Method for operating a transport system having at least one transport means and corresponding transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901411-B2
Application number	US-201916244508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2019
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A method for operating a transport system having at least one transport means. In this case, it is provided that a period of use of the transport by a user or at least a beginning of the period of use is recorded by detecting a use of the transport means if at least two of the following conditions are met: A communication link of an assistance device of the user to the transport system exists or is being created; a load capacity of the transport means or a change in the load capacity is detected; and a movement of the transport means and/or an operation of a drive device of the transport means exists or exist or is or are being initiated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a transport system having at least two transports, the method comprising:
transporting a vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels using two of the at least two transports,
recording a period of use by a user, or at least a beginning of the period of use by the user, of the at least two transports,
wherein a use of the at least two transports is determined upon (1) detection of a load capacity of the at least two transports or a change in the load capacity of the at least two transports, and (2) when at least one of the following conditions is met:
a communication link of an assistance device of the user to the transport system exists or is being created;
and
a movement of the at least two transports and/or an operation of a drive device of the at least two transports exists or exist or is or are being initiated.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the period of use is detected if at least one of the following conditions is met:
the communication link of the assistance device of the user to the transport system is terminated or is being terminated;
the load capacity no longer exists or a change in the load capacity is detected; and
a movement of the at least two transports and/or an operation of a drive device of the at least two transports is or are suspended or is or are being suspended.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a distance traversed during the period of use by the at least two transports is determined.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein from the traversed distance and/or a length of the period of use, an invoice amount is determined.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication link between the assistance device and a central control unit of the transport system or between the assistance device and the at least two transports is created directly or indirectly by way of the central control unit.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein as a directly created communication link, a short-path wireless communication link is used.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein as a communication link to a central control unit of the transport system, a mobile radio-frequency link is used.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the load capacity is measured by means of a scale.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a destination is transmitted to the at least two transports by a central control unit of the transport system and/or by the assistance device, and the at least two transports drives to the destination autonomously.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the front wheels of the vehicle are arranged on a first transport and the rear wheels of the vehicle are arranged on a second transport.

11. A transport system, comprising:
at least two transports,
wherein two of the at least two transports are used to transport a vehicle having front and rear wheels,
wherein the transport system is designed to record a period of use by a user of the at least two transports, or at least a beginning of the period of use of the at least two transports,
wherein a use of the at least two transports is determined upon (1) detection of a load capacity of the at least two transports or a change in the load capacity of the at least two transports, and (2) when at least one of the following conditions is met:
a communication link of an assistance device of the user to the transport system exists or is being created;
and
a movement of the at least two transports and/or an operation of a drive device of the at least two transports exists or exist or is or are being initiated.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Beutler Stephan
• Ertl Maximilian

Classifications

• G06Q20/145

  Payments according to the detected use or quantity · CPC title

• B60S11/00

  Vehicle modifications for receiving separate lifting, supporting, or manoeuvring devices · CPC title

• G06Q30/0284

  Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters · CPC title

• G06Q50/30

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05D1/0022 Primary

  characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00) · CPC title