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Methods and systems are described for conserving fuel used by an engine. In some embodiments a control module processes a user-provided input, as a first function, into a second function. The second function can be used to direct the engine with a directive output power. The directive output power m

Methods and systems are described for conserving fuel used by an engine. In some embodiments a control module processes a user-provided input, as a first function, into a second function. The second function can be used to direct the engine with a directive output power. The directive output power may have regions equal to, greater than, and/or less than what the power output would be if the engine were controlled using the user-provided input.

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1. A computer-implemented method, of conserving fuel used by an engine, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving by a computer system as an input a first function comprising a user-specified power output of an engine over a time duration;processing by the computer system the first funct

1. A computer-implemented method, of conserving fuel used by an engine, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving by a computer system as an input a first function comprising a user-specified power output of an engine over a time duration;processing by the computer system the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of decreased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function comprises cyclical oscillations between the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output that are equal in frequency and amplitude;wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration; andoutputting by the computer system, to an engine control module, the second function, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and an electronic storage medium. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to lessen quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to provide additional quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying to a user an indication of a possibility or achievement of fuel savings by the engine if the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing an actuator that permits the user to override the fuel savings. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specified power output of the engine is based on a cruise-control setting by a user. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplementing an output of the engine with output generated by an electric motor while the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplementing a power output of the engine with power from a motor different from the engine while the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the motor comprises an electric motor. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the second function for smoothness. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the first function into the second function comprises application of a transform T, such that F2(n)=T F1(n), where F2 is the second function;F1 is the first function; andn is an ordered index number of an nth discrete sample, wherenε{0, 1, 2, . . . ∞}; andwherein T comprises (ke−2π i Ω(n−d)−Z), wherek is a constant;e is an exponential;i is the imaginary number √{square root over (−1)};Ω is a frequency in cycles per sample interval;Z is a constant; andd is a delay constant. 12. A computer-implemented engine control system comprising: means for receiving by a computer system, as an input, a first function comprising a user-specified power output of an engine over a time duration;means for processing by the computer system the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of decreased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function comprises cyclical oscillations between the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output that are equal in frequency and amplitude;wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration; andmeans for outputting by the computer system, to an engine control module, the second function, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and an electronic storage medium. 13. The engine control system of claim 12, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to lessen quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output. 14. The engine control system of claim 12, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to provide additional quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output. 15. A computer-implemented engine control system comprising: a processing module that couples to an engine, the processing module configured to: receive by a computer system a first function comprising a user-specified power output of the engine over a time duration;process by the computer system the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration, wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and a plurality of regions of decreased engine power output, relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function comprises cyclical oscillations between the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output that are equal in frequency and amplitude; wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration; andoutput by the computer system the second function to an engine control module, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and an electronic storage medium;wherein, under the directive power output, the revolving speed of the engine during the time is within the zone of efficiency. 16. The engine control system of claim 15, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to lessen quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output. 17. The engine control system of claim 15, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to provide additional quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclical oscillations are imperceptible to a driver. 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing shift ratios by a continuously variable transmission (CVT), wherein the change in shift ratios mitigates variations in momentum caused by the cyclic oscillations. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output are less than 50 milliseconds. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output are greater than 250 milliseconds. 22. The system of claim 15, wherein the cyclical oscillations are imperceptible to a driver. 23. The system of claim 15, further comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the CVT is configured to change shift ratios wherein the change in shift ratios mitigates variations in momentum caused by the cyclic oscillations. 24. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output are less than 50 milliseconds. 25. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output are greater than 250 milliseconds. 26. A computer-implemented method, of conserving fuel used by an engine, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving by a computer system as an input a first function comprising a user-specified power output of an engine over a time duration;processing by the computer system the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of decreased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function comprises cyclical oscillations between the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output that comprise a same waveform;wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration; andoutputting by the computer system, to an engine control module, the second function, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output over the time duration;wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and an electronic storage medium. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to lessen quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to provide additional quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output. 29. The method of claim 26, further comprising supplementing the power output of the engine with a second power output from an electric motor while the engine outputs power according to the directive power output, wherein the second power output of the electric motor is configured to compensate for the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output such that modulations of the directive power output of the engine are dampened. 30. The method of claim 26, further comprising processing the second function for smoothness. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the cyclical oscillations are imperceptible to a driver. 32. The method of claim 26, further comprising changing shift ratios by a continuously variable transmission (CVT), wherein the change in shift ratios smooth the cyclical oscillations. 33. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output are less than 50 milliseconds. 34. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output are greater than 250 milliseconds. 35. A computer-implemented engine control system comprising: a processing module that couples to an engine, the processing module configured to: receive by a computer system a first function comprising a user-specified power output of the engine over a time duration;process by the computer system the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration, wherein the second function has a plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and a plurality of regions of decreased engine power output, relative to the user-specified engine power output;wherein the second function comprises cyclical oscillations between the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output and the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output that comprise a same waveform; wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration; andoutput by the computer system the second function to an engine control module, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output over the time duration;wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and an electronic storage medium. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to lessen quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output. 37. The system of claim 35, wherein the engine control module, in response to receiving the second function, is configured to instruct the engine to provide additional quantities of fuel to an internal combustion chamber during the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output. 38. The system of claim 35, wherein the power output of the engine is supplemented with a second power output from an electric motor while the engine outputs power according to the directive power output, wherein the second power output of the electric motor is configured to compensate for the plurality of regions of decreased engine power such that modulations of the directive power output of the engine are dampened. 39. The system of claim 35, wherein the cyclical oscillations are imperceptible to a driver. 40. The system of claim 35, further comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the CVT is configured to change shift ratios wherein the change in shift ratios smooth the cyclical oscillations. 41. The system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of regions of decreased engine power output are less than 50 milliseconds. 42. The system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of regions of equal or increased engine power output are greater than 250 milliseconds.