SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING HOURS OF SERVICE (HOS) WITH A VEHICLE'S NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20180080777A1
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: NIMCHUK, WILLIAM GEORGE, MCKINNEY, DAVID JOHNMICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 10,260,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A transportation management system that includes tools for generating an optimized trip plan that can be updated, such as based on driver input, during implementation of a planned trip. The system includes a comprehensive trip optimization tool that generates a trip plan with fuel stop and rest stop optimization. The system includes tools calculating estimated time of arrival (ETA) and projected time of availability (PTA) for the driver, and these tools are adapted to provide the ETA and PTA for the entire trip (rather than only providing an ETA for the next stop). The system further includes tools accepting driver input and/or allowing driver manipulation of a dispatched trip plan such as using pre-filtered alternatives for fuel stops or rest stops or routes, e.g., based on stored driver preferences, that may be less optimal than those in the original trip plan but still viable.

Claims

1. A system for dynamic integration of hours of service with a navigation system associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a service receiving from a vehicle tachometer, a tachograph, an external module, or another service at least one of current, historical, and estimated future hours of service (HOS) status for an operator or driver of the vehicle defined by regulations under which the operator or the driver are operating or driving the vehicle;

a service generating an estimated time at which the operator or the driver of the vehicle will require each rest break period per the regulations under which the operator or the driver of the vehicle are operating or driving the vehicle;

a service determining whether the time at which each rest stop is planned in a trip plan exceeds the estimated time at which the associated rest break period is required; and

a service that updates the trip plan and a navigation route to include a replacement rest stop that is predicted to be reachable within remaining hours of service for the operator or the driver of the vehicle dictating when each of the rest break periods are taken, wherein the remaining hours of service are calculated based on the at least one of the current, historical, and estimated future HOS status.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include the replacement rest stop are automatically generated based on the HOS status of the operator or the driver of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include the replacement rest stop are provided as a set of alternative stops that are selectable by the operator or driver of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a service generating a set of alternative rest stops that are valid within the remaining HOS for the operator or the driver of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service calculating ETA for each of the planned rest stops.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service calculating PTA for each of the planned rest stops.

7. A system for integration of current, historical, and estimated vehicle fuel levels, vehicle fuel capacity, and vehicle fuel consumption rate with a navigation system associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a service receiving from the vehicle or through an external module vehicle data including current fuel levels and an average or expected fuel consumption rate;

a service generating an estimated time or distance remaining which the vehicle might travel prior to fuel levels falling below a refueling threshold;

a service determining whether a next planned fuel stop in a trip plan exceeds the estimate time or distance; and

a service updating the trip plan and a navigation route to include a replacement fuel stop that is predicted to be reachable within the average or expected fuel consumption rate and the refueling threshold.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include a replacement fuel stop are automatically generated based on an operational status of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include a replacement fuel stop are provided as a set of alternative stops that are selectable by the operator or the driver of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a service generating a set of alternative fuel stops that are valid within a current operational status of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a service calculating ETA for each of the planned fuel stops.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a service calculating PTA for each of the planned fuel stops.

13. A method for dynamically integrating hours of service with a navigation system associated with a vehicle, comprising:

receiving at least one of current, historical, and estimated future hours of service (HOS) status for an operator or driver of the vehicle;

generating an estimated time at which the operator or the driver of the vehicle will require each rest break period per the regulations under which the operator or the driver of the vehicle are operating or driving the vehicle;

determining whether the time at which each rest stop is planned in a trip plan exceeds the estimated time at which the associated rest break period is required; and

updating the trip plan and a navigation route to include a replacement rest stop that is predicted to be reachable within remaining hours of service for the operator or the driver of the vehicle dictating when each of the rest break periods are taken, wherein the remaining hours of service are calculated based on the at least one of the current, historical, and estimated future HOS status.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one of current, historical, and estimated future hours of service (HOS) status for the operator or the driver of the vehicle are received directly from a vehicle tachometer, a tachograph, an external module, or another service.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include the replacement rest stop are automatically generated based on the HOS status of the operator or the driver of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein updates to the trip plan and the navigation route to include the replacement rest stop are provided as a set of alternative stops that are selectable by the operator or driver of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a set of alternative rest stops that are valid within the remaining HOS for the operator or the driver of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating ETA for each of the planned rest stops and updating the trip plan to include the calculated ETAs.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating PTA for each of the planned rest stops and updating the trip plan to include the calculated PTAs.