Methods and systems for determining optimum fuel station

• US 9,494,445 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WEX Inc.
• Original Assignee: WEX Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, John Lind
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US14/496,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 700/400, 700/401
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for planning fueling during a travel. The method comprises receiving information identifying a starting point and a destination for the travel; determining a route between the starting point and the destination; identifying one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route; determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and outputting information identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores. Identifying one or more candidate fuel stations may include determining a search corridor; and identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations within the search corridor. Determining the search corridor may comprise selecting a search point located on the route; selecting a search radius; drawing a search circle with a radius equal to the search radius and centered at the search point; and including the search circle in the search corridor.

Claims

1. A method executed by one or more processors for planning fueling during a travel, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a starting point and a destination for the travel;

determining a route between the starting point and the destination;

identifying, using the one or more processors, one or more candidate fuel stations that are accessible from the route;

determining, using the one or more processors, scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations; and

outputting information identifying the one or more candidate fuel stations along with their scores,

wherein determining scores for the one or more candidate fuel stations includes determining one or more of a fuel cost score, a travel cost score, and a resource cost score for one candidate fuel station of the one or more candidate fuel stations;

wherein determining the resource cost score comprises determining an additional cost that results from an extra time spent on taking a detour to reach the one candidate fuel station;

wherein determining the additional cost comprises determining an extra time spent due the detour, determining a resource cost rate during the detour, and determining the additional cost based on the extra time and the resource cost rate; and

wherein the resource cost rate includes one or more of wage rate for one or more employees taking the detour or revenue rate from the one or more employees.