Method for reminding users about future appointments while taking into account traveling time to the appointment location

• US 20100228473A1
• Filed: 03/08/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ranford, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location includes receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user, determining the current location of the personal navigation device, and determining the user'"'"'s routing preferences when traveling to the appointment location. The method also includes estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location to the appointment location when traveling according to the user'"'"'s routing preferences, determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time, and notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location, the method comprising:

receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user;

determining the current location of the personal navigation device;

determining the user'"'"'s routing preferences when traveling to the appointment location;

estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location to the appointment location when traveling according to the user'"'"'s routing preferences;

determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time; and

notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.

2. The method of claim 1, determining the user'"'"'s routing preferences comprises determining a user'"'"'s preferred mode of transportation over segments of a route.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a preparation buffer time inputted into the personal navigation device indicative of an amount of extra time a user would like to prepare for the appointment; and

determining the notification time based on the estimated travel time, the preparation buffer time, and the appointment time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel time is estimated according to known speed limits.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel time is estimated according to historical statistics of travel times.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the user that the user is ahead of schedule or behind schedule for the appointment.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a default travel time that is used as the estimated travel time when the personal navigation device is not able to determine a travel time to the appointment location.

8. A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location, the method comprising:

receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user;

determining the current location of the personal navigation device;

determining the availability of parking near the appointment location;

estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location to the appointment location while taking time for parking into consideration;

determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time; and

notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a preparation buffer time inputted into the personal navigation device indicative of an amount of extra time a user would like to prepare for the appointment; and

determining the notification time based on the estimated travel time, the preparation buffer time, and the appointment time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the travel time is estimated according to known speed limits.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the travel time is estimated according to historical statistics of travel times.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising notifying the user that the user is ahead of schedule or behind schedule for the appointment.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a default travel time that is used as the estimated travel time when the personal navigation device is not able to determine a travel time to the appointment location.

14. A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location, the method comprising:

receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user, wherein the appointment location is not a fixed location;

determining the current location of the personal navigation device;

determining the current appointment location;

estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location of the personal navigation device to the current appointment location;

determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time; and

notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving an updated location of the appointment location;

notifying the user about the updated location of the appointment location; and

notifying the user about the user'"'"'s progress toward the updated location of the appointment location.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a preparation buffer time inputted into the personal navigation device indicative of an amount of extra time a user would like to prepare for the appointment; and

determining the notification time based on the estimated travel time, the preparation buffer time, and the appointment time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the travel time is estimated according to known speed limits.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the travel time is estimated according to historical statistics of travel times.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising notifying the user that the user is ahead of schedule or behind schedule for the appointment.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a default travel time that is used as the estimated travel time when the personal navigation device is not able to determine a travel time to the appointment location.