Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a vehicle and for associated methods for handling contact detection of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a computer and a communications system. The communications system is configured to provide the computer of the vehicle with wireless communication with a cloud services system that includes a database that stores a user account that identifies the vehicles as registered with the cloud services system. The user account identifies settings for the vehicle and information for notifying a user of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a plurality of sensors associated to sides of the vehicle, such that contact with a specific side of the vehicle is identified using a sensor of the plurality of sensors. The vehicle further includes a plurality of cameras integrated in the vehicle to enable capturing of image data of an area around the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided, for sharing mobile device applications with a vehicle computer. One example method includes detecting a mobile device present in a vehicle, by a vehicle computer of the vehicle and generating a user interface on a display screen of the vehicle, as instructed by the vehicle computer. The method further includes identifying by the vehicle computer, a plurality of native applications of the vehicle for the user interface and identifying a plurality of mobile device applications from the mobile device for the user interface, while the mobile devices is present in the vehicle. The method enables system controls, using the vehicle computer, to enable access to the plurality of native applications and the plurality of mobile device applications, the system controls including one or more of button inputs of the vehicle, touch screen inputs via the user interface of the display screen of the vehicle, and voice input via microphones of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle having logic for processing a valet mode of the vehicle. An example of the vehicle includes a display screen of the vehicle. The display screen is configured to render information regarding operational modes of the vehicle, where one of the operational modes includes a valet mode. The vehicle includes an on-board computer including a processor for enabling the valet mode in response to input instructions received during a privileged access for a user account to enable the valet mode. The valet mode is configured to set restrictions upon systems and operation of the vehicle. The systems of the vehicle including functional inputs of the vehicle and the operation of the vehicle including at least a speed restriction. The processor is further configured to cause a notification to be rendered on the display screen to indicate that a recording of use of the vehicle will be made while the vehicle is in the valet mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method includes receiving a request, at a server, to establish an advisor account for a vehicle associated with a user account. The request identifies a service entity and a vehicle service to be assigned to the service entity. The service entity is configured to receive said diagnostics data of the vehicle. The advisor account is associated to the service entity. Programming data is sent to the vehicle for use by a computer of the vehicle to identify select diagnostics data that relates to the vehicle service and to make accessible said select diagnostics data to the advisor account. The advisor account is made accessible to the service entity subsequent to establishing of the advisor account. The server receives select diagnostics data from the vehicle regarding the vehicle service, and the select diagnostics data is accessible for viewing and/or processing by a device of the service entity.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and servers for processing collision avoidance feedback to vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication, are provided. One method includes detecting proximity separation between a first vehicle and a second vehicle (e.g., and other vehicles within the proximity separation). At least one of the sensors of the first vehicle or the second vehicle determines that a proximity separation is less than a threshold distance. A pairing algorithm is triggered between electronics of the first and second vehicle to enable direct communication for data exchange between the first and second vehicles. The method includes triggering a warning to one or both of the first and second vehicles if the data exchange determines that a probability exists that a heading of the first or second vehicles will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having an electric motor is provided. The electric vehicle having a receptacle slot integrated in the electric vehicle. The receptacle slot provides an electrical connection for providing power to the electric motor. A battery having an elongated form factor, where a first end of the elongated form factor includes a handle and a second end of the elongated form factor includes a connection for interfacing with the electrical connection of the receptacle slot of the vehicle, when the battery is slid into the receptacle slot for electrical engagement. The battery is configured to store and supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle and the battery is replaceable by sliding the battery out of the receptacle slot and sliding in another battery into the receptacle slot to further supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle with said another battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method includes receiving, by a server, data from a vehicle over a wireless network. The data includes information usable to identify a user account. The user account being accessible by the server to identify a profile of a user, and the profile of the user includes preferences of the user and learned behavior of the user. The method further includes receiving, by the server, a geo-location of the vehicle for a time of day. Then, identifying, by the server, supplemental content that is available for sending to the vehicle based on the geo-location of the vehicle. The method includes filtering, by the server, the supplemental content based on a contextual analysis of one or more preferences of the user, the learned behavior of the user, the time of day and the geo-location 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. The system processes instructions for establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with a vehicle and a server of the cloud system. The communication link is over a wireless network. The communication link is established in association with a user account that is managed by the cloud system. The communication link is configured to be established for one or more sessions. The system enables receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs made at the vehicle for the vehicle when associated with the user account, and the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions. Then, updating, by the server, data associated with the user account to identify certain ones of the plurality of actions at the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having an electric motor is provided. The electric vehicle having a receptacle slot integrated in the electric vehicle. The receptacle slot provides an electrical connection for providing power to the electric motor. A battery having an elongated form factor, where a first end of the elongated form factor includes a handle and a second end of the elongated form factor includes a connection for interfacing with the electrical connection of the receptacle slot of the vehicle, when the battery is slid into the receptacle slot for electrical engagement. The battery is configured to store and supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle and the battery is replaceable by sliding the battery out of the receptacle slot and sliding in another battery into the receptacle slot to further supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle with said another battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating with a server of a cloud system used for managing access to a user account having a profile that includes settings for a vehicle. The system includes a wireless communication system interfaced with a computing system. The computing system of the vehicle is configured to connect with the server using the wireless communication system and credentials for the user account are transferred by the computing system to the server to enable the server to access the profile of the user account and enable the computing system of the vehicle to use the profile. The computing system of the vehicle is configured to implement one or more settings for the vehicle upon making the profile active on the vehicle and while the profile is active on the vehicle, is configured to monitor use activity of the vehicle. The use activity of the vehicle includes inputs received by interfaces of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing charge options to drivers of electric vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving data concerning charge providing availability from charge locations and receiving a request from processing logic of an electric vehicle, the request identifying a desire to obtain charge. The method includes determining a current location of the electric vehicle and determining identification of charge locations in proximity to the electric vehicle. The method further includes determining any sponsored rewards offered by the charge locations and communicating to the electric vehicle a path to one of the charge locations, where the path is identified with a sponsored reward offered at the charge location if the path is selected and charge is obtained. The method can be processed by a server and paths are communicated to vehicles to alert drivers of the electric vehicles of rewards or discounts if charge is obtained from certain locations.

Abstract: A system of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a wireless communication device for providing the vehicle with access to a network for exchanging vehicle condition information with a server. An on-board computer of the vehicle is configured for interfacing with vehicle systems and said wireless communication device. The on-board computer is configured to process input received from at least one vehicle interface of the vehicle and processing output via at least one vehicle output of the vehicle. The on-board computer is programmable to access a user account that is used to interface with said server. The wireless communication device is configured to send vehicle data, based on settings in the user account, to the server over the network for vehicle status information. The vehicle status information is for one or more vehicle systems of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cloud processing data streamed from a vehicle and a home associated with a user account. One method includes receiving a data stream from the vehicle entity, where the data stream from the vehicle entity includes metadata from one or more data producing objects of the vehicle entity. And, receiving a data stream from the home entity, where the data stream from the home entity includes metadata from one or more data producing objects of the home entity. The method includes accessing action conditions associated with a user account. The action conditions identify a position where at least one or more states of the metadata from each of the home entity and the vehicle entity intersect. And, each action condition identifies a type or types of control information to be processed. The method includes processing the received metadata from the vehicle entity and the home entity.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having an electric motor is provided. The electric vehicle having a receptacle slot integrated in the electric vehicle. The receptacle slot provides an electrical connection for providing power to the electric motor. A battery having an elongated form factor, where a first end of the elongated form factor includes a handle and a second end of the elongated form factor includes a connection for interfacing with the electrical connection of the receptacle slot of the vehicle, when the battery is slid into the receptacle slot for electrical engagement. The battery is configured to store and supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle and the battery is replaceable by sliding the battery out of the receptacle slot and sliding in another battery into the receptacle slot to further supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle with said another battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging an electric battery of a vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a battery for powering an electric motor of the vehicle. A controller of the vehicle is provided to interface with a battery and to enable control of charging of the battery. The vehicle includes a communications interface for enabling wireless communication with a server, and the server is configured to manage a plurality of user accounts for users. The server is one of a plurality of servers, and the servers providing access to cloud services regarding vehicle use and metrics.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method includes processing communication with a vehicle and connected objects. The processing is by one or more servers of a cloud system where said vehicle is associated for receiving services. The connected objects include objects having communication capabilities that are either fixed at specific locations as infrastructure where the vehicle is traversing or is moving in location in areas proximate to where the vehicle is traversing. The method includes receiving by a server of the cloud system, geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system. Determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on detected changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle. Receiving state data from connected objects, and selecting one or more of the connected objects based on a current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having an electric motor is provided. The electric vehicle having a receptacle slot integrated in the electric vehicle. The receptacle slot provides an electrical connection for providing power to the electric motor. A battery having an elongated form factor, where a first end of the elongated form factor includes a handle and a second end of the elongated form factor includes a connection for interfacing with the electrical connection of the receptacle slot of the vehicle, when the battery is slid into the receptacle slot for electrical engagement. The battery is configured to store and supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle and the battery is replaceable by sliding the battery out of the receptacle slot and sliding in another battery into the receptacle slot to further supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle with said another battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method includes receiving a request, at a server, to establish an advisor account for a vehicle associated with a user account. The request identifies a service entity and a vehicle service to be assigned to the service entity. The service entity is configured to receive said diagnostics data of the vehicle. The advisor account is associated to the service entity. Programming data is sent to the vehicle for use by a computer of the vehicle to identify select diagnostics data that relates to the vehicle service and to make accessible said select diagnostics data to the advisor account. The advisor account is made accessible to the service entity subsequent to establishing of the advisor account. The server receives select diagnostics data from the vehicle regarding the vehicle service, and the select diagnostics data is accessible for viewing and/or processing by a device of the service entity.

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 method for processing communication between a vehicle and traffic lights is provided. The method includes processing geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system, and determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle. The method includes receiving state information of one or more of traffic lights that are located within an area of influence associated with a current geo-location of the vehicle. The traffic lights are independent of the vehicle and the state information from the one or more traffic lights is processed for the current geo-location of the vehicle and based on the area of influence of the vehicle.