How Uber Manages Data Connections for Self-Driving Car Fleets
A system that splits network traffic for autonomous vehicles by sending heavy data over cheap channels while reserving a highly reliable channel specifically for delivery confirmations.
Original patent title: “Backend communications system for a fleet of autonomous vehicles”
A system that splits network traffic for autonomous vehicles by sending heavy data over cheap channels while reserving a highly reliable channel specifically for delivery confirmations. Granted to Uber Technologies Inc in 2018 with 19 claims and 36 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to manage the constant stream of data between a central server and a fleet of self-driving cars. Instead of sending everything over one connection, the system identifies multiple available communication channels. It designates one channel as the 'reliable' lane specifically for transmission acknowledgments (ACKs), which are the digital receipts confirming data was received. Meanwhile, it sends the bulk data packets over other, potentially cheaper or faster channels. This ensures that even if a data-heavy channel drops, the server knows exactly which packets arrived because the confirmation receipts are traveling on a more stable, dedicated path.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general load balancing that does not specifically separate ACKs from data packets.
- Does not cover communication systems that rely on a single network interface or a single communication channel.
- Does not cover protocols that do not use TCP or similar acknowledgment-based verification systems.
- Does not cover the internal mechanical or sensor-based navigation systems of the autonomous vehicles themselves.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system treats the 'receipt' (ACK) as more important than the 'package' (data packet) by forcing them onto different network paths, ensuring the backend always knows the state of the vehicle's connection even if the bulk data channel is unstable.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Uber's autonomous vehicle fleet management software
Large-scale telematics systems for commercial trucking fleets
Remote monitoring platforms for autonomous delivery robots
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Managing connectivity for autonomous fleets is a massive engineering challenge because cars move through areas with varying signal quality. If a self-driving car loses its connection to the backend, it must be able to safely pull over or stop. This patent provides a method to keep the 'heartbeat' of the connection alive by prioritizing the reliability of confirmation signals, which is critical for fleet-wide safety and coordination.
Filed
December 8, 2015
Granted
August 14, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Uber Technologies continues to develop its autonomous vehicle backend infrastructure. Other major players in the autonomous space, such as Waymo and various logistics-focused robotics companies, utilize similar multi-channel communication strategies to maintain fleet connectivity.
Market impact
This patent reflects the industry-wide shift toward treating autonomous vehicles as nodes in a high-availability network. It highlights the necessity of robust backend communication architectures to support the commercial deployment of driverless transport services.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to manage the constant stream of data between a central server and a fleet of self-driving cars. Instead of sending everything over one connection, the system identifies multiple available communication channels. It designates one channel as the 'reliable' lane specifically for transmission acknowledgments (ACKs), which are the digital receipts confirming data was received. Meanwhile, it sends the bulk data packets over other, potentially cheaper or faster channels. This ensures that even if a data-heavy channel drops, the server knows exactly which packets arrived because the confirmation receipts are traveling on a more stable, dedicated path.
The clever bit
The system treats the 'receipt' (ACK) as more important than the 'package' (data packet) by forcing them onto different network paths, ensuring the backend always knows the state of the vehicle's connection even if the bulk data channel is unstable.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general load balancing that does not specifically separate ACKs from data packets.
- Does not cover communication systems that rely on a single network interface or a single communication channel.
- Does not cover protocols that do not use TCP or similar acknowledgment-based verification systems.
- Does not cover the internal mechanical or sensor-based navigation systems of the autonomous vehicles themselves.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
31/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$205K – $655K
Midpoint $410K · 9.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Aitken, M., & Ross, W. (2018). How Uber Manages Data Connections for Self-Driving Car Fleets (U.S. Patent No. 10,050,760). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10050760/uber-eats
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Uber Manages Data Connections for Self-Driving Car Fleets cover?
A system that splits network traffic for autonomous vehicles by sending heavy data over cheap channels while reserving a highly reliable channel specifically for delivery confirmations.
Who owns patent US 10050760?
Uber Technologies Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 14, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10050760 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 36 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Managing connectivity for autonomous fleets is a massive engineering challenge because cars move through areas with varying signal quality. If a self-driving car loses its connection to the backend, it must be able to safely pull over or stop. This patent provides a method to keep the 'heartbeat' of the connection alive by prioritizing the reliability of confirmation signals, which is critical for fleet-wide safety and coordination.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general load balancing that does not specifically separate ACKs from data packets.
Same assignee
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