METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR GROUPING VEHICLES INTO A PLATOON

• US 20170293296A1
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Stenneth, Leon, Giurgiu, Gavril, Averbuch, Alex, Boroditsky, Vladimir, Linder, Eric, Jang, Dongwook, Anastassov, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 10,353,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for grouping a plurality of vehicles together into a platoon and using navigation and other available data to optimize the efficiencies of operating the vehicles together as a platoon. Methods may include receiving a first trip request including a first vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; receiving a second trip request including a second vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; and generating a platooning plan including assignment of platoon leader to the first vehicle identification and a joining location where a vehicle of the first vehicle identification is to form a platoon with a vehicle of the second identification. Methods may include joining the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first trip request including a first vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences;

receiving a second trip request including a second vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; and

generating a platooning plan including assignment of platoon leader to the first vehicle identification and a joining location where a vehicle of the first vehicle identification is to form a platoon with a vehicle of the second vehicle identification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

joining the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication session.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

facilitating payment between an account associated with the first vehicle and an account associated with the second vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated preferences comprises a planned route, planned stops, and a desired time of arrival at the trip destination, and wherein the platooning plan includes a platoon route, platoon planned stops, and a platoon target arrival time generated in response to the associated preferences of the first trip request and the second trip request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a join request including a third vehicle identification, a trip destination, and associated preferences, and

joining a vehicle associated with the third vehicle identification to the platooning plan.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the platooning plan to the platoon leader; and

directing the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle identification to the joining location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle identification to proceed to the joining location.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a first trip request including a first vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences;

receive a second trip request including a second vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; and

generate a platooning plan including assignment of platoon leader to the first vehicle identification and a joining location where a vehicle of the first vehicle identification is to form a platoon with a vehicle of the second vehicle identification.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

join the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication session.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

facilitate payment between an account associated with the first vehicle and an account associated with the second vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the associated preferences comprises a planned route, planned stops, and a desired time of arrival at the trip destination, and wherein the platooning plan includes a platoon route, platoon planned stops, and a platoon target arrival time generated in response to the associated preferences of the first trip request and the second trip request.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a join request including a third vehicle identification, a trip destination, and associated preferences, and

join a vehicle associated with the third vehicle identification to the platooning plan.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

send the platooning plan to the platoon leader; and

direct the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle identification to the joining location.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle identification to proceed to the joining location.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions for:

receiving a first trip request including a first vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences;

receiving a second trip request including a second vehicle identification, trip destination, and associated preferences; and

generating a platooning plan including assignment of platoon leader to the first vehicle identification and a joining location where a vehicle of the first vehicle identification is to form a platoon with a vehicle of the second vehicle identification.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program code instructions for:

joining the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication session.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising program code instructions for:

facilitating payment between an account associated with the first vehicle and an account associated with the second vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the associated preferences comprises a planned route, planned stops, and a desired time of arrival at the trip destination, and wherein the platooning plan includes a platoon route, platoon planned stops, and a platoon target arrival time generated in response to the associated preferences of the first trip request and the second trip request.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program code instructions for:

receiving a join request including a third vehicle identification, a trip destination, and associated preferences, and

joining a vehicle associated with the third vehicle identification to the platooning plan.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program code instructions for:

sending the platooning plan to the platoon leader; and

directing the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle identification to the joining location.