Method and apparatus for providing in-vehicle fuel related information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing in-vehicle fuel-related information, the method comprising:
- determining a geographic location of a vehicle;
estimating a driving distance remaining for the vehicle based on a current fuel level and a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle;
locating fuel providers within a search area of the driving distance remaining for the vehicle; and
outputting one or more of the fuel providers.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for providing in-vehicle fuel-related information is disclosed. A geographic location of a vehicle is determined. A driving distance remaining for the vehicle is estimated based on a current fuel level and a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle. Fuel providers are located within a search area of the driving distance remaining for the vehicle, and one or more of the fuel providers are output. A travel cost for the vehicle may also be calculated.
83 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for providing in-vehicle fuel-related information, the method comprising:
-
determining a geographic location of a vehicle; estimating a driving distance remaining for the vehicle based on a current fuel level and a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle; locating fuel providers within a search area of the driving distance remaining for the vehicle; and outputting one or more of the fuel providers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for providing in-vehicle fuel-related information, comprising:
-
a processing circuit responsive to executable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuit; determines a geographic location of a vehicle; estimates a driving distance remaining for the vehicle based on a current fuel level and a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle; locates fuel providers within a search area of the driving distance remaining for the vehicle; and outputs one or more of the fuel providers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for providing in-vehicle fuel related information, the method comprising:
-
initiating a travel cost calculation; determining an initial amount of fuel available in a vehicle prior to an additional amount of fuel being added; determining the cost of the initial amount of fuel, comprising; receiving information about the cost-per-unit-of-measure of the initial amount of fuel, and multiplying this cost-per-unit-of-measure by the initial amount; sensing an additional amount of fuel being added to the vehicle, determining the amount of fuel added, and determining the total amount of fuel available from the initial amount and the amount added; determining the cost of the additional amount of fuel, comprising; receiving from a provider of the additional amount of fuel the provider'"'"'s cost-per-unit-of-measure, and multiplying the provider'"'"'s cost-per-unit-of-measure by the additional amount; determining the average monetary value of the total amount of fuel, comprising; adding the cost of the initial amount of fuel to the cost of the additional amount of fuel to determine a total cost of the total amount of fuel, and dividing the total cost by the total amount of fuel to determine the average-cost-per-unit-of-measure of the total amount of fuel available; providing to a user of the vehicle the average monetary value of the total amount of fuel available, comprising; providing to a user of the vehicle the average-cost-per-unit-of-measure of the total amount of fuel available, the total cost of the total amount of fuel available, or both; and concluding the travel cost calculation, and in response thereto, determining the amount of fuel consumed since the initiating step, and calculating the cost of the fuel consumed by multiplying the amount of fuel consumed by the average monetary value of the total amount of fuel available, the average monetary value being provided as a per-unit-of-measure value.
-
Specification