Summary
The invention relates to a computer implemented method for determining a minimum state of charge for an energy storage means of a vehicle comprising the steps of determining (31) a routine use of charge of the energy storage means; determining (32) a user requirement for future driving of the vehicle; predicting (33) a reduction in the state of charge (SoC) of the energy storage means associated with the user requirement in dependence on the determined routine; determining (35) a minimum state of charge for the energy storage means for enabling the user requirement to be satisfied in dependence on the predicted reduction; and providing (37) an output to the user indicative of a time requirement for increasing the state of charge of the energy storage means to a value at or above the minimum state of charge.
The application identifies advantages which the invention aims to address, such as -˜range anxiety-™ for a user and also in providing a user with greater confidence in mid-journey recharging halts. The application particularly notes that a user recharging mid-journey will be better informed regarding how long they will have to wait thus avoid spending more time than is necessary to complete their journey.
Following the Windsurfing/Pozzoli approach, the Hearing Officer found that the invention as set out in the claims was inventive over the cited prior art.
For excluded matter, the Hearing Officer on applying theAerotel/Macrossantest, found that the claimed invention was excluded as a computer program as such. However, the Hearing Officer considered that there might be scope for the applicant to amend to overcome the excluded matter objection. The application was remitted to the examiner for further processing.
Full decisionO/609/21 195Kb