Patents by Inventor Jonathan Willing

Jonathan Willing 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: 20250389545
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for generating and using a model for identifying a plurality of pick up or drop off locations for a large venue point of interest. For instance, a large venue point of interest may be identified. The plurality may be identified for the large venue point of interest based on a combination of historical trip data and map information. The plurality may be associated with the large venue point of interest. The association may be stored in memory for later use. Thereafter, a request for a trip identifying the large venue point of interest may be received from a client computing device, and the plurality may be provided to the client computing device in response to the request. A pickup and drop off location of the plurality may be provided to an autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to transport a passenger to the pickup or drop off location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Kevin Malta, Bruce Mai, Reed Morse, Victor Chan, Celia Zhang, Jonathan Willing, Shiqian Zhang, Donghyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20250321112
    Abstract: The technology uses augmented reality (AR) elements for enhanced wayfinding with autonomous vehicle pickups and drop-offs. The approach includes generating, for presentation in a first region of a client device UI, trip information regarding a trip. Map information associated with the trip is generated for presentation in a second UI region, including at least one of a pickup location for a rider, a walking path from a current location of the rider to the pickup location, a planned route of the vehicle to the pickup location, or a current location of the vehicle. An AR indicator is generated for presentation in the second UI region. Upon selection of the indicator, the system modifies the second region into a first section to display at least a portion of the map information and a second section to display an augmented reality view, or replace the map information with the AR view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce Mai, Maria Moon, Jonathan Willing, Peter Crandall, Steven Kleiser, Kevin Malta
  • Patent number: 12435986
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for generating and using a model for identifying a plurality of pick up or drop off locations for a large venue point of interest. For instance, a large venue point of interest may be identified. The plurality may be identified for the large venue point of interest based on a combination of historical trip data and map information. The plurality may be associated with the large venue point of interest. The association may be stored in memory for later use. Thereafter, a request for a trip identifying the large venue point of interest may be received from a client computing device, and the plurality may be provided to the client computing device in response to the request. A pickup and drop off location of the plurality may be provided to an autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to transport a passenger to the pickup or drop off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Malta, Bruce Mai, Reed Morse, Victor Chan, Celia Zhang, Jonathan Willing, Shiqian Zhang, Donghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 12422266
    Abstract: The technology uses augmented reality (AR) elements for enhanced wayfinding with autonomous vehicle pickups and drop-offs. The approach includes generating, for presentation in a first region of a client device UI, trip information regarding a trip. Map information associated with the trip is generated for presentation in a second UI region, including at least one of a pickup location for a rider, a walking path from a current location of the rider to the pickup location, a planned route of the vehicle to the pickup location, or a current location of the vehicle. An AR indicator is generated for presentation in the second UI region. Upon selection of the indicator, the system modifies the second region into a first section to display at least a portion of the map information and a second section to display an augmented reality view, or replace the map information with the AR view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Mai, Maria Moon, Jonathan Willing, Peter Crandall, Steven Kleiser, Kevin Malta
  • Patent number: 12415548
    Abstract: The technology employs a holistic approach to passenger pickups and other wayfinding situations. This includes identifying where passengers are relative to the vehicle and/or the pickup location. One aspect leverages camera imagery from a rider's client device when providing rider support. This enables an agent to receive the imagery to help guide the rider to the vehicle. Another aspect provides audio information to the rider to help them get to the vehicle. This can include selecting or curating various tones or melodies, giving the rider advanced notice of sounds to listen for, and modifying sounds as the rider approaches the vehicle or to address ambient noise in the environment. Different wayfinding tools may be selected for presentation to the rider based on their proximity state to a pickup location or to the vehicle. Gracefully transitioning between different tools can enhance their usefulness and elevate the rider's experience for a trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Malta, Maria Moon, Lauren Schwendimann, Bruce Mai, Jonathan Willing
  • Publication number: 20250244136
    Abstract: The technology uses augmented reality (AR) elements for enhanced wayfinding with autonomous vehicle pickups and drop-offs. The approach includes generating, for presentation in a first region of a client device UI, trip information regarding a trip. Map information associated with the trip is generated for presentation in a second UI region, including at least one of a pickup location for a rider, a walking path from a current location of the rider to the pickup location, a planned route of the vehicle to the pickup location, or a current location of the vehicle. An AR indicator is generated for presentation in the second UI region. Upon selection of the indicator, the system modifies the second region into a first section to display at least a portion of the map information and a second section to display an augmented reality view, or replace the map information with the AR view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce Mai, Maria Moon, Jonathan Willing, Peter Crandall, Steven Kleiser, Kevin Malta
  • Publication number: 20230324192
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for generating and using a model for identifying a plurality of pick up or drop off locations for a large venue point of interest. For instance, a large venue point of interest may be identified. The plurality may be identified for the large venue point of interest based on a combination of historical trip data and map information. The plurality may be associated with the large venue point of interest. The association may be stored in memory for later use. Thereafter, a request for a trip identifying the large venue point of interest may be received from a client computing device, and the plurality may be provided to the client computing device in response to the request. A pickup and drop off location of the plurality may be provided to an autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to transport a passenger to the pickup or drop off location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Malta, Bruce Mai, Reed Morse, Victor Chan, Celia Zhang, Jonathan Willing, Shiqian Zhang, Donghyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20230228585
    Abstract: The technology employs spatial audio information to enhance wayfinding for pickup, drop-off and in-vehicle situations. The spatial information has a directional component, and a sense of distance can also be incorporated into the audio information. Audio cues or other spatial information is provided via headphones worn by a user. The spatial audio gives the user direction information, which can help locate the vehicle. In addition, this approach can be used when the rider is in the vehicle prior to exiting. For instance, spatial audio can be provided to the rider to give them contextual information about the environment outside the vehicle prior to exiting, such as whether a bicyclist is approaching on the side they will be exiting. This contextual information can alert the rider to wait or otherwise be more situationally aware when departing the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Malta, Jonathan Willing
  • Patent number: D941664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan Willing, Howard Allen Wilson, IV
  • Patent number: D1024099
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Guilherme Villar, Jonathan Willing, Steven Kleiser
  • Patent number: D1078776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Guilherme Villar, Jonathan Willing, Steven Kleiser
  • Patent number: D1107741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2025
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Guilherme Villar, Jonathan Willing, Steven Kleiser