Multiple destination vehicle interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018230-A1
Application number	US-201414333760-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a navigation engine, a communication interface, and a processing device. The communication interface receives a desired destination from a plurality of mobile devices. The processing device associates each desired destination with a priority, determines a destination order based on the associated priority and at least one predetermined factor, and commands the navigation engine to generate a route to each desired destination according to the destination order.

First claim

1 . A vehicle system comprising:
a navigation engine; a communication interface configured to receive a desired destination from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein each mobile device is associated with a passenger and wherein the communication interface is programmed to receive the desired destination when the passenger associated with the mobile device enters a host vehicle; and a processing device programmed to associate each desired destination with a priority, determine a destination order based at least in part on the associated priority and at least one predetermined factor, and command the navigation engine to generate a route to each desired destination according to the destination order, wherein the processing device is programmed to command the navigation engine to generate the route to each desired destination each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

2 . The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the navigation engine is configured to generate the route according to the destination order.

3 . The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined factor includes at least one of a minimum travel time, a minimum travel distance, and maximizing fuel economy based at least in part on the desired destinations of passengers presently in the host vehicle.

4 . The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is configured to receive destination information from each of the plurality of mobile devices, the destination information including the desired destination.

5 . The vehicle system of claim 4 wherein the processing device is configured to extract the desired destination from the destination information.

6 . The vehicle system of claim 4 wherein the processing device is configured to extract the priority from the destination information.

7 . The vehicle system of claim 4 wherein the processing device is configured to determine the priority from a remote server.

8 . The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is configured to receive an updated destination each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

9 . The vehicle system of claim 8 wherein the processing device is configured to command the navigation engine to incorporate the updated destination into the route each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

10 . The vehicle system of claim 9 wherein the processing device is configured to update the destination order to include the updated destination each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

11 . The vehicle system of claim 9 wherein the navigation engine is configured to update the route to include the updated destination.

12 . The vehicle system of claim 1 wherein the processing device is configured to generate a status message.

13 . The vehicle system of claim 12 wherein the processing device is configured to command the communication interface to send the status message.

14 . A vehicle system comprising:
a navigation engine configured to generate a route; a communication interface configured to receive a desired destination from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein each mobile device is associated with a passenger and wherein the communication interface is programmed to receive the desired destination when the passenger associated with the mobile device enters the host vehicle; and a processing device programmed to associate each desired destination with a priority, determine a destination order based at least in part on the associated priority and at least one predetermined factor, and command the navigation engine to generate a route to each desired destination according to the destination order, wherein the processing device is programmed to command the navigation engine to generate the route to each desired destination each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive an updated destination after the route has been generated each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle, and wherein the processing device is configured to generate a status message and command the communication interface to transmit the status message.

15 . The vehicle system of claim 14 wherein the processing device is configured to update the destination order to include the updated destination and command the navigation engine to incorporate the updated destination into the route each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

16 . The vehicle system of claim 14 wherein the at least one predetermined factor includes at least one of a minimum travel time, a minimum travel distance, and maximizing fuel economy each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

17 . A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of desired destinations from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the desired destination is received each time a passenger associated with one of the plurality of mobile devices enters a host vehicle; associating each desired destination to a priority; determining, each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle, a destination order based at least in part on the associated priority and at least one predetermined factor; and commanding a navigation engine to generate a route to each desired destination according to the destination order each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
receiving an updated destination each time at least one passenger enters the host vehicle;
updating the destination order to include the updated destination; and
commanding the navigation engine to incorporate the updated destination into the route.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising generating a status message.

20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising sending the status message to at least one of the mobile devices.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Neubecker Cynthia M
• Colella Nicholas

Classifications

• G01C21/343 Primary

  Calculating itineraries (travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047) · CPC title

• G01C21/34 Primary

  Route searching; Route guidance · CPC title

• G01C21/362

  received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application · CPC title

• G01C21/3605

  Destination input or retrieval · CPC title

• G01C21/3453

  Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments · CPC title