Patent ID: 11898856
Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B  Y | IPC B  G

Claim 11:
12. A method for long distance rides, comprising:
receiving a route request at a routing coordinator, including a pick-up location and a destination, wherein the routing coordinator coordinates a fleet of autonomous vehicles;
determining that a distance associated with the route request is further than an autonomous vehicle of the fleet of autonomous vehicles can drive without recharging;
providing a user interface for the route request for selection between a price-optimization preference and a time-optimization preference, wherein the price-optimization includes pausing a ride for a selected period of time to recharge a vehicle battery and switching to a second autonomous vehicle;
receiving a user selection to pause the ride for the selected period of time to recharge the vehicle battery;
determining a plurality of charging station waypoints for pausing the ride;
identifying a plurality of stop locations, each of the plurality of stop locations near at least one of the plurality of charging station waypoints, wherein the plurality of stop locations include one of a restaurant, a shopping center, a playground, a park, and a beach;
providing a ride incentive for routes to a first city in order to rebalance the fleet of autonomous vehicles, wherein providing the ride incentive includes providing, via the user interface, for each of the plurality of stop locations, a coupon for an associated activity at or near the respective stop location;
receiving a stop location selection via the user interface;
identifying a selected charging station waypoint of the plurality of charging station waypoints that is near the selected stop location;
identifying a first autonomous vehicle from the fleet of autonomous vehicles that has sufficient charge to drive to the pick-up location, from the pick-up location to the selected stop location, and from the stop location to the selected charging station waypoint;
assigning the route request to the first autonomous vehicle;
routing the first autonomous vehicle to the pick-up location for passenger pick-up;
routing the first autonomous vehicle to the stop location for passenger drop-off;
routing the first autonomous vehicle from the stop location to the selected charging station waypoint for recharging; and
routing the first autonomous vehicle from the selected charging station waypoint to the stop location for passenger pick-up.