Methods And Apparatus For Capability-Specific Routing

• US 20080154496A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucchieri, Vittorio
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments

Abstract

A method is provided for performing capability-specific routing. The method includes receiving location information specifying a location. At least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities is also received. A database is accessed, the database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user, as well as respective geographic locations of specified facilities. A determination is then made as to the facilities that are associated with the received location that are compatible with the received capability indicator. Position information specifying a position may also be received, and at least one route may be determined between the location and the position, the route being compatible with the capability indicator. An apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving location information specifying a location;

receiving at least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities;

accessing at least one database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user and respective geographic locations thereof; and

determining facilities associated with the location that are compatible with the capability indicator.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving position information specifying a position and determining at least one route between the location and the position that is compatible with the capability indicator.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein accessing at least one database includes accessing a database specifying, based on user capabilities, pedestrian facilities and transportation services that can be accessed by a user, and wherein determining at least one route includes determining a route formed by incorporating at least one of personal transport or transportation services.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein determining at least one route includes determining multiple routes between the location and the position that are each compatible with the capability indicator, and further comprising selecting a preferred route of the multiple routes based on at least one route criterion.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein selecting a preferred route based on at least one route criterion includes selecting a preferred route based on at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of:

minimization of route distance, minimization of personal transport involvement, and minimization of a time required for route travel.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising receiving the at least one route criterion.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising providing at least one output selected from the group consisting of:

a graphical map of the route, a Braille map of the route, textual directions representative of the route, and an audible signal including directions representative of the route.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving at least one capability indicator includes receiving indication of one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

frailty, weakness, deafness, blindness, guide dog use, wheelchair use, walker use, crutch use, cane use, and mental capacity.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein accessing at least one database includes accessing a database specifying, based on user capabilities, at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:

sidewalks that can be accessed by a user, intersections that can be accessed by a user, walkways that can be accessed by a user, roadways that can be accessed by a user, transportation services that can be accessed by a user, and public buildings that can be accessed by a user.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining facilities associated with the location that are compatible with the capability indicator includes determining facilities situated within a specified radius of the location.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a storage unit containing a database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user and respective geographic locations thereof; and

a processing unit configured to receive information specifying a location and at least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities and to determine facilities associated with the location that are compatible with the capability indicator based upon information contained by the database of said storage unit and related to the respective user capability.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is configured to receive position information specifying a position and to determine at least one route between the location and the position that is compatible with the capability indicator.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said storage unit contains a database specifying, based on user capabilities, pedestrian facilities and transportation services that can be accessed by a user, and wherein said processing unit is configured to determine a route formed by incorporating at least one of personal transport or transportation services.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is configured to determine multiple routes between the location and the position that are each compatible with the capability indicator and to select a preferred route of the multiple routes based on at least one route criterion.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an output device configured to provide at least one output selected from the group consisting of:

a graphical map of the route, a Braille map of the route, textual directions representative of the route, and an audible signal including directions representative of the route.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable code portion for receiving location information specifying a location;

a second executable code portion for receiving at least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities;

a third executable code portion for accessing at least one database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user and respective geographic locations thereof; and

a fourth executable code portion for determining facilities associated with the location that are compatible with the capability indicator.

17. A computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising a fifth executable code portion for receiving position information specifying a position and a sixth executable code portion for determining at least one route between the location and the position that is compatible with the capability indicator.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said third executable code portion includes an executable code portion for accessing a database specifying, based on user capabilities, pedestrian facilities and transportation services that can be accessed by a user, and wherein said sixth executable code portion includes an executable code portion for determining a route formed by incorporating at least one of personal transport or transportation services.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said sixth executable code portion includes an executable code portion for determining multiple routes between the location and the position that are each compatible with the capability indicator, and further comprising a seventh executable code portion for selecting a preferred route of the multiple routes based on at least one route criterion.

20. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein said seventh executable code portion includes an executable code portion for selecting a preferred route based on at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of:

minimization of route distance, minimization of personal transport involvement, and minimization of a time required for route travel.

21. A computer program product according to claim 19, further comprising an eighth executable code portion for receiving the at least one route criterion.

22. A computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising a seventh executable code portion for providing at least one output selected from the group consisting of:

a graphical map of the route, a Braille map of the route, textual directions representative of the route, and an audible signal including directions representative of the route.

23. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein receiving at least one capability indicator includes receiving indication of one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

frailty, weakness, deafness, blindness, guide dog use, wheelchair use, walker use, crutch use, cane use, and mental capacity.

24. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein accessing at least one database includes accessing a database specifying, based on user capabilities, at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:

sidewalks that can be accessed by a user, intersections that can be accessed by a user, walkways that can be accessed by a user, roadways that can be accessed by a user, transportation services that can be accessed by a user, and public buildings that can be accessed by a user.

25. A computer program product according to claim 16, wherein said second executable code portion includes an executable code portion for determining facilities associated with the location that are compatible with the capability indicator includes determining facilities situated within a specified radius of the location.