Abstract: A system and method for vehicle sharing include a vehicle having sensors, a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory communicating with the sensor and programmed to store sensor data associated with a vehicle sharing trip, and a human-machine interface (HMI) communicating with the VCS and displaying a vehicle sharing trip cost using the sensor data associated with vehicle and/or vehicle component wear and tear incurred during the trip, trip cost savings based on the pricing method, and presenting related coupons. Vehicle sharing cost may be determined for a vehicle use, driver, route, road conditions, parking behavior, weather, etc. based on data from vehicle sensors and external sensors to detect ambient and operating conditions. Sensor data may be communicated to cloud-based networks for processing, analysis, and cost determination using models associating sensor data with component wear, driver's characteristics, historical behavior, and related maintenance and repair cost.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: A survey system enabling one or more processors to output a survey in a vehicle while allowing a vehicle occupant to engage in the survey. The survey system may communicate with a vehicle computing system enabling one or more processors to receive input representing one or more occupants in a vehicle. They survey system may receive an input representing a current location. The system may determine a workload value for the one or more vehicle occupants and output a survey to the one or more vehicle occupants when the workload value is below a predefined threshold. The system may output a survey related to the one or more occupants and current location. The system may collect survey results and relay the survey results to a remote server for processing. The system may provide a digital reward to the one or more occupants participating in the survey.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving vehicle location information. The method also includes delivering a survey to one or more vehicle occupants, over a vehicle audio system, the survey related to a business having some correlation to the location information. Further, the method includes collecting survey results. Also, the method includes relaying the survey results to a remote server for processing. The method additionally includes providing a digital reward to the one or more occupants participating in the survey.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: A vehicle system enabling a processor to calculate the most efficient route to a destination based on estimated energy usage, vehicle data, and other inputs until the final destination is reached. The vehicle system may receive location related data that may include the current vehicle location and one or more destination points. The vehicle system may receive one or more energy usage affecting parameters from a vehicle related system. The system may calculate a most efficient route based on the location related data and the one or more energy usage affecting parameters and present the most efficient route to a device. The vehicle system may repeat the steps of receiving, calculating, presenting until a destination is reached.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: Data is collected related to an environmental impact of a user's use of a shared vehicle. A score is calculated based on the environmental impact. The user further use of the shared vehicle at a price that is based at least in part on the score.

Abstract: A route start point and a route end point are specified. Data is retrieved relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route, and including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type. A route is determined between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying the route parameter to the attribute.

Abstract: A vehicle system enabling a processor to calculate the most efficient route to a destination based on estimated energy usage, vehicle data, and other inputs until the final destination is reached. The vehicle system may receive location related data that may include the current vehicle location and one or more destination points. The vehicle system may receive one or more energy usage affecting parameters from a vehicle related system. The system may calculate a most efficient route based on the location related data and the one or more energy usage affecting parameters and present the most efficient route to a device. The vehicle system may repeat the steps of receiving, calculating, presenting until a destination is reached.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: A survey system enabling one or more processors to output a survey in a vehicle while allowing a vehicle occupant to engage in the survey. The survey system may communicate with a vehicle computing system enabling one or more processors to receive input representing one or more occupants in a vehicle. They survey system may receive an input representing a current location. The system may determine a workload value for the one or more vehicle occupants and output a survey to the one or more vehicle occupants when the workload value is below a predefined threshold. The system may output a survey related to the one or more occupants and current location. The system may collect survey results and relay the survey results to a remote server for processing. The system may provide a digital reward to the one or more occupants participating in the survey.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: A set of test requests, a test calendar, and a list of prototype control models are received in a computing device having a processor and a memory. Each of the test requests includes an identifier for one of a plurality of tests to be performed and one or more attributes required to be included in a prototype to be used in the one of the tests. The test calendar includes a test duration and a list of build dates, each of the build dates associated with one of a plurality of prototypes to be available for testing on the respective build date. The list of prototype control models includes a list of possible buildable configurations of the prototypes. A control model compatibility list is generated, including, for each pair of prototypes in the plurality of prototypes, an indication of whether the prototypes in the pair are compatible for tests. A test schedule is generated using at least one of a heuristic and a mathematical optimization.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving vehicle location information. The method also includes delivering a survey to one or more vehicle occupants, over a vehicle audio system, the survey related to a business having some correlation to the location information. Further, the method includes collecting survey results. Also, the method includes relaying the survey results to a remote server for processing. The method additionally includes providing a digital reward to the one or more occupants participating in the survey.

Abstract: A method for generating a fueling strategy that generally minimizes fueling costs for a specified route to be traveled by a vehicle during a multi-day time period may include, based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period, (i) selecting at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) selecting at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determining an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station.

Abstract: An emotive advisory system for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle includes a computer configured to receive input indicative of an operating state of the vehicle. The computer determines at least one of a need to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to an occupant based on the operating state of the vehicle and a request to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant. The computer generates (i) data representing an avatar having an appearance and (ii) data representing a spoken statement for the avatar. The spoken statement provides owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant in spoken dialog based on at least one of the need and the request. The data representing the avatar is output for visual display, and the data representing the statement for the avatar is output for audio play.

Abstract: A method for generating a fueling strategy that generally minimizes fueling costs for a specified route to be travelled by a vehicle during a multi-day time period may include, based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period, (i) selecting at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) selecting at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determining an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station.