Patents by Inventor Konrad Julian Niemiec

Konrad Julian Niemiec 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).

  • Patent number: 12264922
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate routing of an autonomous vehicle (AV) based on pick-up or drop-off zones (PDZs) that are usable by the AV at destination location. A request for one or more PDZs that are usable by a vehicle to perform a pick-up or drop-off operation at a specified location is received from a vehicular autonomy system of the vehicle. A set of PDZs that are usable by the vehicle at the specified location is identified based on an association between information associated with vehicle and one or more PDZ objects in a data store. Each PDZ object comprising data describing a PDZ. A response is generated based on the set of PDZs and transmitted to the vehicular autonomy system. The response includes at least one PDZ identifier to the set of PDZs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Shenglong Gao, Mark Yen
  • Patent number: 11953331
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) handoffs between autonomous vehicles. Consistent with some embodiments, a pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) is located based on detecting a first autonomous vehicle stopped at a stopping location. A system determines, based on one or more criteria, whether to request the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location to create an opportunity for a second autonomous vehicle to claim the PDZ. An amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location is determined based on the one or more criteria. A request to remain stopped at the stopping location is transmitted to a vehicle autonomy system of the first autonomous vehicle based on satisfaction of the one or more criteria. The request specifies the amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain at the stopping location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Patent number: 11841705
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Justin Goldman, Mark Yen, Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen
  • Patent number: 11829904
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to auction-based on-demand transport selection. A transport request is received from a requesting user of a transport service region. A subset of transport providers to service the transport request are determined from transport providers that service the transport service region. A transport provider is selected to service the transport request based in part on a combination of a proposed cost to service the transport request and a proposed price to be paid in exchange for utilizing one or more pick-up/drop-off zones (PDZs) in servicing the request. The proposed cost to complete the transport request and the proposed price to be paid for utilizing one or more PDZs are specified by the transport provider. A transport assignment is transmitted to the selected transport provider to cause the selected transport provider to service the transport request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Shenglong Gao
  • Patent number: 11651693
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for finding an available pickup/drop-off zone (PDZ) for an autonomous vehicle (AV) to use to pick up a passenger. A PDZ is selected that is likely to be available and that is within a reasonable walking distance of a passenger. The AV and the passenger are guided to the available PDZ. In selecting the available PDZ, the system balances the human and vehicle routing by taking into account the distance possible PDZs are from the passenger, the likelihood the respective PDZs will be available, the passenger's desire/ability to walk to the respective PDZs (e.g., due to physical limitations, weather, etc.), the driving time of the AV to the respective PDZs, the walking time of the passenger to the respective PDZs, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Mark Yen
  • Publication number: 20230062664
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Justin Goldman, Mark Yen, Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen
  • Patent number: 11449055
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Justin Goldman, Mark Yen, Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20220221286
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) handoffs between autonomous vehicles. Consistent with some embodiments, a pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) is located based on detecting a first autonomous vehicle stopped at a stopping location. A system determines, based on one or more criteria, whether to request the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location to create an opportunity for a second autonomous vehicle to claim the PDZ. An amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location is determined based on the one or more criteria. A request to remain stopped at the stopping location is transmitted to a vehicle autonomy system of the first autonomous vehicle based on satisfaction of the one or more criteria. The request specifies the amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain at the stopping location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20220139227
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for finding an available pickup/drop-off zone (PDZ) for an autonomous vehicle (AV) to use to pick up a passenger. A PDZ is selected that is likely to be available and that is within a reasonable walking distance of a passenger. The AV and the passenger are guided to the available PDZ. In selecting the available PDZ, the system balances the human and vehicle routing by taking into account the distance possible PDZs are from the passenger, the likelihood the respective PDZs will be available, the passenger's desire/ability to walk to the respective PDZs (e.g., due to physical limitations, weather, etc.), the driving time of the AV to the respective PDZs, the walking time of the passenger to the respective PDZs, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Mark Yen
  • Patent number: 11320277
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) handoffs between autonomous vehicles. Consistent with some embodiments, a pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) is located based on detecting a first autonomous vehicle stopped at a stopping location. A system determines, based on one or more criteria, whether to request the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location to create an opportunity for a second autonomous vehicle to claim the PDZ. An amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location is determined based on the one or more criteria. A request to remain stopped at the stopping location is transmitted to a vehicle autonomy system of the first autonomous vehicle based on satisfaction of the one or more criteria. The request specifies the amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain at the stopping location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Patent number: 11300419
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to provide estimations of vehicular pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) availability. A request for vehicular PDZ availability at a location is received from a vehicular autonomy system of a vehicle. The request specifies an estimated time of arrival at the location. The PDZ availability at the location at the estimated time of arrival is estimated using a probabilistic model. A response to the request is generated based on the estimated PDZ availability. The response indicates the estimated PDZ availability. The response is transmitted to the vehicular autonomy system responsive to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Michael Voznesensky
  • Patent number: 11244571
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for finding an available pickup/drop-off zone (PDZ) for an autonomous vehicle (AV) to use to pick up a passenger. A PDZ is selected that is likely to be available and that is within a reasonable walking distance of a passenger. The AV and the passenger are guided to the available PDZ. In selecting the available PDZ, the system balances the human and vehicle routing by taking into account the distance possible PDZs are from the passenger, the likelihood the respective PDZs will be available, the passenger's desire/ability to walk to the respective PDZs (e.g., due to physical limitations, weather, etc.), the driving time of the AV to the respective PDZs, the walking time of the passenger to the respective PDZs, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Mark Yen
  • Publication number: 20210109524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining appropriate energy replenishment and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. An example computer-implemented method can include obtaining one or more energy parameters associated with an autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining a refueling task for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the energy parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The refueling task comprises a first refueling task that is interruptible by a vehicle service assignment or a second refueling task that is not interruptible by the vehicle service assignment. The method can include communicating data indicative of the refueling task to the autonomous vehicle or to a second computing system that manages the autonomous vehicle. The method can include determining whether the refueling task for the autonomous vehicle has been accepted or rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brent Justin Goldman, Mark Yen, Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20210097452
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to auction-based on-demand transport selection. A transport request is received from a requesting user of a transport service region. A subset of transport providers to service the transport request are determined from transport providers that service the transport service region. A transport provider is selected to service the transport request based in part on a combination of a proposed cost to service the transport request and a proposed price to be paid in exchange for utilizing one or more pick-up/drop-off zones (PDZs) in servicing the request. The proposed cost to complete the transport request and the proposed price to be paid for utilizing one or more PDZs are specified by the transport provider. A transport assignment is transmitted to the selected transport provider to cause the selected transport provider to service the transport request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Shenglong Gao
  • Publication number: 20210042668
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting, deploying, and controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. For example, a method can include obtaining data indicative of transportation service request and determining that a human driver would not prefer to service the transportation service request. The method can include determining an availability of a plurality of vehicle service providers for the transportation service request (e.g., human driven vehicles, autonomous vehicles). The method can include obtaining operational capability information associated with the autonomous vehicle(s). The method can include generating ranking data associated with the available vehicle service providers and determining at least one selected vehicle service provider for the transportation service request utilizing the ranking data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Jay A. Chen, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20210033410
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate routing of an autonomous vehicle (AV) based on pick-up or drop-off zones (PDZs) that are usable by the AV at destination location. A request for one or more PDZs that are usable by a vehicle to perform a pick-up or drop-off operation at a specified location is received from a vehicular autonomy system of the vehicle. A set of PDZs that are usable by the vehicle at the specified location is identified based on an association between information associated with vehicle and one or more PDZ objects in a data store. Each PDZ object comprising data describing a PDZ. A response is generated based on the set of PDZs and transmitted to the vehicular autonomy system. The response includes at least one PDZ identifier to the set of PDZs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Shenglong Gao, Mark Yen
  • Publication number: 20210035450
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for finding an available pickup/drop-off zone (PDZ) for an autonomous vehicle (AV) to use to pick up a passenger. A PDZ is selected that is likely to be available and that is within a reasonable walking distance of a passenger. The AV and the passenger are guided to the available PDZ. In selecting the available PDZ, the system balances the human and vehicle routing by taking into account the distance possible PDZs are from the passenger, the likelihood the respective PDZs will be available, the passenger's desire/ability to walk to the respective PDZs (e.g., due to physical limitations, weather, etc.), the driving time of the AV to the respective PDZs, the walking time of the passenger to the respective PDZs, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Jay A. Chen, Mark Yen
  • Publication number: 20200327811
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for supporting an autonomous vehicle user. A user computing device may send a service arrangement system a service request describing a payload to be transported. The user computing device may receive from the service arrangement system, a service confirmation message describing a stopping location for a user to meet an autonomous vehicle and autonomous vehicle data describing the autonomous vehicle. The user computing device may also receive a first wireless signal from a first wireless beacon and determine a first location of the user computing device using the first wireless signal. The user computing device may display at a display of the user computing device, a direction from the first location of the user computing device to the stopping location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Carol Jacobs Smith, Michael Voznesensky, Shenglong Gao, Shubhit Mohan Singh, Jacob Robert Forster, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20200240799
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to facilitate pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) handoffs between autonomous vehicles. Consistent with some embodiments, a pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) is located based on detecting a first autonomous vehicle stopped at a stopping location. A system determines, based on one or more criteria, whether to request the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location to create an opportunity for a second autonomous vehicle to claim the PDZ. An amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain stopped at the stopping location is determined based on the one or more criteria. A request to remain stopped at the stopping location is transmitted to a vehicle autonomy system of the first autonomous vehicle based on satisfaction of the one or more criteria. The request specifies the amount of time for the first autonomous vehicle to remain at the stopping location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20200241869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling communication between a service entity and third-party autonomous vehicles are provided. A method can include accessing, by a first computing system associated with a third-party entity, a software package stored within the first computing system. The software package can be associated with a service entity that coordinates a vehicle service for the one or more autonomous vehicles. The method can further include establishing, by the first computing system via the software package, a communication connection with a second computing system that is associated with the service entity. The second computing system can include one or more backend services to facilitate the vehicle service. The method can further include communicating, between the first computing system and the second computing system, data indicative of a communication associated with the one or more autonomous vehicles via the communication connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Konrad Julian Niemiec, Andrii Iasynetskyi, Jay A. Chen, Matthew James Way, Mark Yen, Michael Voznesensky, Vladimir Zaytsev, Brent Justin Goldman