Method of predicting the future operation of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016125673-A1
Application number	US-201514930249-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 5, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for predicting the future operation of a vehicle is disclosed which uses stored data representative of commonly followed routes to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip. By establishing that the route currently being followed is comparable to one of the commonly followed routes, information relating to that ‘common route’ is then used to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip.

First claim

1 . A method of predicting a future operation of a vehicle wherein the method comprises automatically carrying out the steps of:
identifying a user of the vehicle; monitoring the operation of the vehicle for each trip conducted by the user; storing data collected from the monitoring for the user; establishing and storing common patterns of operation from the stored data for the user; comparing a current pattern of operation with the stored common patterns of operation for the user; using, if the current pattern of operation conforms to a particular one of the stored common patterns of operation for the user, the particular one of the stored common patterns of operation for the user for predicting the future operation of the vehicle during a current trip; and using the predicted future operation of the vehicle during the current trip to improve at least one of charging of a battery of the vehicle, a supply of a reductant to an exhaust aftertreatment device of the vehicle and a control of an engine of the vehicle for the purpose of regenerating the exhaust aftertreatment device of the vehicle; wherein the method of predicting the future operation of the vehicle is carried out via an electronic processing system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring the operation of the vehicle for each trip conducted by the user comprises monitoring a number of characteristic parameters against one of time and distance travelled for a duration of the trip.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic parameters are characteristic vehicle parameters.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic parameters are characteristic user parameters.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic parameters are a combination of characteristic vehicle parameters and characteristic user parameters.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the characteristic vehicle parameters comprise engine speed, vehicle speed and engine torque.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the characteristic user parameters are selected from an accelerator pedal position, a rate of change of accelerator pedal position, a brake pedal position, a gear selector position, a steering wheel rotational position, a rate of change of steering wheel rotational position and a clutch pedal position.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein establishing common patterns of operation comprises comparing at least two of the characteristic parameters of operation against the stored patterns of operation for the same parameters to determine whether there is concurrence between the various patterns of operation and, if there is concurrence between several stored patterns of operation, storing the characteristics of the pattern of operation as a common pattern of operation.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identity of the user is established using at least one of a code stored in a key-fob, an indication of the position of a seat for the user of the vehicle, an indication of a radio station selected by the user of the vehicle, a position of an exterior mirror and a weight of the user of the vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the comparing a current pattern of operation with the stored common patterns of operation comprises comparing at least two of the characteristic parameters of operation against the stored common patterns of operation for the same parameters and, if there is concurrence between the current pattern of operation and one of the stored common patterns of operation, using the respective common pattern of operation to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip.

11 . A vehicle having an electronic processing system to provide a prediction of a future operation of a vehicle for a current trip wherein the electronic processing system is operable to automatically:
identify a user of the vehicle; monitor the operation of the vehicle for each trip conducted by the user; store data collected from the monitoring for the user in a memory; establish and store common patterns of operation from the stored data for the user; compare a current pattern of operation with the stored common patterns of operation for the user; use the particular one of the stored common patterns of operation to predict the future operation of the vehicle during the current trip if the current pattern of operation conforms to a particular one of the stored common patterns of operation for the user; and use the predicted future operation of the vehicle during the current trip to improve at least one of charging of a battery of the vehicle, a supply of reductant to an exhaust aftertreatment device of the vehicle and a control of an engine of the vehicle for the purpose of regenerating the exhaust aftertreatment device of the vehicle.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the electronic processing system is operable to establish the identity of the user using at least one of a code stored in a key-fob, an indication of the position of a seat for the user of the vehicle, an indication of a radio station selected by the user, a position of an exterior mirror and a weight of the user.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein establishing common patterns of operation comprises comparing at least two of the characteristic parameters of operation against the stored patterns of operation for the same parameters to determine whether there is concurrence between the various patterns of operation and, if there is concurrence between several stored patterns of operation, storing the characteristics of the pattern of operation as a common pattern of operation.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the identity of the user is established using at least one of a code stored in a key-fob, an indication of the position of a seat for the user of the vehicle, an indication of a radio station selected by the user of the vehicle, a position of an exterior mirror and a weight of the user of the vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the comparing a current pattern of operation with the stored common patterns of operation comprises comparing at least two of the characteristic parameters of operation against the stored common patterns of operation for the same parameters and, if there is concurrence between the current pattern of operation and one of the stored common patterns of operation, using the respective common pattern of operation to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip.

16 . A method of predicting a future operation of a vehicle wherein the method comprises, via an electronic processing system, automatically carrying out the steps of:
identifying a user of the vehicle; monitoring the operation of the vehicle for each trip conducted by the user; storing data collected from the monitoring for the user; establishing and storing common patterns of operation from the stored data for the user; comparing a current pattern of operation with the stored common patterns of operation for the user; using, if the current pattern of operation conforms to a particular one of the stored common patterns of operation for the user, the particular one of the stored common patterns of operation for the user for predicting the future operation of the vehicle during a current trip; and using the predicted future operation of the vehicle during the current trip to improve at least one of charging of a battery of the vehicle, a supply of a reductant to an exhaust aftertreatment device of the vehicle and a control of an engine of the vehicle for the purpose of regenerating the exhaust aftertreatment device

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bromham Jim
• Wright James
• Ford Kim

Classifications

• G07C5/08 Primary

  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

• G01C21/26 Primary

  specially adapted for navigation in a road network · CPC title

• B60W10/26

  for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• B60W2710/0694

  Engine exhaust temperature · CPC title

• B60W30/095

  Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision · CPC title