Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to determining vehicle usage. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a travel route of a vehicle, identifying a pattern of travel based on the travel route over a predetermined period of time, and determining whether the vehicle is being used as a private vehicle for an on-demand delivery service based on the pattern of travel. The method includes, when the vehicle is being used as a private vehicle for an on-demand delivery service, generating a notification to an entity associated with the vehicle, wherein the notification includes information relating to the vehicle being used as a private vehicle for an on-demand delivery service.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an automation system. Entrance of an authorized person within a geo-fence for an automation system is detected. A determination is made as to whether the authorized person has entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle. The automation system is controlled to perform at least one operation from a first set of operations in response to a determination that the authorized person has entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle. The automation system is controlled to perform at least one operation from a second set of operations in response to a determination that the authorized person has not entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle.

Abstract: A method of generating composite image data using a first vehicle including a first camera and first network interface hardware and a second vehicle including a second camera and second network interface hardware includes establishing an external connection between the first vehicle and the second vehicle with the first network interface hardware and the second network interface hardware, generating a triggering event signal in the first vehicle in response to a triggering event, sending the triggering event signal to the second vehicle, capturing first image data using the first camera and capturing second image data using the second camera, and stitching the first image data and the second image data into composite image data.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for improving cellular network coverage using a vehicle-based data transmission extender. One such generalized method includes establishing communication between a fixed base station of a cellular network and a first wireless device, which includes a data transmission module that is part of a first vehicle. Data is relayed between the fixed base station and a second wireless device using the first wireless device to extend geographic coverage of the cellular network to the second wireless device. The method also includes at least one of: detecting, using a signal detector, a signal emitted from the second wireless device, the signal detector being part of the first vehicle; and tracking, using a data meter, an amount of data relayed via the first wireless device between the fixed base station and the second wireless device over the cellular network, the data meter being part of the first vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining telematics data. The system includes a standard vehicle. The standard vehicle includes one or more sensors configured to detect telematics data, a memory configured to store a blockchain associated with the standard vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to update the blockchain associated with the standard vehicle with the detected telematics data, and a transceiver configured to communicate the blockchain to one or more other vehicles. The system also includes a collection vehicle. The collection vehicle includes a transceiver configured to receive the blockchain from the standard vehicle, and communicate the blockchain from the standard vehicle to a network to update a distributed record of the blockchain associated with the standard vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborative parking assistance using a parking facilitation circuit are provided. A method may include: using information from a plurality of sensors to locate one or more available parking spaces in a determined area; characterize the located available parking spaces to generate parking space parameters for each of the available parking spaces; generating a parking space map comprising an indication of available parking spaces, locations of the available parking spaces and parking space parameters for the available parking spaces; filtering the parking space map to include as available parking spaces only those one or more available parking spaces that, based on the parking space parameters, are compatible with a vehicle intended to park in the determined area; and providing the filtered parking space map to a user interface of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for commercializing vehicle data. The method includes writing, by an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle, to a distributed ledger, vehicle data. The method also includes providing, by a computing device associated with a third party, a communication to the vehicle based on the vehicle data on the distributed ledger. The method also includes writing, by a processor of the computing device associated with the third party, to the distributed ledger, a record of providing the communication to the vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by the ECU of the vehicle, the communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for occupant authentication and trust using a blockchain are disclosed herein. The systems and methods can include receiving an occupant indicator and one or more occupant identifiers for an occupant in a vehicle. The one or more occupant identifiers can then be verified against identifying information stored in a blockchain ledger to authenticate the occupant. One or more occupant profile elements can then be collected for the occupant. Then, at least one of the one or more occupant identifiers and at least one of the one or more occupant profile elements can be recorded in the blockchain ledger.

Abstract: Fueling verification systems and methods for corroboration of vehicle fueling are described herein. The systems and methods provide for verifiable transmission of data collected from a remote source to assure data integrity and maintain proper fuel transmission as part of vehicle fueling. The systems and methods can include collecting a first fuel measure for a fueling process from a delivery source. A second fuel measure can be recorded into a blockchain. The second fuel measure for the fueling process can be received from a recipient source. Then, the first fuel measure and the second fuel measure can be correlated to determine a fueling offset. Then, the delivery source and/or the recipient source can be compensated based on the fueling offset.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for improving cellular network coverage using a vehicle-based data transmission extender. One such generalized method includes establishing communication between a fixed base station of a cellular network and a first wireless device, which includes a data transmission module that is part of a first vehicle. Data is relayed between the fixed base station and a second wireless device using the first wireless device to extend geographic coverage of the cellular network to the second wireless device. The method also includes at least one of: detecting, using a signal detector, a signal emitted from the second wireless device, the signal detector being part of the first vehicle; and tracking, using a data meter, an amount of data relayed via the first wireless device between the fixed base station and the second wireless device over the cellular network, the data meter being part of the first vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborative parking assistance using a parking facilitation circuit are provided. A method may include: using information from a plurality of sensors to locate one or more available parking spaces in a determined area; characterize the located available parking spaces to generate parking space parameters for each of the available parking spaces; generating a parking space map comprising an indication of available parking spaces, locations of the available parking spaces and parking space parameters for the available parking spaces; filtering the parking space map to include as available parking spaces only those one or more available parking spaces that, based on the parking space parameters, are compatible with a vehicle intended to park in the determined area; and providing the filtered parking space map to a user interface of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recommending future vehicles. The system includes one or more sensors of a current vehicle configured to detect sensor data. The system includes a vehicle transceiver of the current vehicle configured to communicate the sensor data. The system includes a remote data server configured to receive the sensor data from the current vehicle, and determine one or more vehicles to recommend to the driver of the current vehicle based on the received sensor data. The system includes a computing device coupled to the remote data server and configured to display the one or more vehicles to be recommended to the driver of the current vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting, alerting, and responding to an emergency vehicle. One such method includes receiving, using a first vehicle, a warning signal from an emergency vehicle. The first vehicle broadcasts a recognition signal based on the warning signal received by the first vehicle. A second vehicle receives the warning signal from the emergency vehicle and the recognition signal from the first vehicle. The second vehicle broadcasts a confirmation signal based on both the warning signal and the recognition signal received by the second vehicle. The confirmation signal is received from the second vehicle using a third vehicle. Finally, the confirmation signal is rebroadcasted from the third vehicle based solely on the confirmation signal received by the third vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for improving cellular network coverage using a vehicle-based data transmission extender. One such generalized method includes establishing communication between a fixed base station of a cellular network and a first wireless device, which includes a data transmission module that is part of a first vehicle. Data is relayed between the fixed base station and a second wireless device using the first wireless device to extend geographic coverage of the cellular network to the second wireless device. The method also includes at least one of: detecting, using a signal detector, a signal emitted from the second wireless device, the signal detector being part of the first vehicle; and tracking, using a data meter, an amount of data relayed via the first wireless device between the fixed base station and the second wireless device over the cellular network, the data meter being part of the first vehicle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a cross-linked distributed ledger. The cross-referencing system includes multiple computing devices including a first computing device and a second computing device. A computing device of the multiple computing devices is configured to maintain a first cross-linked distributed ledger. The first cross-linked distributed ledger has a first set of multiple linked records that are associated with a first identifier. The first computing device includes a processor. The processor is configured to link or provide a first record associated with the first identifier to the first cross-linked distributed ledger. The first record has a first reference to a second record. The second record is within a second set of multiple cross-linked records of a second cross-linked distributed ledger.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting, alerting, and responding to an emergency vehicle. One such method includes receiving, using a first vehicle, a warning signal from an emergency vehicle. The first vehicle broadcasts a recognition signal based on the warning signal received by the first vehicle. A second vehicle receives the warning signal from the emergency vehicle and the recognition signal from the first vehicle. The second vehicle broadcasts a confirmation signal based on both the warning signal and the recognition signal received by the second vehicle. The confirmation signal is received from the second vehicle using a third vehicle. Finally, the confirmation signal is rebroadcasted from the third vehicle based solely on the confirmation signal received by the third vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a suggested route for a vehicle from a start location to a destination location. The system includes a transceiver configured to receive, from one or more other vehicles, route condition data including one or more indicators of future traffic conditions between the start location and the destination location. The system includes an ECU configured to determine a baseline best route based on historical traffic data. The ECU is configured to determine whether the route condition data indicates travelling along the baseline best route will result in a delay. The ECU is configured to determine the suggested route to be a new projected route based on the route condition data when the route condition data indicates travelling along the baseline best route will result in the delay. The system also includes a display configured to display the suggested route.

Abstract: A method of generating composite image data using a first vehicle including a first camera and first network interface hardware and a second vehicle including a second camera and second network interface hardware includes establishing an external connection between the first vehicle and the second vehicle with the first network interface hardware and the second network interface hardware, generating a triggering event signal in the first vehicle in response to a triggering event, sending the triggering event signal to the second vehicle, capturing first image data using the first camera and capturing second image data using the second camera, and stitching the first image data and the second image data into composite image data.

Abstract: According to one example, a method performed by a computing system includes receiving, via a transponder, a first order over a first wireless connection to a first device associated with a first vehicle. The method further includes determining a first distance between the transponder and the first device. The method further includes receiving, via the transponder, a second order over a second wireless connection to a second device associated with a second vehicle. The method further includes determining a second distance between the transponder and the second device. The method further includes placing the first order before the second order in a queue based on a comparison between the first distance and the second distance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an automation system. Entrance of an authorized person within a geo-fence for an automation system is detected. A determination is made as to whether the authorized person has entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle. The automation system is controlled to perform at least one operation from a first set of operations in response to a determination that the authorized person has entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle. The automation system is controlled to perform at least one operation from a second set of operations in response to a determination that the authorized person has not entered the geo-fence in a registered vehicle.