System and method for providing travel information on a mobile communication device

• US 20040135704A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Fischer, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/740,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

The invention relates to a system that enables a user wishing to travel to input, without knowing his exact location, only the desired destination into the mobile communication device and to then receive a timetable for reaching the destination that takes into consideration the actual position of the means of transport in question. The user can thus benefit from the actual position of the means of transport in question that are known to the guide devices anyway.

Claims

1. System for providing travel information on a mobile communication device, in which

a) a destination can be entered in a communication device and transmitted to a control computer,

b) a current location can be assigned to the communication device in the control computer,

c) the control computer has connections to route control facilities for public transport,

d) the current locations of the means of public transport can be called up from the control facilities via the control computer,

e) depending on the current locations of the means of public transport, an individual timetable can be generated using suitable public transport to reach the destination, and

f) the timetable of the suitable means of transport can be transferred to the mobile communication device where it can be seen and/or heard.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device has a location detection module and the mobile communication device transmits information regarding the current location to the control computer.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location of a send/receive unit with which the mobile communication device is currently communicating, is assigned to the mobile communication device as its current location.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the individual timetable can be repeated during the journey to the destination and that if an update is needed, an updated timetable can be transmitted to the mobile communication device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein an updated timetable is only transmitted up to a specifiable time before reaching the transfer point.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile communication device (currently traveling on a means of public transport) can be evaluated as being on this particular means of public transport by the control computer by correlation with the current location of the means of public transport and therefore for probable arrival times at the next possible transfer point(s) can be determined.

7. A method for providing travel information on a mobile communication device, in which

a) a destination is entered in a communication device and transmitted to a control computer,

b) a current location is assigned in the control computer to the communication device,

d) the current locations of means of public transport are called up from the control facilities via the control computer,

d) depending on the current locations of the means of public transport, an individual timetable is determined using suitable public transport to reach the destination, and

f) the timetable of the suitable means of transport is transferred to the mobile communication device where it can be seen and/or heard.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device has a location detection module and using the mobile communication device transmits information regarding the current location to the control computer.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the location of a send/receive unit with which the mobile communication device is currently communicating, is assigned to the mobile communication device as its current location

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the generation of the individual timetable is repeatable during the journey to the destination and that if an update is needed, an updated timetable is transmitted to the mobile communication device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein an updated timetable is only transmitted up to a specifiable time before reaching the transfer point and if it is available after the specified time, it is suppressed.

12. The method according claim 7, wherein the location of the mobile communication device (currently traveling on a means of public transport) is evaluated as being on this particular means of public transport by the control computer by correlation with the current location of the means of public transport and therefore for probable arrival times at the next possible transfer point(s) is determined

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein after issuing the individual timetable a seat reservation with confirmation can be made using the mobile communication device for the planned means of public transport.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein a reservation profile is stored on the control computer.