Intelligent Travel Routing System and Method

• US 20100057346A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Typhoon IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Ehrlacher, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• 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: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• 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 1/096855 where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver details on I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36

Abstract

A method of assigning routes to a plurality of users includes determining a cost for each of a plurality of roadway segments. The cost of a roadway segment is commensurate with the roadway segment'"'"'s inclusion in one or more existing routes from a start location to a destination location. The method further includes generating a plurality of new routes. Each generated route includes one or more roadway segments. The generated routes are assigned to each of the plurality of users.

Claims

1. A method of assigning routes to a plurality of users, the method comprising:

(a) determining a cost for each of a plurality of roadway segments, wherein the cost of a roadway segment is commensurate with the roadway segment'"'"'s inclusion in one or more existing routes from a start location to a destination location;

(b) generating a plurality of new routes, wherein each new route comprises one or more roadway segments included in the plurality of roadway segments; and

(c) assigning each of the plurality of users one or more of the new routes based on the cost of the roadway segments comprising the plurality of new routes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) updating the cost for each of the plurality of roadway segments based on the plurality of new routes generated in step (b).

(e) modifying the one or more existing routes based on the updated cost.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) providing the assigned new routes to the plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises:

(i) receiving a user preference from each of the plurality of users; and

(ii) selecting a new route for each of the plurality of users based at least in part on the user preferences of each of the plurality of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed by at least one of:

(i) selecting a new route at random from the plurality of routes;

(ii) selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a user priority level; and

(iii) selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a round robin selection scheme.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost a roadway segment determined in step (a) is further commensurate with at least one of:

(i) traffic levels on the roadway segment;

(ii) characteristics of the roadway segment;

(iii) weather conditions on the segment; and

(iv) events that may impact traffic levels on the roadway segment.

7. The method of claim 1, the existing routes used in step (a) are determined by contacting one or more other users via a peer-to-peer connection.

8. A method for minimizing collective travel time among a plurality of users, the method comprising:

(a) determining a cost for each of a plurality of road segments, wherein the cost of a road segment is commensurate with an increase in collective travel time associated with assigning the roadway segment to a new route;

(b) receiving a new route request message, wherein the new route request message comprises a start location and a destination location;

(c) generating a plurality of routes that link the start location and the destination location, wherein each route in the plurality of routes comprises one or more road segments;

(d) determining a route cost for each route in the plurality of routes; and

(e) selecting a new route from the plurality of routes.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) providing the new route to a user device for display to a user.

10. The method of claim 8 further, comprising:

(f) providing the new route to a user device for display to a user;

(g) receiving an indication that the user is following the new route;

(h) selecting a secondary route for the user; and

(i) providing the user with the secondary route;

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of selecting a new route from the plurality of routes is performed by at least one of:

(i) selecting a new route at random from the plurality of routes;

(ii) selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a user priority level; and

(iii) selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a round robin selection scheme.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the route cost determined in step (d) is a sum of the cost the one or more roadway segments comprising the route.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the route cost determined in step (d) comprises:

(i) a sum of the cost the one or more roadway segments comprising the route; and

(ii) a weighting factor commensurate with one or more user preferences.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises (f) modifying one or more existing route based on the selection of the new route.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the cost a roadway segment determined in step (a) is further commensurate with at least one of:

(i) traffic levels on the roadway segment;

(ii) characteristics of the roadway segment;

(iii) weather conditions on the segment; and

(iv) events that may impact traffic levels on the roadway segment.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the start location received in step (c) is determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS) component included in a user device.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the cost determined in step (a) is determined by contacting one or more other users via a peer-to-peer connection.

18. A system for assigning a route a user, the system comprising:

(a) a receiver unit configured to receive a start location and a destination location;

(b) a route generation component configured to identify a plurality of routes between the start location and the destination location;

(c) a route assignment component configured to select a route from the plurality of routes between the start location and the destination location; and

(d) a route assignment database, wherein the route assignment database is accessed by the route assignment component in order to select a route from the plurality of routes