METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC APPOINTMENT SCHEDULER FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140288832A1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: HOCH, Nicklas, WERTHER, Bernd, MISCHKE, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,113,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/538
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/645 Type of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/647 Surface situation of road, e.g. type of paving
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• 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 method and a device for providing an electronic appointment scheduler for a vehicle. Appointments are acquired that have associated time data and geographical positions; the residual amount of energy available for driving the vehicle is acquired and data relating to a geographical road network, including the geographical positions of energy-supply devices suitable for said vehicle, are acquired. Taking into account the time data and geographical positions associated with the appointments, the available residual energy amount, and the energy consumption of the vehicle on a potential travel route, a route plan and an energy fill-up plan are produced, with supplemental periods of time being calculated that are associated with the appointments and derived on the basis of the route plan and energy fill-up plan. An appointment schedule is then produced and issued which comprises these appointments as well as the supplemental time periods that are associated with these appointments.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic appointment scheduler for a vehicle, the method comprising:

acquiring appointments with associated time data and geographical positions;

acquiring a residual energy amount available for powering the vehicle;

acquiring data on a geographical road network, including geographical positions of energy supply facilities suitable for the vehicle;

generating a route plan and an energy replenishment plan with consideration of the time data and geographical positions associated with the appointments and with consideration of an available residual energy amount and an energy consumption by the vehicle on a potential travel route;

calculating supplemental time periods associated with the appointments, which are derived based on the route plan and the energy replenishment plan; and

generating and outputting an appointment schedule with the appointments and the supplemental time periods associated with the appointments.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is be powered electrically and the suitable energy supply facilities comprise electrical charging points.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein properties of the charging points, particularly their time availability and charging output, are acquired and considered in the generation of the appointment schedule.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplemental time periods comprise:

travel times between two appointments at a different geographical position;

walking times between a charging station and a geographical position associated with an appointment;

waiting times at an energy supply facility, particularly at a charging station; and

/or

energy replenishment times, particularly charging times at an energy supply facility.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the route plan and/or the energy replenishment plan are generated based on the topography of the geographical road network, traffic, time of day, day of the week, time of year, weather conditions, route-specific energy consumption, cost, availability of the energy supply facility, and/or the residual energy amount.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated appointment schedule with the appointments and the associated supplemental time periods is displayed in the vehicle, wherein free time periods between the number of appointments and the supplemental time periods are visualized as an appointment-schedule degree of freedom.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the appointment scheduler is switched at least between two operating modes via an operating action, wherein, in a first operating mode, the appointments and the supplementary time periods caused by the route plan and/or energy replenishment plan are shown and the time data associated with an appointment and/or a supplementary time period are shifted in time by an operating action, and wherein, in a second operating mode, the supplementary time periods are faded out and the appointment sequence is changed by an operating action.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the appointment sequence, the time data associated with an appointment, and/or a supplementary time period resulting from the energy replenishment plan are changed by an operating action, and wherein the route plan, the energy replenishment plan, and/or the appointment schedule are generated anew.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if in consideration of all limiting conditions based on which the appointment schedule is generated, a time conflict between appointments and supplementary periods is detected, a warning message is output and optionally a list of suggestions for eliminating the time conflict is displayed.

10. A device for providing an electronic appointment scheduler for a vehicle, the device comprising:

a first interface to a data memory, in which data on a geographical road network, including geographical positions of energy supply facilities suitable for the vehicle are stored;

a second interface over which appointments with the associated time data and geographical positions are acquired;

a third interface over which the residual energy amount available for powering the vehicle is acquired;

a computing unit coupled to the interfaces, via which a route plan and an energy replenishment plan is generated with consideration of the time data and geographical positions of the appointments and with consideration of the available residual energy amount and the energy consumption by the vehicle on a potential travel route, wherein supplemental time periods associated with the appointments arising from the route plan and the energy replenishment plan are calculated; and

an output unit coupled to the computing unit, via which an appointment schedule generated by the computing unit with the appointments and the supplemental time periods associated with the appointments is output.