Systems and Methods for Vehicle Resource Management

A method for a vehicle resource allocation controller device to allocate networked vehicle resources to vehicle requirements, the method comprising:

• a) storing, by a vehicle resource allocation controller device, plural vehicle requirements from a plurality of requester devices in the form of plural vehicle requests, each vehicle request including at least a respective start time and a respective start location,
• wherein the vehicle resource allocation controller device is in communication with:
• the plurality of requester devices, and
• a plurality of vehicle resources, each vehicle resource being associated with a respective vehicle location;
• b) for a first vehicle request of the plural vehicle requests, automatically determining, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, that a current time has a predetermined relationship with respect to the start time of the first vehicle request;
• c) in response to the determining at step b), forming, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, a pool of candidate vehicle resources for possible fulfillment of the first vehicle request;
• d) for each candidate vehicle resource in the pool of candidate vehicle resources, calculating, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, a respective score that is related to the suitability of the candidate vehicle resource to fulfil the first vehicle request;
• e) for one or more of the candidate vehicle resources in the pool of candidate vehicle resources, calculating, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, a respective journey time from the candidate vehicle resource's associated vehicle location to the start location included in the first vehicle request;
• f) determining, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, whether there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request, using both:
• 1) the respective scores calculated for the candidate vehicle resources of the pool of candidate vehicle resources, and
• 2) the calculated one or more respective journey times;
• g) performing, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, steps d), e) and f) at least two times for the first vehicle request until it is determined at step f) that there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request;
• and
• h) on determining at step f) that there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request, allocating, by the vehicle resource allocation controller device, to the first vehicle request a vehicle resource of the pool of candidate vehicle resources based on the respective scores calculated on last performance of step d).

An apparatus for allocating networked vehicle resources to vehicle requirements, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor in communication with:
• a plurality of requester devices, and
• a plurality of vehicle resources, each vehicle resource being associated with a respective vehicle location;
• a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor direct the processor to:
• a) store plural vehicle requirements from the plurality of requester devices in the form of plural vehicle requests, each vehicle request including at least a respective start time and a respective start location;
• b) for a first vehicle request of the plural vehicle requests, automatically determine that a current time has a predetermined relationship with respect to the start time of the first vehicle request;
• c) in response to the determining at step b), form a pool of candidate vehicle resources for possible fulfillment of the first vehicle request;
• d) for each candidate vehicle resource in the pool of candidate vehicle resources, calculate a respective score that is related to the suitability of the candidate vehicle resource to fulfil the first vehicle request;
• e) for one or more of the candidate vehicle resources in the pool of candidate vehicle resources, calculate a respective journey time from the candidate vehicle resource's associated vehicle location to the start location included in the first vehicle request;
• f) determine whether there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request, using both:
• 1) the respective scores calculated for the candidate vehicle resources of the pool of candidate vehicle resources, and
• 2) the calculated one or more respective journey times;
• g) perform steps d), e) and f) at least two times for the first vehicle request until it is determined at step f) that there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request;
• and
• h) on determining at step f) that there is a need to allocate a vehicle resource to the first vehicle request, allocate to the first vehicle request a vehicle resource of the pool of candidate vehicle resources based on the respective scores calculated on last performance of step d).