METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A MEETING POINT AND ROUTES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO A PROPOSED MEETING

• US 20110113148A1
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Leskela, Jyrki, Nikula, Jarmo Antero, Happonen, Aki, Salmela, Mika
• Application Number:
  US12/614,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route

Abstract

A method including causing determination of locations of participants to a proposed meeting. The method further includes determining a meeting point and proposed routes of the participants to the meeting point based on the locations of the participants; and electronically providing, to the participants, the meeting point and the proposed routes for display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing determination of respective locations of participants to a proposed meeting;

determining, via a mapping application, a meeting point and a proposed route for each of the participants to the meeting point based on the respective locations of the participants, for setting up the proposed meeting; and

electronically providing, to the participants, the meeting point and the proposed routes for display.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the meeting point is based on the locations of the participants and travel methods of the participants, and wherein the meeting point is determined to provide substantially equal travel time for each of the participants.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing display of the meeting point, the proposed routes, and an estimated travel time of each participant to the meeting point.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing display of one or more alternative meeting points based on user preferences.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating adjustment of the meeting point of the participants based on user input; and

determining an adjusted proposed route for each of the participants based on the respective locations of the participants and the adjusted meeting point.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the user input is input using a touchscreen display of a mobile device.

7. A method of claim 5, further comprising:

causing display of the adjusted meeting point, the adjusted proposed routes, and an estimated travel time of each participant to the adjusted meeting point.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated locations of participants traveling to the meeting point; and

allowing adjustment of the meeting point based on progress of the participants traveling to the meeting point.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

cause determination of respective locations of participants to a proposed meeting;

determine, via a mapping application, a meeting point and a proposed route for each of the participants to the meeting point based on the respective locations of the participants, for setting up the proposed meeting; and

electronically provide, to the participants, the meeting point and the proposed routes for display.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the meeting point is based on the locations of the participants and travel methods of the participants, and wherein the meeting point is determined to provide substantially equal travel time for each of the participants.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause display of the meeting point, the proposed routes, and an estimated travel time of each participant to the meeting point.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause display of one or more alternative meeting points based on user preferences.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

facilitate adjustment of the meeting point of the participants based on user input; and

determine an adjusted proposed route for each of the participants based on the respective locations of the participants and the adjusted meeting point.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device, and wherein the user input is input using a touchscreen display of the mobile device.

15. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause display of the adjusted meeting point, the adjusted proposed routes, and an estimated travel time of each participant to the adjusted meeting point.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

receive updated locations of participants traveling to the meeting point; and

allow adjustment of the meeting point based on progress of the participants traveling to the meeting point.

17. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device.

18. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a server configured to be in communication with one or more mobile devices.

19. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

causing determination of respective locations of participants to a proposed meeting;

determining, via a mapping application, a meeting point and a proposed route for each of the participants to the meeting point based on the respective locations of the participants, for setting up the proposed meeting; and

electronically providing, to the participants, the meeting point and the proposed routes for display.