Automatic gathering and analysis of data on commute paths

• US 20030100993A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Didi (HK) Science and Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Suemondt, Henri Jacques, Kirshenbaum, Evan R., Eshghi, Kave
• Granted Patent: US 6,584,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically gathering data on paths taken by a number of commuters and then analyzed to provide recommendations for improving the commute experience. Data may be gathered by recording time and position data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver the commuter carries, recording time and position data from a mobile phone the commuter carries, departure or arrival indications, or a commute log. Commute data may be augmented with a likely route generated based on a start point, an end point, and a map. Commute data may be analyzed by determining a subset of the commuters whose paths are similar. For example, they have a similar start point, a similar end point, a similar start point and a similar end point, a start point similar to a particular point, an end point similar to a particular point, or similar start and end points.

Claims

1. A method of gathering and automated analyzing of commute path data, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of participation from a multiplicity of commuters;

gathering data over a period of time on commute paths taken by each of the commuters;

analyzing the commute path data using automated computing means; and

providing recommendations based on the results of said analyzing step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication further specifies a privacy setting for the commuter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication further specifies a commute constraint for the commuter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication further specifies a method for the gathering of the commute path data for the commuter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said gathering step comprises a method selected from recording time and position data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that the commuter carries, recording time and position data from a mobile phone that the commuter carries, receiving a departure indication from the commuter, receiving an arrival indication from the commuter and receiving a commute log from the commuter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the commute path data is augmented with a likely route that is automatically generated based on a start point, an end point and a map.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step comprises determining a subset of the commuters whose commute paths have a similarity, wherein the similarity is determined employing a similarity metric.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the similarity metric is selected from having a similar start point, having a similar end point, having a similar start point and a similar end point, having a start point similar to a particular point, having an end point similar to a particular point, having a start point similar to a first particular point and an end point similar to a second particular point, having a start point similar to a particular trajectory, having an end point similar to a particular trajectory, having a trajectory similar to a particular start point and having a trajectory similar to a particular end point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the recommendations are selected from suggesting that the subset of commuters carpool, suggesting that the subset of commuters vanpool, suggesting that the subset of commuters take a mass transit route, suggesting that the subset of commuters take a mass transit route augmented with a last mile service, suggesting that the subset of commuters alter their commute time of day, and suggesting that the subset of commuters alter their commute route.

10. A media containing instructions that control a process when the instructions are read and executed by a system, the process comprising:

receiving an indication of participation from a multiplicity of commuters;

gathering data over a period of time on commute paths taken by each of the commuters;

analyzing the commute path data; and

providing recommendations based on the results of said analyzing step.

11. The media of claim 10, wherein the indication further specifies a privacy setting for the commuter.

12. The media of claim 10, wherein the indication further specifies a commute constraint for the commuter.

13. The media of claim 10, wherein the indication further specifies a method for the gathering of the commute path data for the commuter.

14. The media of claim 10, wherein said gathering step comprises a method selected from recording time and position data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that the commuter carries, recording time and position data from a mobile phone that the commuter carries, receiving a departure indication from the commuter, and receiving an arrival indication from the commuter.

15. The media of claim 10, wherein the commute path data is augmented with a likely route that is automatically generated based on a start point, an end point and a map.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said analyzing step comprises determining a subset of the commuters whose commute paths have a similarity, wherein the similarity is determined employing a similarity metric.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the similarity metric is selected from having a similar start point, having a similar end point, having a similar start point and a similar end point, having a start point similar to a particular point, having an end point similar to a particular point, having a start point similar to a first particular point and an end point similar to a second particular point, having a start point similar to a particular trajectory, having an end point similar to a particular trajectory, having a trajectory similar to a particular start point and having a trajectory similar to a particular end point.

18. The media of claim 10, wherein the recommendations are selected from suggesting that the subset of commuters carpool, suggesting that the subset of commuters vanpool, suggesting that the subset of commuters take a mass transit route, suggesting that the subset of commuters take a mass transit route augmented with a last mile service, suggesting that the subset of commuters alter their commute time of day, and suggesting that the subset of commuters alter their commute route.

19. A system configured to gather and analyze commute path data, the system comprising:

an input device configured to receive an indication of participation from a multiplicity of commuters;

a data gathering device configured to gather data over a period of time on commute paths taken by a commuter;

a data analysis device configured to analyze the commute path data and produce an analysis result; and

an output device configured to provide a recommendation based on the analysis result.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said data gathering device comprises a device selected from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that the commuter carries, a mobile phone that the commuter carries, a device configured to receive a departure indication from the commuter, a device configured to receive an arrival indication from the commuter, and a device configured to receive a commute log from the commuter.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said data analysis device is further configured to produce the analysis result based on determining a subset of the commuters whose commute paths have a similarity, wherein the similarity is determined employing a similarity metric.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said similarity metric is selected from having a similar start point, having a similar end point, having a similar start point and a similar end point, having a start point similar to a particular point, having an end point similar to a particular point, having a start point similar to a first particular point and an end point similar to a second particular point, having a start point similar to a particular trajectory, having an end point similar to a particular trajectory, having a trajectory similar to a particular start point and having a trajectory similar to a particular end point.

23. A system for gathering and analyzing commute path data, the system comprising:

a means for receiving an indication of participation from a multiplicity of commuters;

a means for gathering data over a period of time on commute paths taken by each of the commuters;

a means for analyzing the commute path data and for providing an analysis result; and

a means for providing recommendations based on the analysis result.