IP Library Granted Patent US 11,641,677
Granted Patent B2
US 11,641,677 · App. 17/536,066 · Granted May 2, 2023

Method and system for generating fueling instructions for a vehicle

Inventors: John C. Kennedy (San Diego, CA); Don Son (San Diego, CA); Scott Kopchinsky (San Diego, CA); Emily Stuart (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Platform Science, Inc.
H04W76/10H04L67/12H04W4/40H04W76/19H04W84/005H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,641,677
App. No.
17/536,066
Granted
May 2, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system ( 900 ) and method ( 1100 ) instructing a vehicle ( 910 ) where and when to refuel is disclosed herein. The system ( 900 ) comprises a server ( 925 ) for receiving a workflow for a vehicle ( 910 ). The workflow comprises an origination location ( 901 ) of the vehicle, a destination ( 950 ) of the vehicle ( 910 ), a route ( 905 ) to the destination, a cargo, a time of departure and a time of arrival. The server ( 925 ) determines a plurality of fuel stops ( 930 ) along the route ( 905 ).

Claims (25)

1. A method for instructing a vehicle where and when to refuel, the method comprising:

receiving at a server a workflow for a vehicle, the workflow comprising an origination location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, a route to the destination, a cargo, a time of departure and a time of arrival;

receiving at the server real-time data for the vehicle from a CVD connected to on board diagnostics for the vehicle;

utilizing at the server a real-time GPS location for the vehicle;

determining at the server at least one fuel stop along the route;

calculating the at least one fuel stop for the vehicle based on the workflow, the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, the real-time vehicle data, and the at least one fuel stop; and

transmitting to the vehicle guidance to the at least one fuel stop from the current location of the vehicle, wherein the guidance includes micro-navigation to an exact fuel pump contained within the fuel stop location for fueling during a predetermined fueling time period.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the real-time data for the vehicle comprises a real-time speed of the vehicle, tire pressure values from at least one tire sensor, at least one refrigeration/HVAC unit value, at least one fluid level, at least one power unit value, a real-time fuel tank capacity, and a fuel type.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving at the server at least one configurable real-time vehicle data trigger event.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising automatically billing an off-site entity for the fuel pumped by the vehicle at the fuel stop.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving at the server a real-time operator profile comprising at least one of amount of time driving during a pre-determined time period, number of rest breaks during the pre-determined time period, license compliance data, physical disabilities or driving violations.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving at the server a profile of the fuel stop comprising at least one of real-time types of fuels available, set billing instructions, physical dimensions of at least one fuel pump, physical layouts and barriers, obstacles or other limiting constraints that could potentially impede the transit of specific vehicles based on their physical characteristics, GPS coordinates of the fuel stop, hours of operation, food service availability, or resting area availability.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving at the server a configuration of the vehicle selected from one of a single vehicle, a vehicle with one or more trailers, and a vehicle with one or more refrigeration trailers.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined fueling time period estimate is a time range describing the expected arrival time in GMT at the specific fuel pump located at the designated fuel stop based on the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, the real-time speed of the vehicle, the distance to the selected fuel stop from the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, and the hours of operation of the fuel stop.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving at the server a dynamic compliance rule comprising at least one of speed limits, transport of toxic waste, the transport of refrigerated cargo, the rest durations for operators, the necessary insurance coverage, or the type of taxes and fees to be paid.

10. A method for instructing a vehicle where and when to stop to replenish, the method comprising:

determining a real-time GPS location for a vehicle;

determining at least one stop along a route for the vehicle to replenish;

calculating the stop for the vehicle based on a workflow, a real-time operator profile, a configuration of the vehicle, the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, real-time vehicle data, at least one dynamic compliance rule, and a selected stop profile; and

transmitting to the vehicle guidance to the selected stop from the current location of the vehicle, wherein the guidance includes micro-navigation for replenishing the vehicle during a predetermined time period.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the workflow comprises an origination location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, a route to the destination, a cargo, a time of departure and a time of arrival.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the real-time data for the vehicle comprises a real-time speed of the vehicle, tire pressure values from at least one tire sensor, refrigeration/HVAC unit values, at least one fluid level, at least one power unit value, a real-time fuel tank capacity, and a fuel type.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the at least one configurable real-time vehicle data trigger event comprises a value outside of a predetermined range for the real-time data of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the real-time operator profile comprises amount of time driving during a pre-determined time period, number of rest breaks during the pre-determined time period, license compliance data, physical disabilities and driving violations.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined time period is a time range to replenish the vehicle based on the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, the real-time speed of the vehicle, the distance to the selected stop from the real-time GPS location of the vehicle, and the hours of operation of the stop.

Continuity (14)
Continuation 16912265 · Jun 25, 2020
Continuation In Part 16870955 · May 9, 2020
Continuation In Part 16664906 · Oct 27, 2019
Continuation In Part 16416396 · May 20, 2019
Continuation In Part 16118436 · Aug 31, 2018
Continuation 15917633 · Mar 11, 2018
Continuation 15859380 · Dec 30, 2017
Continuation 15624814 · Jun 16, 2017
Continuation In Part 15624814 · Jun 16, 2017
Provisional Application 62867845 · Jun 27, 2019
Provisional Application 62441298 · Dec 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62441290 · Dec 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62352014 · Jun 19, 2016
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