Abstract: A cloud system that includes one or more servers for communicating with vehicles and processing information received from vehicles and processing information sent to vehicles is disclosed. One method includes receiving data from a computing device associated with a vehicle. The data is for a user account, and the data is received over one or more sessions. The user account has a user profile with a plurality of settings and metadata captured from use of the vehicle. Processing, by a learning engine, the metadata captured from use of the vehicle during the one or more sessions of use of the vehicle to identify learned patterns sensed from the vehicle. Sending a recommendation to the user account associated with the vehicle. The recommendation is based in part on the learned patterns from the vehicle. The recommendation is configured to identify a setting or action for the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a mood of a human driver of a vehicle and using the mood for generating a vehicle response, is provided. One example method includes capturing, by a camera of the vehicle, a face of the human driver. The capturing is configured to capture a plurality of images over a period of time, and the plurality of images are analyzed to identify a facial expression and changes in the facial expression of the human driver over the period of time. The method further includes capturing, by a microphone of the vehicle, voice input of the human driver. The voice input is captured over the period of time. The voice input is analyzed to identify a voice profile and changes in the voice profile of the human driver over the period of time. The method processes, by a processor of the vehicle, a combination of the facial expression and the voice profile captured during the period of time to predict the mood of the human driver.

Abstract: A method is provided, which includes receiving, at a server, a request from a device to find one or more charge units for charging an electric vehicle at a geographic location. The method includes accessing, by the server, a first database to identify charge units that are associated with the geographic location. The method includes accessing, by the server, a second database to identify discounts available at the charge units identified to be associated with the geographic location. One of the identified discounts on one of the charge units is provided by a first merchant having a business location proximate to the one of the charge units. The method includes sending, by the server, data to the device that identifies one or more of the charge units that are associated with the geographic location, the data further including information regarding one or more discounts identified to be available at one or more of the identified charge units.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for managing charge availability of a charge unit (CU) to obtain charge for a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The CU includes a computer for processing at least part of the method and for communicating with a server over a network. The method includes receiving, by the server, status information from the computer of the CU. The method includes sending to the computer of the CU instructions to make a reservation for the CU. The reservation is for a user account that has requested a desire to charge the battery of the electric vehicle of the user at the CU or another CU. The method includes sending, by the server, a confirmation for the reservation to the user account. The confirmation is viewable via a device having access to the server via the user account. The method includes sending, by the server, a data regarding a time of availability of the CU to the user account for the reservation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining an emotion of a human driver of a vehicle and using the emotion for generating a vehicle response, is provided. One example method includes capturing, by a camera of the vehicle, a face of the human driver. The capturing is configured to capture a plurality of images over a period of time, and the plurality of images are analyzed to identify a facial expression and changes in the facial expression of the human driver over the period of time. The method further includes capturing, by a microphone of the vehicle, voice input of the human driver. The voice input is captured over the period of time. The voice input is analyzed to identify a voice profile and changes in the voice profile of the human driver over the period of time. The method processes, by a processor of the vehicle, a combination of the facial expression and the voice profile captured during the period of time to predict the emotion of the human driver.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to communicate with a server of a cloud system to enable access to use the vehicle via one or more electronic keys is provided. The vehicle includes electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling unlocking of the vehicle. The subsystem is interfaced with the electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling starting of the vehicle for use of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes communications circuitry that is interfaced with electronics of the vehicle. The communications circuitry is programmable to communicate with the server of the cloud system and communicate with a mobile device. The communications circuitry of the vehicle is configured to receive a request from the mobile device for unlocking of the vehicle. The request from the mobile device includes a unique access code obtained by the mobile device from the server to enable sending the request to the vehicle. The unique access code is associated with privileges for use of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods, systems and cloud processing are provided for coordinating and processing user input provided to vehicles during use. One example is a method for processing voice inputs at a vehicle is provided. The method includes determining a profile for a user of the vehicle using electronics of the vehicle. The profile is part of a user account and the vehicle is provided with wireless communication circuitry for accessing a server over a network for exchanging information regarding the vehicle, use of the vehicle and use of the profile. The method includes receiving via a microphone of the vehicle a voice command from the user of the vehicle. The electronics of the vehicle processing the voice command to enable a two-way conversation exchange between the user and the vehicle. The method acts to access, by electronics of the vehicle, data for learned behavior of the user. The learned behavior is associated to the profile for the user. The method processes the voice command to identify a type command.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method is providing access to systems of a vehicle from an application. The method includes encoding, by an application, an application programming interface (API) call to the vehicle. The encoding provides for secure communication of the API call to an API subsystem of the vehicle. The API subsystem of the vehicle is configured to decode the encoding. Sending the API call to the vehicle using the encoding. The API call is configured to provide an instruction to obtain information from a subsystem of the vehicle or send an instruction to the subsystem of the vehicle. The sending of the API call to the vehicle is via the application that operates as a third party application that is programmed for communicating with the vehicle via the API call. The method includes receiving, via the third party application, vehicle data sent encoded via the API subsystem of the vehicle responsive to the API call to obtain information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, charge units, computer readable media, and combinations thereof are provided. One example method includes receiving data, at a server, indicative that a user account has accessed a charging unit for charging an electric vehicle. The charging unit has an indicator that identifies an active charging status while the electric vehicle is connected to the charging unit for charging a battery of the electric vehicle using the charging unit. The charging unit is configured to identify a complete charging status when the electric vehicle is finished charging said battery using the charging unit. The method includes receiving data, at the server, indicative of a status of charge of the electric vehicle during the charging. Sending a notification to a device having access to the user account, regarding said status of charge during the charging of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to communicate with a server of a cloud system to enable access to use the vehicle via one or more electronic keys is provided. The vehicle includes electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling unlocking of the vehicle. The subsystem is interfaced with the electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling starting of the vehicle for use of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes communications circuitry that is interfaced with electronics of the vehicle. The communications circuitry is programmable to communicate with the server of the cloud system and communicate with a mobile device. The communications circuitry of the vehicle is configured to receive a request from the mobile device for unlocking of the vehicle. The request from the mobile device includes a unique access code obtained by the mobile device from the server to enable sending the request to the vehicle. The unique access code is associated with privileges for use of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One example method is for interfacing a mobile device with a vehicle. The method includes providing a connection to the Internet for the vehicle via wireless connection circuitry associated with an on-board computer of the vehicle. The connection used to communicate with a server of a cloud service provider for the vehicle. The cloud service provider is configured to manage user accounts to enable one or more vehicles to connect with the cloud service provider. A user account is assigned to a user and the user account is associated with custom settings of the user. The method includes enabling communication, by the on-board computer, with a mobile device proximate to the vehicle. The communication provides for pairing the mobile device with the on-board computer using credentials saved by the on-board computer from a previous paring or pairing the mobile device with the on-board computer via a pairing routine processed between the on-board computer and the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of a vehicle for sharing vehicle controls are provided. One example method includes sharing vehicle system control of a vehicle with a passenger. The vehicle has an on-board computer and communications circuitry integrated with the on-board computer. The communications circuitry is configured to interface with a wireless network for accessing the Internet. The on-board computer is configured to enable the communications circuitry to provide a wireless connection to portable devices that enter and pair with the vehicle. The on-board computer is interfaced with one or more vehicle systems. The method includes providing a portable device access to at least one graphical user interface via the wireless connection. The graphical user interface includes input options that enable control of settings or functions of one or more of said vehicle systems.

Abstract: A method for operating an aspect of a vehicle is provided. One example method includes providing an option for setting operations modes of the vehicle via display screen of the vehicle. The operational modes including a restricted use mode that is settable using credentials associated with a user account. The user account has the vehicle pre-associated to a user profile associated with the user account. The method includes receiving selection of the restricted use mode, the selection sets the vehicle to be operation without credentials associated with the user account. The restricted use mode includes limits that restrict access to a plurality of vehicle inputs and restricts access to a geographical zone. The method includes monitoring use data of the vehicle while in the restricted use mode. The use data is communicated to a server of a connected services provider. The use data including one or more violations detected during use of the vehicle in the restricted user mode.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided. The method includes detecting, by a computer of a charging unit (CU), a connection of a charging connector of the CU to a vehicle charge port of an electric vehicle (EV). The detecting of the connection includes processing a data exchange between electronics of the EV and the computer of the CU. The method includes receiving, by the computer of the CU, charge status of the EV while the charging connector is connected to the CU. The received charge status of the EV changes as charge is provided from the CU to a battery of the EV. The method includes sending a notification by server to a user account that was used to obtain charge for the EV at the CU. The notification provides data for a graphical user interface that shows the charge status of the EV.

Abstract: Methods and vehicle interfaces are provided. One example method includes receiving, by a cloud processing service, data from a vehicle over a wireless network. The data includes information usable to identify a user account. The user account is accessible by one or more processing entities of the cloud processing service to identify a profile of a user. The profile of the user includes preferences of the user for the vehicle and learned behavior data of the user for the vehicle. Confirming, by one or more of said process entities, an identity of the user. Identifying, by one or more of said process entities, the preferences of the user responsive to confirming said identity of the user. Sending, by one or more of said process entities, the preferences of the user for the vehicle to electronics of the vehicle. The preferences including an assignment of control functions and associated display interface data to be rendered on display screen of a plurality of dials of a control interface of the vehicle.

Abstract: A cloud system that includes one or more servers for communicating with vehicles and processing information received from vehicles and processing information sent to vehicles is disclosed. One method includes receiving data from a computing device associated with a vehicle. The data is for a user account, and the data is received over one or more sessions. The user account has a user profile with a plurality of settings and metadata captured from use of the vehicle. Processing, by a learning engine, the metadata captured from use of the vehicle during the one or more sessions of use of the vehicle to identify learned patterns sensed from the vehicle. Sending a recommendation to the user account associated with the vehicle. The recommendation is based in part on the learned patterns from the vehicle. The recommendation is configured to identify a setting or action for the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating with a server of a cloud system used to interface with vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving, by the server, a request from electronics of a vehicle to automatically access a profile for a user account. The request includes biometric data captured of a user for use of a vehicle. Processing, by the server, at least part of the biometric data to verify the user against the profile. The profile having a plurality of settings of the user for the vehicle, and at least part of the settings for the profile are stored on storage accessible to the cloud services system. Transferring, by the server, upon verification of the user using at least part of the biometrics, one or more settings of the plurality of settings to the vehicle. The transferring is configured to automatically instruct said electronics of the vehicle to apply said one or more settings to the vehicle for customizing said one or more settings on the vehicle while the user is verified.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing and providing access to a vehicle for servicing the vehicle are provided. One method is provided for accessing the vehicle for servicing the vehicle. The method includes receiving, by a server, vehicle data that is used for diagnostics of the vehicle. Recommending, via the server, a service job needed for the vehicle based on the diagnostics. Receiving, by the server, approval from a user account associated with the vehicle to process the service job on the vehicle. The approval includes approval of a service provider to perform the service job on the vehicle. Generating an electronic key by the server for the vehicle for performing the service job on the vehicle by the service provider. The electronic key has a set of restrictions that limit types of access and use of the vehicle for when the service provider performs the service job on the vehicle. The method then includes sending the electronic key to the service provider.

Abstract: A method for navigating a vehicle automatically from a current location to a destination location without a human operator is disclosed. The method includes identifying a vehicle location using global positioning system (GPS) data regarding the vehicle. Also included is identifying that the vehicle location is near or at a parking location. Then, using mapping data defined for the parking location. The mapping data at least in part is used to find a path at the parking location to avoid a collision of the vehicle with at least one physical structure when the vehicle is automatically moved at the parking location. The method includes instructing the electronics of the vehicle to proceed with controlling the vehicle to automatically move from the current location to the destination location at the parking location. The electronics use as input at least part of the mapping data and sensor data collected from around the vehicle by at least two vehicle sensors.

Abstract: Systems of a vehicle for sharing vehicle controls are provided. One example system includes an on-board computer that is part of the vehicle and communications circuitry of the vehicle usable by the on-board computer. The communications circuitry is configured to make connections with a wireless network for accessing a server. The on-board computer is configured to execute instructions for enabling portable devices that enter the vehicle to make a wireless connection with the vehicle. Vehicle electronics are interfaced with one or more vehicle systems and the on-board computer. The on-board computer is configured to provide access to at least one graphical user interface viewable via the portable device using the wireless connection. The at least one graphical user interface includes input options that enable control for features of said vehicle systems of the vehicle. A location for the portable device within the vehicle is identified.