SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VEHICLE REFUELING STRATEGY

• US 20090204316A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Giuii, Thomas J., Liu, Yimin, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Theisen, Kacie Alane, MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Klampfl, Erica
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for generating a fueling strategy that generally minimizes fueling costs for a specified route to be travelled by a vehicle during a multi-day time period may include, based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period, (i) selecting at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) selecting at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determining an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station.

Claims

1. A vehicle refueling advisory system comprising:

one or more computers configured to, for a specified route to be travelled during a multi-day time period, (i) select at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) select at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determine an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station, the selections and determination based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period to generally minimize fueling costs for the specified route.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified maximum number of days during the multi-day time period on which fuel may be purchased.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified maximum number of times per day fuel may be purchased.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a capacity of the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified minimum amount of fuel for the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the selections and determination are further based on an initial amount of fuel in the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more computers are further configured to determine the forecasted fuel prices based on past and current fuel prices.

8. A method for generating a fueling strategy that generally minimizes fueling costs for a specified route to be travelled by a vehicle during a multi-day time period, the method comprising:

based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period, (i) selecting at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) selecting at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determining an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station; and

outputting a visual representation of the selected days, selected fueling stations, and determined amounts of fuel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining the forecasted fuel prices based on past and current fuel prices.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified maximum number of days during the multi-day time period on which fuel may be purchased.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified maximum number of times per day fuel may be purchased.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a capacity of the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the selections and determination are further based on a specified minimum amount of fuel for the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the selections and determination are further based on an initial amount of fuel in the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

15. An automotive vehicle comprising:

one or more computers configured to

receive input specifying a route to be traveled during a multi-day time period;

receive information about current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period;

based on the input and information, identify (i) at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each identified day, and, (iii) an amount of fuel to purchase at each identified fueling station; and

output a representation of the identified days, fueling stations and amounts of fuel.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the one or more computers are further configured to identify the at least one day, the at least one fueling station for each identified day, and the amount of fuel to purchase at each identified fueling station based on a capacity of the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the one or more computers are further configured to identify the at least one day, the at least one fueling station for each identified day, and the amount of fuel to purchase at each identified fueling station based on a specified minimum amount of fuel for the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the one or more computers are further configured to identify the at least one day, the at least one fueling station for each identified day, and the amount of fuel to purchase at each identified fueling station based on an initial amount of fuel in the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.