Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling automatic vehicle charging via wireless charging pads, using a cloud system having one or more servers connected to the Internet. The method includes receiving, at a server, an identification of an electric vehicle that is associated to a user account that is pre-authorized to obtain charge from a charging units (CUs) associated with a network of CUs. The method also includes receiving, at the server, data indicative that the electric vehicle is positioned at least partially over the a charging pad of a CU of the network of CUs. The server sends data to the CU so that the charging pad transfers charge to the electric vehicle automatically if the user account is pre-authorized to obtain the charge from the CU, and the transfer of charge from the charging pad to the electric vehicle occurs without user input at the CU and without user interface input associated with the CU to cause or initiate the transfer of charge.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provide access to cloud services over the Internet for customizing user interface of a vehicle. One method includes receiving a request to access a server that provides logic for defining a custom user interface for a vehicle associated with a user account. The method also includes receiving selection options for associating applications to the custom user interface. The applications including interfaces associated with functionalities of the vehicle and interfaces for connecting with internet accessible services. The method includes receiving arrangement selections for placing at least one of the interfaces at a user defined location of a display screen of the vehicle. The selection options of the associated applications and the arrangement selections defining the custom user interface for the user account. The method further includes communicating the custom user interface to memory and electronics of the vehicle over a wireless internet connection.

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 are provided. One method includes receiving a request to generate electronic key (e-key) for an identified recipient to use a vehicle. The request includes identifying information for enabling sending of the e-key to the recipient via an electronic transmission. The request includes a condition of use of the vehicle. The method includes generating the e-key. The e-key is associated with the condition of use of the vehicle. The method includes transmitting the e-key to a device or user account of the recipient. The method further includes transmitting data to the vehicle to enable use of the vehicle via the e-key and receiving use data regarding use of the vehicle for when the vehicle is used via the e-key. The use data identifies information regarding the use of the vehicle. The information identifies a violations of the condition of use.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing access to specific vehicle controls, functions, environment and applications for guests/passengers of a vehicle via mobile devices of the passengers. One method includes receiving a request to access a vehicle computer of a vehicle using a mobile device of a passenger of the vehicle. The method also includes identifying a seat in the vehicle that is associated with the passenger and providing a user interface to the mobile device. The user interface exposing a plurality of vehicle systems that are interfaced with the vehicle computer. The plurality of vehicle systems include systems that relate to an environment zone in which the seat is located in the vehicle, and the user interface further includes controls for enabling setting inputs to one or more of the plurality of vehicle systems.

Abstract: Charge units for charging an electric vehicle and methods for cloud access and programming of data for charge units is provided. In one example, a charging unit is connectable to a charge source (e.g., electricity) and has an connector (cord) for coupling the charge unit to the electric vehicle. The charge unit including a port for interfacing with and charging an auxiliary battery. A display has a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing charge status information of a main battery of a vehicle and/or the auxiliary battery when connected to the port of the charge unit. The charge unit further including a communications port for providing data of the charge unit to the cloud services, for access and control by a remote computer. An advertising system will serve ads to the charge units, vehicle displays and/or the remote computers while charging or after charging.

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: A cloud system for interfacing with an electric vehicle, wherein the electric vehicle has a battery that is rechargeable. The electric vehicle further has an on-board computer and a wireless communication system that is interfaced with the on-board computer. The on-board computer is configured to monitor a charge level of the battery and display the level on a display screen of the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle has global positioning system (GPS) logic for identifying geo-location of the electric vehicle. The cloud system is configured to manage a user account for the electric vehicle and store data associated with the user account. The data includes information regarding charge parameters received from the user. The cloud system is thus configured to interface with on-board computer of the electric vehicle via the wireless communication system.

Abstract: Electric vehicles that use replaceable and exchangeable batteries and systems are provided. One example system is for managing a supply of batteries for powering an electric vehicle. The system includes a battery carrier for holding a plurality of batteries. The battery carrier is connectable to a power source and the plurality of batteries are rechargeable and replaceable into and out of the battery carrier. The battery carrier includes slots for receiving the plurality of batteries and control systems for communicating over a network. The control systems are configured for identifying presence of batteries in the slots of the battery carrier and charge level of batteries present in the slots. The system further includes a server that communicates over the network with the control systems of the battery carrier. The server is part of a cloud system that manages access to user accounts. The user accounts are accessible via applications executed on user devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems and cloud processing are provided for coordinating and processing user input provided to vehicles during use. One example is for processing voice inputs at a vehicle to identify a mood of a user and then modifying or customizing the vehicle response based on the detected mood, physical characteristic and/or physiological characteristic of the user. One example includes sending, to a cloud processing server, data from the vehicle. The vehicle includes an on-board computer for processing instructions for the vehicle and processing wireless communication to exchange data with the cloud processing server. The method then receives, at the vehicle, data for a user account to use the vehicle. The cloud processing server uses the user account to identify a user profile of a user. Then, receiving, from the cloud processing server, voice profiles for the user profile. Each voice profile is associated with a tone identifier or audio signature.

Abstract: A cloud system that includes one or more servers for communicating with vehicles and processing information received from a vehicle and processing information sent to the vehicle is provided. The system enables establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with the vehicle and a server of the cloud system. The communication link is over a wireless network, and 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. Then, receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs made at the vehicle while the vehicle is associated with the user account, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions. The server updates data associated with the user account to identify the plurality of actions at the vehicle and then generates a recommendation to apply a setting at the vehicle.

Abstract: A cloud system that includes one or more servers for communicating with vehicles and processing information received from a vehicle and processing information sent to the vehicle is provided. The system enables establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with the vehicle and a server of the cloud system. The communication link is over a wireless network, and 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. Then, receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs made at the vehicle while the vehicle is associated with the user account, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions. The server updates data associated with the user account to identify the plurality of actions at the vehicle and then generates a recommendation to apply a setting at the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provide access to cloud services over the Internet for customizing a user interface of a vehicle. The method includes providing selection options to identify a vehicle type among a plurality of vehicle types, where each vehicle type is associated with a system component native to the vehicle type. The system component providing native interfaces for the vehicle type. The method includes identifying a plurality of applications available for the vehicle type. Each of the applications provided with predefined code for communicating with at least one control interface of the system component. The method generates a custom configuration of the user interface for the vehicle type that includes native interfaces for components native to the vehicle type and the app interface for the application. The methods also define a learning module that learns user input to the user interface and provides for automatic programming of features.

Abstract: Methods for managing charge status of an electric vehicle (EV) at a charge unit (CU) and systems that use cloud processing, are provided. One method includes detecting connection of a charging connector of the charge unit to a vehicle charge port of the EV. The method also includes receiving charge status of the EV while the charging connector is connected to the CU and activating a visual indicator at the CU. The visual indicator is set indicative of the charge status of the EV. The method includes changing the visual indicator as the charge status of the EV changes. The method enables a user device to receive notifications of charge status and communicate with cloud processing to request changing of the visual indicator of the CU to a non-full state even when the EV is at a full state of charging.

Abstract: A cloud system for interfacing with an electric vehicle, wherein the electric vehicle has a battery that is rechargeable. The electric vehicle further has an on-board computer and a wireless communication system that is interfaced with the on-board computer. The on-board computer is configured to monitor a charge level of the battery and display the level on a display screen of the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle has global positioning system (GPS) logic for identifying geo-location of the electric vehicle. The cloud system is configured to manage a user account for the electric vehicle and store data associated with the user account. The data includes information regarding charge parameters received from the user. The cloud system is thus configured to interface with on-board computer of the electric vehicle via the wireless communication system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provide access to cloud services over the Internet for managing a user profile of a vehicle on a cloud processing system connected to the Internet. One example method includes receiving requests to access the user profile to define settings for one or more vehicles. The method includes receiving input to user settings at the vehicle at the cloud processing system. The method includes processing the input over time to learn behavior associated with the input to the use settings. The method includes transmitting settings to the vehicle to be automatically implemented based on the learned behavior. The method being executed by a processor. The profile can be transferred to one or more vehicles, can be set for a temporary period of time, can be set with wireless payment systems, and is accessible over the Internet to accept changes or updates.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing access to safety ratings of parking locations and access alerts associated with vehicles, including processing of notifications to user accounts associated with monitored vehicles. One example method includes receiving at a server, over time, safety alerts from a plurality of vehicles. Each safety alert is associated with a geographic location. The method associates, by the server, one or more safety alerts to parking locations corresponding to geographic locations from where the safety alerts were received. The server then generates a safety grade for one or more of the parking locations, and the safety grade is based on a number of safety alerts associated to the parking location and a safety type of the safety alerts.

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: Methods and systems are provided for processing information associated with vehicles via one or more servers of a cloud system. One example method includes establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with a vehicle and a server. The communication link is over a wireless network and the communication link is established in association with a user account. The communication link is established for one or more sessions The method further includes receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs to the vehicle. The plurality of actions are received during the one or more sessions, and generating, by the server, a recommendation to program a setting at the vehicle. One or more of the plurality of actions at the vehicle during the one or more sessions are processed to determine a confidence score associated with generating the recommendation to program the setting. Generation of the recommendation occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Electric vehicles that use replaceable and exchangeable batteries, applications for communicating with a service that provides access to kiosks of batteries, and methods and systems for finding charged batteries, reserving batteries, and paying for use of the batteries, are disclosed. One example is a system that includes at least one server that is capable of communication with a plurality of kiosks. Each kiosk is configured to hold one or more rechargeable batteries and dispense batteries to user with user accounts. The system manages inventory at the kiosks, enables payment for use or charges a user's account, enables locating of kiosks with batteries proximate to a user's vehicle location and optionally enables users to reserve batteries. The system provides access to the network of kiosks and information regarding battery availability via applications, such as smartphone applications, tablets, connected commuters and/or computers of a vehicle.