System and method of navigation

• US 10,156,450 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Min, Wanli, Wang, Rui, Wang, Yu, Wang, Jinming
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUD, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US15/445,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20170254653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 701409, 701414, 701521, 701416, 701423, 701425
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096833 where different aspects are considered when computing the route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing navigation. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a starting point and a destination from a user; calculating a plurality of routes between the starting point and the destination; receiving traffic information and traffic sign information associated with the plurality of routes; calculating transportation conditions during a set period of time in the future for each of the plurality of routes based on the traffic information and traffic sign information; selecting a recommended route from the plurality of routes based on the transportation conditions; and displaying the recommended route.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a starting point and a destination point from a user;

calculating a plurality of routes between the starting point and the destination point;

receiving traffic information and traffic sign information associated with the plurality of routes, the traffic information selected from the group consisting of real-time traffic information and traffic information during a set period of time predicted based on real-time traffic information and historical traffic information, the traffic sign information selected from the group consisting of traffic light information, road marking information and information of unexpected situations taking place on a route;

calculating transportation conditions during the set period of time in the future for each of the plurality of routes based on the traffic information associated with each route and traffic sign information, the transportation conditions comprising transportation times;

selecting a recommended route from the plurality of routes based on the transportation conditions; and

displaying the recommended route.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an actual route of the user and a position of the user on the actual route; and

notifying the user of a first speed, wherein the first speed represents a speed before the user approaches a traffic light that enables the user to pass through the traffic light directly upon the user'"'"'s arrival.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein real-time traffic information comprises a number of vehicles in motion for each of the plurality of routes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the transportation time of a route during a set period of time in the future comprises:

dividing the route into one or more sections;

calculating a speed that a vehicle will pass through each section of the route based on the traffic information associated with the route and the speed at which the vehicle will pass through each section of the route;

calculating the amount of time required to pass through each section of the route;

calculating an amount of time required to pass through traffic lights present on the route based on the traffic light information; and

calculating the transportation time of the route based on the amount of time required to pass through traffic lights present on the route and the amount of time required to pass through each section of the route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the transportation time of each route during the set period of time in the future based on the traffic information associated with each route and traffic sign information comprises:

calculating at least one first speed, wherein the first speed represents a speed before a vehicle approaches a traffic light that enables the user to pass through the traffic light directly upon the user'"'"'s arrival; and

calculating a transportation time for passing through each route during the set period of time based on the at least one first speed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein calculating a transportation time for passing through each route during the set period of time based on the at least one first speed comprises:

dividing each route into one or more sections;

calculating a first time when passing through each section of the route at the at least one first speed;

calculating a highest speed for passing through each traffic light of the route and transportation time when approaching each traffic light at the highest speed from the traffic information, and adding the transportation and time spent on waiting at traffic lights to figure out a second time for passing through each section; and

comparing the first time and the second time of each section, and calculating the minimum transportation time for passing through each route.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the set period of time is determined based on historical driving activity of the user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the set period of time is determined based on historical driving activity of one or more users on each of the plurality of routes.

9. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory memory storing computer-executable instructions therein that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a starting point and a destination point from a user;

calculate a plurality of routes between the starting point and the destination point;

receive traffic information and traffic sign information associated with the plurality of routes, the traffic information selected from the group consisting of real-time traffic information and traffic information during a set period of time predicted based on real-time traffic information and historical traffic information, the traffic sign information selected from the group consisting of traffic light information, road marking information and information of unexpected situations taking place on a route;

calculate transportation conditions during the set period of time in the future for each of the plurality of routes based on the traffic information associated with each route and traffic sign information, the transportation conditions comprising transportation times;

select a recommended route from the plurality of routes based on the transportation conditions; and

display the recommended route.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include instructions therein that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine an actual route of the user and a position of the user on the actual route; and

notify the user of a first speed, wherein the first speed represents a speed before the user approaches a traffic light that enables the user to pass through the traffic light directly upon the user'"'"'s arrival.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein real-time traffic information comprises a number of vehicles in motion for each of the plurality of routes.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein calculating the transportation time of a route during a set period of time in the future comprises:

dividing the route into one or more sections;

calculating a speed that a vehicle will pass through each section of the route based on the traffic information associated with the route and the speed at which the vehicle will pass through each section of the route;

calculating the amount of time required to pass through each section of the route;

calculating an amount of time required to pass through traffic lights present on the route based on the traffic light information; and

calculating the transportation time of the route based on the amount of time required to pass through traffic lights present on the route and the amount of time required to pass through each section of the route.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein calculating the transportation time of each route during the set period of time in the future based on the traffic information associated with each route and traffic sign information comprises:

calculating at least one first speed, wherein the first speed represents a speed before a vehicle approaches a traffic light that enables the user to pass through the traffic light directly upon the user'"'"'s arrival; and

calculating a transportation time for passing through each route during the set period of time based on the at least one first speed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein calculating a transportation time for passing through each route during the set period of time based on the at least one first speed comprises:

dividing each route into one or more sections;

calculating a first time when passing through each section of the route at the at least one first speed;

calculating a highest speed for passing through each traffic light of the route and transportation time when approaching each traffic light at the highest speed from the traffic information, and adding the transportation and time spent on waiting at traffic lights to figure out a second time for passing through each section; and

comparing the first time and the second time of each section, and calculating the minimum transportation time for passing through each route.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the set period of time is determined based on historical driving activity of the user.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the set period of time is determined based on historical driving activity of one or more users on each of the plurality of routes.