Method and Apparatus for Vehicle System Calibration

• US 20120277952A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Szwabowski, Steven Joseph, Schunder, Mark, Filev, Dimitar Petrov
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes requesting weather data from a remote location. The illustrative embodiment further includes determining if one or more vehicle systems should be adjusted, based at least in part on the requested weather data. The illustrative embodiment additionally includes adjusting one or more vehicle systems contingent at least in part on the determining. The illustrative embodiment further includes repeating the determining and adjusting until no weather data remains for processing.

Claims

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

requesting weather data from a remote source;

determining if one or more vehicle systems should be adjusted, based at least in part on the requested weather data;

adjusting one or more vehicle systems contingent at least in part on the determining; and

repeating the determining and adjusting until no weather data remains for processing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining whether to advise a driver to change a window up/down state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining whether to automatically change a window up/down state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining whether to automatically adjust a vehicle HVAC setting.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the weather data includes temperature data.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the weather data includes wind velocity data.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the weather data includes humidity data.

8. A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle computing system (VCS), comprising:

determining if a vehicle system adjustment is appropriate based at least on received weather data;

determining whether secondary considerations should be analyzed prior to adjusting the vehicle system;

contingent on whether secondary considerations should be analyzed, analyzing at least one secondary consideration; and

automatically adjusting the vehicle system, according to a predetermined adjustment instruction, based at least in part on the weather data and one or more secondary considerations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle system is an HVAC system and the secondary consideration includes at least an exterior temperature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary considerations further include a precipitation state.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising advising a window-down state conditional on a precipitation state being zero precipitation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the secondary considerations further include at least a wind-speed state.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising advising a window-down state conditional on a wind speed state being below a threshold speed.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary considerations include at least a wind speed state and a precipitation state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, if the wind-speed state is above a certain threshold or if the precipitation state is non-zero, the VCS automatically adjusts the HVAC system to maintain a desired temperature.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining a route-of-travel for a vehicle;

accessing weather data over the route-of-travel;

analyzing the effect of the weather shown by the weather data on one or more vehicle systems;

determining an optimal route based at least in part on the analyzing;

adjusting the route-of-travel to conform to the optimal route; and

providing the driver with the adjusted route-of-travel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyzing includes analyzing the one or more vehicle systems to determine the effect of the weather shown by the weather data on fuel efficiency.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an effect of the weather shown by the weather data on travel time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the optimal route is a projected fastest route.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the optimal route is a projected most fuel efficient route.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the weather data includes weather forecast data for portions of the route beyond a predetermined distance or projected time from a vehicle'"'"'s current location.