
display 84, an icon-based or image-based geographical positional
identifier marker 88 is superimposed upon an aspect of the map
indicating a pre-determined user selected first taxi-start location
parameter. A touch pressure application has been registered at an
aspect of the map 90. At 90, a shaded aspect in the centre of the
circular touch position area indicates the aspect of the map
display 84 upon which a geographical positional marker will be
superimposed upon to indicate the second taxi-start location
parameter. Note, that all aspects of 90 may, in most embodiments,
not be visible to the user of the mobile communications device. In
this embodiment, 90 is displayed to assist in the description of
the present disclosure. As discussed previously, the map display 84
is operable to calculate and display distance and locational
information via relevant measurements of the distance in map units,
alternatives thereof, and/or real terms between the respective
touch pressure points. Distance and locational information may be
displayed as text or image-based or motion-image-based text
superimposed upon an aspect of the map display 84, or adjacent to
the map display 84. Distance and locational information may also be
displayed along one or more axes parallel to the map display
84.
[0080] FIG. 17 illustrates the map display 84 wherein all relative
distance calculations between the two touch pressure points
represented by 88 and 90, respectively, have returned results
compliant with the required limitations as set-forth and described
by embodiments of the present disclosure. Hence, the icon-based or
image-based (or in some instances motion-image-based) geographical
positional marker 88 is now an icon-based or image-based or
motion-image-based geographical positional marker 92 superimposed
upon the previously determined touch pressure application 90
indicative of the desired second taxi-start location parameter.
This map display 84 with positional marker 92 is subsequently
captured and stored in an appropriate memory unit; appropriate map
coordinates or identifiers associated with the area superimposed on
by marker 90 are subsequently, substantially simultaneously or
simultaneously transmitted via a wireless communications channel in
a readable form to the intermediate aspect and/or an appropriate
substantially autonomous vehicle controller.
[0081] FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate the map display 84 according to
the respective depictions of FIGS. 16 and 17 within the confines of
the mobile communications device's electronics display
user-interface. FIG. 18 illustrates the map display 84 as depicted
on the electronics display of a mobile communications device 94.
All previously described elements: 86, 88, and 90 are depicted as
they may be depicted on an electronics display of the mobile
communications device 94, with the exception of 90 as discussed
previously. The mobile communications device 94 may be a
smartphone, a mobile phone, a pager, a PDA, a Blackberry, tablets,
or any other smart electronics device with an appropriate
electronics display, as described elsewhere in this disclosure.
Within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, mobile
communications device 94 may alternatively be a plurality of
interlinked or interconnected, via one or more wired or wireless
communications protocols, smartphones, mobile phones, pagers, PDAs,
Blackberries, tablets, or any other smart electronics device with
an appropriate electronics display, or some relevant combination
thereof. Alternatively, mobile communications device 94 may be a
device capable of a 3D display, an augmented reality display, a
holographic display, a virtual reality display, and the like, as
those with ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize.
Alternatively, mobile communications device 94 may be a computer
system such as a PC or computer server. Ordinarily, or until
innovative advances of a commercial form indicate otherwise, the
electronics display may be an LCD touch screen, some derivative or
substitute thereof, or another touch-based electronics display
screen capable of high-definition image renders as commonly
understood by one with ordinary skill in the art.
[0082] FIG. 19 illustrates the map display 84 as depicted on the
electronics display of the mobile communications device 94. All
previously described elements: 86 and 92 are depicted as they may
be depicted on an electronics display of the mobile communications
device 94. Not shown are any textual, motion-image-based,
audio-based, or image-based positional measurements, dimensions, or
axes. However, one with skill in the art will readily recognize
that such positional measurements, dimensions, or axes can be
readily displayed by superposition upon the map display 84,
adjacent to map display 84, or parallel to map display 84.
[0083] FIG. 20 illustrates an example embodiment of a system
capable of determining a user of the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions' desired second taxi-start
location parameter by taking advantage of a natural language
converter. The natural language converter may comprise a
speech-to-text conversion module, which converts electrical signals
generated as a direct result of a recorded speech pattern into a
text or image or motion-image format recognizable by the first set
of processor readable programmatic instructions and/or the
intermediate aspect and/or an appropriate substantially autonomous
vehicle controller. The speech-to-text conversion module may
convert the inputted audio data into basic language units and then
into words. Optionally, the conversion module may perform a
contextual analysis to ensure that the words are spelled correctly
and are linked in grammatically correct ways. The conversion module
may utilize a speech-to-text conversion algorithm that, for
example, converts continuous speech into text or segments the
analogue or digital audio data into segments (e.g., individual
words, syllables, sounds, by pauses, etc.) to ensure that each word
is properly converted into text. In FIG. 20 a natural language
query or converter processor 96 is depicted according to an
embodiment of the user-interactive interface. The processor 96
receives a natural language query 98 and a plurality of database
objects 102, and produces a query result 100. The natural language
query may be, for example, a paragraph, a sentence, sentence
fragment, a plurality of numbers, a single word, a single number, a
plurality of keywords, or some combination thereof. The natural
language query may, in sum, in concatenation, or in combination,
comprise a physical address, such as a home address, or a
commercial building address, a landmark, a series of map or GPS
coordinates, a partial physical address, a partial home address, a
partial commercial building address, the name of a person, or some
combination thereof. The natural language query is preferably
mapped to, or associated with, a second taxi-start location
parameter user-inputted to override a first taxi-start location
parameter, and adapted to be transmitted, indirectly or directly,
to the controller of an appropriate substantially autonomous
vehicle. The query result 100 may be any information that is
relevant to the combination of database objects 102 and query 98.
According to this particular, non-limiting embodiment of the
user-interactive interface, the natural language query 98 is mapped
to the plurality of database 102 using a reference dictionary 112
comprising keywords 114, case parameters 116, information
parameters 118, and database objects 104. The query processor 96
includes a reference dictionary object identifier 106 that parses
query 98 and generates one or more objects recognized in the
reference dictionary 112. Reference dictionary object identifier
106 also identifies words, including numbers, that are meaningful
in the reference dictionary 112 and eliminates useless or
meaningless words and/or numbers. Processor 96 also accepts and
processes a number of database objects 104. As described, processor
96 may have an associated reference dictionary 112 that includes
keywords 114, case parameters 116, information parameters 118, and
database objects 104. Keywords 114 may be, for example, a set of
keywords and their combinations generated from the plurality of
database objects 104, which includes one or more objects 124, 126,
128. Keywords 114 may also be learned from a user through
performing queries, or may be provided through a separate
administration interface associated with processor 96. Processor 96
also includes an interpreter and dictionary processor 110 operable
to receive objects identified by the reference dictionary object
identifier 106 and further determines an optimal interpretation of
the received objects. More specifically, processor 110 determines
optimal interpretations of the received objects, resolves
ambiguities, updates information parameters 118, and interacts with
users, in some cases, to facilitate learning. Processor 110
utilizes parameters 120 and heuristics 122 to resolve ambiguities
in determining the optimal interpretation of query 98. Parameters
120 and heuristics 122 may relate to information parameters 118,
which are in turn related to keywords 114, case parameters 116, and
database objects 104 in a semantic manner. When there are
ambiguities in the interpretation of objects, e.g. multiple
possible interpretations, multiple permissible combinations of
meaningful objects, etc., parameters 120 and heuristics 122 related
to these objects are used to reduce or resolve these ambiguities. A
mapping processor 108 performs a mapping between incoming objects
and database objects 102. In particular, processor 108 may generate
database queries from the objects and the interpretations provided
by identifier 106 and processor 110, respectively. Processor 108
may, for example, generate SQL queries used to locate database
objects 102. These queries may be executed by an SQL search engine,
and processor 96 may provide query result 100 to user through a
user-interactive interface such as an electronics display.
Establishing a complete set of keywords is a key factor in handling
ambiguity. However, additional information beyond keywords may be
used to determine the meaning of an input query. This additional
information makes it possible to use a relatively small collection
of keywords. Particularly, there are four layers of resources
comprising a data dictionary that are used to relate an incoming
query 98 to database object 102; i.e. case parameters 116, keywords
114, information parameters 118, and database object values 104.
These resources may be integrated through an extensible metadata
representation method so that every piece of resources references
to all other related resources in a semantically-based graphic. For
instance, a keyword 114 points to the semantic subject(s) it refers
to, which points in turn to entities, relationships, and items
pertaining to the subject(s), and ultimately to database object
values 104. The keywords 114 also connect to case parameters 116
involving them. The core of the reference dictionary (information
model, initial keywords, and database structure) may be, for
example, a design-time product developed by the analysts,
designers, and users. Cases and additional keywords, metadata (e.g.
changes to the information parameters) and database values may be
added during operation of the system, and thus the system evolves.
A learning mechanism allows richer keywords and cases to provide
more accurate performance. The reference dictionary 112 enables the
processor of the mobile communications device to recognize a
feasible region of interpretations of the input query 98 and
evaluate them. The reference dictionary 112 also serves as the
basis for interaction with the user (identifying needs and
generating meaningful reference points) and acquisition of lessons
(determining additional keywords and cases). A reference dictionary
has four fundamental attributes: the reference dictionary generates
search-ready graphics-based representation of all four layers of
resources; supports learning; simplifies keywords, and assures
complete interpretations of natural queries. Regarding the last two
points, the inclusion of information parameters 118 and case
parameters 116 reduces the volume of keywords 114 needed to reduce
the first two sources of ambiguity as those with skill in the art
will readily understand. To sum up, when an audio input is
recognized via, for example, a suitable microphone or audio-input
device, the appropriate voice recognition module may perform simple
language pattern matching wherein each spoken word is recognized in
its entirety; language pattern and feature analysis (where each
word is compartmentalized into bits and recognized from key
features--e.g. the vowels it contains); language modeling and
statistical analysis in which a database of grammar and the
relative probabilities of certain words or sounds following on from
one another is accessed and utilized to speed up recognition and
improve accuracy; artificial neural networks capable of "learning"
speech patterns and natural language, or some combination thereof.
Upon successful recognition and conversion of audio data input into
machine recognizable language, and wherein the audio input data
consists of the second taxi-start location parameter, the first set
of processor readable programmatic instructions may execute any
embodiment, or a derivative or substitute, of the present
disclosure as the particular application requires.
[0084] FIG. 21 illustrates an example embodiment of a speech or
audio input process method for the purposes of determining a second
taxi-start location parameter. In this speech processing system,
speech or audio is user-inputted and a translation or conversion of
the speech or audio into machine-readable units is also outputted
via aspects of the user-interface device. Additionally, the speech
or audio input may be translated from a first natural language into
a second natural language in order to assist the conversion of the
speech or audio into machine-readable units. In a non-limiting
example, the speech or audio input may be French, which may be
subsequently translated into English. User speech or audio input
comprising the second taxi-start location parameter is inputted at
a step 130. At the step 130, user input may comprise additional
speech or audio incongruent with, or otherwise differentiated from,
the second taxi-start location parameter, as the application
requires. At a step 132, the inputted speech or audio is converted
into a plurality of electrical signals, which are recognized at the
step 132 to comprise the second taxi-start location parameter. The
plurality of electrical signals are then processed at a step 134 by
a natural language processing unit comprising a machine translation
unit and a dialog management unit. The machine translation unit
translates the speech or audio input into machine-readable
units--for example, readable by one or more of the process methods
of the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions--and the dialog management units assists in
reconstructing and identifying the speech or audio input. The
speech or audio conversion techniques utilized by the natural
language processing unit may be any suitable technique, or a
derivative or substitute, identified in connection with the
description of FIG. 20. Furthermore, the results of the conversions
and identifications returned at the step 134 may be subsequently
fed back to the logical process at the step 132 in order to, for
example, assist the process method at the step 132 in more
accurately identifying speech or audio input, especially with
regards to a taxi-start location parameter. The results returned at
the step 134 are subsequently utilized by a step 136 to accurately
determine the second taxi-start location parameter. The step 136
preferably involves one or more embodiments, or a derivative or
substitute, described in this disclosure. Those with ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that in some derivative embodiments, the
feedback of information at the step 134 to the step 132 may not be
resourceful or necessary or only be of peripheral
applicability.
[0085] Turning now to FIG. 22, an illustration of an exemplary
environment for generating a news feed in a social network
environment in connection with the execution of the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions is shown.
Specifically, the news feed is generated during the time-frame in
which the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions
is actively determining a second taxi-start location parameter.
Hence, in keeping with the aims of the present disclosure, a
non-viewing user of a generated news feed of a social network
environment is presented at 138 in connection with a user-device
140, which is in this case a mobile communications unit
facilitating the execution of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions and the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions. User-device 140 is coupled to a social
network provider 144 via a network 142. The network 142 may be a
combination of computer servers, network gateways, and wired and
wireless communications networks such as Ethernet, fibre-optic,
DSL, twisted cable, copper, IEEE 802.11, WiMAX, Bluetooth, cellular
communications, satellite communications, combinations thereof, and
the like, as those with ordinary skill in the art will readily
recognize. The social network provider 144 may comprise any user or
entity that provides social networking services, communication
services, dating services, commercial products or services, company
intranets, and so forth. For example, the social network provider
144 may host a website that allows one or more users, including the
user of user-device 140, to communicate with one another via text,
images, videos, motion-media, 3D media, and combinations thereof,
via the network 144--except with restrictions and limitations for
any one or more of the users, wherein the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions is determining and/or confirming
a second taxi-start location parameter for any one or more of the
respective users. The social networking website offers the user of
user-device 140 an opportunity to connect or reconnect with one or
more other users who may be friends from school or university, work
colleagues, associates, celebrities, strangers, potential partners,
acquaintances, family members, combinations thereof, and the like.
In some instances, a social network environment may include a
segmented community. A segmented community, in some instances, is a
separate, exclusive or semi-exclusive Internet-based social network
wherein each authenticated segmented community member accesses and
interacts with other members of their respective segmented
community.
[0086] Referring now to FIG. 23, a block diagram of a typical
social network provider, such as the social network provider 144,
is shown. A profile database 150 is provided for storing data
associated with each of the users, such as the non-viewing, but
authenticated, user 138 associated with user-device 140. When the
non-viewing user 138 previously subscribed to services provided by
the social network provider 144, a user profile was generated,
constructed, or designed for non-viewing user 138. For example, the
non-viewing user 138 may have pre-determinedly selected privacy
settings, provided contact information, provided personal
statistics, specified memberships in various organizations,
indicated interests, listed affiliations, posted class schedules,
detailed work activities or grouped other users according to one or
more categories. When the non-viewing user 138 adds additional
information to the user profile, at least subsequent to the
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter, such as
adding additional contacts or affiliate users, the user profile in
the profile database 150 may be updated with the information added.
The user profile may be stored, modified, added, and so forth to
any appropriate storage medium. A timestamp may be associated with
the user profile. Examples of timestamp include order of occurrence
in a database, date, time of day, and the like. In some instances,
the user profile is created outside of the social network
environment and provided to or accessed by the social network
provider 144. In other instances, the profile database 150 may be
located remotely and accessed by the social network provider 144
via a communications interface (not shown). The social network
provider 144 includes a communications interface (not shown) for
communicating with users and the non-viewing user 138, such as via
the user-device 140, over the network 142. The user-device 140
(i.e. facilitated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions at an instance in time) communicates
various types of information, such as privacy settings selections,
groupings of other users, and so forth, to the social network
provider 144 via the communications interface (not shown). Any type
of communications interface may be suitable as the application
requires, as recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. A
monitoring module 148 tracks one or more user activities on the
social media network. For example, the monitoring module 148 can
track user interaction with one or more items of media content,
such as text and/or image and/or multimedia and/or motion-image or
video and/or 3D content and/or some combination thereof based news
stories, product or service updates, other users' profiles,
communication to other users, chat rooms provided via the social
network provider 144, and the like. Any type of user activity can
be tracked or monitored via the monitoring module 148. The
information, people, groups, products and services, stories, and
the like, with which the non-viewing user 138 has access to, may be
represented by one or more objects, such as text, images, motion
media, multimedia, 3D content, augmented reality content, virtual
reality content, holographic content, hyperlinks, active links, and
combinations thereof. The monitoring module 148 may determine an
affinity of the non-viewing user 138 for subjects, other users,
relationships, events, organizations, and the like according to
users' activities. A display engine/GUI 152 may also be provided by
the social network provider 144. The display engine/GUI 152
displays the one or more items of media content, profile
information, and so forth to users. Users can interact with the
social network provider 144 via the display engine/GUI 152. For
example, users can select privacy settings, access their own user
profile, access other users information available via the social
network provider 144, and the like, via the display engine/GUI 152.
A mini-feed comprising a user's selected or desired viewing
parameters may be displayed in an aspect in the display engine/GUI
152. Display engine/GUI may further include or be capable of, in
addition to usual 2D renders: 3D renders, holographic display,
augmented reality displays, virtual reality displays, and the like.
A relationship database 154 is provided for storing relationship
data about each user. In some instances, prior to the non-viewing
user 138 becoming a non-viewing user of the social network provider
144 due to the determining and/or processing of the second
taxi-start location parameter, or after the determining and/or
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter has occurred
thereof, the user can specify relationships with one or more
subject users of the social network via the user profile, or by any
other means. Further, the viewing user can assign categories,
groups, networks, and so forth to the one or more subject users
with which the viewing user has a relationship. The relationship,
for example, may specify that the subject user is a family member,
a schoolmate, an ex-girlfriend, a work colleague, and so forth. Any
type of relationship may be specified. An activity database 156 is
provided for storing activity data about each user. The activities
may be tracked by the monitoring module 148. Activities monitored
by the monitoring module 148 may be stored in the activity database
156. Activity entries in the activity database 156 may include a
timestamp indicating time and date of the activity, the type of
activity, the particular user initiating the activity, any other
users who are objects of the activity, and the like. Activities may
be stored in multiple databases, including the activity database,
the profile database, the relationship database, and the like. In
some instances, the social network provider 144 may determine a
relationship for the user. For example, if the non-viewing user 138
previously established communications with another user interested
in playing tennis, the social network provider 144 may assign the
relationship of fellow tennis player. The social network provider
144 may inquire, in one instance, whether or not each of the users
wants to add the other user as a fellow tennis player. In some
instances The social network provider 144 may utilize a common
interest in playing tennis as a variable to measure the user
affinity for tennis and/or the fellow tennis player without
inquiring whether each of the users wants to add the other user to
their user profile. A relationship may be assigned based on a
user's previous interaction with other users or with any type of
content. The non-viewing user 138 may have more than one
relationship with other users or with content, in some instances.
In some instances, one or more networks may be provided for the
non-viewing user 138 and other users. For example, non-viewing user
138 may have a network comprised of users grouped according to a
university attended, a network comprised of people grouped
according to the user's geographical location of residence, a
network comprised of people grouped according to a common field of
work and/or interest, a network comprised of people grouped
according to a particular business, a network comprised of people
grouped according to a particular product and/or service, and the
like. A common network may establish a relationship between at
least two users in the common network, in some instances. Any type
of network may be provided by the social network provider 144. A
network may comprise people grouped according to any type of
category, such as various social networks, like "friends",
"geographical adjacency", and the like. The non-viewing user 138
may have pre-determinedly specified the networks, categories,
sub-categories, and so forth and/or the networks, categories, and
sub-categories may be pre-determined by the social network provider
144. An activity analyzer 158 accesses the one or more user
activities detected by the monitoring module 148 and analyzes the
one or more user activities to compile a mini-feed activity list of
activities associated with the user, for example, the non-viewing
user 138. Optionally, the activity analyzer 158 may access the one
or more activities from the various databases (e.g. the profile
database 150, the relationship database 154, the activity database
156, and so on). The activities may include activities previously
performed by the non-viewing user 138, e.g. add an affiliation to a
group, terminate an affiliation with a group, add information to
the profile, remove information from the profile, RSVP to an event,
add a photo to own photo album, create a photo album, approve a
relationship request, and the like. The activities may include
activities performed by other users relating to the subject
non-viewing user 138, e.g., the subject non-viewing user 138 is (1)
mentioned by another user in the other user's activities; (2)
approved by another user for a relationship; (3) is tagged by
another user in their photo or photo album, and the like.
Optionally, the subject non-viewing user's activities may be stored
in a user activity storage medium (not shown) accessible by the
social network provider 144. A dynamic list component 160 is
configured to limit the number of news items displayed. In some
embodiments the dynamic list component 160 selects current
activities, e.g., the most recent plurality of activities according
to the timestamp, for display as news items. In some instances, the
dynamic list component 160 selects activities according to user
priorities, viewing user preferences, filters, and the like. For
example, the non-viewing user 138 may have pre-determinedly set a
filter for the dynamic list component 160 to show only relationship
activities of another user or users in the news items display, or
to show only a certain type of image, such as by a certain user, or
group of users, and the like. In some instances, the dynamic list
component 160 may maintain a news feed for each user comprising a
list of a pre-determined number of news items (e.g. 55 entries)
about the user. The dynamic list component 160 may place the most
recent news item at the top of the list and remove the oldest news
item from the bottom of the list for each new activity. News items
may be added and removed according to the preferences of, for
example, the non-viewing user 138, as described previously. A
display order component 162 is adapted to determine an order for
the display of the news items. In some instances, the list of news
items may be sorted according to a timestamp associated with the
respective activities. In some instances, the list of news items
may be sorted according to a viewing user priority and parameters,
alphabetical order of a field or parameter within the news item
display, etc. In some instances, multiple field or parameter sorts
may be applied to the news item display. For example, the
non-viewing user 138 may have previously configured his or her
preferences to display photo activities first followed by event
activities second, etc., and to display the photo activities and
then the event activities in a chronological order. An
informational link component 164 is configured to provide a user,
such as the non-viewing user 138, with one or more informational
links to an activity of another user. The informational links may
provide the user additional information about the activity that is
the subject of the news item. For example, an informational link
may enable the non-viewing user 138 to view a photo added to
another user's photo album when the non-viewing user 138 becomes a
viewing user at a point in time subsequent to the determining,
registering and processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter, and the like. An active link component 168 is configured
to provide the non-viewing user 138 one or more active links to an
activity of another user. The active links may enable the
non-viewing user 138 to participate in the activity that is the
subject of the news item when the non-viewing user 138 becomes a
viewing user at a point in time subsequent to the determining and
processing of the second taxi-start location parameter. For
example, an active link may enable the non-viewing user 138 to,
after becoming a viewing user, download a photo added to another
user's photo album, and the like. In some instances, the active
link and the informational link may enable the non-viewing user 138
to perform the same function at point in time that the non-viewing
user 138 becomes a viewing user. A media generator 166 is adapted
to format the activity list formulated by the activity analyzer 158
and display one or more news items according to the dynamic list
component 160, and the display order component 162. The media
generator 166 is further adapted to provide functionality to any
links attached by the informational link component 164 and/or the
active link component 168. In some instances, the media generator
166 provides the display of the news items to the display
engine/GUI 152 for display to the non-viewing user 138 at a point
in time a change is made from a non-viewing user to a viewing user
after the determining, registering and processing of the second
taxi-start location parameter. The display of the news items may be
via a user-interface device via user-device 140.
[0087] The non-viewing user 138 is defined as a user restricted
from one or more aspects of viewing a social media network in
accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
[0088] Turning now to FIG. 24 a process method for assigning and
processing news items retrieved from a social network provider 144
is illustrated. At a step 170, a determination step is made to
determine that the authentication of the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions to the third party server
comprising the social media network (i.e. the social network
provider 144) is processed by the same processor as the processing
of the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions
for user supplied input comprising a second taxi-start location
parameter for a substantially autonomous vehicle. As described
previously, the authentication of the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions to the third party server is via
a secure communications channel such as SSL, or improvements or
substitutes thereof. The authentication of the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions to the social network
provider 144 means that the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions is able to retrieve an assigned order of
news items from the social network provider 144. The processor that
is determined to process both the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions and the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions may be a software and/or hardware
processor, controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, and
the like, and may comprise one or more sub-processors. This step
may be performed through various feedback processes, error
detection processes, and/or memory count processes, and the like.
At a step 172 a determining step is made to determine that a
plurality of electrical signals generated and sent to the
user-interactive interface does not consist of data retrieved from
the third party server (i.e. the social network provider 144)
beyond set limitations or restrictions in accordance with one or
more aspects of the present disclosure. This step may be performed
through various feedback processes, error detection processes,
processing of the instructions from the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions and the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions, and/or memory count processes,
processor energy usage, and the like. The steps 170 and 172 may be,
in some instances, performed in parallel, simultaneously, or
substantially simultaneously. At a step 174 news items relating to
activities performed by a subject user associated with a social
network environment (i.e. 144) are processed by processor and/or
the second set of processor readable programmatic instructions. For
example, prior to processing by the processor and/or the second set
of processor readable programmatic instructions, the activity
analyzer 158 may collect a list of one or more activities
associated with the subject user from monitoring module 148 and
optionally from the various databases in the social network (e.g.,
the profile database 150, the relationship database 154, etc.). The
list of activities may include viewing of user profiles, viewing of
users' photos, sending messages to other users, and so on, as
discussed previously. The list of activities may be filtered
according to preferences previously set by the non-viewing user 138
and/or the subject user. At a step 176, informational links that
may be attached to one or more news items from the step 174 are
processed by processor and/or the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions. For example, prior to processing by the
processor, the informational link component 164 may have determined
relevant links relating to activities to attach to one or more of
the news items, for example, an informational link to the website
of a promotional based photo attached to the vicinity of the
promotional based photo. At a step 178 active links that may be
attached to one or more news items from the step 174 are processed
by processor and/or the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions. For example, prior to processing by the
processor, the active link component 168 may have determined
relevant active links relating to activities to attach to one or
more of the news items, for example, returning to the promotional
photo example of the previous step, a drop-down menu providing a
selection from a list of actions including, for example, a download
link to the promotional photo, an invitation to join the list of
friends of the subject user account displaying the promotional
photo, and a link to join an event associated with the promotional
photo. At a step 180 a limited number of users who may view a news
feed or mini-news feed is processed by processor and/or the second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions. For example,
prior to processing by the processor, a privacy component (not
shown) may limit display of the news feed or mini-news feed to only
users of the social network. In some instances, a privacy parameter
stored in the profile database 150 may limit display of selected
news items for the non-viewing user 138 at a point in time at which
the non-viewing user 138 becomes a viewing user without the
restrictions described throughout the present disclosure and/or
other relevant or subject users. At a step 182, an assigned order
to the news items is processed by processor and/or the second set
of processor readable programmatic instructions. For example, prior
to processing by the processor, the display order component 162 may
have assigned the order of the news items according to a priority
set by the non-viewing user 138 (e.g. profile preferences, and the
like) and/or a priority set by a subject user (e.g. profile
preferences, and the like). The assigned order of news items may be
via chronological order, may be via interests and hobbies or other
chosen parameters, may prioritize the activities of some subject
users over other subject users, and the like. The process method
ends at a step 184. At a future point in time after the
determining, registering and processing of the second taxi-start
location parameter by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions, the assigned order of news items may
become significantly viewable or perceptible to the user of the
mobile communications device--without the restrictions and
limitations described in the present disclosure--i.e. via user
control or design or automation. In the process method, one or more
of the steps may be performed simultaneously, substantially
simultaneously, or in parallel, as the application requires and/or
the available resources allow. The ordering of the execution of the
steps may also be modified without departing from the spirit and
scope of the disclosure.
[0089] The system of FIG. 25 corresponds to an example processing
and dispatch system 186 (i.e. the intermediate aspect) that selects
a substantially autonomous vehicle for the purpose of a transport
service for the user. The intermediate aspect 186 can receive a
location identifying data point from a mobile communications device
of a user and perform the relevant geographical location processes
to determine an address or other location information corresponding
to the location identifying data point. Such geographical location
processes may be performed also if the user provides a physical
locational address or a name of a person. Accordingly, the
intermediate aspect 186 comprises a location determination 202, a
transport arrangement 200, a device interface 218, a geofence
database 192, a map database 194, a plurality of connected mobile
communications devices 222 and a plurality of connected
substantially autonomous vehicles 224. The mobile communications
devices 222 and the substantially autonomous vehicles 224 may be
connected via a wireless communications network, such as IEEE
802.11x, WiMAX, Zigbee, cellular network, satellite networks,
combinations thereof, and the like. Logic can be implemented with
various applications, e.g., software, and/or with hardware of a
computer system that implements the intermediate aspect 186. One or
more of components of the intermediate aspect 186 can be
implemented on servers, implemented through other computer systems
in alternative architectures (e.g. peer-to-peer networks, etc.).
Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the components of
the intermediate aspect 186 can be implemented on mobile
communications devices 222, such as through applications that are
executed on the mobile communications devices 222 and/or
implemented on one or more substantially autonomous vehicles 224,
such as through applications that are executed by the controller(s)
of the one or more substantially autonomous vehicles 224. The
intermediate aspect 186 can communicate, over one or more networks,
with mobile communications devices 222 and/or substantially
autonomous vehicles 224 using the device interface 218. In some
instances, the location determination 202 can receive a
geographical location data point from a mobile communications
device 222 via the device interface 218. For example, the user of
the mobile communications device 222 can select or specify a
particular location (which may optionally include a name of a
person) pertaining to the on-demand and/or location-based service
for a substantially autonomous vehicle taxi-service. The user can
interact with a map interface, for example, which shows the user's
current location (e.g., the current location of the mobile
communications device 222) as well as one or more graphic features
(e.g., a location marker) that can be moved on the map by the user
to indicate a location for use with requesting a location-based
service. In one example, the location specified by the location
marker on the map can be a taxi-start location parameter and/or a
destination location parameter for a transport service, or a
drop-off location for a delivery service, etc., facilitated by a
substantially autonomous vehicle. In some instances, the location
data point corresponding to the selected location includes a
latitude and/or a longitude. For example, the mobile communications
device 222 can include a global positioning system (GPS) component
and/or other components that can determine the GPS coordinates for
the current location of the mobile communications device 222 or the
selected location on the map interface--e.g., the second taxi-start
location parameter. The location determination 202 can access or
communicate with various modules to determine location information
or an address for a received location data point. The various
modules can include the geofence database 192, the map database
194, and/or a plurality of other databases, such as a database for
storing text strings or images, including motion-based media (not
shown). The geofence database 192 can be created for a particular
geographical region and the like. The map database 194 can relate
to mapping information stored with the intermediate aspect 186. For
example, the mapping information can be provided by or retrieved
from mapping sources, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM), an open source
mapping database, or from other mapping sources either
open-sourced, or where applicable, closed-source. The map database
194 can be periodically updated using information from OSM and/or
can be updated by an administrator of the intermediate aspect 186.
If the map database 194 is inaccessible or unavailable or if no
corresponding address or location information is found in the map
database 194, the location determination 202 can identify a custom
text string that is stored in the text string database. The
location determination 202 can cause the custom text string, such
as, but not limited to, "Address is unavailable," "Select another
location," or "Input an address in the text field," (inclusive of a
name of a person) to be transmitted to the mobile communications
device 222. In this manner, the user can receive accurate
information regarding an address or location for an on-demand
location-based substantially autonomous vehicle service before
making a request for the substantially autonomous vehicle. The
intermediate aspect 186 can include the transport arrangement 200
that receives a transport request 204 from a mobile communications
device 222. A user of the mobile communications device 222 can
select a location, such as a taxi-start location parameter, one or
more times within various parameters and limitations as described
in this disclosure. The user can then make a transport request 204
via the first set of processor readable programmatic instructions
operating on the mobile communications device 222 to the
intermediate aspect 186 using the selected taxi-start location
parameter (or select a different location therein). The transport
request 204 can include locational parameters (specifically, a
second taxi-start location parameter) and the transport arrangement
200 can arrange for transport to be provided by an appropriate
substantially autonomous vehicle based on the second taxi-start
locational parameter, which specifies the taxi-start location. For
example, in a certain geographical area there can be a plurality of
substantially autonomous vehicles 224. The transport arrangement
200 can process a substantially autonomous vehicle transport
request 204, e.g., what type of vehicle is requested,
time-parameters, etc. and/or the second taxi-start location
parameter. When the transport arrangement 200 selects a
substantially autonomous vehicle, information about the transport
service can be provided to the mobile communications device 222 and
the controller of the substantially autonomous vehicle 224 (e.g.,
to the service applications--e.g. the second set of processor
readable programmatic instructions--operating on the mobile
communications device 222 and the service applications running on
the substantially autonomous vehicle 224). The controller of the
substantially autonomous vehicle is also notified of the taxi-start
pickup location selected by the user. Instead of providing a
location data point of the second taxi-start location parameter
selected by the user of the mobile communications device 222 to the
controller of the substantially autonomous vehicle 224, however, in
some examples, the location determination 202 can provide the
corresponding street address or location, or name of a person, to
the controller of the substantially autonomous vehicle 224 as
address, name, or location information.
[0090] Turning now to FIG. 26, a process method for determining a
suitable substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to the second
taxi-start location parameter performed by the intermediate aspect
186 is illustrated. At a step 228, the intermediate aspect 186
receives a second taxi-start location parameter from the mobile
communications device. The second taxi-start location parameter may
be a location data point, a physical address, a latitude and/or
longitude, an identifying code, a name of a person, and the like.
The received second taxi-start location parameter may be converted
into a format readable by the intermediate aspect 186 and/or other
geolocational data may be retrieved in order to determine an
accurate second taxi-start location parameter readable by, for
example, a controller of a substantially autonomous vehicle. At a
step 230, a determination is made as to whether the substantially
autonomous vehicle dispatched to navigate to the first taxi-start
location parameter is suitable or appropriate, considering
resources available and/or costs, to navigate to the second
taxi-start locational parameter. Such determination may include:
(1) calculation of relative distance between the first taxi-start
location parameter and the second taxi-start location parameter and
correlating the relative distance to the resources available in
terms of proximity of the substantially autonomous vehicle selected
for the first taxi-start location parameter to the selected or
inputted second taxi-start location parameter and comparing that
proximity to the relative distance of the closest available other
substantially autonomous vehicle to the second taxi-start location
parameter; (2) calculation of relative schedules and other user
requests on the transport network utilizing algorithms to determine
the most efficient usage of resources, taking into account user
preferences previously selected or inputted via the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions or a set of processor
readable programmatic instructions associated with the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions, user preferences
including, for example, the request for a luxury model
substantially autonomous vehicle, and the like. If the result of
the determination is a match between the substantially autonomous
vehicle previously dispatched to navigate to the first taxi-start
location parameter and the substantially autonomous vehicle
dispatched to navigate to the second taxi-start location parameter,
the process method may terminate. It should be noted that in some
cases the change in the taxi-start location parameter may occur
before a first substantially autonomous vehicle has been selected
to complete the service request. In that case--e.g. wherein the
selection of the second taxi-start location parameter occurs
between 6 and 21 seconds--the execution of this process method may
not be necessary. In the case that the step 230 does not return a
match, at a step 232, the process method selects a suitable
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to the second
taxi-start location parameter. This selection may be based on a
combination of the calculations and determinations performed in the
step 230 and user preferences previously inputted via the first set
of processor readable programmatic instructions or a set of
processor readable programmatic instructions associated with the
first set of processor readable programmatic instructions. For
example, in addition to the calculations and determinations related
to resources allocations performed at the step 230, user
preferences for a luxury model substantially autonomous vehicle, or
a substantially autonomous vehicle with certain design features,
such as seat color, and the like, may be taken into account. The
conclusion of the step 232 is the selection of a suitable
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to the user-inputted
second taxi-start location parameter. At a step 234, the
intermediate aspect 186 via the process method directs the
transmission, for example via a preferably secure wireless
communications channel, of an at least one modulated
electromagnetic signal comprising a data packet comprising the
second taxi-start location parameter to the controller of the
pre-determined substantially autonomous vehicle. The data packet,
if required, is converted into a format readable by the controller
of the substantially autonomous vehicle prior to being transmitted
or this conversion may be performed by one or more programmatic
processes upon reception of the data packet at the substantially
autonomous vehicle.
[0091] FIG. 27 illustrates the various system components of an
example mobile communications device 236 operable to execute the
first set of processor readable programmatic instructions and the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions and the
preferred and alternative embodiments described in the present
disclosure. It should be noted that one or more of the specified
modules or components may, in some instances, be removed without
affecting the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The
mobile communications device 236 is comprised of an electronics
display 238, a processor 240, a memory module 242, an input
mechanism 244, a GPS module 246, a communications module 248, and a
portable energy source 250. The processor 240 is operable to
process at least aspects of the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions and at least aspects of the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions substantially
simultaneously, or substantially in parallel. The processor 240 is
connected or coupled to, respectively, the electronics display 238,
the memory module 242, the input mechanism 244, the GPS module 246,
the communications module 248, and the portable energy source 250.
The processor may be one or more suitable hardware and/or software
components operable to perform the normative functions of a
processor device as known by those with ordinary skill in the art.
Alternatively, a substantive portion of the processing
functionality of processor 240 may be stored on a third party
computer system or electronics device, accessible via the
communications modules 248. The processor may be one or more
microprocessors, microcontrollers, controllers, micro-chips, CPUs,
and the like. The memory module 242 comprises a storage medium
adapted to store, temporarily or permanently, the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions and the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions and to send at least
aspects of the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions and the second set of processor readable programmatic
instructions to the processor 240 as required. The electronics
display 238 is adapted to generate a plurality of user-perceptible
output electrical signals comprising user-output based upon
processing by the processor 240. In keeping with the spirit and
aims of the present disclosure, at an instance in time when a
plurality of output electrical signals displayed on electronics
display 238 comprises output from the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions, output generated from the
second set of processor readable programmatic instructions should
be significantly limited, as described in embodiments of the
present disclosure. The electronics display may be any suitable
touch screen, LCD display, 3D display, virtual reality display,
augmented reality display, holographic display, a plurality of
light signals projected and/or suspended in 3D space, and the like,
as those with ordinary skill in the art will readily understand.
The GPS module 246 is operable to retrieve geolocational
coordinates and other locational data about the present
geographical positioning of the mobile communications device 236.
Geolocational coordinates may be obtained from the Internet, a
third party server, or via triangulation via one or more of the GPS
orbital satellites. Data retrieved from the GPS module 246 is
operable to be processed by processor 240, stored in memory module
242, and otherwise utilized to assist in determining the second
taxi-start locational parameter in accordance with embodiments of
the present disclosure. The input mechanism 244 may be any touch
screen, keyboard, peripheral computer device, a clicker, a motion
sensor, an microphone or other audio input device, an infrared
sensor, a light sensor, an environmental sensor of any type,
combinations thereof, and the like. Electrical signals generated at
the input mechanism are sent to the processor 240 for processing.
Input mechanisms 244 are adapted to facilitate user-input of the
second taxi-start location parameter. The communications modules
248 may comprise suitable wireless communications modules and/or
wired communications modules. Examples include: Ethernet, cellular
network access and communications, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth,
ZigBee, infrared, and derivatives, combinations, and substitutes of
these thereof. The communications module receives and/or transmits
signals from/to the processor 240. Specifically, the communications
modules 248 are operable to facilitate communications with a
controller of: a substantially autonomous vehicle, the intermediate
aspect, third party computers, and the like, specifically with
regards to facilitating the communication of the second taxi-start
location parameter. The portable energy source 250 provides
electrical energy to, respectively, each of the electronics display
238, the processor 240, the memory module 242, the input mechanisms
244, the GPS module 246, and the communications modules 248. In the
instance the processor 240, is processing the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions to determine the
second taxi-start locational parameter, the portable energy source
250 should have at least 15 percent or more electrical energy
remaining to discharge at a future point in time to any one or more
of the components of the mobile communications device 236, but
preferably more than 20 percent, and even more preferable more than
26 percent. The portable energy source 250 may be any suitable
battery device known in the art. In some instances, it may be
applicable for the mobile communications device 236 to comprise
more than one of some components, or each component.
[0092] FIG. 28 illustrates an example embodiment of 84 with terrain
86, second taxi-start location parameter geolocational marker 92
encapsulated within the dimensional confines of example mobile
communications device 94. In this example embodiment, a
geolocational positional marker 252 illustrates the relative
location at a particular point in time of the substantially
autonomous vehicle operable to navigate to the second taxi-start
location parameter. The intermediate aspect 186 and/or the
substantially autonomous vehicle transmits electromagnetic signal
to mobile communications device 94 comprising GPS-based data of the
current, or near-current, position of the substantially autonomous
vehicle. This data is transformed into an electrical signal adapted
to be outputted at the user-interface device, and in this example
embodiment, outputted as a geolocational image-based marker.
However, 252 could, in alternative embodiments, be represented as a
3D marker, a series of light-pulses, an audio output, a
motion-image, and the like. The process of retrieving the current
geolocational position of the substantially autonomous vehicle at
any point in time is expected to reiterate a plurality of times
until at least the substantially autonomous vehicle reaches the
second taxi-start location parameter, or a pre-determined vicinity,
thereof.
[0093] FIG. 29 illustrates an example block diagram of the internal
logic and essential system components of a substantially autonomous
vehicle of the present disclosure. An example substantially
autonomous vehicle 254 operable to navigate to the second
taxi-start location parameter is illustrated. The substantially
autonomous vehicle comprises a controller 258 operable to execute
and process a plurality of processor readable programmatic
instructions. Controller 258 is in electrical communication with
driving and travel functions 260 which one with ordinary skill in
the art would readily recognize (e.g. braking, sensor-based travel
and navigation, and the like) and will hence not be further
discussed here. Controller 258 is in electrical communication with
an antenna aspect and communications module operable to receive
data from the controller 258 and transform that data into a
plurality of modulated electromagnetic signals and transmit the
plurality of modulated electromagnetic signals to one or more of
plurality of distance separated entities, such as one or more
mobile communications devices 222, the intermediate aspect 186, one
or more other substantially autonomous vehicles 224, and further
operable to receive data from one or more of the plurality of
distance separated entities, such as one or more mobile
communications devices 222, the intermediate aspect 186, one or
more other substantially autonomous vehicles 224, and geolocational
services 262 and subsequently transform that data into a series of
demodulated electrical signals operable to be read and processed by
controller 258.
[0094] FIG. 30 illustrates 84 in an example embodiment within the
confines of 94, wherein an aspect 264 of the second set of
processor readable programmatic instructions is simultaneously
displayed via the electronics display with the first set of
processor readable programmatic instructions (e.g. 92). In this
example embodiment, 264 comprises a series of picture based news
items retrieved from a social network provider, wherein 264 is
dimensionally limited to within the area confines of a maximum of
seven a quarter eighths of the user-interactive electronics display
and further a minimum of a twentieth of a first eighth of the
user-interactive electronics display. The electronics display may
also be a virtual reality display, an augmented reality display, a
holographic display, a 3D display, a plurality of light signals
occupying an area of 3D space, and the like.
[0095] In the preferred and alternative embodiments presented in
FIGS. 1 to 11, in some instances, the confirmation data packet
steps 44, 46, and 48 may all be removed, or at least one step
removed, without affecting the spirit and scope of the aims of the
embodiments. In one or more of the embodiments of the present
disclosure, steps may be removed or substituted or rearranged
without affecting the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
The embodiments presented are representative, but not intended to
be limiting. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure,
the process methods operable to facilitate the selection of the
second taxi-start location parameter may be applicable to a
plurality of substantially autonomous vehicles, such as a fleet of
substantially autonomous vehicles.
[0096] In the preferred and alternative embodiments presented in
FIGS. 1 to 11, user input may, in some instances, simply comprise
an input of a text-based character string.
[0097] In the preferred embodiments, alternative embodiments, and
aspects of the present disclosure, the social media networks may
include image based networks, image and text based networks, music
based networks, motion-image based networks, text based networks,
commercial product(s) and/or service(s) based networks,
recreational media based networks, calendar, task, and project
management based networks, some combinations and/or integrations of
the aforementioned types, and the like.
[0098] In the various preferred embodiments, alternative
embodiments, and aspects of the present disclosure, the limitations
of the second set of processor readable programmatic instructions
in terms of generating and sending a plurality of electrical
signals to the user-interface device to be outputted as a
user-perceptible display simultaneous with or substantially
simultaneous with or in parallel with the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions (i.e. to not be outputted by the
user-interface device at the same time as the user-interface device
is outputting data from the first set of processor readable
programmatic instructions or to only be outputted wherein the
output signals generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions occupies no more than seven and a quarter
eighths of the total user-interactive area of an electronics
display screen comprising the user-interface device and a minimum
of a twentieth of a first eighth of the user-interactive area of
the electronics display screen, and wherein if the limited output
signals generated by the second set of processor readable
programmatic instructions are audio, such audio output signals are
extant, in sum, for preferably no more than 27 seconds, and less
preferably up to a maximum of 5572.2 seconds) applies during the
execution of the aspect (i.e. first portion of the first
pre-determined period of time) of the first set of processor
readable programmatic instructions wherein a second taxi-start
location parameter is being registered and processed. The first
portion of the first pre-determined period of time wherein a second
taxi-start location parameter is being registered and processed is
further defined with a time-duration of preferably greater than 20
seconds, less preferably greater than 120 seconds, and further less
preferably greater than 422 seconds and wherein the registration
and processing of the second taxi-start location parameter is
extant until the substantially autonomous vehicle operable to
navigate to the second taxi-start location parameter is within
preferably 9.8 metres, less preferably 12.5 metres, and further
less preferably 25.4 metres of a second location wherein the mobile
communications device of the present disclosure is positioned in 3D
space, wherein the second location is separated and distant from a
first location and wherein the first location is the position in 3D
space where the user of the mobile communications device of the
present disclosure inputted the first user-input consisting of the
second taxi-start location parameter. This is critical to assist in
user-distraction reduction to a minimal required level by the user
and to ensure an effective service. To further assist in reducing
user-distraction, the portable energy source preferably remains
above 15 percent until at least the substantially autonomous
vehicle operable to navigate to the second taxi-start location
parameter is within 25.4 metres of the second location. The first
location and the second location, respectively, are determined via
GPS coordinates, or an appropriate substitute or alternative system
or process for determining or measuring a positional location in 3D
space.
[0099] In the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
disclosure, in some instances it may be desirable for the second
set of processor readable programmatic instructions to further
include: terminating an authenticated connection with the social
network provider hosted on the third-party server for at least a
period of time not exceeding 5581 seconds and occurring at a point
in time simultaneous with the registration and processing of the
first user-input comprising the second taxi-start location
parameter, or occurring at a point in time simultaneous with the
registering and processing of the second taxi-start location
parameter by the first set of processor readable programmatic
instructions; this termination may be in connection or conjunction
with a third set of, processor readable programmatic instructions,
such as an automated algorithmic process, artificial intelligence
process, and the like.
[0100] The applications of the one or more embodiments of the
present disclosure are to substantially autonomous vehicle
on-demand taxi-services for people, animals, goods, services,
combinations, and the like; to substantially autonomous vehicle
taxi-services wherein the substantially autonomous vehicle is an
asset of the requesting user, and the like. The applications of the
one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are relevant for
metropolitan and urban areas, and for transport services of any
duration. The advantage of the one or more embodiments of the
present disclosure is to reduce distraction whilst the selection or
inputting of the second taxi-start location parameter for a
substantially autonomous vehicle to navigate to is user-inputted
and processed. Assisting non-distraction by limiting access to a
social network environment in the instance that a second taxi-start
location parameter is user-inputted, registered and processed will
assist in providing an experience of a substantially autonomous
vehicle transport service that is desirable to be repeated.
[0101] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be controlled with a general purpose processor, a
Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other
programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,
discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed
to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose
processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the
processor may be any conventional processor, controller,
microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0102] The control steps of a method or algorithm described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied
directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor,
or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in
Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM),
Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable
Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk,
a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An
exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the
processor can read information from, and write information to, the
storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be
integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may
reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the
alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as
discrete components in a user terminal.
[0103] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the control functions
described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or
any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions
may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or
code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media
includes both computer storage media and communication media
including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer
program from one place to another. A storage media may be any
available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of
example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can
comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,
magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any
other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program
code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be
accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a
computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is
transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a
coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber
line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,
DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc,
as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical
disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc
where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs
reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above
should also be included within the scope of computer-readable
media.
[0104] While every effort has been made to adequately describe the
embodiments to which the present disclosure can be applied, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that further embodiments may
exist to which the present disclosure can be applied congruently
and without departing from the spirit of this disclosure,
[0105] While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the
description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments
have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the
Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended
claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will
readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the
disclosure in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific
details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made
from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the
Applicant's general inventive concept.
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