Integration of hours of service and navigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016011001-A1
Application number	US-201514794601-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an example system, an hours of service system may be integrated with a navigation system and configured to dynamically change a driver's route based on changing real time conditions and remaining hours of service. This system may then automatically route a driver to a new, e.g. closer, stop when necessary so that the driver and his carrier may comply with an hours of service requirement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for dynamic integration of hours of service with a navigation system associated with a vehicle, comprising:
receiving, by a transceiver via a communication link, a navigation route for a vehicle, wherein the navigation route includes an original stopping point; determining, by a processor, remaining hours of driving of a driver associated with the vehicle; determining, by the processor, the driver's remaining hours of work; determining, by the processor, an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the original stopping point of the navigation route; determining, by the processor, whether a time to the ETA exceeds either of the driver's remaining hours of driving or the remaining hours of work; automatically changing the navigation route, by the processor, to include a new stopping point that is predicted to be reachable within the driver's remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving in response to determining that the time to the ETA exceeds either of the driver's remaining hours of driving or the remaining hours of work; and displaying the navigation route with the new stopping point on a display of a user interface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving traffic and road conditions corresponding to the navigation route; wherein determining an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the original stopping point of the navigation route comprises calculating an estimated time of arrival based on a current time, a current location, and the traffic and road conditions between the current location and the original stopping point; and selecting the new stopping point based on navigation data of potential stopping points on or near the navigation route and at a location predicted to be reachable within the remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving in view of the current location and the traffic and road conditions beyond the current location along the navigation route.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving current traffic and road conditions; determining predicted traffic and road conditions; wherein calculating the estimated time of arrival further comprises calculating based on a combination of the current traffic and road conditions and the predicted traffic and road conditions; and wherein automatically changing the navigation route to include the new stopping point further comprises predicting that the new stopping point will be reachable within the driver's remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving based on the combination of the current traffic and road conditions and the predicted traffic and road conditions.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
obtaining historical traffic data corresponding to respective times and locations along navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located; obtaining predicted weather information for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located; obtaining current traffic flow factors for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located; determining predicted average speed for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located based on a combination of the historical traffic data, the predicted weather information, and the current traffic flow factors; and wherein determining predicted traffic and road conditions comprises:
determining whether a difference between a current speed for the respective times and locations along navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located and the predicted average speed for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located is greater than a deviation threshold for one or more of the respective times and locations along navigation route; and
using the predicted average speed for one or more of the respective times and locations along the navigation route when the difference exceeds the deviation threshold.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the vehicle is moving; and initiating a countdown of the remaining hours of driving when a determination is made that the vehicle is moving.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein determining if the vehicle is moving further comprises determining whether a current speed of the vehicle exceeds a threshold associated with active driving.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising transmitting the new navigation route to a network entity.

8 . A computing device, comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive a navigation route for a vehicle, wherein the navigation route includes an original stopping point; a processor in communication with the receiver, the processor including:
an hours of service (HOS) module configured to determine remaining hours of driving of a driver associated with the vehicle, the driver's remaining hours of work, and an estimated time of arrival (ETA) to the original stopping point;
a HOS manager module configured to determine whether the time to the ETA (ETA-current time) exceeds either of the driver's remaining hours of driving or the remaining hours of work; and
a navigation module configured to automatically change the navigation route to include a new stopping point that is predicted to be reachable within the driver's remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving in response to determining that the time to the ETA exceeds either of the driver's remaining hours of driving or the remaining hours of work; and
a user interface having a display configured to present the navigation route with the new stopping point.

9 . The computing device of claim 8 ,
wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive traffic and road conditions; wherein the HOS component is further configured to estimate a time of arrival based on the current time, the current location and the traffic and road conditions between the current location and the stop or destination; and wherein the navigation component is further configured to select the new stopping point based on navigation data of potential stopping points on or near the navigation route and at a location predicted to be reachable within the drivers remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving in view of the current location and the traffic and road conditions beyond the current location along the navigation route.

10 . The computing device of claim 8 ,
wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive current traffic and road conditions; and wherein the navigation module is further configured to:
determine predicted traffic and road conditions,
calculate the estimated time of arrival based on a combination of the current traffic and road conditions and the predicted traffic and road conditions, and
predict that the new stopping point will be reachable within the driver's remaining hours of work and remaining hours of driving based on the combination of the current traffic and road conditions and the predicted traffic and road conditions.

11 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the navigation module is further configured to:
obtain historical traffic data corresponding to respective times and locations along navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located; obtain predicted weather information for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estimated to be located; obtain current traffic flow factors for the respective times and locations along the navigation route where the vehicle is estim

Assignees

• Omnitracs Llc

Inventors

• Emory Gene
• Van Winkle Jon

Classifications

• G07C5/08

  Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time · CPC title

• G06Q10/063116

  Schedule adjustment for a person or group · CPC title

• G01C21/3407

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G01C21/3492 Primary

  employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• G01C21/36 Primary

  Input/output arrangements for on-board computers · CPC title