Waymo patents system to verify passengers and update ride destinations
This filing describes a method for self-driving cars to confirm a passenger's identity by checking their phone's signal before starting a trip. If the vehicle's location data does not match the passenger's device, it alerts a server to verify the correct drop-off point. The car then drives to the confirmed destination in autonomous mode.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for confirming the identity of a passenger and changing destination of a vehicle. This may include receiving dispatching instructions to pick up a first passenger at a pickup location and to drop off the first passenger at a first destination as well as authentication information for authenticating a first client computing device of the first passenger. Once the client device is authenticated and a second passenger enters the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered towards the first destination. While doing so, a location of the vehicle is compared to location information received from the client computing devices. A notification is sent to a dispatching server based on the comparison and a second destination location is received in response. The vehicle is then maneuvered towards the second destination instead of the first destination.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising: after a passenger has entered the vehicle, querying, by one or more processors, for a signal from a first client computing device in the vehicle that is associated with the passenger, the signal including information identifying the first client computing device; sending, by the one or more processors, the information identifying the first client computing device to one or more server computing devices; receiving, in response to the sending, by the one or more processors, authentication information from the one or more server computing devices for authenticating the client computing device; after authenticating the client computing device, identifying, by the one or more processors, a destination location for the passenger; and maneuvering, by the one or more processors, the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode towards the destination location.
Facts
- Company
- Google (WAYMO LLC)
- Official title
- IDENTIFYING UNASSIGNED PASSENGERS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
- Publication number
- US20260320508A1
- Application number
- 19466597
- Filed
- Feb 2, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06Q 10/025 Physics & computingG01C 21/343 Physics & computingG06Q 50/10 Physics & computingG06Q 50/40 Physics & computingMore from Google in Cars & transport
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.