US20210293551A1 - Automatic alternate transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a server, that a transport is inoperable on a route, instructing, by the server, an alternate transport to navigate to the transport, configuring, by the server, the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport and routing, by the server, the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application, Attorney Docket No. IP-A-4409 entitled, “INTERMEDIATE DESTINATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSPORTATION FOR OPTIMIZED TRANSPORT,” filed on the same day, Mar. 23, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• This application generally relates to autonomous transports, and more particularly, to automatic alternate transportation.
BACKGROUND
• Vehicles or transports, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, planes, trains, etc., generally provide transportation needs to occupants and/or goods in a variety of ways. Functions related to transports may be identified and utilized by various computing devices, such as a smartphone or a computer.
• When an occupant (referred to as the initial occupant) rides in an autonomous transport to an intended destination, it is possible that the autonomous transport may become inoperable prior to arriving at the intended destination. The autonomous transport may become inoperable due to any number of occurrences, such as lack of fuel/charge, an accident, a mechanical issue, etc. In such occurrences, the initial occupant may be stranded at the location where the autonomous transport became inoperable and may further be burdened with arranging supplemental transportation.
• Accordingly, what is needed is a solution for supplemental transportation when an autonomous transport becomes inoperable is desired.
SUMMARY
• One example embodiment provides a method that includes one or more of determining, by a server, that a transport is inoperable on a route, instructing, by the server, an alternate transport to navigate to the transport, configuring, by the server, the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport and routing, by the server, the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.
• Another example embodiment provides a system that includes server, comprising a processor and a memory on which are stored machine readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the process to perform one or more of determine that a transport is inoperable on a route, instruct an alternate transport to navigate to the transport, configure the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport, and route the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.
• A further example embodiment provides a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform one or more of determine that a transport is inoperable on a route, instruct an alternate transport to navigate to the transport, configure the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport, and route the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1A illustrates an example system for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₁, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 1B shows the example system ofFIG. 1A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₂, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 1C shows the example system ofFIG. 1A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₃, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 1D shows the example system ofFIG. 1A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₄, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 2A illustrates an example system for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₅, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 2B shows the example system ofFIG. 2A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₆,ding to example embodiments.
• FIG. 2C shows the example system ofFIG. 2A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₇, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 2D shows the example system ofFIG. 2A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₈, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a transport network diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 3B illustrates another transport network diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 3C illustrates yet another transport network diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 3D illustrates a further transport network diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 4A illustrates a flow diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 4B illustrates another flow diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a machine learning transport network diagram, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 6A illustrates an example vehicle configuration for managing database transactions associated with a vehicle, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 6B illustrates another example vehicle configuration for managing database transactions conducted among various vehicles, according to example embodiments
• FIG. 7A illustrates a blockchain architecture configuration, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 7B illustrates another blockchain configuration, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 7C illustrates a blockchain configuration for storing blockchain transaction data, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 7D illustrates example data blocks, according to example embodiments.
• FIG. 8 illustrates an example system that supports one or more of the example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• It will be readily understood that the instant components, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of at least one of a method, apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium and system, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed but is merely representative of selected embodiments.
• The instant features, structures, or characteristics as described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout least this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the diagrams, any connection between elements can permit one-way and/or two-way communication even if the depicted connection is a one-way or two-way arrow. In the current application, a transport may include one or more of cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, boats, recreational vehicles, planes, and any object that may be used to transport people and or goods from one location to another.
• In addition, while the term “message” may have been used in the description of embodiments, the application may be applied to many types of network data, such as, a packet, frame, datagram, etc. The term “message” also includes packet, frame, datagram, and any equivalents thereof. Furthermore, while certain types of messages and signaling may be depicted in exemplary embodiments they are not limited to a certain type of message, and the application is not limited to a certain type of signaling.
• Example embodiments provide methods, systems, components, non-transitory computer readable media, devices, and/or networks, which provide at least one of: a transport (also referred to as a vehicle herein), a data collection system, a data monitoring system, a verification system, an authorization system and a vehicle data distribution system. The vehicle status condition data, received in the form of communication update messages, such as wireless data network communications and/or wired communication messages, may be received and processed to identify vehicle/transport status conditions and provide feedback as to the condition changes of a transport. In one example, a user profile may be applied to a particular transport/vehicle to authorize a current vehicle event, service stops at service stations, and to authorize subsequent vehicle rental services.
• Within the communication infrastructure, a decentralized database is a distributed storage system which includes multiple nodes that communicate with each other. A blockchain is an example of a decentralized database which includes an append-only immutable data structure (i.e. a distributed ledger) capable of maintaining records between untrusted parties. The untrusted parties are referred to herein as peers, nodes or peer nodes. Each peer maintains a copy of the database records and no single peer can modify the database records without a consensus being reached among the distributed peers. For example, the peers may execute a consensus protocol to validate blockchain storage entries, group the storage entries into blocks, and build a hash chain via the blocks. This process forms the ledger by ordering the storage entries, as is necessary, for consistency. In a public or permissionless blockchain, anyone can participate without a specific identity. Public blockchains can involve cryptocurrencies and use consensus based on various protocols such as proof of work (PoW). On the other hand, a permissioned blockchain database provides a system, which can secure interactions among a group of entities, which share a common goal, but which do not or cannot fully trust one another, such as businesses that exchange funds, goods, information, and the like. The instant application can function in a permissioned and/or a permissionless blockchain setting.
• Smart contracts are trusted distributed applications which leverage tamper-proof properties of the shared or distributed ledger (i.e., which may be in the form of a blockchain) database and an underlying agreement between member nodes which is referred to as an endorsement or endorsement policy. In general, blockchain entries are “endorsed” before being committed to the blockchain while entries, which are not endorsed, are disregarded. A typical endorsement policy allows smart contract executable code to specify endorsers for an entry in the form of a set of peer nodes that are necessary for endorsement. When a client sends the entry to the peers specified in the endorsement policy, the entry is executed to validate the entry. After validation, the entries enter an ordering phase in which a consensus protocol is used to produce an ordered sequence of endorsed entries grouped into blocks.
• Nodes are the communication entities of the blockchain system. A “node” may perform a logical function in the sense that multiple nodes of different types can run on the same physical server. Nodes are grouped in trust domains and are associated with logical entities that control them in various ways. Nodes may include different types, such as a client or submitting-client node which submits an entry-invocation to an endorser (e.g., peer), and broadcasts entry-proposals to an ordering service (e.g., ordering node). Another type of node is a peer node, which can receive client submitted entries, commit the entries and maintain a state and a copy of the ledger of blockchain entries. Peers can also have the role of an endorser, although it is not a requirement. An ordering-service-node or orderer is a node running the communication service for all nodes, and which implements a delivery guarantee, such as a broadcast to each of the peer nodes in the system when committing entries and modifying a world state of the blockchain, which is another name for the initial blockchain entry, which normally includes control and setup information.
• A ledger is a sequenced, tamper-resistant record of all state transitions of a blockchain. State transitions may result from smart contract executable code invocations (i.e., entries) submitted by participating parties (e.g., client nodes, ordering nodes, endorser nodes, peer nodes, etc.). An entry may result in a set of asset key-value pairs being committed to the ledger as one or more operands, such as creates, updates, deletes, and the like. The ledger includes a blockchain (also referred to as a chain), which is used to store an immutable, sequenced record in blocks. The ledger also includes a state database, which maintains a current state of the blockchain. There is typically one ledger per channel. Each peer node maintains a copy of the ledger for each channel of which they are a member.
• A chain is an entry log, which is structured as hash-linked blocks, and each block contains a sequence of N entries, where N is equal to or greater than one. The block header includes a hash of the block's entries, as well as a hash of the prior block's header. In this way, all entries on the ledger may be sequenced and cryptographically linked together. Accordingly, it is not possible to tamper with the ledger data without breaking the hash links. A hash of a most recently added blockchain block represents every entry on the chain that has come before it, making it possible to ensure that all peer nodes are in a consistent and trusted state. The chain may be stored on a peer node file system (i.e., local, attached storage, cloud, etc.), efficiently supporting the append-only nature of the blockchain workload.
• The current state of the immutable ledger represents the latest values for all keys that are included in the chain entry log. Because the current state represents the latest key values known to a channel, it is sometimes referred to as a world state. Smart contract executable code invocations execute entries against the current state data of the ledger. To make these smart contract executable code interactions efficient, the latest values of the keys may be stored in a state database. The state database may be simply an indexed view into the chain's entry log, it can therefore be regenerated from the chain at any time. The state database may automatically be recovered (or generated if needed) upon peer node startup, and before entries are accepted.
• A blockchain is different from a traditional database in that the blockchain is not a central storage but rather a decentralized, immutable, and secure storage, where nodes must share in changes to records in the storage. Some properties that are inherent in blockchain and which help implement the blockchain include, but are not limited to, an immutable ledger, smart contracts, security, privacy, decentralization, consensus, endorsement, accessibility, and the like.
• Example embodiments provide a way for providing a vehicle service to a particular vehicle and/or requesting user associated with a user profile that is applied to the vehicle. For example, a user may be the owner of a vehicle or the operator of a vehicle owned by another party. The vehicle may require service at certain intervals and the service needs may require authorization prior to permitting the services to be received. Also, service centers may offer services to vehicles in a nearby area based on the vehicle's current route plan and a relative level of service requirements (e.g., immediate, severe, intermediate, minor, etc.). The vehicle needs may be monitored via one or more sensors, which report sensed data to a central controller computer device in the vehicle, which in turn, is forwarded to a management server for review and action.
• A sensor may be located on one or more of the interior of the transport, the exterior of the transport, on a fixed object apart from the transport, and on another transport near to the transport. The sensor may also be associated with the transport's speed, the transport's braking, the transport's acceleration, fuel levels, service needs, the gear-shifting of the transport, the transport's steering, and the like. The notion of a sensor may also be a device, such as a mobile device. Also, sensor information may be used to identify whether the vehicle is operating safely and whether the occupant user has engaged in any unexpected vehicle conditions, such as during the vehicle access period. Vehicle information collected before, during and/or after a vehicle's operation may be identified and stored in a transaction on a shared/distributed ledger, which may be generated and committed to the immutable ledger as determined by a permission granting consortium, and thus in a “decentralized” manner, such as via a blockchain membership group.
• Each interested party (i.e., company, agency, etc.) may want to limit the exposure of private information, and therefore the blockchain and its immutability can limit the exposure and manage permissions for each particular user vehicle profile. A smart contract may be used to provide compensation, quantify a user profile score/rating/review, apply vehicle event permissions, determine when service is needed, identify a collision and/or degradation event, identify a safety concern event, identify parties to the event and provide distribution to registered entities seeking access to such vehicle event data. Also, the results may be identified, and the necessary information can be shared among the registered companies and/or individuals based on a “consensus” approach associated with the blockchain. Such an approach could not be implemented on a traditional centralized database.
• Every autonomous driving system is built on a whole suite of software and an array of sensors. Machine learning, lidar projectors, radar, and ultrasonic sensors all work together to create a living map of the world that a self-driving car can navigate. Most companies in the race to full autonomy are relying on the same basic technological foundations of lidar+radar+cameras+ultrasonic, with a few notable exceptions.
• In another embodiment, GPS, maps and other cameras and sensors are used in autonomous vehicles without lidar as lidar is often viewed as being expensive and unnecessary. Researchers have determined that stereo cameras are a low-cost alternative to the more expensive lidar functionality.
• The instant application includes, in certain embodiments, authorizing a vehicle for service via an automated and quick authentication scheme. For example, driving up to a charging station or fuel pump may be performed by a vehicle operator and the authorization to receive charge or fuel may be performed without any delays provided the authorization is received by the service station. A vehicle may provide a communication signal that provides an identification of a vehicle that has a currently active profile linked to an account that is authorized to accept a service, which can be later rectified by compensation. Additional measures may be used to provide further authentication, such as another identifier may be sent from the user's device wirelessly to the service center to replace or supplement the first authorization effort between the transport and the service center with an additional authorization effort.
• Data shared and received may be stored in a database, which maintains data in one single database (e.g., database server) and generally at one particular location. This location is often a central computer, for example, a desktop central processing unit (CPU), a server CPU, or a mainframe computer. Information stored on a centralized database is typically accessible from multiple different points. A centralized database is easy to manage, maintain, and control, especially for purposes of security because of its single location. Within a centralized database, data redundancy is minimized as a single storing place of all data also implies that a given set of data only has one primary record.
• When an occupant (referred to as the initial occupant) is in a transport that becomes inoperable, a system in accordance with the present disclosure allows for alternate transportation to the initial destination. For example, assuming that the first occupant is in an autonomous transport. The autonomous transport then ceases to be operable. This may be due to any number of occurrences, such as lack of fuel/charge, an accident, a mechanical issue, etc.
• At this point, the system instructs at least one alternate transport (e.g. autonomous) to navigate to the first occupant. The first occupant can then enter an alternative transport. Additionally, the original navigation directions are transferred from the original transport to the alternative transport, allowing for the first occupant to continue to the initial destination.
• In some embodiments, the system automatically detects that the original transport ceases to be operable, instructs the at least one alternate transport to navigate to the first occupant. The alternative transport(s) may be those transports that: are currently on the same path as the original transport; have the same or similar destination as the initial destination of the first occupant; are without any other occupants; or have other occupants that are traveling to the same or similar destination as the initial destination of the first occupant.
• The system automatically determines when the first occupant enters an alternative transport. The system automatically instructs the alternative transport to route to the initial destination of the first occupant.
• FIG. 1A shows anexample system100A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₁, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1A, aprocessor110 within amanagement server102 is able to wirelessly communicate, by way of awireless network104, with aprocessor112 within atransport106 and with aprocessor114 within atransport108. Aperson116 desires to be transported from a location A to an intended destination at location B. In this example,person116 becomes a passenger intransport106 at location A, whereintransport106 will travel along anavigational path118 to transportperson116 from location A to location B.
• Thetransport106 has parameters that are configured in a particular manner, while theperson116 is therein and not therein. Non-limiting parameters for configuration while the person is therein include the seat position, the seat temperature, the seat location, infotainment options, the ambient temperature, a number of predetermined stops prior to the intended destination at location B, etc. Non-limiting parameters for configuration while the person is not therein include the transport type, a make of the transport, a model of the transport, a year of the transport, number of miles driven by the transport, condition of the transport, maintenance associated with a transport, etc. In some embodiments, theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 configures all the parameters of thetransport106 by way of thewireless network104 so as to provide a specific travel experience forperson116. In some embodiments, theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may configure at least one of the parameters of thetransport106 by way of thewireless network104, whereas thetransport106 enables the user, for example by way of a graphic user interface (GUI—not shown), to configure other parameters of the transport106 (or to configure all parameters of the transport), so as to provide a specific travel experience forperson116.
• FIG. 1B shows theexample system100B for automatic alternate transportation at a time t2, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1B,transport106 has become inoperable at location C alongnavigational path118, prior to arriving at location B. Theprocessor112 sends a message to theprocessor110 indicating thattransport106 has become inoperable as well as, in some embodiments a type of issue(s) that cause the inoperability, the location C, the intended destination at location B, and time constraints associated with reaching location B. In anticipation thatperson116, who is stranded with theinoperable transport106 at location C, will want supplemental transportation from location C to location B, theprocessor110 ofmanagement server102 instructs theprocessor114 oftransport108 to travel to location C to pick upperson116 andtransport person116 from location C to location B. Further, theprocessor110 configurestransport108 in a manner as similar as possible to the configuration oftransport106, so as to provide a travel experience that is consistent with the travel experience oftransport106 at time ti forperson116, as will be discussed in more detail below.
• In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the configuring of thetransport108 based on a configuration of thetransport106 may include configuring a parameter of thetransport108 from a group of parameters consisting of seat position, seat temperature, seat location, an infotainment option, ambient temperature, a number of predetermined stops prior to the intended destination, the transport type, a make of the transport, a model of the transport, a year of the transport, number of miles driven by the transport, condition of the transport, maintenance associated with a transport, etc. For example, when thetransport106 becomes inoperable, theserver102 may determine the configuration of thetransport106, including the reclined angle of the seat for which theoccupant116 is sitting, the ambient temperature within thetransport106, the seat temperature of thetransport106 and the music provided by the infotainment system of thetransport106. Theserver102 may then cause thetransport108 to similarly configure at least one of the reclined angle of the seat, ambient temperature, seat temperature and the music provided by the infotainment system to that of thetransport106, when thetransport108 arrives at location C to pick up theoccupant116. Accordingly, theoccupant116 may be able to attain a consistent riding experience in thetransport108 as to that of thetransport106 prior to thetransport106 becoming inoperable.
• In some embodiments, theserver102 may determine the configuration of thetransport106 by wirelessly communicating via thewireless network104. In some embodiments, theserver102 may periodically ping thetransport106, via thewireless network104, for updates on the configuration of thetransport106. For example, theprocessor112 in thetransport106 may have a memory therein, which stores information related to the configuration of thetransport106. When theprocessor112 receives the ping from theserver102, theprocessor112 may transmit the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102 via thewireless network104. If the configuration of thetransport106 changes, e.g., theoccupant116 changes a music station on the infotainment system, then the information related to the configuration of the transport will be updated in the memory of theprocessor112. Accordingly, when theprocessor112 transmits the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 at any time, the stored information is the most current state of the configuration of thetransport106.
• In some embodiments, thetransport106 may periodically provide, via thewireless network104, updates on the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102, without a need for a ping from theserver102. For example, theprocessor112 in thetransport106 may have a memory therein, which stores information related to the configuration of thetransport106. Theprocessor112 may transmit the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102 via thewireless network104 at preset times or at predetermined intervals. If the configuration of thetransport106 changes, then the information related to the configuration of the transport will be updated in the memory of theprocessor112. Accordingly, when theprocessor112 transmits the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 at any time, the stored information is the most current state of the configuration of thetransport106. In some alternate embodiment, when thetransport106 periodically provides, via thewireless network104, updates on the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102, without a need for a ping from theserver102, thetransport106 provides only changes to the configuration as compared to the most recent update that had been sent to theserver102. For example, suppose for purposes of explanation that thetransport106 were to send an initial message of the configuration of thetransport106 toserver102 via thewireless network104. Then, after the initial message is sent, the occupant changes the channel on the infotainment system in order to listen to different music. In this situation, for this type of alternate embodiment, the information related to the change in the configuration of the transport will be updated in the memory of theprocessor112. Accordingly, theprocessor112 transmits the stored change in information related to the configuration of thetransport106, which reflects the most current state of the configuration of thetransport106, toserver102 via thewireless network104.
• In some embodiments, thetransport106 may provide, via thewireless network104, an update on the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102, when thetransport106 becomes inoperable. For example, theprocessor112 in thetransport106 may have a memory therein, which stores information related to the configuration of thetransport106. When thetransport106 becomes inoperable, theprocessor112 may transmit the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102 via thewireless network104. If the configuration of thetransport106 changes, then the information related to the configuration of the transport will be updated in the memory of theprocessor112. Accordingly, when theprocessor112 transmits the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 at any time, the stored information is the most current state of the configuration of thetransport106.
• In some embodiments, theserver102 may ping thetransport106, via thewireless network104, for updates on the configuration of thetransport106, when thetransport106 becomes inoperable. For example, whentransport106 becomes inoperable, theprocessor112 in the transport may transmit a message to theprocessor110 of the management server, by way of thewireless network104, wherein the message indicates that thetransport106 is inoperable. Theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may then ping theprocessor112 of thetransport106, by way of thewireless network104, for configuration information of thetransport106. Theprocessor112 in thetransport106 may have a memory therein, which stores information related to the configuration of thetransport106. When theprocessor112 receives the ping from theprocessor110 of themanagement server102, theprocessor112 may transmit the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 to theserver102 via thewireless network104. If the configuration of thetransport106 changes, then the information related to the configuration of the transport will be updated in the memory of theprocessor112. Accordingly, when theprocessor112 transmits the stored information related to the configuration of thetransport106 at any time, the stored information is the most current state of the configuration of thetransport106.
• In some embodiments, when configuration information of thetransport106 is provided to theserver102, additional information may also be provided. Such additional information may include diagnostic information related to whytransport106 is inoperable, location information oftransport106, intended destination information, as well as other information such as the number of occupants in thetransport106, the number of articles travelling with the occupants in thetransport106, the seating configuration intransport106, etc.
• In a non-limiting example embodiment, the routing of thealternate transport108 comprises transferring, by theserver102, the routing of the intended destination of thetransport106 to thealternate transport108. This may be performed by non-limiting examples of which include: theserver102 retrieving the previously stored intended destination and transmitting such previously stored intended destination to thealternate transport108 bywireless network104, theserver102 instructing thetransport106 to transmit the intended destination to theserver102 bywireless network104, wherein theserver102 will then transmit the received intended destination to thealternate transport108 by thewireless network104, and theserver102 instructing thetransport106 to transmit the intended destination to thealternate transport108, wherein thetransport106 will then transmit the intended destination to thealternate transport108 by thewireless network104.
• In a non-limiting example embodiment, the configuredalternate transport108 and thetransport106 are on a same or similar navigational path. For example, thetransport106 and thetransport108 may be common carriers that have a similar predetermined daily navigational path, or route.
• If a passenger within thetransport106 wants to know when thealternate transport108 will arrive at the location of theinoperable transport106, then in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, thetransport106 may provide an estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108 to the passenger. In particular, in some embodiments, the instant solution may include determining, by theserver102, a transport location of thetransport106. This may be performed by a Global Positioning System (GPS), or other location systems, wherein thetransport106 includes a GPS that provides the location of thetransport106 to theserver102. The instant solution may additionally include determining, by theserver102, an alternate transport location of thealternate transport108. This may be a GPS, wherein thealternate transport108 includes a GPS that provides the alternate transport location of thealternate transport108 to theserver102. The instant solution may additionally include determining, by theserver102, an estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108 to the transport location based on the transport location and the alternate transport location. This may be performed by a navigation system, wherein theserver102 is operable to determine an estimated time of arrival based on parameters, non-limiting examples of which include navigational paths of travel, speed limits along the navigational paths of travel, traffic flow along the navigational paths of travel, and combinations thereof. The method may additionally include providing, by theserver102 to thetransport106, the estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108. This may be performed bywireless network104. The method may additionally include providing, via a graphic user interface within thetransport106, the estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108.
• FIG. 1C shows theexample system100C for automatic alternate transportation at a time t3, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1C,transport108 has arrived at location C withtransport106, whereinperson116 has disembarked fromtransport106 so as to usetransport108. At this point in time,transport108 has been configured in a manner similar to the configuration oftransport106, so as to provide a travel experience that is consistent with the travel experience oftransport106 between time t₁(ofFIG. 1A) and time t₂(ofFIG. 1B).
• In some embodiments, when configuration information of thetransport106 is received by theserver102, theserver102 transmits the configuration information to theprocessor114 oftransport108, for example by way ofwireless network104. Theprocessor114 oftransport108 may then configure at least one of the reclined angle of the seat, ambient temperature, seat temperature, the music provided by the infotainment system, etc., to that of thetransport106, based on the configuration information received from theserver102.
• FIG. 1D shows theexample system100D for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₄, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1D,person116 has boardedtransport108, and will continue to travel to destination B with a consistent travel experience. Further, in some embodiments, thetransport108 may additionally operate in a manner similar to thetransport106, as discussed above with reference toFIG. 1A, with respect to providing configuration information to theserver102. Accordingly, if thetransport108 becomes inoperable prior to arriving at destination B, the method of automatically providing alternate transportation may be repeated with yet another alternate transport.
• In some embodiments, a plurality of alternate transports may be provided as options for a user. Further, in some embodiments, no single alternate transport may be identically configured to the inoperable transport. Accordingly, the passenger of the inoperable transport may be able to choose the most appealing alternate transport from a provided list of optional alternate transports, based on available parameter information of the optional alternate transports. This will be described with reference toFIGS. 2A-2D.
• FIG. 2A illustrates anexample system200A for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₅, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 2A,system200A includes all the elements ofsystem100A ofFIG. 1A, with the addition oftransport202. Again, in this example,person116 desires to be transported from a location A to an intended destination at location B. In this example,person116 becomes a passenger intransport106 at location A, whereintransport106 will travel along anavigational path118 to transportperson116 from location A to location B.
• FIG. 2B shows theexample system200B for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₆, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 2B, thetransport106 has become inoperable at location C along thenavigational path118, prior to arriving at location B. Theprocessor112 sends a message to theprocessor110 indicating that thetransport106 has become inoperable as well as, in some embodiments a type of issue(s) that cause the inoperability, the location C, the intended destination at location B, time constraints associated with reaching location B. In this example, theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may provide theprocessor112 of thetransport106 with information of each of thetransport108 and thetransport202. For purposes of discussion only, in this example, let thetransport108 not be configurable in a manner that exactly mimics the travel experience of thetransport106. For example, let thetransport108 be unable to configure the inclination of the seat therein to the same inclination of the seat of thetransport106. Further, let thetransport202 also not be configurable in a manner that exactly mimics the travel experience of thetransport106. For example, let thetransport202 be unable to configure the infotainment system therein to the same movie that was playing intransport106. Theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may provide the information bywireless network104. By providing information of each of thetransport108 and thetransport202 to transport106, theperson116 may choose one of thetransport108 and thetransport202 to continue traveling to destination location B. Theperson116 may choose a transport by way of a graphic user interface in thetransport106.
• In this example, let theperson116 choose to use thetransport202. In such a case, theprocessor112 oftransport106 may inform theprocessor110 ofmanagement server102, via thewireless network104, of the choice to usetransport202 to continue to destination location B. Theprocessor110 ofmanagement server102 may instruct theprocessor204 oftransport202, via thewireless network104, to travel to location C to pick upperson116 andtransport person116 from location C to location B. Further, theprocessor110 configurestransport202 in a manner similar to the configuration oftransport106, so as to provide a travel experience that is consistent with the travel experience oftransport106 at time t₁forperson116.
• FIG. 2C shows theexample system200C for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₇, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 2C,transport202 has arrived at location C withtransport106, whereinperson116 has disembarked fromtransport106 so as to usetransport202. At this point in time,transport202 has been configured in a manner similar to the configuration oftransport106, but not playing the same movie. Therefore, the person is provided with a travel experience that is as consistent as possible based on the available alternate transports.
• FIG. 2D shows theexample system200D for automatic alternate transportation at a time t₈, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 2D,person116 has boardedtransport108, and will continue to travel to destination B with a consistent travel experience.
• In some embodiments, a plurality of alternate transports may be optionally directed to the transport location in order to provide a passenger alternate transport options. For example, one of the plurality of alternate transports might be able to transport the passenger from the location C, as shown inFIG. 1C, to a location that is not location B, but is close to location B. In this manner, the passenger may choose an alternate final destination based on the provided options of alternate transports. This example embodiment may be particularly suited to autonomous mass transit transports that transport more than one person at a time. In such cases, the autonomous mass transit transport may not go to location B, but may go to location C that is sufficiently close to location B for the stranded person in the inoperable transport.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a transport network diagram300, according to example embodiments. The network comprises elements including atransport node302 including aprocessor304, as well as atransport node302′ including aprocessor304′. Thetransport nodes302,302′ communicate with one another via theprocessors304,304′, as well as other elements (not shown) including transceivers, transmitters, receivers, storage, sensors and other elements capable of providing communication. The communication between thetransport nodes302,302′ can occur directly, via a private and/or a public network (not shown) or via other transport nodes and elements comprising one or more of a processor, memory, and software. Although depicted as single transport nodes and processors, a plurality of transport nodes and processors may be present. One or more of the applications, features, steps, solutions, etc., described and/or depicted herein may be utilized and/or provided by the instant elements.
• FIG. 3B illustrates another transport network diagram310, according to example embodiments. The network comprises elements including atransport node302 including aprocessor304, as well as atransport node302′ including aprocessor304′. Thetransport nodes302,302′ communicate with one another via theprocessors304,304′, as well as other elements (not shown) including transceivers, transmitters, receivers, storage, sensors and other elements capable of providing communication. The communication between thetransport nodes302,302′ can occur directly, via a private and/or a public network (not shown) or via other transport nodes and elements comprising one or more of a processor, memory, and software. Theprocessors304,304′ can further communicate with one ormore elements330 including sensor312,wired device314,wireless device316,database318,mobile phone320,transport node322,computer324, I/O device326 andvoice application328. Theprocessors304,304′ can further communicate with elements comprising one or more of a processor, memory, and software.
• Although depicted as single transport nodes, processors and elements, a plurality of transport nodes, processors and elements may be present. Information or communication can occur to and/or from any of theprocessors304,304′ andelements330. For example, themobile phone320 may provide information to theprocessor304 which may initiate thetransport node302 to take an action, may further provide the information or additional information to theprocessor304′ which may initiate thetransport node302′ to take an action, may further provide the information or additional information to themobile phone320, thetransport node322, and/or thecomputer324. One or more of the applications, features, steps, solutions, etc., described and/or depicted herein may be utilized and/or provided by the instant elements.
• FIG. 3C illustrates yet another transport network diagram340, according to example embodiments. The network comprises elements including atransport node302 including aprocessor304 and a non-transitory computerreadable medium342C. Theprocessor304 is communicably coupled to the computerreadable medium342C and elements330 (which were depicted inFIG. 3B).
• Theprocessor304 performs one or more of determining that a transport is inoperable on a route; instructing an alternate transport to navigate to the transport; configuring the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport; and routing the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.
• FIG. 3D illustrates a further transport network diagram360, according to example embodiments. The network comprises elements including atransport node302 including aprocessor304 and a non-transitory computerreadable medium342D. Theprocessor304 is communicably coupled to the computerreadable medium342D and elements330 (which were depicted inFIG. 3B).
• Theprocessor304 performs one or more of determining that a transport is inoperable on a route; instructing an alternate transport to navigate to the transport; configuring the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport; and routing the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.
• The processors and/or computer readable media may fully or partially reside in the interior or exterior of the transport nodes. The steps or features stored in the computer readable media may be fully or partially performed by any of the processors and/or elements in any order. Additionally, one or more steps or features may be added, omitted, combined, performed at a later time, etc.
• FIG. 4A illustrates a flow diagram400, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 4A, an example method may be executed by theprocessor110 of the management server102 (seeFIG. 1A). It should be understood thatmethod400 depicted inFIG. 4A may include additional operations and that some of the operations described therein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of themethod400. The description of themethod400 is also made with reference to the features depicted inFIGS. 1B-1D for purposes of illustration. Particularly, theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may execute some or all of the operations included in themethod400.
• With reference toFIG. 4A, atblock402, theprocessor110 may determine that a transport is inoperable on a route, for example as shown with thetransport106 being inoperable at location C alongroute118 ofFIG. 1B. This determination may be performed by receiving a message from thetransport106 via thewireless network104, wherein the message indicates that thetransport106 is inoperable on the route, and not receiving an expected message from thetransport106 via thewireless network104 that thetransport106 remains operable on the route. Atblock404, theprocessor110 may instruct thealternate transport108 to navigate to thetransport106 that is inoperable on the route, for example as shown inFIG. 1B. This instruction may be performed transmitting a message to thealternate transport108 via thewireless network104. Atblock406, theprocessor104 may configure thealternate transport108 based on a configuration of the transport. This configuration may be performed by transmitting a message to thealternate transport108 via thewireless network104. Atblock408, theprocessor104 may route the configuredalternate transport108 to an intended destination of thetransport106, for example as shown at location C ofFIG. 1C. This routing may be performed by transmitting a message to thealternate transport108 via thewireless network104.
• FIG. 4B illustrates another flow diagram401, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 4B, themethod401 method may be executed by theprocessor110 of the management server102 (seeFIG. 1A). It should be understood thatmethod401 depicted inFIG. 4B may include additional operations and that some of the operations described therein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of themethod401. The description of themethod401 is also made with reference to the features depicted inFIGS. 1B-1D for purposes of illustration. Particularly, theprocessor110 of themanagement server102 may execute some or all of the operations included in themethod401.
• With reference toFIG. 4B, atblock410, theprocessor110 may determine a transport location of thetransport106, for example as shown at location C alongroute118 ofFIG. 1B. This determination may be performed by receiving a GPS message, from thetransport106 via thewireless network104, wherein the GPS message indicates a location of thetransport106 at location C. Atblock412, theprocessor110 may determine an alternate transport location of thealternate transport108, for example as shown inFIG. 1B. This determination may be performed by receiving a GPS message from thealternate transport108 via thewireless network104, wherein the GPS message indicates a location of thealternate transport108. Atblock414, theprocessor104 may determine an estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108 to the transport location based on the transport location and the alternate transport location. This determination may be performed by a GPS navigation system. Atblock416, theprocessor104 may provide, to thetransport106, the estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108. This providing may be performed by transmitting an estimated time of arrival (ETA) message, which is associated with the ETA of thealternate transport108 to the location of thetransport106, via thewireless network104 to thetransport106. Atblock418, a graphical user interface (GUI) within thetransport106, may provide the estimated time of arrival of thealternate transport108. Atblock420, the GUI within thetransport106 may provide options including the alternate transport and an additional transport. In an alternate embodiment, the estimated time of arrival and/or the options may be provided via audio, video, text, multimedia, projection, image, and the like via one or more processors, memory, sensors (not shown) on the transport.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a machine learning transport network diagram500, according to example embodiments. Thenetwork500 includes atransport node502 that interfaces with amachine learning subsystem506. The transport node includes one ormore sensors504.
• Themachine learning subsystem506 contains alearning model508 which is a mathematical artifact created by a machinelearning training system510 that generates predictions by finding patterns in one or more training data sets. In some embodiments, themachine learning subsystem506 resides in thetransport node502. In other embodiments, themachine learning subsystem506 resides outside of thetransport node502.
• Thetransport node502 sends data from the one ormore sensors504 to themachine learning subsystem506. Themachine learning subsystem506 provides the one ormore sensor504 data to thelearning model508, which returns one or more predictions. Themachine learning subsystem506 sends one or more instructions to thetransport node502 based on the predictions from thelearning model508.
• In a further embodiment, thetransport node502 may send the one ormore sensor504 data to the machinelearning training system510. In yet another embodiment, themachine learning subsystem506 may sent thesensor504 data to themachine learning subsystem510. One or more of the applications, features, steps, solutions, etc., described and/or depicted herein may utilize themachine learning network500 as described herein.
• FIG. 6A illustrates anexample vehicle configuration600 for managing database transactions associated with a vehicle, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 6A, as a particular transport/vehicle625 is engaged in transactions (e.g., vehicle service, dealer transactions, delivery/pickup, transportation services, etc.), the vehicle may receiveassets610 and/or expel/transfer assets612 according to a transaction(s). Atransport processor626 resides in thevehicle625 and communication exists between thetransport processor626, adatabase630, atransport processor626 and thetransaction module620. Thetransaction module620 may record information, such as assets, parties, credits, service descriptions, date, time, location, results, notifications, unexpected events, etc. Those transactions in thetransaction module620 may be replicated into adatabase630. Thedatabase630 can be one of a SQL database, an RDBMS, a relational database, a non-relational database, a blockchain, a distributed ledger, and may be on board the transport, may be off board the transport, may be accessible directly and/or through a network, or be accessible to the transport.
• FIG. 6B illustrates anexample vehicle configuration650 for managing database transactions conducted among various vehicles, according to example embodiments. Thevehicle625 may engage with anothervehicle608 to perform various actions such as to share, transfer, acquire service calls, etc. when the vehicle has reached a status where the services need to be shared with another vehicle. For example, thevehicle608 may be due for a battery charge and/or may have an issue with a tire and may be in route to pick up a package for delivery. Atransport processor628 resides in thevehicle608 and communication exists between thetransport processor628, adatabase654, atransport processor628 and thetransaction module652. Thevehicle608 may notify anothervehicle625 which is in its network and which operates on its blockchain member service. Atransport processor626 resides in thevehicle625 and communication exists between thetransport processor626, adatabase630, thetransport processor626 and atransaction module620. Thevehicle625 may then receive the information via a wireless communication request to perform the package pickup from thevehicle608 and/or from a server (not shown). The transactions are logged in thetransaction modules652 and620 of both vehicles. The credits are transferred fromvehicle608 tovehicle625 and the record of the transferred service is logged in thedatabase630/654 assuming that the blockchains are different from one another, or, are logged in the same blockchain used by all members. Thedatabase654 can be one of a SQL database, an RDBMS, a relational database, a non-relational database, a blockchain, a distributed ledger, and may be on board the transport, may be off board the transport, may be accessible directly and/or through a network.
• FIG. 7A illustrates ablockchain architecture configuration700, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 7A, theblockchain architecture700 may include certain blockchain elements, for example, a group of blockchain member nodes702-706 as part of ablockchain group710. In one example embodiment, a permissioned blockchain is not accessible to all parties but only to those members with permissioned access to the blockchain data. The blockchain nodes participate in a number of activities, such as blockchain entry addition and validation process (consensus). One or more of the blockchain nodes may endorse entries based on an endorsement policy and may provide an ordering service for all blockchain nodes. A blockchain node may initiate a blockchain action (such as an authentication) and seek to write to a blockchain immutable ledger stored in the blockchain, a copy of which may also be stored on the underpinning physical infrastructure.
• Theblockchain transactions720 are stored in memory of computers as the transactions are received and approved by the consensus model dictated by the members' nodes.Approved transactions726 are stored in current blocks of the blockchain and committed to the blockchain via a committal procedure, which includes performing a hash of the data contents of the transactions in a current block and referencing a previous hash of a previous block. Within the blockchain, one or moresmart contracts730 may exist that define the terms of transaction agreements and actions included in smart contractexecutable application code732, such as registered recipients, vehicle features, requirements, permissions, sensor thresholds, etc. The code may be configured to identify whether requesting entities are registered to receive vehicle services, what service features they are entitled/required to receive given their profile statuses and whether to monitor their actions in subsequent events. For example, when a service event occurs and a user is riding in the vehicle, the sensor data monitoring may be triggered, and a certain parameter, such as a vehicle charge level, may be identified as being above/below a particular threshold for a particular period of time, then the result may be a change to a current status which requires an alert to be sent to the managing party (i.e., vehicle owner, vehicle operator, server, etc.) so the service can be identified and stored for reference. The vehicle sensor data collected may be based on types of sensor data used to collect information about vehicle's status. The sensor data may also be the basis for thevehicle event data734, such as a location(s) to be traveled, an average speed, a top speed, acceleration rates, whether there were any collisions, was the expected route taken, what is the next destination, whether safety measures are in place, whether the vehicle has enough charge/fuel, etc. All such information may be the basis ofsmart contract terms730, which are then stored in a blockchain. For example, sensor thresholds stored in the smart contract can be used as the basis for whether a detected service is necessary and when and where the service should be performed.
• FIG. 7B illustrates a shared ledger configuration, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 7B, the blockchain logic example740 includes ablockchain application interface742 as an application programming interface (API) or plug-in application that links to the computing device and execution platform for a particular transaction. Theblockchain configuration740 may include one or more applications, which are linked to application programming interfaces (APIs) to access and execute stored program/application code (e.g., smart contract executable code, smart contracts, etc.), which can be created according to a customized configuration sought by participants and can maintain their own state, control their own assets, and receive external information. This can be deployed as an entry and installed, via appending to the distributed ledger, on all blockchain nodes.
• The smartcontract application code744 provides a basis for the blockchain transactions by establishing application code which when executed causes the transaction terms and conditions to become active. Thesmart contract730, when executed, causes certain approvedtransactions726 to be generated, which are then forwarded to theblockchain platform752. The platform includes a security/authorization758, computing devices, which execute thetransaction management756, and astorage portion754 as a memory that stores transactions and smart contracts in the blockchain.
• The blockchain platform may include various layers of blockchain data, services (e.g., cryptographic trust services, virtual execution environment, etc.), and underpinning physical computer infrastructure that may be used to receive and store new entries and provide access to auditors which are seeking to access data entries. The blockchain may expose an interface that provides access to the virtual execution environment necessary to process the program code and engage the physical infrastructure. Cryptographic trust services may be used to verify entries such as asset exchange entries and keep information private.
• The blockchain architecture configuration ofFIGS. 7A and 7B may process and execute program/application code via one or more interfaces exposed, and services provided, by the blockchain platform. As a non-limiting example, smart contracts may be created to execute reminders, updates, and/or other notifications subject to the changes, updates, etc. The smart contracts can themselves be used to identify rules associated with authorization and access requirements and usage of the ledger. For example, the information may include a new entry, which may be processed by one or more processing entities (e.g., processors, virtual machines, etc.) included in the blockchain layer. The result may include a decision to reject or approve the new entry based on the criteria defined in the smart contract and/or a consensus of the peers. The physical infrastructure may be utilized to retrieve any of the data or information described herein.
• Within smart contract executable code, a smart contract may be created via a high-level application and programming language, and then written to a block in the blockchain. The smart contract may include executable code, which is registered, stored, and/or replicated with a blockchain (e.g., distributed network of blockchain peers). An entry is an execution of the smart contract code, which can be performed in response to conditions associated with the smart contract being satisfied. The executing of the smart contract may trigger a trusted modification(s) to a state of a digital blockchain ledger. The modification(s) to the blockchain ledger caused by the smart contract execution may be automatically replicated throughout the distributed network of blockchain peers through one or more consensus protocols.
• The smart contract may write data to the blockchain in the format of key-value pairs. Furthermore, the smart contract code can read the values stored in a blockchain and use them in application operations. The smart contract code can write the output of various logic operations into the blockchain. The code may be used to create a temporary data structure in a virtual machine or other computing platform. Data written to the blockchain can be public and/or can be encrypted and maintained as private. The temporary data that is used/generated by the smart contract is held in memory by the supplied execution environment, then deleted once the data needed for the blockchain is identified.
• A smart contract executable code may include the code interpretation of a smart contract, with additional features. As described herein, the smart contract executable code may be program code deployed on a computing network, where it is executed and validated by chain validators together during a consensus process. The smart contract executable code receives a hash and retrieves from the blockchain a hash associated with the data template created by use of a previously stored feature extractor. If the hashes of the hash identifier and the hash created from the stored identifier template data match, then the smart contract executable code sends an authorization key to the requested service. The smart contract executable code may write to the blockchain data associated with the cryptographic details.
• FIG. 7C illustrates a blockchain configuration for storing blockchain transaction data, according to example embodiments. Referring toFIG. 7C, theexample configuration760 provides for thevehicle762, theuser device764 and aserver766 sharing information with a distributed ledger (i.e., blockchain)768. The server may represent a service provider entity inquiring with a vehicle service provider to share user profile rating information in the event that a known and established user profile is attempting to rent a vehicle with an established rated profile. Theserver766 may be receiving and processing data related to a vehicle's service requirements. As the service events occur, such as the vehicle sensor data indicates a need for fuel/charge, a maintenance service, etc., a smart contract may be used to invoke rules, thresholds, sensor information gathering, etc., which may be used to invoke the vehicle service event. Theblockchain transaction data770 is saved for each transaction, such as the access event, the subsequent updates to a vehicle's service status, event updates, etc. The transactions may include the parties, the requirements (e.g., 18 years of age, service eligible candidate, valid driver's license, etc.), compensation levels, the distance traveled during the event, the registered recipients permitted to access the event and host a vehicle service, rights/permissions, sensor data retrieved during the vehicle event operation to log details of the next service event and identify a vehicle's condition status, and thresholds used to make determinations about whether the service event was completed and whether the vehicle's condition status has changed.FIG. 7D illustrates blockchain blocks780 that can be added to a distributed ledger, according to example embodiments, and contents ofblock structures782A to782n.Referring toFIG. 7D, clients (not shown) may submit entries to blockchain nodes to enact activity on the blockchain. As an example, clients may be applications that act on behalf of a requester, such as a device, person or entity to propose entries for the blockchain. The plurality of blockchain peers (e.g., blockchain nodes) may maintain a state of the blockchain network and a copy of the distributed ledger. Different types of blockchain nodes/peers may be present in the blockchain network including endorsing peers, which simulate and endorse entries proposed by clients and committing peers which verify endorsements, validate entries, and commit entries to the distributed ledger. In this example, the blockchain nodes may perform the role of endorser node, committer node, or both.
• The instant system includes a blockchain which stores immutable, sequenced records in blocks, and a state database (current world state) maintaining a current state of the blockchain. One distributed ledger may exist per channel and each peer maintains its own copy of the distributed ledger for each channel of which they are a member. The instant blockchain is an entry log, structured as hash-linked blocks where each block contains a sequence of N entries. Blocks may include various components such as those shown inFIG. 7D. The linking of the blocks may be generated by adding a hash of a prior block's header within a block header of a current block. In this way, all entries on the blockchain are sequenced and cryptographically linked together preventing tampering with blockchain data without breaking the hash links. Furthermore, because of the links, the latest block in the blockchain represents every entry that has come before it. The instant blockchain may be stored on a peer file system (local or attached storage), which supports an append-only blockchain workload.
• The current state of the blockchain and the distributed ledger may be stored in the state database. Here, the current state data represents the latest values for all keys ever included in the chain entry log of the blockchain. Smart contract executable code invocations execute entries against the current state in the state database. To make these smart contract executable code interactions extremely efficient, the latest values of all keys are stored in the state database. The state database may include an indexed view into the entry log of the blockchain, it can therefore be regenerated from the chain at any time. The state database may automatically get recovered (or generated if needed) upon peer startup, before entries are accepted.
• Endorsing nodes receive entries from clients and endorse the entry based on simulated results. Endorsing nodes hold smart contracts, which simulate the entry proposals. When an endorsing node endorses an entry, the endorsing node creates an entry endorsement, which is a signed response from the endorsing node to the client application indicating the endorsement of the simulated entry. The method of endorsing an entry depends on an endorsement policy, which may be specified within smart contract executable code. An example of an endorsement policy is “the majority of endorsing peers must endorse the entry.” Different channels may have different endorsement policies. Endorsed entries are forward by the client application to an ordering service.
• The ordering service accepts endorsed entries, orders them into a block, and delivers the blocks to the committing peers. For example, the ordering service may initiate a new block when a threshold of entries has been reached, a timer times out, or another condition. In this example, blockchain node is a committing peer that has received a data block682A for storage on the blockchain. The ordering service may be made up of a cluster of orderers. The ordering service does not process entries, smart contracts, or maintain the shared ledger. Rather, the ordering service may accept the endorsed entries and specifies the order in which those entries are committed to the distributed ledger. The architecture of the blockchain network may be designed such that the specific implementation of ‘ordering’ (e.g., Solo, Kafka, BFT, etc.) becomes a pluggable component.
• Entries are written to the distributed ledger in a consistent order. The order of entries is established to ensure that the updates to the state database are valid when they are committed to the network. Unlike a cryptocurrency blockchain system (e.g., Bitcoin, etc.) where ordering occurs through the solving of a cryptographic puzzle, or mining, in this example the parties of the distributed ledger may choose the ordering mechanism that best suits that network.
• Referring toFIG. 7D, ablock782A (also referred to as a data block) that is stored on the blockchain and/or the distributed ledger may include multiple data segments such as ablock header784A to784n,transactionspecific data786A to786n,andblock metadata788A to788n.It should be appreciated that the various depicted blocks and their contents, such asblock782A and its contents are merely for purposes of an example and are not meant to limit the scope of the example embodiments. In some cases, both theblock header784A and theblock metadata788A may be smaller than the transactionspecific data786A which stores entry data; however, this is not a requirement. Theblock782A may store transactional information of N entries (e.g.,100,500,1000,2000,3000, etc.) within theblock data790A to790n.Theblock782A may also include a link to a previous block (e.g., on the blockchain) within theblock header784A. In particular, theblock header784A may include a hash of a previous block's header. Theblock header784A may also include a unique block number, a hash of theblock data790A of thecurrent block782A, and the like. The block number of theblock782A may be unique and assigned in an incremental/sequential order starting from zero. The first block in the blockchain may be referred to as a genesis block, which includes information about the blockchain, its members, the data stored therein, etc.
• Theblock data790A may store entry information of each entry that is recorded within the block. For example, the entry data may include one or more of a type of the entry, a version, a timestamp, a channel ID of the distributed ledger, an entry ID, an epoch, a payload visibility, a smart contract executable code path (deploy tx), a smart contract executable code name, a smart contract executable code version, input (smart contract executable code and functions), a client (creator) identify such as a public key and certificate, a signature of the client, identities of endorsers, endorser signatures, a proposal hash, smart contract executable code events, response status, namespace, a read set (list of key and version read by the entry, etc.), a write set (list of key and value, etc.), a start key, an end key, a list of keys, a Merkel tree query summary, and the like. The entry data may be stored for each of the N entries.
• In some embodiments, theblock data790A may also store transactionspecific data786A which adds additional information to the hash-linked chain of blocks in the blockchain. Accordingly, thedata786A can be stored in an immutable log of blocks on the distributed ledger. Some of the benefits of storingsuch data786A are reflected in the various embodiments disclosed and depicted herein. Theblock metadata788A may store multiple fields of metadata (e.g., as a byte array, etc.). Metadata fields may include signature on block creation, a reference to a last configuration block, an entry filter identifying valid and invalid entries within the block, last offset persisted of an ordering service that ordered the block, and the like. The signature, the last configuration block, and the orderer metadata may be added by the ordering service. Meanwhile, a committer of the block (such as a blockchain node) may add validity/invalidity information based on an endorsement policy, verification of read/write sets, and the like. The entry filter may include a byte array of a size equal to the number of entries in the block data690A and a validation code identifying whether an entry was valid/invalid.
• Theother blocks782B to782nin the blockchain also have headers, files, and values. However, unlike thefirst block782A, each of theheaders784A to784nin the other blocks includes the hash value of an immediately preceding block. The hash value of the immediately preceding block may be just the hash of the header of the previous block or may be the hash value of the entire previous block. By including the hash value of a preceding block in each of the remaining blocks, a trace can be performed from the Nth block back to the genesis block (and the associated original file) on a block-by-block basis, as indicated byarrows792, to establish an auditable and immutable chain-of-custody.
• The above embodiments may be implemented in hardware, in a computer program executed by a processor, in firmware, or in a combination of the above. A computer program may be embodied on a computer readable medium, such as a storage medium. For example, a computer program may reside in random access memory (“RAM”), flash memory, read-only memory (“ROM”), erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM”), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a compact disk read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), or any other form of storage medium known in the art.
• An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor may read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components. For example,FIG. 8 illustrates an examplecomputer system architecture800, which may represent or be integrated in any of the above-described components, etc.
• FIG. 8 is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the application described herein. Regardless, thecomputing node800 is capable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove.
• Incomputing node800 there is a computer system/server802, which is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with computer system/server802 include, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
• Computer system/server802 may be described in the general context of computer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer system/server802 may be practiced in distributed cloud computing environments, where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer system storage media including memory storage devices.
• As shown inFIG. 8, computer system/server802 incloud computing node800 is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The components of computer system/server802 may include, but are not limited to, one or more processors orprocessing units804, asystem memory806, and a bus that couples various system components includingsystem memory806 toprocessor804.
• The bus represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.
• Computer system/server802 typically includes a variety of computer system readable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessible by computer system/server802, and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.System memory806, in one embodiment, implements the flow diagrams of the other figures. Thesystem memory806 can include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM)808 and/orcache memory810. Computer system/server802 may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storage media. By way of example only,memory806 can be provided for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided. In such instances, each can be connected to the bus by one or more data media interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory806 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out the functions of various embodiments of the application.
• Program/utility, having a set (at least one) of program modules, may be stored inmemory806 by way of example, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networking environment. Program modules generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of various embodiments of the application as described herein.
• As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present application may be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.
• Computer system/server802 may also communicate with one or more external devices via an I/O device812 (such as an I/O adapter), which may include a keyboard, a pointing device, a display, a voice recognition module, etc., one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computer system/server802, and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server802 to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces of thedevice812. Still yet, computer system/server802 can communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via a network adapter. As depicted,device812 communicates with the other components of computer system/server802 via a bus. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction with computer system/server802. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.
• Although an exemplary embodiment of at least one of a system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium has been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the application is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions as set forth and defined by the following claims. For example, the capabilities of the system of the various figures can be performed by one or more of the modules or components described herein or in a distributed architecture and may include a transmitter, receiver or pair of both. For example, all or part of the functionality performed by the individual modules, may be performed by one or more of these modules. Further, the functionality described herein may be performed at various times and in relation to various events, internal or external to the modules or components. Also, the information sent between various modules can be sent between the modules via at least one of: a data network, the Internet, a voice network, an Internet Protocol network, a wireless device, a wired device and/or via plurality of protocols. Also, the messages sent or received by any of the modules may be sent or received directly and/or via one or more of the other modules.
• One skilled in the art will appreciate that a “system” could be embodied as a personal computer, a server, a console, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a tablet computing device, a smartphone or any other suitable computing device, or combination of devices. Presenting the above-described functions as being performed by a “system” is not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way but is intended to provide one example of many embodiments. Indeed, methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in localized and distributed forms consistent with computing technology.
• It should be noted that some of the system features described in this specification have been presented as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very large-scale integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, graphics processing units, or the like.
• A module may also be at least partially implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified unit of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions that may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. Further, modules may be stored on a computer-readable medium, which may be, for instance, a hard disk drive, flash device, random access memory (RAM), tape, or any other such medium used to store data.
• Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.
• It will be readily understood that the components of the application, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the application.
• One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations that are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the application has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent.
• While preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the application is to be defined solely by the appended claims when considered with a full range of equivalents and modifications (e.g., protocols, hardware devices, software platforms etc.) thereto.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a server, that a transport is inoperable on a route;

instructing, by the server, an alternate transport to navigate to the transport;

configuring, by the server, the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport; and

routing, by the server, the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the routing comprises transferring, by the server, the routing of the intended destination of the transport to the alternate transport.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the configured alternate transport and the transport are on a same or similar navigational path.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring a parameter of the alternate transport from a group of parameters consisting of seat position, seat temperature, seat location, an infotainment option, ambient temperature, a number of predetermined stops prior to the intended destination, the transport type, a make of the transport, a model of the transport, a year of the transport, number of miles driven by the transport, condition of the transport, and maintenance associated with a transport.

5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the server, a transport location of the transport;

determining, by the server, an alternate transport location of the alternate transport;

determining, by the server, an estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport to the transport location based on the transport location and the alternate transport location; and

providing, by the server to the transport, the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport.

6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising providing, via a graphical user interface within the transport:

the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport;

options including the alternate transport and an additional transport;

alternate transport parameter information related to parameters of the alternate transport; and

additional transport parameter information related to parameters of the additional transport.

7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, a message of an initial configuration of the transport; and

receiving, by the server, a second message of a change in the initial configuration of the transport,

wherein said configuring, by the server, the alternate transport based on the configuration of the transport comprises configuring the alternate transport based on the initial configuration and the change in the initial configuration.

8. A server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that a transport is inoperable on a route;

instruct an alternate transport to navigate to the transport;

configure the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport; and

route the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.

9. The server ofclaim 8, wherein the processor is configured to transfer the route of the intended destination of the transport to the alternate transport.

10. The server ofclaim 8, wherein the configured alternate transport and the transport are on a same or similar navigational path.

11. The server ofclaim 8, wherein the processor is configured to configure a parameter of the alternate transport from a group of parameters consisting of seat position, seat temperature, seat location, an infotainment option, ambient temperature, a number of predetermined stops prior to the intended destination, the transport type, a make of the transport, a model of the transport, a year of the transport, number of miles driven by the transport, condition of the transport, and maintenance associated with a transport.

12. The server ofclaim 8, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a transport location of the transport;

determine an alternate transport location of the alternate transport;

determine an estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport to the transport location based on the transport location and the alternate transport location; and

provide, to the transport, the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport.

13. The server ofclaim 12, wherein the processor is configured to provide, via a graphical user interface within the transport:

the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport;

options including the alternate transport and an additional transport;

alternate transport parameter information related to parameters of the alternate transport; and

additional transport parameter information related to parameters of the additional transport.

14. The server ofclaim 8, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a message of an initial configuration of the transport;

receive a second message of a change in the initial configuration of the transport; and

configure the alternate transport based on the initial configuration and the change in the initial configuration.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine that a transport is inoperable on a route;

instruct an alternate transport to navigate to the transport;

configure the alternate transport based on a configuration of the transport; and

route the configured alternate transport to an intended destination of the transport.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, further comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to rout by transferring, by the server, the routing of the intended destination of the transport to the alternate transport.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein the configured alternate transport and the transport are on a same navigational path.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, further comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to configure a parameter of the alternate transport from a group of parameters consisting of seat position, seat temperature, seat location, an infotainment option, ambient temperature, a number of predetermined stops prior to the intended destination, the transport type, a make of the transport, a model of the transport, a year of the transport, number of miles driven by the transport, condition of the transport, and maintenance associated with a transport.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, further comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine a transport location of the transport;

determine an alternate transport location of the alternate transport;

determine an estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport to the transport location based on the transport location and the alternate transport location; and

provide, to the transport, the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 19, further comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to provide, via a graphical user interface within the transport:

the estimated time of arrival of the alternate transport;

options including the alternate transport and an additional transport;

alternate transport parameter information related to parameters of the alternate transport; and

additional transport parameter information related to parameters of the additional transport.

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