Patent ID: 7999664
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A method of determining when to provide a refueling notification to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: determining a refueling behavior for refueling the vehicle, the refueling behavior being associated at least in part with an amount of fuel customarily remaining in the vehicle when the vehicle is customarily refueled; determining a remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle; determining a fuel economy of the vehicle; estimating a distance the vehicle will travel to a next driving destination; estimating an amount of fuel that will be used to travel to the next driving destination based on the estimated distance the vehicle will travel to the next driving destination and the fuel economy; determining whether the amount of fuel that will be remaining in the vehicle after the vehicle travels to the next driving destination is less than the amount of a fuel customarily remaining in the vehicle when the vehicle is refueled; and actuating a refueling notification to a driver of a vehicle in response to the determination that the amount of fuel that will be remaining in the vehicle after the vehicle travels to the next driving destination will be less than the amount of fuel customarily remaining in the vehicle when the vehicle is refueled.