Sample-based advertising platform

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing product samples to users in autonomous vehicles, thereby allowing businesses to advertise their products via the rideshare platform. A physical advertising platform is provided leveraging existing rideshare and delivery infrastructure to allow businesses to advertise their products by providing samples in rideshare vehicles and/or with rideshare vehicle deliveries. Consumers have the opportunity to try new products from local businesses that they may otherwise not be exposed to. In some implementations, a rideshare application interface can allow users to see what new local product samples are available. In some examples, a user can select one or more product samples to try.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for sample-based advertising in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of samples from a local business;   a plurality of containers, each configured to hold a respective sample of the plurality of samples; and   an onboard computer configured to:
 receive a sample request, 
 receive a scanned activation code, and 
 unlock a respective container of the plurality of containers corresponding to the sample request, based on the scanned activation code. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an in-vehicle tablet configured to present at least one sample selection offer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a screen on the exterior of the autonomous vehicle configured to display instructions for accessing the respective container. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a central computing system configured to communicate with the onboard computer, and wherein the central computing system is configured to transmit a route for the autonomous vehicle to the onboard computer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the central computing system is further configured to receive an intermediate stop request, and update the route to include the intermediate stop, wherein the intermediate stop includes a business corresponding to the sample request. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is a first autonomous vehicle and further comprising a central computing system configured to receive a ride request including a pick-up location at the first autonomous vehicle and a destination location at the local business. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a scanner to scan a first activation code and generate the scanned activation code. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a central computing system configured to communicate with the onboard computer, wherein the central computing system is to determine a parking location for the autonomous vehicle based on one of pedestrian traffic and expected crowds. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the central computing system is further configured to transmit an alert announing the presence of the autonomous vehicle and the plurality of samples to rideshare applications within a selected distance of the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of screens and at least one of the plurality of screens is configured to display an advertisement for at least one of the plurality of samples. 
     
     
         25 . A method for sample-based advertising in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 providing a plurality of samples from a local business;   storing the plurality of samples in a plurality of containers, each configured to hold a respective sample of the plurality of samples;   receiving, at an onboard computer, a sample request;   receiving, at the onboard computer, a scanned activation code; and   unlocking a respective container of the plurality of containers corresponding to the sample request, based on the scanned activation code.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising presenting at least one sample selection offer on a vehicle tablet. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising displaying instructions for accessing the respective container on a screen on the exterior of the autonomous vehicle 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is a first autonomous vehicle, and further comprising receiving a ride request including a pick-up location at the first autonomous vehicle and a destination location at the local business. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising receiving an intermediate stop request, and updating an autonomous vehicle route to include the intermediate stop, wherein the intermediate stop includes a business corresponding to the sample request. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising transmiting an alert announing the presence of the autonomous vehicle and the plurality of samples to rideshare applications within a selected distance of the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising determining a parking location for the autonomous vehicle based on one of pedestrian traffic and expected crowds 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , providing, to a rideshare application, an incentive to visit the local business. 
     
     
         33 . A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, upon execution of the instructions by a processor of a computing device, are to cause the computing device to:
 provide a plurality of samples from a local business;   store the plurality of samples in a plurality of containers, each configured to hold a respective sample of the plurality of samples;   receive, at an onboard computer, a sample request;   receive, at the onboard computer, a scanned activation code; and   unlock a respective container of the plurality of containers corresponding to the sample request, based on the scanned activation code.   
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 29 , wherein upon execution of the instructions by the processor of a computing device, cause the computing device further to present at least one sample selection offer on a vehicle tablet