Vehicle range projection estimation

• US 9,074,894 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tate, Edward D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US13/936,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 701/119
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects

Abstract

Vehicle range projection estimation is implemented by a computer processor of a vehicle having logic executable thereon. The logic receives vehicle range projection data from a remote system over a network as a network service. The vehicle range projection data represents a bounded geographic area in which the vehicle is capable of traveling. The bounded geographic area is defined by global positioning system coordinates attributable to the vehicle in conjunction with an available amount of remaining energy of the vehicle. The logic also stores the vehicle range projection data in a storage device. Upon determining an interruption in a network service has occurred, the logic retrieves stored vehicle range projection data from the storage device, scales the stored vehicle range projection data to a level commensurate with an updated amount of remaining energy of the vehicle, and displays a visual representation of scaled vehicle range projection data in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for providing vehicle range projection estimation, the system comprising:

a computer processor disposed in a vehicle; and

logic executable by the computer processor, the logic configured to implement a method, the method comprising;

receiving vehicle range projection data from a remote system over a network as a network service, the vehicle range projection data representing a bounded geographic area in which the vehicle is capable of traveling, the bounded geographic area defined by global positioning system coordinates attributable to the vehicle in conjunction with an available amount of remaining energy of the vehicle;

storing the vehicle range projection data in a storage device; and

upon determining an interruption in the network service has occurred;

retrieving stored vehicle range projection data from the storage device;

scaling the stored vehicle range projection data to a level commensurate with an updated amount of remaining energy of the vehicle; and

displaying, on a display device, a visual representation of scaled vehicle range projection data in the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein upon determining the network service has returned, the method further comprises:

removing the vehicle range projection data from the storage device; and

capturing updated vehicle range projection data from the remote system; and

storing the updated vehicle range projection data in the storage device until a next vehicle range projection data is received.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

translating, as a function of the visual representation, the scaled vehicle range projection data relative to the stored vehicle range projection data based on a change in location of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

removing, as a function of the visual representation, a portion of translated scaled vehicle range projection data that exceeds a boundary of the scaled vehicle range projection data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is depicted as a polygon shape.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is a low resolution map based on the vehicle range projection data retrieved from the storage device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is one of a plurality of stored visual representations that is selected based on a previous driving experience.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is one of a plurality of visual representations downloaded from the remote system prior to the interruption in the network service, the plurality of visual representations corresponding to presumed locations and state of charge conditions.

9. A method for providing vehicle range projection estimation, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle range projection data from a remote system over a network as a network service, the vehicle range projection data representing a bounded geographic area in which the vehicle is capable of traveling, the bounded geographic area defined by global positioning system coordinates attributable to the vehicle in conjunction with an available amount of remaining energy of the vehicle;

storing the vehicle range projection data in a storage device; and

upon determining an interruption in the network service has occurred;

retrieving stored vehicle range projection data from the storage device;

scaling the stored vehicle range projection data to a level commensurate with an updated amount of remaining energy of the vehicle; and

displaying, on a display device, a visual representation of scaled vehicle range projection data in the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein upon determining the network service has returned, the method further comprises:

removing the vehicle range projection data from the storage device; and

capturing updated vehicle range projection data from the remote system; and

storing the updated vehicle range projection data in the storage device until a next vehicle range projection data is received.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

translating, as a function of the visual representation, the scaled vehicle range projection data relative to the stored vehicle range projection data based on a change in location of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

removing, as a function of the visual representation, a portion of translated scaled vehicle range projection data that exceeds a boundary of the scaled vehicle range projection data.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual representation is depicted as a polygon shape.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual representation is a low resolution map based on the vehicle range projection data retrieved from the storage device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual representation is one of a plurality of stored visual representations that is selected based on a previous driving experience.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual representation is one of a plurality of visual representations downloaded from the remote system prior to the interruption in the network service, the plurality of visual representations corresponding to presumed locations and state of charge conditions.

17. A computer program product for providing vehicle range projection, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle range projection data from a remote system over a network as a network service, the vehicle range projection data representing a bounded geographic area in which the vehicle is capable of traveling, the bounded geographic area defined by global positioning system coordinates attributable to the vehicle in conjunction with an available amount of remaining energy of the vehicle;

storing the vehicle range projection data in a storage device; and

upon determining an interruption in the network service has occurred;

retrieving stored vehicle range projection data from the storage device;

scaling the stored vehicle range projection data to a level commensurate with an updated amount of remaining energy of the vehicle; and

displaying, on a display device, a visual representation of scaled vehicle range projection data in the vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein upon determining the network service has returned, the method further comprises:

removing the vehicle range projection data from the storage device; and

capturing updated vehicle range projection data from the remote system; and

storing the updated vehicle range projection data in the storage device until a next vehicle range projection data is received.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

translating, as a function of the visual representation, the scaled vehicle range projection data relative to the stored vehicle range projection data based on a change in location of the vehicle.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

removing, as a function of the visual representation, a portion of translated scaled vehicle range projection data that exceeds a boundary of the scaled vehicle range projection data.