Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs

• US 20080243331A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kato, Kazuya
• Application Number:
  US12/073,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs calculate a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility and calculate, for each of a plurality of stop-off facilities, a total time required for visiting the stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot. The systems, methods, and programs compare each of the calculated total times with the time required for the vehicle maintenance and, based on the comparison, notify a driver of stop-off facilities which can be visited on foot or by other methods during the vehicle maintenance.

Claims

1. A stop-off facility guidance system for a vehicle, comprising:

a controller that;

calculates a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility;

for each of a plurality of stop-off facilities, calculates a total time required for visiting the stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot;

compares each of the calculated total times with the time required for the vehicle maintenance; and

based on the comparison, notifies a driver of stop-off facilities which can be visited on foot during the vehicle maintenance.

2. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the total time for each of the plurality of stop-off facilities based on:

a time required to travel between the predetermined facility and the stop-off facility; and

a mean stopover time for the stop-off facility.

3. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller notifies the driver of a stop-off facility which can be visited on foot when the calculated total time for that stop-off facility is shorter than the time required for the vehicle maintenance.

4. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the stop-off facilities which can be visited on foot and marks indicating that the stop off facilities can be visited on foot on a map.

5. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the stop-off facilities in a list form.

6. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a notification of programs that can be watched or listened to within the time required for the vehicle maintenance.

7. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller notifies the driver of stop-off facilities that can be visited by methods other than on foot.

8. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein the controller notifies the driver of an estimated time required for the vehicle maintenance.

9. The stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle comprises an electric driving motor; and

the vehicle maintenance is a charging of a charging element that supplies electric power to a battery, the battery supplying electric power to the driving motor.

10. A navigation apparatus comprising the stop-off facility guidance system of claim 1.

11. A stop-off facility guidance method, comprising:

calculating a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility;

calculating, for each of a plurality of stop-off facilities, a total time required for visiting the stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot;

comparing each of the calculated total times with the time required for the vehicle maintenance; and

based on the comparison, notifying a driver of stop-off facilities that can be visited on foot during the vehicle maintenance.

12. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising calculating the total time for each of the plurality of stop-off facilities based on:

a time required to travel between the predetermined facility and the stop-off facility; and

a mean stopover time for the stop-off facility.

13. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the driver of a stop-off facility which can be visited on foot when the calculated total time for that stop-off facility is shorter than the time required for the vehicle maintenance.

14. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the stop-off facilities which can be visited on foot and marks indicating that the stop off facilities can be visited on foot on a map.

15. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the stop-off facilities in a list form.

16. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising providing a notification of programs that can be watched or listened to within the time required for the vehicle maintenance.

17. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the driver of stop-off facilities that can be visited by methods other than on foot.

18. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the driver of an estimated time required for the vehicle maintenance.

19. The stop-off facility guidance method of claim 11, wherein:

the vehicle comprises an electric driving motor; and

the vehicle maintenance is a charging of a charging element that supplies electric power to a battery, the battery supplying electric power to the driving motor.

20. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program usable to provide stop-off facility guidance, the program comprising:

instructions for calculating a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility;

instructions for calculating, for each of a plurality of stop-off facilities, a total time required for visiting the stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot;

instructions for comparing each of the calculated total times with the time required for the vehicle maintenance; and

instructions for based on the comparison, notifying a driver of stop-off facilities that can be visited on foot during the vehicle maintenance.