Planning a journey that includes waypoints

• US 20060167621A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Dale, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• 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

Abstract

Planning a journey from an origin to a destination involves establishing selection criteria that includes one or more journey parameters and one or more rules. A journey parameter describes a constraint of the journey, and a rule specifies an action to perform in response to a trigger event. A route for the journey from the origin to the destination is planned. A trigger event is detected after initiation of the journey. A rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event is accessed. One or more alternate waypoints are selected in accordance with the action and the selection criteria. The one or more alternate waypoints are inserted into the route to create a next route.

Claims

1. A method for planning a journey, comprising:

establishing selection criteria for a journey from an origin to a destination, the selection criteria comprising one or more journey parameters and one or more rules, a journey parameter describing a constraint of the journey, a rule specifying an action to perform in response to a trigger event;

planning a route for the journey from the origin to the destination;

detecting a trigger event after initiation of the journey;

accessing a rule of the one or more rules, the accessed rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event;

selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria, a waypoint representing an intermediate point between the origin and the destination; and

inserting the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more journey parameters comprises at least one of a traveler preference and a route parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria further comprises prioritizing the one or more alternate waypoints according to compatibility with the selection criteria, a first waypoint that is more compatible with the selection criteria given a higher priority than that of a second waypoint that is less compatible with the selection criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selection criteria comprises a monitored condition of the journey; and

selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria further comprises;

establishing the monitored condition; and

selecting the one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the monitored condition.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the monitored condition further comprises at least one of a vehicle condition and an external condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route further comprises:

suggesting the one or more waypoints; and

inserting the one or more waypoints into the route only if the suggestion is approved.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route further comprises inserting the one or more waypoints into the route without requesting approval.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the journey comprising the next route is feasible in accordance with the selection criteria; and

re-planning the route if the journey is not feasible.

9. A system for planning a journey, comprising:

a memory operable to store selection criteria for a journey from an origin to a destination, the selection criteria comprising one or more journey parameters and one or more rules, a journey parameter describing a constraint of the journey, a rule specifying an action to perform in response to a trigger event; and

an application module comprising one or more applications operable to;

plan a route for the journey from the origin to the destination;

detect a trigger event after initiation of the journey;

access a rule of the one or more rules, the accessed rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event;

select one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria, a waypoint representing an intermediate point between the origin and the destination; and

insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more journey parameters comprises at least one of a traveler preference and a route parameter.

11. The system of claim 9, the application module further operable to select one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria by prioritizing the one or more alternate waypoints according to compatibility with the selection criteria, a first waypoint that is more compatible with the selection criteria given a higher priority than that of a second waypoint that is less compatible with the selection criteria.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the selection criteria further comprises a monitored condition of the journey; and

the application module is further operable to select one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria by;

establishing the monitored condition; and

selecting the one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the monitored condition.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitored condition further comprises at least one of a vehicle condition and an external condition.

14. The system of claim 9, the application module further operable to insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route by:

suggesting the one or more waypoints; and

inserting the one or more waypoints into the route only if the suggestion is approved.

15. The system of claim 9, the application module further operable to insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route by inserting the one or more waypoints into the route without requesting approval.

16. The system of claim 9, the application module further operable to:

determine whether the journey comprising the next route is feasible in accordance with the selection criteria; and

re-plan the route if the journey is not feasible.

17. Logic for planning a journey, the logic embodied in a medium and operable to:

establish selection criteria for a journey from an origin to a destination, the selection criteria comprising one or more journey parameters and one or more rules, a journey parameter describing a constraint of the journey, a rule specifying an action to perform in response to a trigger event;

plan a route for the journey from the origin to the destination;

detect a trigger event after initiation of the journey;

access a rule of the one or more rules, the accessed rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event;

select one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria, a waypoint representing an intermediate point between the origin and the destination; and

insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route.

18. The logic of claim 17, wherein the one or more journey parameters comprises at least one of a traveler preference and a route parameter.

19. The logic of claim 17, further operable to select one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria by prioritizing the one or more alternate waypoints according to compatibility with the selection criteria, a first waypoint that is more compatible with the selection criteria given a higher priority than that of a second waypoint that is less compatible with the selection criteria.

20. The logic of claim 17, wherein:

the selection criteria comprises a monitored condition of the journey; and

the logic is further operable to selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria by;

establishing the monitored condition; and

selecting the one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the monitored condition.

21. The logic of claim 20, wherein the monitored condition further comprises at least one of a vehicle condition and an external condition.

22. The logic of claim 17, further operable to insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route by:

suggesting the one or more waypoints; and

inserting the one or more waypoints into the route only if the suggestion is approved.

23. The logic of claim 17, further operable to insert the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route by inserting the one or more waypoints into the route without requesting approval.

24. The logic of claim 17, further operable to:

determine whether the journey comprising the next route is feasible in accordance with the selection criteria; and

re-plan the route if the journey is not feasible.

25. A system for planning a journey, comprising:

means for establishing selection criteria for a journey from an origin to a destination, the selection criteria comprising one or more journey parameters and one or more rules, a journey parameter describing a constraint of the journey, a rule specifying an action to perform in response to a trigger event;

means for planning a route for the journey from the origin to the destination;

means for detecting a trigger event after initiation of the journey;

means for accessing a rule of the one or more rules, the accessed rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event;

means for selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria, a waypoint representing an intermediate point between the origin and the destination; and

means for inserting the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route.

26. A method for planning a journey, comprising:

establishing selection criteria for a journey from an origin to a destination, the selection criteria comprising one or more journey parameters, one or more rules, and a monitored condition of the journey, a journey parameter describing a constraint of the journey, the one or more journey parameters comprising at least one of a traveler preference and a route parameter, a rule specifying an action to perform in response to a trigger event, the monitored condition comprising at least one of a vehicle condition and an external condition;

planning a route for the journey from the origin to the destination;

detecting a trigger event after initiation of the journey;

accessing a rule of the one or more rules, the accessed rule specifying an action to perform in response to the detected trigger event;

selecting one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the action and the selection criteria, a waypoint representing an intermediate point between the origin and the destination, the one or more alternate waypoints selected by;

establishing the monitored condition;

selecting the one or more alternate waypoints in accordance with the monitored condition; and

prioritizing the one or more alternate waypoints according to compatibility with the selection criteria, a first waypoint that is more compatible with the selection criteria given a higher priority than that of a second waypoint that is less compatible with the selection criteria; and

inserting the one or more alternate waypoints into the route to create a next route by performing at least one of the following;

suggesting the one or more waypoints, and inserting the one or more waypoints into the route only if the suggestion is approved; and

inserting the one or more waypoints into the route without requesting approval;

determining whether the journey comprising the next route is feasible in accordance with the selection criteria; and

re-planning the route if the journey is not feasible.