Method and Apparatus for Charging Station Guidance

• US 20140025226A1
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• 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: Zechel, Kelly Lee, Rork, Joseph Paul, Petersen, Brian, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Brown, Elizabeth Profitt
• Application Number:
  US14/036,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system, includes receiving a request for display of local refueling points. The method also includes determining current coordinates of vehicle and determining one or more fuel point locations within a defined map range. The method additionally includes displaying a map display containing the current vehicle location and the location of the one or more fuel point locations.

Claims

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

detecting a vehicle charging condition;

determining if a charging point having a location within a predetermined proximity to a vehicle present location exists in a charging point database; and

conditional on a non-existence of the charging point, adding a charging point to the database, and associating the vehicle present location as a charging point location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

asking a user to identify a charging point type; and

associating the identified charging point type with the charging point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the charging point type is a commercial identification.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the charging point is further added to a public charging point database on a basis of the commercial identification.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the charging point is further added to a public charging point database on an additional basis of multiple, independent user identification of the present location as a commercial charging point.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the charging point type is a non-commercial identification.

7. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a vehicle charging condition;

determine if a charging point having a location within a predetermined proximity to a vehicle present location exists in a charging point database; and

conditional on a non-existence of the charging point, add a charging point to the database, and associating the vehicle present location as a charging point location.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

ask a user to identify a charging point type; and

associate the identified charging point type with the charging point.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the charging point type is a commercial identification.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the charging point is further added to a public charging point database on a basis of the commercial identification.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the charging point to be added to a public charging point database on an additional basis of multiple, independent user identification of the present location as a commercial charging point.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the charging point type is a non-commercial identification.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

detecting a vehicle charging condition;

determining if a charging point having a location within a predetermined proximity to a vehicle present location exists in a charging point database; and

conditional on a non-existence of the charging point, adding a charging point to the database, and associating the vehicle present location as a charging point location.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

asking a user to identify a charging point type; and

associating the identified charging point type with the charging point.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the charging point type is a commercial identification.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the charging point is further added to a public charging point database on a basis of the commercial identification.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the charging point is further added to a public charging point database on an additional basis of multiple, independent user identification of the present location as a commercial charging point.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the charging point type is a non-commercial identification.