Method and System for Reducing Carbon Emissions Arising from Vehicle Travel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for reducing carbon emissions arising from vehicle travel, the system comprising:
- a processor configured execute a travel management software application, the travel management software application configured to (1) receive data from a user that represents a plan to travel by vehicle, (2) determine a distance for the vehicle travel plan based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (3) retrieve vehicle travel mode data for a plurality of vehicle travel modes based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (4) process the received vehicle travel plan data based at least in part on (i) the determined distance and (ii) the retrieved vehicle travel mode data to thereby compute an estimated amount of carbon emissions that each vehicle travel mode would produce if used for the vehicle travel plan, and (5) based on the processing, select a vehicle travel mode that satisfies the vehicle travel plan and a vehicle travel mode selection rule from among a plurality of vehicle travel modes, wherein the vehicle travel mode selection rule includes as at least a component thereof a factor that favors a vehicle travel mode if that vehicle travel mode is estimated to produce a lower amount of carbon emissions than another vehicle travel mode, and wherein the vehicle travel modes comprise at least two members of the group consisting of a rental vehicle travel mode, a fleet vehicle travel mode and a reimbursable personal vehicle travel mode.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for facilitating efficient travel management in a manner such that the carbon emissions produced by vehicle travel are reduced are disclosed. Different vehicle travel modes under consideration for use to satisfy a travel plan are evaluated and selected based at least in part on their relative environmental impacts such that an aggregate reduction in carbon emissions can be achieved via a judicious selection of vehicle travel modes used to carry out a vehicle travel plan.
117 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for reducing carbon emissions arising from vehicle travel, the system comprising:
a processor configured execute a travel management software application, the travel management software application configured to (1) receive data from a user that represents a plan to travel by vehicle, (2) determine a distance for the vehicle travel plan based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (3) retrieve vehicle travel mode data for a plurality of vehicle travel modes based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (4) process the received vehicle travel plan data based at least in part on (i) the determined distance and (ii) the retrieved vehicle travel mode data to thereby compute an estimated amount of carbon emissions that each vehicle travel mode would produce if used for the vehicle travel plan, and (5) based on the processing, select a vehicle travel mode that satisfies the vehicle travel plan and a vehicle travel mode selection rule from among a plurality of vehicle travel modes, wherein the vehicle travel mode selection rule includes as at least a component thereof a factor that favors a vehicle travel mode if that vehicle travel mode is estimated to produce a lower amount of carbon emissions than another vehicle travel mode, and wherein the vehicle travel modes comprise at least two members of the group consisting of a rental vehicle travel mode, a fleet vehicle travel mode and a reimbursable personal vehicle travel mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15)
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22. A method for reducing carbon emissions arising from vehicle travel, the method comprising:
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receiving data from a user that represents a plan to travel by vehicle; determining a distance for the vehicle travel plan based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data; retrieving vehicle travel mode data for a plurality of vehicle travel modes based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data; processing the received vehicle travel plan data based at least in part on (i) the determined distance and (ii) the retrieved vehicle travel mode data to thereby compute an estimated amount of carbon emissions that each vehicle travel mode would produce if used for the vehicle travel plan; and based on the processing, selecting a vehicle travel mode that satisfies the vehicle travel plan and a vehicle travel mode selection rule from among a plurality of vehicle travel modes, wherein the vehicle travel mode selection rule includes as at least a component thereof a factor that favors a vehicle travel mode if that vehicle travel mode is estimated to produce a lower amount of carbon emissions than another vehicle travel mode, and wherein the vehicle travel modes comprise at least two members of the group consisting of a rental vehicle travel mode, a fleet vehicle travel mode and a reimbursable personal vehicle travel mode; and wherein the receiving, determining, retrieving, processing and selecting steps are performed by a processor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 42)
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23. (canceled)
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43. A computer program product for reducing carbon emissions arising from vehicle travel, the product comprising:
a plurality of processor-executable instructions resident on a computer-readable storage medium, the instructions being executable by a processor to (1) receive data from a user that represents a plan to travel by vehicle, (2) determine a distance for the vehicle travel plan based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (3) retrieve vehicle travel mode data for a plurality of vehicle travel modes based at least in part on the received vehicle travel plan data, (4) process the received vehicle travel plan data based at least in part on (i) the determined distance and (ii) the retrieved vehicle travel mode data to thereby compute an estimated amount of carbon emissions that each vehicle travel mode would produce if used for the vehicle travel plan, and (5) based on the processing, select a vehicle travel mode that satisfies the vehicle travel plan and a vehicle travel mode selection rule from among a plurality of vehicle travel modes, wherein the vehicle travel mode selection rule includes as at least a component thereof a factor that favors a vehicle travel mode if that vehicle travel mode is estimated to produce a lower amount of carbon emissions than another vehicle travel mode, and wherein the vehicle travel modes comprise at least two members of the group consisting of a rental vehicle travel mode, a fleet vehicle travel mode and a reimbursable personal vehicle travel mode.
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44-59. -59. (canceled)
Specification