Methods and systems for associating vehicles en route to a common destination

• US 8,930,122 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Burke, Denis R., Rudman, Daniel E., Fry, Keith A., McCutchen, Shane M., Hovey, Matthew N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/834,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for associating vehicles en route to a common destination. A request is received from a first vehicle as to an identification of one or more additional vehicles en route to the common destination. The first vehicle is associated with the additional vehicles as part of a caravan. Information is provided as to each of the vehicles in the caravan.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a first vehicle, via a processor, as to an identification of one or more additional vehicles en route along a common path from a common origination location to a common destination location;

associating, via the processor, the first vehicle and the one or more additional vehicles as part of a caravan;

generating, via the processor, a geo-fence comprising a virtual boundary that encompasses the vehicles of the caravan, the geo-fence being formed based upon one or more predetermined conditions for ascertaining whether a vehicle is within or an outside of the virtual boundary; and

providing information as to each of the vehicles in the caravan;

wherein during travel from the common origination point to the common destination point the vehicles of the caravan transmit location information to the processor which determines whether each of the vehicles of the caravan are within or outside of the virtual boundary of the geo-fence based upon the one or more predetermined conditions, and

wherein images of the vehicles and geo-fence are displayed in each of the vehicles of the caravan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acceptance to the request from each of the additional vehicles;

wherein the step of associating the first vehicle and the additional vehicles comprises associating the first vehicle and the additional vehicles as part of the caravan upon receiving the acceptance from the additional vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a position of each of the vehicles in the caravan;

wherein the step of providing information comprises providing the position of each of the vehicles in the caravan.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the caravan to include the associated vehicles that are currently disposed within a particular geo-fence of one another.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the geo-fence based on one or more of the following;

speeds of the vehicles in the caravan, directions of travel of vehicles in the caravan, features of roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are traveling, traffic conditions for roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are travelling, distances between the vehicles in the caravan, and time separation of the vehicles in the caravan.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a notification when one of the associated vehicles exits the geo-fence.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a notification when one of the associated vehicles enters the geo-fence.

8. A system comprising:

a memory storing a program, the program configured to at least facilitate;

receiving a request from a first vehicle as to an identification of one or more additional vehicles en route along a common path from a common origination location to a common destination location;

associating the first vehicle and the one or more additional vehicles as part of a caravan;

generating a geo-fence comprising a virtual boundary that encompasses the vehicles of the caravan, the geo-fence being formed based upon one or more predetermined conditions for ascertaining whether a vehicle is within or an outside of the virtual boundary; and

providing information as to each of the vehicles in the caravan;

wherein during travel from the common origination point to the common destination point the vehicles of the caravan transmit location information to the processor which determines whether each of the vehicles of the caravan are within or outside of the virtual boundary of the geo-fence based upon the one or more predetermined conditions, and

wherein images of the vehicles and geo-fence are displayed in each of the vehicles of the caravan; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the program.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

receiving an acceptance to the request from each of the additional vehicles; and

associating the first vehicle and the additional vehicles as part of the caravan upon receiving the acceptance from the additional vehicles.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

monitoring a position of each of the vehicles in the caravan; and

providing the position of each of the vehicles in the caravan.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

maintaining the caravan to include the associated vehicles that are currently disposed within a particular geo-fence of one another.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining the geo-fence based on one or more of the following;

speeds of the vehicles in the caravan, directions of travel of vehicles in the caravan, features of roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are traveling, traffic conditions for roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are travelling, distances between the vehicles in the caravan, and time separation of the vehicles in the caravan.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

providing a notification when one of the associated vehicles exits the geo-fence.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

providing a notification when one of the associated vehicles enters the geo-fence.

15. A system comprising:

an interface configured to at least facilitate receiving a request from a first vehicle as to an identification of one or more additional vehicles en route along a common path from a common origination location to a common destination location;

a processor configured to at least facilitate associating the first vehicle and the one or more additional vehicles as part of a caravan and generating a geo-fence comprising a virtual boundary that encompasses the vehicles of the caravan, the geo-fence being formed based upon one or more predetermined conditions for ascertaining whether a vehicle is within or an outside of the virtual boundary; and

a transmitter configured to at least facilitate providing information as to each of the vehicles in the caravan;

wherein during travel from the common origination point to the common destination point the vehicles of the caravan transmit location information to the processor which determines whether each of the vehicles of the caravan are within or outside of the virtual boundary of the geo-fence based upon the one or more predetermined conditions, and

wherein images of the vehicles and geo-fence are displayed in each of the vehicles of the caravan.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the interface is further configured to at least facilitate receiving an acceptance to the request from each of the additional vehicles; and

the processor is further configured to at least facilitate associating the first vehicle and the additional vehicles as part of the caravan upon receiving the acceptance from the additional vehicles.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further configured to at least facilitate monitoring a position of each of the vehicles in the caravan; and

the transmitter is further configured to at least facilitate providing the position of each of the vehicles in the caravan.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

maintaining the caravan to include the associated vehicles that are currently disposed within a particular geo-fence of one another.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining the geo-fence based on one or more of the following;

speeds of the vehicles in the caravan, directions of travel of vehicles in the caravan, features of roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are traveling, traffic conditions for roads on which the vehicles in the caravan are travelling, distances between the vehicles in the caravan, and time separation of the vehicles in the caravan.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is further configured to at least facilitate:

providing a first notification when one of the associated vehicles exits the geo-fence; and

providing a second notification when one of the associated vehicles enters the geo-fence.