# US 11,908,303 B2 · Forgotten mobile device detection and management

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,908,303 B2
- Document ID: US11908303B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/945,611
- Filed: 2022-09-15
- Published: 2023-01-19
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-02
- Assignees: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
- Applicants: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
- Inventors: Alexander Willem Gerrese; Jeremy Stephen Juel; Aakanksha Mirdha; Yifei Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11908303B2

## CPC

- G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
- H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication
- B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
- B60R 25/241: {whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers}
- H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
- B60R 25/25: using biometry
- B60R 25/305: {using a camera}
- G06V 20/59: inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
- H04M 1/724098: {Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle (for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075)}
- H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals}
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting when a mobile device is left in a vehicle, and returning forgotten devices to owners. Additionally, systems and methods are provided for preventing mobile devices from being left in vehicles. In particular, sensors inside a vehicle as well as sensors on mobile devices can be used to identify when a mobile device remains in a vehicle after the owner has exited the vehicle and ended their trip. Systems and methods are provided for notifying the user of the forgotten device and intelligently returning the device to the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for recovery of a device left in a vehicle, comprising:
determining, by the vehicle, that the device is in the vehicle after passenger drop-off of a first passenger;
communicating a presence of the device in the vehicle to a first rideshare account of the first passenger;
accessing recovery contact information from the first rideshare account, wherein the recovery contact information includes at least one of an email and phone number of a second user;
transmitting a forgotten device notification to the second user, including communicating the presence of the device in the vehicle to the second user;
receiving, at an online portal, device return details from the second user including a return location and a return timeframe;
verifying passenger identity at the return location, wherein passenger identity includes at least one of a first identity of the first passenger and a second identity of the second user; and
providing access to the device to one or both of the first passenger and the second user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a first device return option and a second device return option to at least one of:
the first account, and
the second user,
and wherein receiving device return details includes receiving a selection including one of the first device return option and the second device return option.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the device to a selected safe location, wherein the selected safe location is a secure compartment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting, via the online portal, a recovery code to the second user, wherein the recovery code allows access to the secure compartment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein providing access to the device includes providing access to the secure compartment based on the verified passenger identity, including providing access based on at least one of the recovery code and user recognition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein moving the device to the selected safe location includes moving the device to a selected lost-and-found center.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the vehicle driving to the return location during the return timeframe with the device inside the vehicle, and wherein providing access to the device includes providing access to the vehicle.

### Claim 8

A system for recovery of a device left in a vehicle, comprising:
a sensor suite on the vehicle to detect passenger pick-up in the vehicle and passenger drop-off from the vehicle;
a plurality of sensors inside the vehicle, wherein at least one of the sensors is to detect the device;
an onboard computer to:
determine that the device is in the vehicle after passenger drop-off of a first passenger,
communicate a presence of the device in the vehicle to a first rideshare account of the first passenger,
verify passenger identity upon device retrieval, wherein passenger identity includes at least one of a first identity of the first passenger and a second identity of a recovery contact in the first rideshare account, and
provide access to the device to one or both of the first passenger and the recovery contact; and
a central computing system to:
access recovery contact information from the first rideshare account, wherein the recovery contact information includes at least one of an email and a phone number of a second user,
transmit a forgotten device notification to the second user, including communicating the presence of the device in the vehicle to the second user;
receive, at an online portal, device return details from the second user including a return location and a return timeframe.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the central computing system is further to transmit a first device return option and a second device return option to at least one of:
the first rideshare account, and
the recovery contact,
and wherein the device return details include a selection including one of the first device return option and the second device return option.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a storage compartment configured to store the device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a robotic mechanism configured to deposit the device in the storage compartment.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the central computing system is further to transmit, via the online portal, a recovery code to the second user, wherein the recovery code allows access to the storage compartment.

### Claim 13

A system for recovery of a device in a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of sensors inside the vehicle, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect the device;
an onboard computer in the vehicle to:
determine that the device is in the vehicle after passenger drop-off,
communicate a presence of the device in the vehicle to a first rideshare account, and
move the device to a secure location; and
a central computing system to:
receive a notification of the presence of the device in the vehicle,
access recovery contact information from the first rideshare account, wherein the recovery contact information includes at least one of an email and a phone number of a second user,
transmit a forgotten device notification to the second user, including communicating the presence of the device in the vehicle to the second user,
receive, at an online portal, device return details from the second user including a return location and a return timeframe.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central computing system is further to
transmit a first device return option and a second device return option to the passenger rideshare account and to the second user,
and wherein the device return details include a selection including one of the first device return option and the second device return option.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the secure location is a lost-and-found center remote from the vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the central computing system is further to:
transmit, via the online portal, a recovery code to the first rideshare account and to the second user, wherein the recovery code allows access to the secure location.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second user is a second passenger that travelled in the vehicle with the first passenger.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the device is a first device, wherein the second passenger has a second device, and wherein the second device was coupled to the vehicle before passenger drop-off.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the forgotten device notification to the second user includes transmitting one or more of a text message, an email, and an audio message to the second user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the onboard computer is further configured to:
couple to a second device of a second passenger before passenger drop-off, wherein the second passenger is the second user, and
transmit the forgotten device notification to the second device after passenger drop-off.