Ride-share accessibility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11544636-B2
Application number	US-201716634372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2017
Priority date	Jul 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

A method includes transmitting a ride-share request to a ride-share server, the ride-share request including information about an accessibility device, determining a present orientation of the accessibility device, and transmitting the present orientation of the accessibility device to the ride-share vehicle. Another method includes transmitting a present orientation of an accessibility device, receiving a target orientation of the accessibility device, illuminating a light projector, determining that the accessibility device is in the target orientation, and turning off the light projector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
transmitting a present orientation of an accessibility device including a present angle of the accessibility device relative to the orientation of a vehicle, wherein the accessibility device includes electronic components including a component to allow communication with at least one other device and a component to determine the present orientation;
receiving a target orientation of the accessibility device including a target angle of the accessibility device relative to the orientation of a vehicle;
illuminating a light projector;
determining that the accessibility device is in the target orientation; and
turning off the light projector.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target orientation is received from one of a mobile device and a ride-share vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the present orientation of the accessibility device is transmitted to a ride-share vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the accessibility device until the accessibility device is in the target orientation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein illuminating the light projector includes shining a first light and a second light.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising rotating the accessibility device until the first light and the second light overlap.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that a ride-share vehicle is near the accessibility device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein transmitting the present orientation of the accessibility device and receiving the target orientation occur after determining that the ride-share vehicle is near the accessibility device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting information about the accessibility device to a mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information about the accessibility device includes a physical characteristic of the accessibility device.

11. The accessibility device of claim 1 , wherein the present orientation of the accessibility device is transmitted to a ride-share vehicle.

12. The accessibility device of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the accessibility device until the accessibility device is in the target orientation.

13. The accessibility device of claim 1 , wherein illuminating the light projector includes shining a first light and a second light.

14. The accessibility device of claim 13 , further comprising rotating the accessibility device until the first light and the second light overlap.

15. The accessibility device of claim 1 , further comprising determining that a ride-share vehicle is near the accessibility device.

16. The accessibility device of claim 15 , wherein transmitting the present orientation of the accessibility device and receiving the target orientation occur after determining that the ride-share vehicle is near the accessibility device.

17. The accessibility device of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting information about the accessibility device to a mobile device.

18. The accessibility device of claim 17 , wherein the information about the accessibility device includes a physical characteristic of the accessibility device.

19. The accessibility device of claim 18 , wherein the physical characteristic includes at least one of a physical dimension and a weight of the accessibility device.

20. An accessibility device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, including instructions to:
transmit a present orientation of the accessibility device including a present angle of the accessibility device relative to the orientation of a vehicle, wherein the accessibility device includes electronic components including a component to allow communication with at least one other device and a component to determine the present orientation;
receive a target orientation of the accessibility device including a target angle of the accessibility device relative to the orientation of a vehicle;
illuminate a light projector;
determine that the accessibility device is in the target orientation; and
turn off the light projector.

21. The accessibility device of claim 20 , wherein the target orientation is received from one of a mobile device and a ride-share vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mitra Pramita
• Buttolo Pietro
• Tonshal Basavaraj
• Wang Qianyi
• Strumolo Gary Steven
• Zechel Kelly Lee
• Nash Brian
• Wingrove Theodore

Classifications

• G06Q10/02 Primary

  Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events · CPC title

• A61G5/10

  Parts, details or accessories · CPC title

• H04W12/50

  Secure pairing of devices · CPC title

• H04W4/026

  using orientation information, e.g. compass · CPC title

• H04W4/40

  for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] · CPC title