BATTERY ENERGY EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE

• US 20120283899A1
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Harty, Ryan Douglas Roy, Uyeki, Robert M., Miyamoto, Naoya, DeWitt, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application

Abstract

Systems and methods of providing road service to an operator of a vehicle are provided. Such systems and methods presuppose a navigation system of the vehicle is set to route the vehicle to a destination. A road service request from the vehicle is received and a waypoint along the route to the destination is calculated. The navigation system is remotely set to route the vehicle to the waypoint and road service at the waypoint is ordered. The road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of providing road service to an operator of a vehicle, wherein a navigation system of the vehicle is set to route the vehicle to a destination, wherein the method is carried out using a processor, said method comprising:

receiving a road service request from the vehicle;

calculating a waypoint along the route to the destination;

remotely setting the navigation system to route the vehicle to the waypoint; and

ordering road service at the waypoint, wherein the road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a low energy and/or failure message from the vehicle; and

sending a message to the vehicle inquiring into whether road service is needed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a battery electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the road service request is sent automatically by the vehicle upon detection of failure and/or low energy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the road service further includes towing the vehicle to a location specified by the operator.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an arrival message that the vehicle arrived at the location; and

notifying the operator that the vehicle arrived at the location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the road service request includes information about the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a navigation system of the new vehicle is set to route the new vehicle to the destination.

9. A system for providing road service to an operator of a vehicle, wherein a navigation system of the vehicle is programmed to route the vehicle to a destination, said system comprising:

an interface associated with a communications network, wherein the interface facilitates communications between the system and the vehicle over the communications network; and

a processor that receives a road service request from the vehicle, wherein the processor remotely programs the navigation system to route the vehicle to a waypoint, wherein the waypoint is along the route to the destination, wherein the processor orders road service at the waypoint, wherein the road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor receives a low energy and/or failure message from the vehicle and sends a message to the vehicle inquiring into whether road service is needed, wherein the message is responsive to the low energy and/or failure message.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the road service further includes towing the vehicle to a location specified by the operator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor receives an arrival message that the vehicle arrived at the location and notifies the operator that the vehicle arrived at the location.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle generates the low energy and/or failure message automatically.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a battery electric vehicle.

15. A method of receiving road service for a vehicle, wherein a navigation system of the vehicle is set to route the vehicle to a destination, wherein the method is carried out using a processor, said method comprising:

requesting road service from a service provider, wherein the road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle;

receiving a waypoint along the route to the destination from the service provider; and

setting the navigation system to route the vehicle to the waypoint.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring the vehicle for failures and/or low energy;

notifying the service provider of detected failures and/or low energy; and

receiving an inquiry from the service provider as to the necessity of road service.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring the vehicle for failures and/or low energy, wherein the requesting is performed upon detection of failures and/or low energy.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the road service includes towing the vehicle to a location specified by an operator thereof.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the road service request includes vehicle information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is a battery electric vehicle.