Enhanced usability and functionality of vehicle onboard hardware and software

Abstract

A vehicle may receive a request for use of a vehicle resource from a remote source. The vehicle may determine if the vehicle is capable of fulfilling the request based a state of the resource. The may also determine and send a cost for using the resource, to the remote source, in response to determining the vehicle is capable of fulfilling the request and provide use of the resource in accordance with a use-term defined in conjunction with the cost, in response to receiving agreement from the remote source to pay the cost.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device comprising:
 a memory storing an application; and   a processor configured to   request use of a vehicle resource of a vehicle in conjunction with execution of the application on the mobile device;   receive notification of a cost of using the vehicle resource;   send an agreement to pay the cost to the vehicle; and   receive data from the vehicle resource, responsive to the agreement as sent.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the request is explicitly originated by a user of the mobile device in the form of an input request. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the request is passively originated by the application, responsive to detecting an available connection to the vehicle and a use for the vehicle resource defined by the application. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the request is passively originated by the application, responsive to a vehicle-associated whitelist identifying the vehicle resource as being available for use and a use for the vehicle resource defined by the application. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the request is passively originated by the application, responsive to a broadcast by the vehicle of available resources identifying the vehicle resource as being available for use and a use for the vehicle resource defined by the application. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of vehicle computing cycles. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of a vehicle sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of data gathered by the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; and   a processor configured to
 receive a request for use of a vehicle resource from a remote source, via the wireless transceiver; 
 determine if the vehicle is capable of fulfilling the request based a state of the resource; 
 send a cost for using the resource, to the remote source, in response to determining the vehicle is capable of fulfilling the request; and 
 provide use of the resource in accordance with a use-term defined in conjunction with the cost, in response to receiving agreement from the remote source to pay the cost. 
   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the remote source includes a mobile device inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the remote source includes a remote server in communication with the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of a vehicle sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of vehicle processing cycles. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein use of the vehicle resource includes use of data gathered by the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to present the request to a vehicle occupant for approval prior to sending the cost, and wherein the sending the cost is contingent on approval input from the occupant. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; and   a processor configured to
 determine one or more vehicle resources, via the wireless transceiver, available for use by a remote source; 
 broadcast availability of the determined one or more resources; 
 receive a request from a remote source to use at least one of the vehicle resources; 
 and, responsive to determining that the at least one resource is not being presently used by the vehicle and is available for use by the remote source, providing use of the at least one resource in exchange for a payment agreement from the remote source. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the broadcast includes a cost for use of each resource. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the broadcast includes a reporting cycle for resources of the one or more resources that gather data. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to queue the request until the at least one resource is not being used by the vehicle, in response to determining that the at least one resource is being presently used by the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to broadcast availability of the determined one or more resources responsive to a request from a mobile device, in wireless communication with the vehicle, requesting a list of available vehicle resources.