# US 2019/0377364 A1 · Using Zone Rules to Control Autonomous Vehicle Operation Within a Zone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377364 A1 - Document ID: US20190377364A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/547,477 - Filed: 2019-08-21 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-01 - Assignees: Lyft, Inc. - Applicants: Lyft, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Danaher Harvey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377364A1 ## CPC - G05D 1/0297: {by controlling means in a control room} - B60Q 1/5035: {electronic displays} - B60Q 1/507: {specific to autonomous vehicles} - B60Q 1/508: {specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys} - G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)} - G05D 1/0027: {involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00)} - G05D 1/0293: {Convoy travelling} - G05D 1/0295: {by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet} - G08G 1/20: {Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles} - G08G 1/22: {Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles} - B60Q 1/544: {for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants} - B60Q 1/547: {for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake} - B60W 30/06: Automatic manoeuvring for parking - E04H 6/422: {Automatically operated car-parks} - G08G 1/168: {Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A method includes determining that an autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules; causing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules; determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and releasing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining, by an autonomous vehicle, that the autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules, wherein the zone rules are stored on the autonomous vehicle; causing, by the autonomous vehicle, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules, wherein the zone rules limit behavior of the autonomous vehicle based on one or more conditions known to or sensed by the autonomous vehicle; determining, by the autonomous vehicle, that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and releasing, by the autonomous vehicle, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the zone is controlled by a zone authority. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the behavior designated by the zone rules is further based on conditions within the zone determined by the zone authority. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the zone rules require the autonomous vehicle to: respond to information communicated by the zone authority; or report periodically to the zone authority the autonomous vehicle's speed, location, or conditions sensed by the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the zone is a parking facility, tunnel, road, or security area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone comprises the autonomous vehicle entering through a physical gate or a communications-based electronic point of control transfer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the zone rules designate speed, vehicle spacing, or lane selection. ### Claim 8 One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media, onboard an autonomous vehicle, embodying software that is operable when executed to: determine that the autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules, wherein the zone rules are stored on the autonomous vehicle; cause, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules, wherein the zone rules limit behavior of the autonomous vehicle based on one or more conditions known to or sensed by the autonomous vehicle; determine that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and release, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 8, wherein the zone is controlled by a zone authority. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the behavior designated by the zone rules is further based on conditions within the zone determined by the zone authority. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the zone rules require the autonomous vehicle to: respond to information communicated by the zone authority; or report periodically to the zone authority the autonomous vehicle's speed, location, or conditions sensed by the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 8, wherein the zone is a parking facility, tunnel, road, or security area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 8, wherein determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone comprises the autonomous vehicle entering through a physical gate or a communications-based electronic point of control transfer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 8, wherein the zone rules designate speed, vehicle spacing, or lane selection. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: one or more processors onboard an autonomous vehicle; and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media, onboard the autonomous vehicle and coupled to one or more of the processors, that comprise instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to: determine that the autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules, wherein the zone rules are stored on the autonomous vehicle; cause, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules, wherein the zone rules limit behavior of the autonomous vehicle based on one or more conditions known to or sensed by the autonomous vehicle; determine that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and release, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the zone is controlled by a zone authority. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the behavior designated by the zone rules is further based on conditions within the zone determined by the zone authority. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the zone rules require the autonomous vehicle to: respond to information communicated by the zone authority; or report periodically to the zone authority the autonomous vehicle's speed, location, or conditions sensed by the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the zone is a parking facility, tunnel, road, or security area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone comprises the autonomous vehicle entering through a physical gate or a communications-based electronic point of control transfer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the zone rules designate speed, vehicle spacing, or lane selection.