Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
  • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
  • G01C21/3453—Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
  • G01C21/3469—Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
  • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
  • G01C21/3407—Route searching; Route guidance specially adapted for specific applications
  • G01C21/3438—Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route

Definitions

• the vehicle route modification method 300 may include determining a primary route of a vehicle, such as a fully or partially autonomous vehicle, at Block 302 and receiving a modification to the primary route at Block 304.
• the method 300 may also include determining a modified route based upon the modification to the primary route at Block 306.
• the method 300 may further include calculating the fuel required to complete the modified route at Block 308, and calculating the current fuel level of the vehicle at Block 310.
• the vehicle e.g., taxicab or vehicle for fare
• the vehicle may be approached by a user while the vehicle is parked awaiting a request for service.
• the vehicle may not require the user to input a starting point as the vehicle may determine its location independently (e.g., through GPS or other location determining system) .
• the primary route may be pre-determined or preset prior to receiving passengers such that input is not required to define either the starting point or the destination.
• the vehicle may be set as a service traveling between an airport and local hotel. Upon receiving a user’s request for travel, the vehicle may complete the route between the airport and the local hotel without requiring input of a destination from the user.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202 may determine the primary route at Block 302 by considering various route factors including: estimated time of completion, traffic patterns, ambient conditions at the location of the vehicle, such as the road conditions (e.g., hills, flats, mountains, straights, etc. ) and/or the weather conditions, fuel status, and load weight characteristics of the vehicle, potentially among other factors.
• route factors including: estimated time of completion, traffic patterns, ambient conditions at the location of the vehicle, such as the road conditions (e.g., hills, flats, mountains, straights, etc. ) and/or the weather conditions, fuel status, and load weight characteristics of the vehicle, potentially among other factors.
• the apparatus 200 may include means, such as the processor 202, the communications interfaces (s) 208 or the like, for notifying the user of inadequate fuel to complete the requested modified route at Block 314.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202, may not only notify the user of the inadequate fuel supply for completing the modified route, but may further request a different modification to the primary route that stays within the geographic region capable of being reached by the vehicle at its current fuel level.
• the apparatus 200 and method 300 may not only notify the user but may take additional actions hereinafter described in order to complete the modified route.
• the apparatus 200 may include means, such as the processor 202 or the like, for, upon determining that the current fuel level of the vehicle does exceed the fuel required to complete the modified route at Block 312, causing the vehicle to complete the modified route at Block 316.
• the method 400 may determine if the current fuel of the vehicle exceeds the fuel required to complete the modified route at Block 412. If the current fuel level exceeds the fuel required to complete the modified route, the method may cause the vehicle to complete the modified route at Block 416. As will be understood, blocks 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 and 416 have been described above in conjunction with the embodiment of Figure 3. However, if the fuel level does not exceed the fuel required to complete the modified route, in addition to or instead of notifying the user as described above in conjunction with Block 314, the method may identify a second vehicle with adequate fuel, at least in combination with the first, e.g., current, vehicle, to complete the modified route at Block 414.
• the apparatus 200 may include means, such as the processor 202 or the like, for determining a relay route with a relay point along the relay route at Block 418.
• the determination of the relay route may, in some embodiments, consider various route factors including: estimated time of completion, traffic conditions and patterns, , ambient conditions at the location of the vehicle, such as the road conditions (e.g., hills, flats, mountains, straights, etc. ) and/or weather conditions, fuel status, and load weight characteristics of the vehicle, number and type (children, elderly, disabled, etc.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202, establishes the relay point such that the first vehicle not only has sufficient fuel to travel to the relay point, but also ensures that a minimum fuel value is maintained in order for the vehicle to return to a fueling station, such as a centralized fueling station.
• a single transition from a first vehicle to a second vehicle at a single relay point may be sufficient to complete the modified route
• other embodiments may utilize two or more relay points and three or more relay vehicles to complete the modified route, particularly if the route is repeatedly modified and becomes appreciably longer.
• a user may input a particularly long route with multiple stops requiring the first vehicle to relay with a second vehicle and the second vehicle to relay with a third vehicle.
• the apparatus 200, method, and computer program product may consider the convenience of the determined relay point (s) .
• the method 500 may determine if the current fuel of the vehicle exceeds the fuel required to complete the modified route at Block 512. If the current fuel level exceeds the fuel required to complete the modified route, the method may cause the vehicle to complete the modified route at Block 516. However, if the fuel level does not exceed the fuel required to complete the modified route, the method of an example embodiment, as described in more detail above in conjunction with FIG. 4, may determine if a second vehicle with adequate fuel to complete the modified route is available at Block 514. Upon locating a second vehicle at Block 514, the method may determine a relay route for the first vehicle with a relay point along the relay route at Block 518.
• the vehicle charge modification method 500 may be used in some embodiments in an instance when the current fuel level of the vehicle (e.g., first vehicle in FIGS. 4-5) is determined not to exceed the fuel required to complete the modified route at Blocks 312, 412, 512 and the method fails to identify a second vehicle with adequate fuel to complete the modified route at Block 514 (or the use of a relay vehicle is otherwise undesirable) .
• the apparatus 200 may include means, such as the processor 202, or the like, for determining a charge route at Block 524.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202, may be configured to determine a geographic location within a proximity to the first vehicle (e.g., within fuel range) capable of refueling or recharging the vehicle at Block 524, such as by reference to a listing of fuel sources and their corresponding locations maintained by memory 204 or accessible via the communication interface 208.
• the first vehicle may be required to remain at the charging location for a set amount of time before completing the modified route.
• the charging station may require additional time to full recharge the vehicle.
• the apparatus 200 Upon determining a charge route for the first vehicle, the apparatus 200, such as the processor 202, may be configured to cause the first vehicle to complete the charge route to the fuel source at Block 526. Upon refueling or recharging, the apparatus 200, such as the processor 202, may cause the first vehicle to complete the modified route at Block 528.
• the apparatus 500 may not attempt to identify a second vehicle with adequate fuel to complete the modified route at Block 514.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202, may, upon determining that the current fuel level, that is, the fuel capacity, of the first vehicle does not exceed the fuel required to complete the modified route, determine a charge route for the first at Block 524.
• a user may be notified and/or confirmation from a user may be sought prior to modifying the route, such as to a relay route or a charge route.
• the user may not provide the requested confirmation, such as in an instance in which the user desires to take a separate vehicle.
• the method 500 may determine a charge route for the first vehicle at Block 524 and may provide a notification to the user of the vehicle’s planned charge route. The user may decide that they would prefer leaving the first vehicle in order to retain the services of another vehicle or that the user may walk the remaining distance to their destination.
• the apparatus 200 such as the processor 202, may not permit the modification.
• the apparatuses, methods, and computer program products of an example embodiment may be configured to route the vehicle such that the vehicle completes its route at or near a recharging or refueling station to ensure a vehicle is not stranded without fuel.
• the apparatus 200 may include one or more video cameras installed in or on the vehicle. These cameras may be in communication with the apparatus 200 and may be utilized to monitor the number of passengers in the vehicle, the number and type of luggage held by the vehicle, etc. Additionally, in some embodiments, the apparatuses, methods, and computer program products may be in communication with the a computing device of the user, such as the user’s smartphone, in order to access the user’s (e.g., passenger’s) calendar, email accounts, and instant messaging accounts, among others such that the route determined as described herein does not impact the plans of the user.
• a computing device of the user such as the user’s smartphone
• the apparatus may analyze a passenger’s calendar to note that the passenger has a scheduled activity at a predefined time, such as plans to attend a movie one hour from the time of pick up.
• the apparatus such as the processor, of this example embodiment may provide a notification to the passenger that a proposed modification to the route may cause the passenger to be delayed in arrival to the scheduled activity, such as their scheduled movie.
• the route chosen e.g., modified route, relay route, and/or charge route
• each block of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart may be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, processor, circuitry, and/or other devices associated with execution of software including one or more computer program instructions.
• one or more of the procedures described above may be embodied by computer program instructions.
• the computer program instructions which embody the procedures described above may be stored by a memory 204 of an apparatus 200 employing an embodiment of the present invention and executed by a processor 202 of the apparatus.
• any such computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such that the resulting computer or other programmable apparatus implements the functions specified in the flowchart blocks.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Navigation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=62110167

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (7)

• 2016
  • 2016-11-14 WO PCT/CN2016/105765 patent/WO2018086127A1/en unknown
  • 2016-11-14 EP EP16921253.7A patent/EP3532800A4/de active Pending

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