# US 2013/0158870 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Routing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158870 A1 - Document ID: US20130158870A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,867 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158870A1 ## CPC - G01C 21/3461: {Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types or segments such as motorways, toll roads or ferries} - G01C 21/3469: {Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects} - G08G 1/0962: having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages - G08G 1/096811: {where the route is computed offboard} - G08G 1/096844: {where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data} - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract A computer implemented method includes receiving a vehicle route. The method further includes receiving data relating to a vehicle charge level. Also, the method includes estimating a power requirement required to travel the length of the vehicle route. The method additionally includes contingent on a vehicle charge state being insufficient to meet the power requirement, comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish the presence of power outage regions along the vehicle route. Further, the method includes sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method comprising: receiving a vehicle route; receiving data relating to a vehicle charge level; estimating a power requirement required to travel a length of the vehicle route; contingent on a vehicle charge state being insufficient to meet the power requirement, comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish power outage regions along the vehicle route; and sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the route is transferred by request of a vehicle computing system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a recommendation to re-route around at least one power outage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the warning includes a new, recommended route. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the warning includes a recommendation to charge the vehicle to at least a predetermined level prior to continuing a journey. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing includes comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish power outage along the vehicle route, wherein the power outage regions are also examined to establish known charging points. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the sending a warning includes sending a warning for only the at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region(s) also containing a known charging point. ### Claim 8 A computer implemented method comprising: receiving a vehicle route; storing the vehicle route; while a vehicle is traveling along the route, comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish power outage regions along the vehicle route; and sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: periodically receiving updates to power outage data from a power provider. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the comparing further comprises comparing the vehicle route to updated power outage data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein route data is stored temporarily until an indication that a route has been completed has been received or a predetermined time period has passed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined time period varies with a length of a route. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving updated route data while a vehicle is traveling along the route; and replacing a stored vehicle route with the updated route data. ### Claim 14 A computer implemented method comprising: receiving a vehicle route; comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish power outage regions along the vehicle route; and sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the route is transferred by request of a vehicle computing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the warning includes a recommendation to re-route around at least one power outage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the warning includes a new, recommended route. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the warning includes a recommendation to charge the vehicle to at least a predetermined level prior to continuing a journey. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the comparing includes comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish power outage along the vehicle route, wherein the power outage regions are also examined to establish known charging points. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the sending a warning includes sending a warning for only the at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region(s) also containing a known charging point.