Method, system and article of manufacture for identifying regularly traveled routes

• US 20060265124A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jean K. Ohler
• Inventors: Ohler, Jean K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• 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: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

An in-vehicle navigation system includes a receiver for receiving real-time traffic information (RTTI), a database for storing routine trip information, and a processor for running a regular route application. The regular route application includes a learning mode program and an operational mode program. The learning mode program records information regarding trips regularly taken by a vehicle and populates the database with records of routine trip information. The recorded trip information can include driver identifiers, trip departure times, origin points, destination points, dates of travel, days of travel, and route data. When the vehicle begins a new trip, the operational mode program determines whether the vehicle is engaging in a routine trip. This is accomplished by comparing current vehicle location or departure time information to routine trip information in the database. If the vehicle is starting a routine trip, the operational mode program retrieves from the database trip information stored in a trip record associated with the routine trip, accesses RTTI corresponding to the trip information, and notifies an end user about traffic conditions indicated by the RTTI.

Claims

1. A method of providing travel information comprising:

storing data that represent a plurality of routes taken by a computing platform, said data includes an origin and a destination for each of said routes;

identify a repeatedly traveled route by evaluating said data to identify said routes having a common origin and a common destination; and

obtaining traffic data for said repeatedly traveled route.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating a travel time for said repeatedly traveled route based on the traffic data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a travel time for said repeatedly traveled route will decrease by changing a departure time associated with said repeatedly traveled route.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating a route from said common origin to said common destination of the repeatedly traveled route.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

calculating a travel time for said route.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said travel time calculation considers said traffic data.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the computing platform is commencing on a current trip from said common origin to said common destination of the repeatedly traveled route.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of determining further comprises:

identifying a current trip departure time; and

comparing the current trip departure time to a departure time associated with the repeatedly traveled route.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an alternative route from said common origin to said common destination of the repeatedly traveled route to save time or money.

10. A method of providing travel information comprising:

storing data representing a plurality of routes taken by a computing platform, said data includes an origin and a destination for each of said routes;

identify a routinely-traveled route by evaluating said data to identify said routes having a similar origin and a similar destination; and

providing the computer platform with information corresponding to a point of interest proximate the routinely-traveled route.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is an advertisement.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the point of interest is a business.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is a sales promotion.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining whether the computing platform is commencing travel on a current trip along the routinely-traveled route.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining further comprises:

identifying a current trip departure time; and

comparing the current trip departure time to a departure time associated with the routinely-traveled route.

16. A method of operating a computing platform comprising:

storing data that represent a plurality of routes taken by an end user of the computing platform, for each of said routes said data includes an origin, a destination and a plurality of locations along said route;

identifying said routes having a common origin and a common destination; and

obtaining traffic data relevant to said routes having said common origin and said common destination.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining that the end user is commencing travel on a current trip from said common origin to said common destination.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

calculating a route from said common origin to said common destination.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

calculating a travel time for said route from said common origin to said common destination.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said travel time calculation considers said traffic data.