Methods and Apparatus for Navigation Including Vehicle Recharging

• US 20120179359A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Profitt-Brown, Elizabeth, Zechel, Kelly Lee, Rork, Joseph Paul, Petersen, Brian, Pleet, Edward Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/985,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179359A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• 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

A computer-implemented method includes determining the reachability of one or more known refueling points along a route-to-be-traveled. The method also includes selecting one or more recommended refueling points, based at least in part on the determined reachability of the one or more known refueling points. The method further includes outputting at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled including at least one recommended refueling point and providing an option to route a vehicle to the recommended refueling point. The method additionally includes, responsive to a selection of an option to route the vehicle to the recommended refueling point, providing a route from a present destination to the recommended refueling point, wherein, when the recommended refueling point has been reached, the route reverts to the route-to-be-traveled.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executable by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) comprising:

determining the reachability of one or more known refueling points along a route-to-be-traveled;

selecting one or more recommended refueling points, based at least in part on the determined reachability of the one or more known refueling points;

outputting at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled including at least one recommended refueling point;

providing an option to route a vehicle to the recommended refueling point; and

responsive to a selection of an option to route the vehicle to the recommended refueling point, providing a route from a present destination to the recommended refueling point, wherein, when the recommended refueling point has been reached, the route reverts to the route-to-be-traveled.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the using a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) to determine the reachability further comprises determining a current vehicle fuel level.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining a current vehicle fuel level further comprises receiving input corresponding to a current vehicle fuel level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving input further comprises communicating with a vehicle system capable of providing current fuel level data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the using a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) to determine the reachability further comprises determining a vehicle model.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining a vehicle model further comprises receiving input corresponding to a vehicle model.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving input further comprises communicating with a vehicle system capable of providing vehicle model data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the using a VACS to select one or more recommended refueling points further comprises considering one or more driver trip preferences.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include a minimum fuel level threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include a proximity of the refueling point to the route-to-be-traveled.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include limiting power use to electric power in a hybrid electric vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include a preferred refueling time limit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include a preferred time near which to refuel.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more driver trip preferences include a preferred location near which to refuel.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the using a VACS to select one or more recommended refueling points further comprises considering one or more travel-time adjusting factors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more travel-time adjusting factors includes weather conditions along at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more travel-time adjusting factors includes traffic conditions along at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), cause the VACS to perform the method comprising:

determining the reachability of one or more known refueling points along a route-to-be-traveled;

selecting one or more recommended refueling points, based at least in part on the determined reachability of the one or more known refueling points;

outputting at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled including at least one recommended refueling point;

providing an option to route a vehicle to the recommended refueling point; and

responsive to a selection of an option to route the vehicle to the recommended refueling point, providing a route from a present destination to the recommended refueling point, wherein, when the recommended refueling point has been reached, the route reverts to the route-to-be-traveled.

19. A vehicle associated computing system (VACS) comprising:

a processor, operable to determine the reachability of one or more known refueling points along a route-to-be-traveled based on logic present in a memory associated with the VACS;

wherein the processor is operable to select one or more recommended refueling points, based at least in part on the determined reachability of the one or more known refueling points, based on logic present in the memory;

a display in communication with the processor, and operable to output at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled including at least one recommended refueling point, based on instructions received from the processor;

wherein the display is further operable to provide an option to route a vehicle to the recommended refueling point, based on instructions received from the processor; and

wherein the processor, responsive to a selection of an option to route the vehicle to the recommended refueling point, is operable to provide a route from a present destination to the recommended refueling point, based on logic stored in the memory,

wherein, when the recommended refueling point has been reached, the processor is operable to revert the route to the route-to-be-traveled, based on logic stored in the memory.