Method and apparatus for vehicle-based data gathering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709410-B2
Application number	US-201213405439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2012
Priority date	Feb 27, 2012
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A computer implemented method includes accessing a list containing one or more items for purchase. The method further includes receiving a vehicle location. The method also includes searching for one or more stores within a predefined distance of the vehicle location, which sell at least one item from the list, and the prices those stores offer. Additionally, the method includes recommending a stop at at least one of the one or more stores, and providing directions to a store for which a stop was recommended.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
responsive to receipt of an occupant-defined shopping list, determining stores selling an item from the list that are also reachable by a trip conforming to an occupant-defined parameter;
upon finding a plurality of stores, each selling a list item, assembling a plurality of trips conforming to the parameter, using a vehicle computer;
determining an optimal trip of the plurality of trips, based on an occupant-defined prioritization weighting defining relative importance between different list items, such that the optimal trip includes the highest aggregate of weighted values of items obtainable by visiting stores on the optimal trip; and
recommending the optimal trip.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trip parameter includes a maximum range.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trip parameter includes a maximum total distance traveled.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trip parameter includes a maximum trip time.

Assignees

• Macneille Perry Robinson
• Gusikhin Oleg Yurievitch
• Liu Yimin
• Schunder Mark
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Macneille Perry Robinson
• Gusikhin Oleg Yurievitch
• Liu Yimin
• Schunder Mark

Classifications

• G01C21/3679

  Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities (G01C21/3611 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06Q30/00

  Commerce · CPC title

• G06Q30/0633

  Managing shopping lists, e.g. compiling or processing purchase lists (shipping orders G06Q10/083; order filling G06Q10/087) · CPC title

• G06Q10/00

  Administration; Management · CPC title

• G06Q30/0631

  Recommending goods or services · CPC title