METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING OPTIMUM FUEL STATION

• US 20150088409A1
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WEX Inc.
• Original Assignee: WEX Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, John Lind
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for planning fueling during a travel. The method comprises receiving information identifying a starting point and a destination for the travel; determining a route between the starting point and the destination; identifying one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route; determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and outputting information identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores. Identifying one or more candidate fuel stations may include determining a search corridor; and identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations within the search corridor. Determining the search corridor may comprise selecting a search point located on the route; selecting a search radius; drawing a search circle with a radius equal to the search radius and centered at the search point; and including the search circle in the search corridor.

Claims

1. A method executed by one or more processors for planning fueling during a travel, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a starting point and a destination for the travel;

determining a route between the starting point and the destination;

identifying, using the one or more processors, one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route;

determining, using the one or more processors, scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and

outputting information identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the one or more candidate fuel stations based on the scores; and

outputting the ranked list of the one or more candidate fuel stations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more candidate fuel stations comprises:

determining a search corridor, wherein the search corridor encompasses at least a portion of the route; and

identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations within the search corridor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the search corridor comprises:

selecting a search point located on the route;

selecting a search radius;

drawing a search circle with a radius equal to the search radius and centered at the search point; and

including the search circle in the search corridor.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations comprises:

finding a fuel station that is located within the search corridor;

confirming that the fuel station satisfies one or more criteria; and

including the fuel station among the one or more candidate fuel stations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the route between the starting point and the destination comprises determining a polyline between the starting point and the destination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations includes determining one or more of a fuel cost score, a travel cost score, and a resource cost score for one candidate fuel station of the one or more candidate fuel stations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations comprises adding at least two of the fuel cost score, the travel cost score, and the resource cost score.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the fuel cost score comprises determining a cost of fueling a vehicle at the one candidate fuel station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the cost of fueling comprises:

determining a unit cost of fuel at the one candidate fuel station;

determining an amount of fuel required for the vehicle; and

determining the cost of fueling based on the unit cost and the amount of fuel.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the travel cost score comprises determining a fuel cost of a detour to reach the one candidate fuel station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the fuel cost of the detour comprises:

determining an extra distance travelled due the detour;

determining an extra amount of fuel resulting from the extra distance;

determining a unit cost of fuel at the one candidate fuel station; and

determining the fuel cost of the detour based on the unit cost and the extra amount of fuel.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the resource cost score comprises determining an additional cost that results from an extra time spent on taking a detour to reach the one candidate fuel station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the additional cost comprises:

determining an extra time spent due the detour;

determining a resource cost rate during the detour; and

determining the additional cost based on the extra time and the resource cost rate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the resource cost rate includes one or more of wage rate for one or more employees taking the detour or revenue rate from the one or more employees.

16. A system for planning fueling during a travel, the system comprising:

a client device configured to receive information that identify a starting point and a destination for the travel;

a server that includes one or more processors and is configured to;

receive from the client device the information that identify the starting point and the destination;

determine a route between the starting point and the destination;

identify one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route;

determine scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and

transmit to the client device information that identify the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured to:

determine a search corridor, wherein the search corridor encompasses at least a portion of the route; and

identify the one or more candidate fuel stations within the search corridor.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer code that, when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform a method executed for planning fueling during a travel, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a starting point and a destination for the travel;

determining a route between the starting point and the destination;

identifying one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route;

determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and

outputting information identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein identifying one or more candidate fuel stations comprises:

determining a search corridor, wherein the search corridor encompasses at least a portion of the route; and

identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations within the search corridor.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein determining the search corridor comprises:

selecting a search point located on the route;

selecting a search radius;

drawing a search circle with a radius equal to the search radius and centered at the search point; and

including the search circle in the search corridor.