Method and apparatus to provide guidance to a vehicle based on vehicle characteristics

• US 8,560,216 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kahn, Philippe, Kinsolving, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US13/160,439
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/117, 701/120, 701/123, 701/301, 701/410, 701/411, 701/413, 701/416, 701/420, 701/421, 701/442, 701/533, 342/350, 342/352, 342/357.2, 342/357.21, 342/357.22, 342/357.24, 342/357.39, 342/357.44, 342/357.64, 342/357.72, 342/357.73, 340/990, 340/995.23, 340/995.24
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects

Abstract

A method or apparatus to provide customized guidance to a vehicle having a consumption pattern, such that the guidance takes into account the consumption pattern of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing an initial characterization of a vehicle, including fuel requirements;

predictively evaluating a range profile of the vehicle using the initial characterization using a computing system including a processor;

adjusting the initial vehicle characterization based on data obtained from vehicle use;

generating a route based on the adjusted characterization of the vehicle, such that the route includes routing to a refueling station having an appropriate fuel type, when the distance the vehicle can travel prior to the refueling is less than the length of the route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial characterizing comprises:

determining a vehicle type based on one or more of;

user input, data received from the vehicle, a photograph of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the characterizing further comprises:

adjusting the vehicle characterization beyond the vehicle type, based on further input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the characterizing further comprises obtaining data regarding the vehicle from external sources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises:

tracking the vehicle during use to generate observed data; and

adjusting the vehicle characterization based on the observed data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the routing takes into account permanent road conditions, including one or more of;

incline, stop signs, stop lights, and speed limits.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the routing takes into account transitory road conditions which include one or more of:

traffic level, accidents, weather conditions.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically characterizing a driver, based on behavior, such that the vehicle characteristics are modified by the driver characteristics, the modified characteristics used for predictively evaluating the range profile of the vehicle and for routing.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle characterization logic to initially characterize a vehicle, including fuel requirements;

the vehicle characterization logic to update the initial characterization based on data obtained during vehicle use;

a range profiler to use the characterization data to predictively evaluate a range profile of the vehicle;

a direction logic to generate a route based on the characterization of the vehicle, such that the route includes routing to a refueling station having an appropriate fuel type, when the distance the vehicle can travel prior to the refueling is less than the length of the route as determined based on the range profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein characterizing comprises:

a vehicle logic to determining a vehicle type, based on one or more of;

user input, data received from the vehicle, a photograph of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vehicle characterization logic adjusts the vehicle characterization beyond the vehicle type, based on further input.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the characterizing further comprises obtaining data regarding the vehicle from external sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a vehicle monitoring logic to generate observed data based on vehicle tracking information; and

the vehicle characterization logic altering the vehicle characterization based on the observed data.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the range profiler further includes one or more of a road characterization and a driver characterization.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a driver characterization logic characterizes a driver, based on user input data regarding driver preferences and driver behavior, which may include:

aggressiveness of acceleration deceleration, engine revving.

16. A mobile device including a system to provide guidance to a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle system to communicate with the vehicle, and obtain information from the vehicle;

a vehicle characterization logic to initially characterize the vehicle, to determine factors which may have an effect on a range profile, the range profile including fuel consumption based on route characteristics, thereby enabling the use of the same mobile device with multiple vehicles;

the vehicle characterization logic to update the initial characterization of the vehicle based on observed conditions and to adjust the range profile; and

a direction logic to generate directions taking into account the range profile of the vehicle and the route characteristics of potential routes.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a driver characterization logic to obtain driver characteristic data used to adjust the range profile.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a road characterization logic to obtain road characteristic data used to adjust the range profile.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the range profile comprises a combination of:

current vehicle condition, vehicle characterization, road characterization, and driver characterization.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data is obtained from one or more of:

a user, an external source, the vehicle, and observed data.