METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR REAL-TIME DEPARTURE ESTIMATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

• US 20090119006A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huslak, Nicholas S., Silver, Edward M., Silver, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 9,145,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/14 Following schedules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0095 Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products estimate a departure time for a transportation user using a mobile device. A range of departure times, a user location and/or travel time to a station, and a transportation route can be received. Real-time location information for a plurality of transportation units on the transportation route can be received. One or more estimated departure times within the range of departure times can be calculated based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time location information of the plurality of transportation units for the transportation route.

Claims

1. A method of estimating a departure time for a transportation user, the method comprising:

receiving a range of departure times, at least one of a user location and travel time to a station, and a transportation route;

receiving real-time location information for a plurality of transportation units on the transportation route; and

calculating a departure time within the range of departure times based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time location information of the plurality of transportation units for the transportation route.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the travel time based on a distance between the user and a station on the transportation route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel time is input by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the location information of at least one of the plurality of transportation units and the user; and

estimating arrival times for the transportation unit and the user at the station on the transportation route.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising notifying the user if the estimated arrival time for the user is after the estimated arrival time for the transportation unit.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining a next available transportation unit and notifying the user of an arrival time for the next available transportation unit and a new estimated departure time for arrival in time to catch the next available transportation unit.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a user location based on a location of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user of the one or more estimated departure times using the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a travel route to the station based on the current location of the mobile device; and

providing a map and/or directions to the station based on the selected travel route.

10. (canceled)

11. A computer program product for estimating a departure time for a transportation user using a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code therein the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code that is configured to receive a range of departure times at least one of a user location and travel time to a station, and a transportation route;

computer readable program code that is configured to receive real-time location information for a plurality of transportation units on the transportation route, and

computer readable program code that is configured to calculate a departure time within the range of departure times based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time location information of the plurality of transportation units for the transportation route.

12. A method of estimating a departure time for an airplane transportation user using a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving flight information and a user location and/or travel time to an airport;

receiving real-time check-in wait delay information and flight status information; and

calculating an estimated departure time based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time check-in wait delay information and flight status information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

updating the user location and/or travel time to an airport, the real-time check-in wait delay information and the flight status information; and

estimating arrival times for the flight and the user at the airport based on the updated location information of the user location and/or travel time to an airport, the real-time check-in wait delay information and the flight status information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying the user if the estimated arrival time for the user is after the estimated arrival time for the flight.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a user location based on a location of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising notifying the user of the estimated departure times using the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

selecting a travel route to the airport based on the current location of the mobile device; and

providing a map and/or directions to the station based on the selected travel route.

18-19. -19. (canceled)