Method and system for combining localized weather forecasting and itinerary planning

• US 10,324,231 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sky Motion Research, ULC
• Original Assignee: Sky Motion Research, ULC
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Yi, Roy Y
• Application Number:
  US14/244,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09

Abstract

Provided are methods, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums to generate an itinerary with a weather forecast. The itinerary may comprise a departure location, a destination location and a first time. Based on the itinerary, an intermediary location and an intermediary time associated with the intermediary location may be identified. A weather forecast associated with the identified intermediary location and the intermediary time may be predicted. A weather risk associated with the identified route may be assessed and. based on the assessed risk, an alternative route may be additionally identified.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating itineraries, the method comprising:

identifying a departure location and a destination location;

identifying a first set of intermediary location and a second set of intermediary locations between the departure location and the destination location;

identifying a first set of intermediary times associated with the first set of intermediary locations;

identifying a second set of intermediary associated with the second set of intermediary locations;

identifying a first set of weather forecast associated with the first set of intermediary locations and the first set of intermediary times;

identifying a second set of weather forecasts associated with the second set of intermediary locations and the second set of intermediary times;

comparing a characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts and a characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts; and

identifying an itinerary comprising the first set of intermediary locations or the second set of intermediary locations based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a travel time between the departure location and the destination location based at least in part on the weather forecasts.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one modified intermediary time based on one of the weather forecast; and

identifying a modified weather forecast associated with the intermediary location and the modified intermediary time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts or the characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts comprises a weather severity level.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying an alternative intermediary location based on the characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts or the characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts;

identifying an alternative intermediary time associated with the alternative location;

identifying a weather forecast associated with the alternative intermediary location and the alternative intermediary time; and

identifying an alternative itinerary based on the weather forecast associated with the alternative intermediary location and alternative intermediary time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the weather forecast comprises information indicating a probability of a specific type of precipitation at a specific rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the departure location and the destination location are received from a remote device; and

at least one of the departure location and the destination location is a current location of the remote device.

8. A device for generating itineraries comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions for the one or more processors; and

a communication module to connect to a remote device over a communication network;

wherein, when the one or more processors execute the instructions stored in the memory, the device is caused to;

identify a departure location and a destination location;

identify a first set of intermediary locations and a second set of intermediary locations between the departure location and the destination location;

identify a first set of intermediary times associated with the first set of intermediary location;

identify a second set of intermediary times associated with the second set of intermediary locations;

identify a first set of weather forecast associated with the first set of intermediary locations and the first set of intermediary times;

identifying a second set of weather forecasts associated with the second set of intermediary locations and the second set of intermediary times;

compare a characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts and a characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts; and

identify an itinerary comprising the first set of intermediary locations or the second set of intermediary locations based on the comparison.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is further caused to estimate a travel time between the departure location and the destination location based at least in part on the weather forecasts.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is further caused to:

identify a modified intermediary time based on one of the weather forecast; and

identify a modified weather forecast associated with the intermediary location and the modified intermediary time.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is further caused to:

identify an alternative intermediary location based on the characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts or the characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts;

identify an alternative intermediary time associated with the alternative location;

identify a weather forecast associated with the alternative intermediary location and the alternative intermediary time;

identify an alternative itinerary based at least in part on the weather forecast associated with the alternative intermediary location and the alternative intermediary time.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the weather forecast comprises information indicating a probability of a specific type of precipitation at a specific rate.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the communication module receives the departure location and the destination location from the remote device; and

at least one of the departure location and the destination location is a current location of the remote device.

14. A system comprising a server and a remote device that is connected to the server over a communication network, wherein:

the server comprises a computer and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing the computer to execute an itinerary generation process, the itinerary generation process comprising;

identifying a departure location and a destination location;

identifying a first set of intermediary locations and a second set of intermediary locations between the departure location and the destination location;

identifying a first set of intermediary times associated with the first set of intermediary locations;

identifying a second set of intermediary times associated with the second set of intermediary locations;

identifying a first set of weather forecasts associated with the first set of intermediary locations and the first set of intermediary times;

identifying a second set of weather forecasts associated with the second set of intermediary locations and the second set of intermediary times;

comparing a characteristic associated with the first set of weather forecasts and a characteristic associated with the second set of weather forecasts; and

identifying an itinerary comprising the first set of intermediary locations or the second set of intermediary locations based on the comparison

the remote device comprises one or more processors, a display and a memory storing instructions for the one or more processors to;

obtain the itinerary from the server over the communication network; and

cause, on the display, a display of at least part of the itinerary.