Method and system for finding multimodal transit route directions based on user preferred transport modes

• US 20090119001A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Public Routes.com
• Original Assignee: Public Routes Com LLC
• Inventors: Sellouk, Marc, Moussaeiff, Roy
• Application Number:
  US11/983,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• 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 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/008 Touring maps or guides to public transport networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A method and system for finding multimodal transit route solutions with a computer software program is described that finds the most efficient transit routes based on user preferred modes of transport. The route finding system has four layers that include a presentation layer, an application layer, a component layer and a database layer. The system input includes a start address, a destination address and preferred mode of transport to find the most efficient transit routes. The transport mode includes public transport, private transport and combination of public and private transports. The system displays the detailed mapped route directions for the user input. The system also includes tools for location based address finder and local guidance.

Claims

1. ) A real time method for finding multimodal route directions through user preferred modes of transport with a computer software program, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a start address and a destination address;

(b) receiving user preference criteria of at least one or more modes of transport from a list of modes of transport;

(c) verifying the start address and the destination address;

(d) searching the transit route directions;

(e) Comparing route directions for different transport modes; and

(f) displaying the transit route directions;

2. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the list of transport modes includes mode of transport, public transport modes, private transport modes and combinations of public and private transport modes.

3. ) The method of claim 2, wherein the mode of transport finds route directions with which distance between the starting address and the destination address is coverable in shortest time, lowest cost and with use of minimum modes of transport.

4. ) Method of claim 1, wherein the step of searching the transit route directions include steps of:

(a) searching a first point of interest;

(b) searching a second point of interest;

(c) searching matching routes between the first point of interest and the second point of interest.

5. ) The method of claim 4, wherein the first point of interest is a nearest public transport mode to the start address.

6. ) The method of claim 4, wherein the second point of interest is the nearest public transport mode to the destination address.

7. ) The method of claim 4, wherein the transit route directions includes at least three route segments, a first route segment having a route from the start address to the first point of interest, a second segment having a route from the first point of interest to the second point of interest, and the third segment having a route from the second point of interest to the destination address.

8. ) The method of claim 7, wherein the second route segment includes a plurality of root segments connected through intermediate points.

9. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the first method of displaying the transit route directions includes displaying at least two maps, a first map includes travel direction from the start address to a nearest location of public transport mode, and a second map includes travel direction from the destination address to a nearest location of a public transport mode for better user understanding of the route directions.

10. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the second method of displaying the transit route directions includes displaying at least one map with travel directions from the start address to the destination address for the travel with a private vehicle.

11. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a database.

12. ) The method of claim 11, wherein searching and creating the database is an iterative process.

14. ) The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a database.

15. ) The computer program product of claim 11, wherein searching and creating the database is an iterative process.

13. ) A computer program product fixed in a tangible medium embodying a method for finding multimodal route directions through user preferred modes of transport, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a start address and a destination address;

(b) receiving user preference criteria of at least one or more modes of transport from a list of modes of transport;

(c) verifying the start address and the destination address;

(d) searching the transit route directions;

(e) comparing route directions for different transport modes; and

(f) displaying the transit route directions.

16. ) In a network of computing devices, a system for finding multimodal route directions through user preferred modes of transport, comprising:

(a) a computing device, comprising a processor, a memory connected to the processor and an interface connected to the processor;

(b) the memory includes a set of instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform at least one or more of the following steps regardless of order;

(i) receiving a start address and a destination address;

(ii) receiving user preference criteria of at least one or more modes of transport from a list of modes of transport;

(iii) verifying the start address and the destination address;

(iv) searching for transit route directions based on the user preference criteria;

(v) comparing route directions for two or more transport modes; and

(vi) displaying the transit route directions based on the user preference criteria;

17. ) The system of claim 16, further comprising an instruction in the memory of least one or more computing devices that, when executed, cause the processor to perform the step of creating a database.

18. ) The system of claim 17, wherein searching and creating the database is an iterative process.

19. ) In a network of computing devices, a system for finding multimodal route directions through user preferred modes of transport, comprising:

(a) a computing device, comprising a processor, a memory connected to the processor and an interface connected to the processor;

(b) the memory includes a set of instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform at least one or more of the following steps regardless of order;

(i) means for receiving a start address and a destination address;

(ii) means for receiving user preference criteria of at least one or more modes of transport from a list of modes of transport;

(iii) means for verifying the start address and the destination address;

(iv) means for creating a database;

(v) means for searching for transit route directions based on the user preference criteria;

(vi) means for comparing route directions for two or more transport modes; and

(vii) means for displaying the transit route directions based on the user preference criteria;

20. ) The system of claim 19, wherein the means for searching and creating the database is an iterative process.