Navigation Routing System Having Environmentally Triggered Routing

• US 20080033644A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bannon, Sean A.
• Application Number:
  US11/832,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• 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: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A routing system and method for determining a user'"'"'s geographical location and desired destination alerts the user to real or perceived threats to the user'"'"'s safety or convenience by utilizing data bases containing both historical and real-time information about the user'"'"'s geographical location and user-specified criteria.

Claims

1. A routing system for determining a user'"'"'s geographical location and alerting the user to real or perceived safety or security threats in an area encompassing the geographical location;

the system comprising;

an interface device adapted to communicate with a global positioning system (GPS) to display preselected GPS data, to accept criteria data defined by the user, and to display alerting information to the user; and

a routing system processor in communication with the interface device, the processor operative to employ a routing algorithm to determine a route to a destination designated by the user via the interface device, the processor further operative to alter the routing algorithm in accordance with the criteria data such that the route will avoid a specific threat or uncertainty.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface device is hand-held by the user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface device is located on-board the user'"'"'s vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface device further comprises:

a plurality of soft keys for respectively enabling the user to define a plurality of threat criteria.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a soft key enabling the user to request re-routing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor communicates with the interface device via a satellite radio system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor communicates with the interface device via one of a web-enabled telephone and a PDA-type device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor communicates with the interface device via an internet connection.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor utilizes a data base containing historical information for determining a potential threat level in a specific user locale.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the routing system processor runs a probabilistic model on the historical information to determine the potential threat level.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor utilizes a data base containing real-time information for determining an actual threat level in a specific user locale.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the routing system processor utilizes a data base containing real-time information for determining an actual threat level in the specific user locale.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing system processor utilizes a neural network for learning habits and preferences of the user and updating the routing algorithm accordingly.

14. A method for controlling a user routing system comprising:

identifying the user via a profile indicator;

receiving threat criteria associated with the profile indicator via an interface device;

determining a geographical location and desired destination of the user;

determining an initial user route to the destination with a routing algorithm;

retrieving historical information about the location;

retrieving real-time information about the location;

running a probabilistic model on the retrieved information to determine threat type and level; and

selecting an alternate route to the destination whenever the threat level exceeds a predetermined level associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising updating a user profile using a neural network.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising updating the routing algorithm using a neural network.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the probabilistic model comprises a Monte Carlo model.