Method and system for integrated satellite assistance services

• US 10,401,189 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBSD Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Raab, Stefan Bernard, Zufall, David Robert, Mulford, Gerard Daniel, Sorond, Mariam Aghdasi, Le Maitre, Marcus John
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US15/923,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20180202829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A computing device includes a display screen and is configured to generate and display an interactive map identifying at least one route segment. The route segment may be generated in view of a current location of the computing device and at least one of arises within a destination area, and/or connects the current location of the computing device with at least one destination or a service provider. The computing device may be configured to receive a selection of at least one of a route segment, a destination area, a destination, and a service provider and to activate at least one additional process for execution thereby. One additional process may include activating a navigation module configured to generate directions between the current location and the selection. The additional process may include outputting the directions in a humanly perceptible format. A route segment may be based on historical data.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display device; and

a processing module configured to generate an interactive map identifying at least one route segment for display on the display device;

wherein the at least one route segment is generated in view of a current location of the computing device and a specific destination area;

wherein the specific destination area is a geographic region within which two or more destinations are located;

wherein the at least one route segment is generated based on historical trip data associated with only the computing device;

wherein the at least one route segment;

occurs within the specific destination area; and

at least one of;

first connects the current location of the computing device with at least one destination selected from the two or more destinations within the specific destination area; and

second connects the current location of the computing device with at least one service provider located within the specific destination area and between the current location and the at least one destination;

wherein the at least one service provider is an entity that has previously provided service to a user of the computing device;

wherein the processing module is configured, upon receiving a selection of at least one of the route segment, the specific destination area, the at least one destination, and the at least one service provider, to activate at least one process for execution by the computing device.

2. The computing device of claim 1, comprising:

a navigation module, coupled to the processing module;

wherein the at least one process instructs the navigation module to generate directions between the current location and the selection.

3. The computing device of claim 2,

wherein the navigation module is configured to output the directions in one or more humanly perceptible instructions presented in at least one of a visual format and an audible format.

7. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the processing module is configured to generate the interactive map a current location of the at least one service provider.

10. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the computing device is configured to identify the at least one route segment based on a road type.

11. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the computing device is configured to identify the at least one route segment based on a time of day.

12. The computing device of claim 11,

wherein the time of day is a current time associated with the current location of the computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the computing device is operable to generate the at least one route segment by processing a criterion for the at least one service provider based on data related to the at least one service provider and the historical trip data;

and

wherein the historical trip data includes at least one of route segment data and destination area data.

17. The computing device of claim 1, comprising:

an input device and an output device, the input device and the output device being configured to facilitate communications between the at least one previously used service provider and a user of the computing device via at least one of a cellular based communications technology and a broadband communications technology.

18. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the computing device is configured to track:

the computing device while the computing device travels along the route segment to at least one of the specific destination area and a selected one of the at least one destination; and

one or more responders traveling along the route segment;

wherein the responders are dispatched by at least one of;

an emergency services provider;

a travel assistance service center; and

a selected service provider.

4. A computing device comprising:

a display device;

a processing module configured to generate an interactive map identifying at least one route segment for display on the display device;

wherein the at least one route segment is generated in view of a current location of the computing device and a specific destination area;

wherein the specific destination area is a geographic region within which two or more destinations are located;

wherein the at least one route segment, at least one of;

occurs within the specific destination area;

first connects the current location of the computing device with at least one destination selected from the two or more destinations within the specific destination area; and

second connects the current location of the computing device with at least one service provider;

wherein the at least one service provider is an entity that has previously provided service to a user of the computing device;

wherein the at least one route segment is based on historical trip data;

wherein the historical trip data is based on one or more trips for only the computing device;

wherein the processing module is configured, upon receiving a selection of at least one of the route segment, the specific destination area, the at least one destination, and the at least one service provider, to activate at least one process for execution by the computing device;

wherein the historical trip data includes two or more ratings of the at least one route segment; and

wherein the two or more ratings are provided by the user of the computing device.

5. A computing device comprising:

a display screen;

the computing device being configured to generate and display an interactive map identifying at least one route segment;

wherein the at least one route segment is generated in view of a current location of the computing device and a specific destination area;

wherein the specific destination area is a geographic region within which two or more destinations are located;

wherein the at least one route segment is generated based on historical trip data associated with only the computing device;

wherein the at least one route segment;

occurs within the specific destination area;

first connects the current location of the computing device with at least one destination selected from the two or more destinations within the specific destination area; and

second connects the current location of the computing device with at least one service provider;

wherein the at least one service provider is an entity that has previously provided service to a user of the computing device;

wherein the computing device is configured, upon receiving a selection of at least one of the route segment, the specific destination area, the at least one destination, and the at least one service provider, to activate at least one process for execution by the computing device

wherein the current location of the computing device is within the specific destination area; and

wherein the specific destination area is a routine destination area associated with the computing device.

6. The computing device of claim 5,

wherein the at least one route segment includes multiple segments arising within the specific destination area.

8. A computing device comprising:

a display device; and

a processing module configured to generate an interactive map identifying a route segment for display on the display device;

wherein the route segment is generated in view of a current location of the computing device and a specific destination area;

wherein the specific destination area is a geographic region within which two or more destinations are located;

wherein the route segment, at least one of;

occurs within the specific destination area;

first connects the current location of the computing device with a destination selected from the two or more destinations with the specific destination area; and

second connects the current location of the computing device with a service provider;

wherein the service provider is only selected from one or more entities that have previously provided service to a user of the computing device;

wherein the computing device is configured, upon receiving a selection of the route segment, the specific destination area, the destination, and the service provider, to activate at least one process for execution by the computing device;

wherein the processing module is configured to generate, for display on the interactive map, a current location of the service provider;

wherein upon selection of the service provider, the computing device performs at least one additional process comprising;

displaying contact information for the selected service provider;

displaying an estimated time of arrival for the selected service provider at the current location of the computing device;

activating a communications link between the computing device and the selected service provider; and

periodically displaying at least one update to the current location of the selected service provider.

9. The computing device of claim 8,

wherein the selected service provider provides transportation related services.

14. A computing device comprising:

a display device; and

a processing module configured to generate an interactive map identifying a route segment for display on the display device;

wherein the route segment is generated in view of a current location of the computing device and a specific destination area;

wherein the specific destination area is a geographic region within which two or more destinations are located;

wherein the route segment, at least one of;

occurs within the specific destination area;

first connects the current location of the computing device with a destination selected from the two or more destinations within the specific destination area; and

second connects the current location of the computing device with a previously used service provider;

wherein the previously used service provider is only selected from one or more entities that have previously provided service to a user of the computing device;

wherein the computing device is configured, upon receiving a selection of the route segment, the specific destination area, the destination, and the previously used service provider, to activate at least one process for execution by the computing device;

wherein the computing device is configured to consider historical data when generating and identifying the route segment; and

wherein the historical data is associated with at least one previous trip of the computing device arising between the current location of the computing device, the specific destination area, the destination, and the previously used service provider.

15. The computing device of claim 14,

wherein the historical data is associated with at least one of a departure time, a departure day, a departure week and a departure year.

16. The computing device of claim 14,

wherein the historical data is obtained from a navigation service provider.