Patents by Inventor Charan S. Lota

Charan S. Lota has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210133906
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining roadside assistance are disclosed herein. One embodiment monitors sensor data from one or more sensors in a vehicle; detects that the vehicle is in a disabled condition based, at least in part, on the monitored sensor data; communicates automatically with a roadside assistance provider to request roadside assistance; communicates automatically with a ridesharing service provider to request a rideshare vehicle; receives roadside assistance availability data from the roadside assistance provider and ridesharing availability data from the ridesharing service provider; analyzes the roadside assistance availability data and the ridesharing availability data; and arranges automatically, with the ridesharing service provider, a pickup time for the rideshare vehicle based, at least in part, on the analysis of the roadside assistance availability data and the ridesharing availability data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10576809
    Abstract: An automatic window tinting system for a vehicle includes a selectively transparent window, a controller including a processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable memory, a temperature sensor, an occupant sensor, a proximity sensor, and a computer readable and executable instruction set. The computer readable and executable instruction set causes the processing unit to receive an occupant sensor signal, a temperature signal and a proximity sensor signal, maintain the selectively transparent window in a first light transmissivity state when the occupant sensor signal is indicative of a presence of an unattended occupant, transition the selectively transparent window to a second light transmissivity state when the temperature signal is indicative of a temperature inside the vehicle that is greater than a threshold value, and transition the selectively transparent window to a third light transmissivity state when the proximity sensor signal is indicative of the presence of a passerby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10503232
    Abstract: A method and device for vehicle charge resource management are disclosed. The vehicle charge resource management includes polling a plurality of docking stations for docking indication data, and identifying a docked set therefrom. State-of-charge data for each respective ones of the docked set is assessed, and a recharging rate for the each respective ones of the docked set. Recharge status data may be generated based on the recharging rate to indicate a time-to-recharge for the each respective ones of the docked set. When the recharge status data compares unfavorably with the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply, transmitting a user input request that includes the recharge status data to prompt user input. User input data is received, and recharge command data generated therefrom. The recharge command data may be transmitted to initiate a recharge of at least one of the docked set via the vehicle power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10279703
    Abstract: Vehicle seat adjustment systems that move more than one seat in a linked manner are disclosed. A vehicle seat adjustment system for a vehicle includes a front seat of the vehicle, one or more passenger seats behind the front seat, an input device configured to receive an input for adjusting positions of the front seat, a first actuator configured to adjust positions of the front seat, a second actuator configured to adjust positions of the one or more passenger seats, and a controller communicatively coupled to the input device and the first and second actuators. The controller instructs the first actuator to move the front seat in a longitudinal direction for a first distance in response to the received input, and instructs the second actuator to move the one or more passenger seats in the longitudinal direction for a second distance in response to the received input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10234875
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for retaining cargo. A system for retaining cargo may comprise a sensor and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to determine presence of cargo in a vehicle; determine dimensions of the cargo based, at least in part, on data received from the sensor; determine a storage location for the cargo based, at least in part, on one or more of: the dimensions of the cargo, interior dimensions of the vehicle, and interior components of the vehicle; determine a first position for a first one of the interior components, the first position determined based, at least in part, on one or more of: the storage location, and a location for retaining the cargo for transport; create a first message indicating the storage location for the cargo and the position for the first one of the interior components; and transmit the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Publication number: 20190041940
    Abstract: A method and device for vehicle charge resource management are disclosed. The vehicle charge resource management includes polling a plurality of docking stations for docking indication data, and identifying a docked set therefrom. State-of-charge data for each respective ones of the docked set is assessed, and a recharging rate for the each respective ones of the docked set. Recharge status data may be generated based on the recharging rate to indicate a time-to-recharge for the each respective ones of the docked set. When the recharge status data compares unfavorably with the state-of-charge data for the vehicle power supply, transmitting a user input request that includes the recharge status data to prompt user input. User input data is received, and recharge command data generated therefrom. The recharge command data may be transmitted to initiate a recharge of at least one of the docked set via the vehicle power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10099576
    Abstract: Vehicle seat adjustment systems including cameras are disclosed. The vehicle seat adjustment system includes a camera configured to capture a seat arrangement of a front seat of a vehicle and one or more seats behind the front seat, a screen, communicatively coupled to the camera, configured to display the seat arrangement captured by the camera, an input device configured to receive an input from a user for adjusting positions of the one or more seats, an actuator communicatively coupled to the input device and configured to adjust positions of the one or more seats, and a controller communicatively coupled to the camera, the screen, the input device and the actuator. The controller receives the input from the input device and instruct the actuator to adjust the positions of the one or more seats based on the input from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 10074092
    Abstract: A vehicle may communicate with a vendor interaction system of a vendor. The vehicle includes network interface hardware, a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware, and at least one display communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The processor executes logic to establish a communication link with the vendor interaction system, receive, with the network interface hardware, a vendor data signal from the vendor interaction system, the vendor data signal indicative of vendor information, receive, with the network interface hardware, a user preference data signal indicative of user order preferences for the vendor, display at least one of the user order preferences and the vendor information on the at least one display, and display an order prompt requesting a user to make an order selection from at least one of the vendor information or the user order preferences displayed on the at least one display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20180154799
    Abstract: Vehicle seat adjustment systems that move more than one seat in a linked manner are disclosed. A vehicle seat adjustment system for a vehicle includes a front seat of the vehicle, one or more passenger seats behind the front seat, an input device configured to receive an input for adjusting positions of the front seat, a first actuator configured to adjust positions of the front seat, a second actuator configured to adjust positions of the one or more passenger seats, and a controller communicatively coupled to the input device and the first and second actuators. The controller instructs the first actuator to move the front seat in a longitudinal direction for a first distance in response to the received input, and instructs the second actuator to move the one or more passenger seats in the longitudinal direction for a second distance in response to the received input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Publication number: 20180141414
    Abstract: An automatic window tinting system for a vehicle includes a selectively transparent window, a controller including a processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable memory, a temperature sensor, an occupant sensor, a proximity sensor, and a computer readable and executable instruction set. The computer readable and executable instruction set causes the processing unit to receive an occupant sensor signal, a temperature signal and a proximity sensor signal, maintain the selectively transparent window in a first light transmissivity state when the occupant sensor signal is indicative of a presence of an unattended occupant, transition the selectively transparent window to a second light transmissivity state when the temperature signal is indicative of a temperature inside the vehicle that is greater than a threshold value, and transition the selectively transparent window to a third light transmissivity state when the proximity sensor signal is indicative of the presence of a passerby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Publication number: 20180113480
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for retaining cargo. A system for retaining cargo may comprise a sensor and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to determine presence of cargo in a vehicle; determine dimensions of the cargo based, at least in part, on data received from the sensor; determine a storage location for the cargo based, at least in part, on one or more of: the dimensions of the cargo, interior dimensions of the vehicle, and interior components of the vehicle; determine a first position for a first one of the interior components, the first position determined based, at least in part, on one or more of: the storage location, and a location for retaining the cargo for transport; create a first message indicating the storage location for the cargo and the position for the first one of the interior components; and transmit the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Publication number: 20180111511
    Abstract: Vehicle seat adjustment systems including cameras are disclosed. The vehicle seat adjustment system includes a camera configured to capture a seat arrangement of a front seat of a vehicle and one or more seats behind the front seat, a screen, communicatively coupled to the camera, configured to display the seat arrangement captured by the camera, an input device configured to receive an input from a user for adjusting positions of the one or more seats, an actuator communicatively coupled to the input device and configured to adjust positions of the one or more seats, and a controller communicatively coupled to the camera, the screen, the input device and the actuator. The controller receives the input from the input device and instruct the actuator to adjust the positions of the one or more seats based on the input from the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charan S. Lota
  • Patent number: 8818697
    Abstract: A vehicle having a driver statistic system for interfacing with a network includes a wheel speed sensor, an engine control unit, network interface hardware for communicating with a network, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled therebetween. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing a computer readable and executable instruction set. When the instruction set is executed by the processor, the electronic control unit processes sensor signals received from the wheel speed sensor and the engine control unit to determine fuel consumption of the vehicle. The electronic control unit transmits a vehicle status signal to the network interface hardware, where the vehicle status signal is indicative of the fuel consumption of the vehicle. The network interface hardware transmits the vehicle status signal to the network. The network interface hardware further receives a vehicle performance signal from the network indicative of a driver performance ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Patent number: 8594861
    Abstract: Included are systems and methods for communicating with a vehicle user. One embodiment includes obtaining a user preference and authorization information relating to a mobile phone device and third party information, recognizing the particular user upon approach with the mobile phone device and implementing the user preference for the particular user, the user preference comprising a setting for a functional aspect of the vehicle and a setting for a non-functional aspect of the vehicle. Some embodiments include providing, by the vehicle computing device, customized interactive communication with the particular user, based on stored user preferences and third party information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III, Tuhin Diptiman
  • Patent number: 8532921
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining available providers is disclosed. One embodiment includes communicating with a plurality of third party data storage units, at least one of the plurality of third party data storage units comprising user preference data for a vehicle, retrieving the user preference data from a remote location, and facilitating storage of the user preference data. Some embodiments include utilizing the user preference data to predict a likely current destination and providing, by a vehicle computing device, data related to the likely current destination to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20130232029
    Abstract: A vehicle may communicate with a vendor interaction system of a vendor. The vehicle includes network interface hardware, a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware, and at least one display communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The processor executes logic to establish a communication link with the vendor interaction system, receive, with the network interface hardware, a vendor data signal from the vendor interaction system, the vendor data signal indicative of vendor information, receive, with the network interface hardware, a user preference data signal indicative of user order preferences for the vendor, display at least one of the user order preferences and the vendor information on the at least one display, and display an order prompt requesting a user to make an order selection from at least one of the vendor information or the user order preferences displayed on the at least one display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20130231854
    Abstract: A vehicle having a driver statistic system for interfacing with a network includes a wheel speed sensor, an engine control unit, network interface hardware for communicating with a network, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled therebetween. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing a computer readable and executable instruction set. When the instruction set is executed by the processor, the electronic control unit processes sensor signals received from the wheel speed sensor and the engine control unit to determine fuel consumption of the vehicle. The electronic control unit transmits a vehicle status signal to the network interface hardware, where the vehicle status signal is indicative of the fuel consumption of the vehicle. The network interface hardware transmits the vehicle status signal to the network. The network interface hardware further receives a vehicle performance signal from the network indicative of a driver performance ranking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20130231784
    Abstract: A vehicle for controlling home automation may include network interface hardware, one or more processors, and input/output hardware. The one or more processors can be communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware. The input/output hardware can be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors can execute logic to receive a location signal indicative of a location of a vehicle. An input portal can be presented automatically on the input/output hardware when the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined range. An actuation signal indicative of a mechanical input can be received. A control signal can be transmitted to a home automation computing device via the network interface hardware. The control signal can be operable to actuate a function of an electrical device communicatively coupled to the home automation computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20130226371
    Abstract: Included are systems and methods for communicating with a vehicle user. One embodiment includes obtaining a user preference and authorization information relating to a mobile phone device and third party information, recognizing the particular user upon approach with the mobile phone device and implementing the user preference for the particular user, the user preference comprising a setting for a functional aspect of the vehicle and a setting for a non-functional aspect of the vehicle. Some embodiments include providing, by the vehicle computing device, customized interactive communication with the particular user, based on stored user preferences and third party information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Publication number: 20130226449
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining available providers is disclosed. One embodiment includes communicating with a plurality of third party data storage units, at least one of the plurality of third party data storage units comprising user preference data for a vehicle, retrieving the user preference data from a remote location, and facilitating storage of the user preference data. Some embodiments include utilizing the user preference data to predict a likely current destination and providing, by a vehicle computing device, data related to the likely current destination to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III