1. A method for recommending a fuel-saving driving style in a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving input defining one or more routes at a vehicle computing system;
receiving route profile information for the one or more routes at the vehicle computing system;
based on the route profile information, identifying one or more portions of a route that can be travelled by a vehicle at a constant speed;
determining the constant speed;
determining one or more acceleration or deceleration actions to be performed by a vehicle driver for reaching the constant speed along the route to reduce energy consumption of the vehicle relative to a current speed of the vehicle; and
presenting the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions in the vehicle.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing a predetermined baseline route for which a higher acceleration leads to a lower fuel consumption relative to the current speed;
performing a comparison between the one or more identified portions of the route with the baseline route to identify a length of the identified portion; and
based on the length of the identified portion from the comparison, determining the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
identifying the one or more portions as shorter than the baseline route;
determining a speed difference between the current speed and the constant speed;
determining a distance to reach the constant speed; and
based on the speed difference and the distance, determining the acceleration or deceleration action to reach the constant speed along the shorter portion.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceleration or deceleration actions are presented via at least one of a visual client, audible client, or haptic client.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the client is based on driver preference.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a travel time for travelling the route; and
determining the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions based on the travel time.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a length of the one or more identified portions of the route; and
determining the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions based on the length of the one or more identified portions of the route.
8. A system for recommending a fuel-saving driving style in a vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one vehicle computing system configured to:
receive input defining one or more routes;
receive route profile information for the one or more routes;
based on the route profile information, identify one or more portions of the route that can be travelled by a vehicle at a constant speed;
determine the constant speed;
determine one or more acceleration or deceleration actions to be performed by a vehicle driver for reaching the constant speed along the route to enable efficient energy consumption of the vehicle relative to a current speed of the vehicle; and
present the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions in the vehicle.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to determine one or more gear speeds based on the acceleration action.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to determine one or more gear shifting times.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the route is a route adjoining a route currently being travelled.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to:
receiving route limitation information which disrupts the constant speed; and
determining the acceleration or deceleration action based on the limitation information.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the route limitation information includes at least one of traffic flow, traffic lights, bends, and route priority rules.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the route profile information includes altitude information.
15. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to:
store a predetermined baseline route for which a higher acceleration leads to a lower fuel consumption based on a current acceleration;
perform a comparison between the one or more identified portions of the route with the baseline route to identify a length of the identified portion; and
determine the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions based on the length of the identified portion from the comparison.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to determine a higher acceleration if the route section is longer than the predetermined route.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one vehicle computing system is further configured to determine a lower acceleration if the route section is shorter than the predetermined route.
18. An apparatus comprising at least one vehicle computing system configured to:
receive input defining a route;
receive route profile information for the route;
identify route portions that a vehicle can travel at a constant speed based on the route profile information;
determine the constant speed;
determine acceleration or deceleration actions for reaching the constant speed enabling efficient energy consumption by the vehicle relative to the constant speed; and
present the accelerationdeceleration actions.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further configured to
store a predetermined baseline route for which a higher acceleration leads to a lower fuel consumption based on a current acceleration;
perform a comparison between the one or more identified portions of the route with the baseline route to identify a length of the identified portion; and
determine the one or more acceleration or deceleration actions based on the length of the identified portion from the comparison.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further configured to determine a higher acceleration if the route section is longer than the predetermined route.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An assembly for creating a three dimensional exterior structure, comprising:
a plurality of bodies inter-assembled to create at least one of a multi-tier stepped or extending walkway surface;
at least a sub-plurality of said bodies exhibiting a tongue and groove profile on opposite upper and lower surfaces thereof to facilitate assemble-ability in multi-tier fashion; and
each of said bodies further exhibiting a hollowed interior to facilitate in-filling of a compactible material in order to weight said bodies during assembly.
2. The invention as described in claim 1, further comprising said bodies being arranged in either of a side-by-side or vertically stacked fashion in order to create a desired structure.
3. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a top pad resting upon an upper most tier defined plurality of blocks, an interior of said assembled bodies defining an interior extending fluid drainage network to a grade level located drain tile.
4. The assembly as described in claim 1, said bodies each exhibiting a one-piece construction with an outer bull nose configuration.
5. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising thermal generating elements installed within at least one or more of bodies.
6. The assembly as described in claim 5, said thermal generating elements further comprising any of electrical resistant generating pads or fluid conduit conveying systems extending through and between said bodies.
7. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising effect lighting installed within any one or more of said bodies.
8. The assembly as described in claim 7, further comprising individual LED elements mounted within aperture locations defined in at least one of vertical riser locations of each tiered layer of bodies or horizontal surface location of each walkway defining body.
9. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising pre-forming a decorative pattern within at least one exterior facing surface of a selected body.
10. An exterior assembly installed upon an earthen grade for creating a three dimensional exterior structure, comprising:
a plurality of bodies inter-assembled to create at least one of a multi-tier stepped or extending walkway surface;
at least one sub-plurality of said bodies including one or more step blocks, each of which exhibiting an upper surface and a forward edge extending surface, first and second interconnected side surfaces extending from opposite ends of said forward edge surface and defining a three sided and open underside within said step block;
at least one additional sub-plurality of said bodies further comprising a plurality of rectangular shaped support blocks stackable to provide structural support to an underside of said step blocks;
said step blocks and support blocks each further exhibiting a tongue and groove profile on opposite upper and lower surfaces thereof to facilitate assemble-ability; and
each of said bodies further exhibiting a hollowed interior to facilitate in-filling of a compactible material in order to weight said bodies during assembly.
11. The assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising a three sided interior ledge accessible from an open rear of said step blocks to facilitate installation of a thermal conducting shelf in proximity to an underside of said upper surface.
12. The assembly as described in claim 11, said shelf further comprising either of an electrical resistor pad or a thermal fluid communicating pad incorporated therein.
13. The assembly as described in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of said shelves and pads being interconnected in series from a single input location.
14. The assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising effect lighting installed within any one or more of said bodies.
15. The assembly as described in claim 14, further comprising individual LED elements mounted within aperture locations defined in at least one of vertical riser locations of each tiered layer of bodies or horizontal surface location of each walkway defining body.
16. The assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising pre-forming a decorative pattern within at least one exterior facing surface of a selected body.
17. A method for creating, installing and ballasting a plurality of individual bodies in order to create a desired functional and decorative structure, comprising the steps of:
producing a plurality of individual bodies in a mold or other casting process, including forming said bodies with tongue and groove profiles on at least opposite upper and lower surfaces thereof,
providing a decorative pattern on at least one exterior surface of each of said bodies; and
assembling the bodies according to at least one of a multi-tier or walkway extending construction.
18. The method as described in claim 17, further comprising the step of assembling an under-structure for supporting a plurality of tier defining and width extending support blocks, the understructure provided by additional pluralities of rectangular blocks with additional tongue and groove profiles for stackability.
19. The method as described in claim 18, further comprising the steps of fanning at least one of said step blocks and support blocks with a recessed interior and in-filling a compactible or other aggregate material within and between said blocks.
20. The method as described in claim 17, further comprising the steps of configuring a three sided inner ledge within a rear accessible open interior of the step blocks in order to support an insertable thermal conducting shelf.
21. The method as described in claim 17, further comprising the step of configuring at least one vertical riser or horizontal surface of a shelf or walkway body to integrate a receiving location for installing one or more effect lighting elements.
22. The method as described in claim 20, further comprising the step of providing the thermal generating shelves with either of electrical or thermal fluid input, a plurality pads contained within said shelves and capable of being daisy-chain connected in plural fashion from a common input source.