Patent Publication Number: US-2013231841-A1

Title: System and method for reporting energy efficiency recommendations for a vehicle to a requesting user

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 13/369, 981 filed Feb. 9, 2012, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A VEHICLE TO A REQUESTING USER, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     n/a 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and system for route navigation based on energy efficiency. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The burning of fossil fuels to generate energy produces carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to environmental pollution. Pollution introduces contaminants into the natural environment causing harm to our ecosystem. Hence, it is desirable to reduce the demand for energy, which will reduce the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas. One way to diminish energy consumption is to increase the energy efficiency of vehicles, as fuel combustion produces harmful chemicals that are released as exhaust. 
     The energy consumed by a vehicle can be reduced by driving in a manner that is energy efficient. For example, the energy consumed by the vehicle can be reduced by proper maintenance and replacement of worn parts. Currently, there is no easy way of determining how a driver can operate the vehicle in an energy efficient manner. As a result, there is also no easy way to provide this information to a driver. 
     What is needed is a method and system for providing recommendations to drivers for energy efficient vehicle operation and providing the recommendations in various formats. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention advantageously provides a method and system for providing vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation for a vehicle. In accordance with one aspect, the invention provides a method that includes accessing vehicle sensor data. The vehicle sensor data is analyzed. A vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation is generated based at least in part on the analyzed vehicle sensor data. In an exemplary embodiment, the generated energy efficiency recommendation is displayed. The energy efficiency recommendation may be displayed on a vehicle display, a computer, a wireless mobile device, among other devices. 
     In accordance with another aspect, the invention provides a system that includes a device having a processor. The processor accesses vehicle sensor data. The processor analyzes the vehicle sensor data. The processor generates a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on the analyzed vehicle sensor data 
     According to another aspect, the present invention provides a computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to access vehicle sensor data. The processor further analyzes the vehicle sensor data. The processor generates a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on the analyzed vehicle sensor data. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary database according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary server constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an exemplary process for generating a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating an energy efficiency recommendation to improve an energy efficiency of a vehicle. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, vehicle sensor data is accessed and analyzed. A vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation is generated based at least in part on the analyzed vehicle sensor data. 
     Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to implementing a method and system for generating a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on analyzed vehicle sensor data. Accordingly, the method and system components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. 
     Referring now to the drawing figures in which reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a schematic illustration of a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated as “ 10 ”. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a device  12  may include vehicle information database  13 . Device  12  may be positionable on vehicle  14 . Device  12  may be a vehicle navigation system, a portable navigation system, a vehicle computer, mobile device, personal computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, PDA, among other types of computing devices. A driver of vehicle  14  may wish to determine an energy efficiency recommendation for vehicle  14 . Device  12  may access and analyze vehicle sensor data. Device  12  may generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on the analyzed vehicle sensor data. Device  12  may also generate the vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on other data, such as a driver&#39;s driving style, road data, vehicle location, vehicle data, vehicle maintenance schedule, etc. among other data. 
     Device  12  may be in communication with server  16  via communication network  18 . Communication network  18  may include a cellular communication network and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, as well as local area networks (LANs), such as an Ethernet LAN. Communications network  18  may be a wireless network, such as Wi-Fi, satellite, infrared, Bluetooth, Near Field Communications, or other communications network. Device  12  and server  16  may be connected via communications network  18  to other computers, such as computers associated with a car manufacturer, a weather service or any other third party (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary device  12  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Device  12  may include global positioning system unit (“GPS”)  19 , transmitter  20 , receiver  22 , input device  24 , memory  26 , processor  28  and display  32 , all connected via communication infrastructure  30 . Processor  28  may include a central processing unit (CPU) for performing device  12  functionality. Processor  28  is operatively coupled to a communication infrastructure  30 , e.g., a communications bus, cross-bar interconnect, network, etc. Input device  24  may be a keyboard, a key pad or a touch pad. Device  12  may use transmitter  20  and receiver  22  for communicating with server  16  via communications network  18  wirelessly or by wire or optical fiber. Memory  26  may include random access memory (“RAM”) and read only memory (“ROM”). Memory  26  may store vehicle information database  13 . Computer programs (also called computer control logic) may be stored in memory  26 . For example, computer programs are stored on memory  26  for execution by processor  28  via RAM, i.e. memory  26 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the method and system to perform the features of the present invention as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor  28  to perform the features of the corresponding method and system. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the corresponding device. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary vehicle information database  13  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Vehicle information database  13  may include vehicle sensor data  34  for at least one sensor in vehicle  14 . Vehicle sensor data  34  may include, but is not limited to, vehicle speed data  34   a,  fuel consumption data  34   b,  acceleration data  34   c,  vehicle emissions data  34   d,  vehicle weight data  34   e,  engine performance data  34   f,  fluid level data  34   g,  vehicle suspension data  34   h,  battery data  34   i,  tire pressure data  34   j,  engine temperature data  34   k,  odometer data  34   l , tachometer data  34   m,  power steering data  34   n,  fluid pressure data  34   o,  brakes data  34   p,  transmission data  34   q,  and cruise control data  34   r.    
     Vehicle information database  13  may also include other data that may be used by device  12  to generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Other data may include, but is not limited to, road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location information  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule  44 . Road data  36  may include, but is not limited to, traffic congestion information  36   a  and terrain information  36   b.  Driving style data  38  may include, but is not limited to—at least one driving characteristic  38   a  and driver information  38   b.  Vehicle data  40  may include, but is not limited to—at least one vehicle characteristic  40   a  and vehicle condition  40   b.  Of note, although vehicle sensor data  34 , road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule information  44  are described herein as being stored in a “database,” the invention is not limited to—storage in a formal database management system, e.g., SQL. It is contemplated that any memory storage device can store vehicle sensor data  34  in an organized and retrievable form, e.g. flat file. 
     Vehicle speed data  34   a  may include, but is not limited to, information about the speed of vehicle  14 . Fuel consumption data  34   b  may include, but is not limited to, information about fuel consumption of vehicle  14 , such as city and highway fuel consumption, i.e., an energy consumption rate of vehicle  14 . Acceleration data  34   c  may include, but is not limited to, information about the acceleration of vehicle  14 . Vehicle emissions data  34   d  may include information about emissions emanating from vehicle  14 . For example, vehicle emissions data  34  may include the amount of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxide and volatile organic compounds emanating from vehicle  14 . Vehicle weight data  34   e  may include, but is not limited to, information about the weight of vehicle  14  and whether vehicle  14  is pulling a load. Engine performance data  34   f  may include, but is not limited to, information about a performance of an engine of vehicle  14 , a power output of vehicle  14 , information about a fuel and air mixture in an engine of vehicle  14 , spark plug performance, etc. 
     Fluid level data  34   g  may include, but is not limited to, information about the fluid level of vehicle fluids such as transmission fluid, brake fluid, oil fluid, radiator fluid, battery fluid, window washer fluid, etc. Vehicle suspension data  34   h  may include, but is not limited to, information relating to the springs, shock absorbers, suspension and linkages of vehicle  14 . Battery data  34   i  may include, but is not limited to, information about a battery of vehicle  14 , such as the charge of the battery and the condition of the battery conductors. Tire pressure data  34   j  may include, but is not limited to, information about the air pressure in a tire of vehicle  14 . Engine temperature data  34   k  may include, but is not limited to, information about a temperature of an engine of vehicle  14 . Odometer data  341  may include odometer information, and tachometer data  34   m  may include tachometer data associated with vehicle  14 . 
     Power steering data  34   n  may include, but is not limited to, information about a power steering mechanism of vehicle  14  and about the hydraulic or electric actuators of the power steering mechanism. Fluid pressure data  34   o  may include, but is not limited to, information about the pressure of fluids in vehicle  14 , such as the pressure of the transmission fluid and the brake fluid. Brake data  34   p  may include, but is not limited to, information about the condition of the brakes of vehicle  14 . Transmission data  34   q  may include, but is not limited to, information about the transmission of vehicle  14 , such as whether vehicle  14  has an automatic transmission or a manual transmission. Additionally, transmission data  34   q  may include, but is not limited to, information about the condition of the transmission of vehicle  14  and the RPMs associated with each transmission level. Cruise control data  34   r  may include, but is not limited to, information on the cruise control mechanism of vehicle  14 . 
     Traffic congestion information  36   a  may include information associated with traffic conditions of a route, including but not limited to an average speed of vehicles travelling on the route, accidents along the route, a speed limit, closed roads, and construction along the route. 
     For example, a route that includes a large number of traffic stops may cause vehicle  14  to consume more energy than a route with fewer traffic stops. 
     Terrain information  36   b  may include geospatial and topographic information associated with a route. Terrain information  36   b  may also include, but is not limited to, information associated with a route&#39;s roads, such as an elevation of the roads, road conditions, road temperature, road slope, and road contours. Additionally, terrain information  36   b  may include, for example, weather information such as actual and/or predicted weather conditions, such as whether there is snow or ice on the roads, whether it is raining on the road, a wind speed, a direction of the wind, or whether there is a weather hazard, such as a tornado warning. For example, a route that includes roads that are covered with ice may cause vehicle  14  to consume more energy than a route that does not include icy roads. Terrain information  36   b  may also include information about the types of roads that a vehicle will encounter when travelling on the route, such as whether the route includes rural roads with shallow curves, suburban roads or urban roads that require frequent stops. Terrain information  36   b  may be obtained in real time from geostationary satellites. 
     Driving characteristic  38   a  may include, but is not limited to, at least one of an age, gender, reaction time, visual capability, speeding habits and traffic citations/accidents associated with a driver. Additionally, driving characteristics  38   a  may also include whether the driver is a risky driver that frequently change lanes, passes other vehicles, tailgates, honks and out-maneuvers other vehicles. For example, aggressive driving practices may cause vehicle  14  to consume more energy, given the constant braking and accelerating associated with aggressive driving. Device  12  may monitor a driver&#39;s driving style and store at least one driving characteristic  38   a  associated with the way a driver drives in vehicle information database  13 . 
     Driving characteristics  38   a  may be configured and customized by a driver of vehicle  14 . Driving characteristics  38   a  may be stored in a driving profile for each driver of vehicle  14 . 
     Driver information  38   b  may include a driver&#39;s preference(s) or requirement(s) for a route considered in addition to the energy consumption. Driver information  38   b  may include input received from a driver. Driver information  38   b  may include the purpose of a trip, such as business or pleasure. For example, a driver may wish to take the route that takes the shortest amount of time to the destination location if on a hurry, or may wish to take a scenery route if the driver is on vacation. Driver information  38   b  may include, but is not limited to, a desired travel time, a scenery, travel purpose, desired stops along the way, rest stop availability, etc. The driver may further specify a type of scenery road desired for the trip, such as a scenery road that includes lakes, mountains, valleys, orchards, farms, small towns, historic places, or national parks. For example, if the trip is part of a family vacation, the energy efficiency recommendation may be to take a route that includes theme parks and family entertainment centers, but avoids heavy traffic. 
     Vehicle characteristic  40   a  may include, but is not limited to, a vehicle type, the make and model of vehicle  14  and the shape of vehicle  14 . For example, vehicle&#39;s  14  shape and weight may affect the aerodynamic drag of vehicle  14 , causing an increase of the estimated amount of energy needed to travel to a destination. Vehicle type may include, but is not limited to, a pickup truck, a station wagon, a coupe, a sedan, a sport car, a van, a minivan, a sport utility vehicle, a motorcycle, a truck, a boat and an airplane. For example, an energy efficiency recommendation for a large and heavy truck may be different than for a light and compact car. Vehicle condition  40   b  may include the condition of vehicle  14 . For example, vehicle  14  may be in very good condition if it has been properly maintained. Vehicle location  42  may include, but is not limited to, information about the geographic location of vehicle  14 . An energy efficiency recommendation may be different for a vehicle located in a high altitude country area than for a vehicle that will be driven in a city. Vehicle maintenance schedule  44  may include information about maintenance performed on vehicle  14 , such as for example, the last time the oil and the transmission fluid were changed. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary server  16  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Server  16  includes one or more processors, such as processor  46  programmed to perform the functions described herein. Processor  46  is operatively coupled to a communication infrastructure  48 , e.g., a communications bus, cross-bar interconnect, network, etc. Processor  46  may execute computer programs stored on disk storage for execution via secondary memory  50 . Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. It is understood that computer systems and/or computer architectures other than those specifically described herein can be used to implement the invention. It is also understood that the capacities and quantities of the components of the architecture described below may vary depending on the device, the quantity of devices to be supported, as well as the intended interaction with the device. For example, configuration and management of server  16  may be designed to occur remotely by web browser. In such case, the inclusion of a display interface and display unit may not be required. 
     Server  16  may optionally include or share a display interface  52  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  48  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit  54 . Display  54  may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and touch screen display, among other types of displays. The computer system also includes a main memory  56 , such as random access memory (“RAM”) and read only memory (“ROM”), and may also include secondary memory  50 . Main memory  56  may store vehicle information database  13 . 
     Secondary memory  50  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  58  and/or a removable storage drive  60 , representing a removable hard disk drive, magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a memory stick, etc. The removable storage drive  60  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage media  62  in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Removable storage media  62 , represents, for example, a floppy disk, external hard disk, magnetic tape, USB flash drive, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removable storage drive  60 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage media  62  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
     In alternative embodiments, secondary memory  50  may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system and for storing data. Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  64  and an interface  66 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), flash memory, a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, EEPROM or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  64  and interfaces  66  which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  64  to other devices. 
     Server  16  may also include a communications interface  68 . Communications interface  68  allows software and data to be transferred to external devices. Examples of communications interface  68  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot and card, wireless transceiver/antenna, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface/module  68  may be, for example, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  68 . These signals are provided to communications interface  68  via the communications link (i.e., channel)  70 . Channel  70  carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link, and/or other communications channels. 
     It is understood that server  16  may have more than one set of communication interface  68  and communication link  70 . For example, server  16  may have a communication interface  68 /communication link  70  pair to establish a communication zone for wireless communication, a second communication interface  68 /communication link  70  pair for low speed, e.g., WLAN, wireless communication, another communication interface  68 /communication link  70  pair for communication with low speed wireless networks, and still another communication interface  68 /communication link  70  pair for other communication. 
     Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory  56  and/or secondary memory  50 . For example, computer programs are stored on disk storage, i.e. secondary memory  50 , for execution by processor  46  via RAM, i.e. main memory  56 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  68 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the method and system to perform the features of the present invention as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor  46  to perform the features of the corresponding method and system. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the corresponding device. Server  16  also includes transmitter  72  and receiver  74 . Processor  46  communicates with transmitter  72  and receiver  74  via communication infrastructure  48 . Server  16  may communicate with device  12  via communications network  18 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, server  16  may generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based on a request received from device  12  a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Input device  24  may be used to enter a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation request. Transmitter  20  may transmit the request to server  16  via communications network  18 . Receiver  74  of server  16  may receive the request. Processor  46  may query vehicle information database  13  in main memory  56  to access and retrieve at least one of vehicle sensor data  34 , road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule data  44  for use in generating the vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Alternatively, device  12  may send, along with the request, at least one of vehicle sensor data  34 , road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule data  44  for use by the server in generating the vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Processor  46  may analyze the data and may generate the vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based on at least one of vehicle sensor data  34 , road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule  44 . Transmitter  72  may send the energy efficiency recommendation to receiver  22  via communications network  18 . 
     Vehicle sensor data  34  may be stored in server  16  directly or indirectly. For example, vehicle  14  may collect vehicle sensor data  34  and may send the collected vehicle sensor data  34  to server  16  for storage. In this way, if device  12  gets stolen or needs to be replaced, the data stored in device  12  will not be lost, as the data has been backed up in server  16 . In another exemplary embodiment, vehicle sensor data  34  may be stored in an on board vehicle computer. Additionally, road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule  44  may also be stored in either server  16  on in an on board vehicle computer. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, device  12  may generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Processor  28  may generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation by querying vehicle information database  13 . Vehicle information database  13  may be stored in memory  26  of device  12 . Processor  28  may query vehicle information database  13  to retrieve vehicle sensor data  34  for use in generating a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. Processor  28  may also query vehicle information database  13  for at least one of road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule data  44 . Alternatively, device  12  may receive from server  16  or an on board vehicle computer (not shown) at least one of vehicle sensor data  34 , road data  36 , driving style data  38 , vehicle data  40 , vehicle location  42  and vehicle maintenance schedule data  44 . Processor  28  may analyze the data and generate a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation based at least in part on the analyzed data. Vehicle information database  13  may be located in memory  26  of device  12  or may be in memory  56  of server  16 . If vehicle information database  13  is in memory  56  of server  16 , processor  28  may communicate with server  16  via communications network  18 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an exemplary process for generating a vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Vehicle sensor data is accessed (Step S 100 ). Methods for generally accessing vehicle sensor data are known and are beyond the scope of this invention. Road data  36  is accessed (Step S 102 ). Driving style data  38  is accessed (Step S 104 ). Vehicle data  40  is accessed (Step S 106 ). Vehicle location data  42  is accessed (Step S 108 ). Vehicle maintenance schedule data  44  is accessed (Step S 110 ). The accessed data is analyzed (Step S 112 ). A vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation is generated based at least in part on the analyzed data (Step S 114 ). It is also contemplated that the energy efficiency recommendation can be based on additional criteria such as shortest travel time with highest energy efficiency, highest energy efficiency with least elapsed distance, or other multiple factors. The determination as to which method to use to determine the energy efficiency recommendation can be user selectable. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the user may be presented with a list of multiple vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendations and offered the opportunity to select one vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation. The multiple vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendations can be presented visually and/or audibly, with the user&#39;s selection being captured by selecting an area on the display  32  or via input device  24 , or captured through voice recognition. The vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendations can be ordered from most to least efficient, or vice versa. It is contemplated that the user can override this feature, thereby allowing the device  12  to order the energy efficiency recommendations. Although Steps S 100  through S 110  are shown in  FIG. 5  in a particular order, the invention is not limited to, such. Only one or more of Steps S 100 -S 110  need to be considered and the steps do not need to be executed in the order shown. 
     In one embodiment, the user is presented with a list of suggested energy efficiency recommendations. Device  12  may calculate an improvement in the energy efficiency of the vehicle after implementation of the energy efficiency recommendation, and may display information associated with the improvement in the energy efficiency of the vehicle. The vehicle operation energy efficiency recommendation may include a list of recommended vehicle adjustments. The energy efficiency recommendation may be sent or displayed at a wireless mobile device, a computer, a vehicle device, a vehicle display system or a separate display within or connected to vehicle  14 , among others. The energy efficiency recommendation may be printed at, for example, a printer in communication with a wireless mobile device or vehicle  14 . The energy efficiency recommendation may be emailed to a user who may print the energy efficiency recommendation. 
     Additionally, the energy recommendation may be accessible via the Internet. Server  16  may send the energy efficiency recommendation to a website and may send a driver of vehicle  14  login information associated with the website. A driver of vehicle  14  may use a username and password to log in into a website and access the energy efficiency recommendation. The driver of vehicle  14  may use a wireless mobile device, a computer, etc. to login to the website. 
     The present invention can be realized in hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computing system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein, is suited to perform the functions described herein. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a specialized or general purpose computer system having one or more processing elements and a computer program stored on a storage medium that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which, when loaded in a computing system is able to carry out these methods. Storage medium refers to any volatile or non-volatile storage device. 
     Computer program, software or application in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to, what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.