NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DEPARTURE TIMES

• US 20110301841A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Schuurbiers, Rob, Soeters, Bob Arnold
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

A navigation system comprises a processing resource (202) configured to receive destination data representative of a destination, to determine an expected travel time to the destination, and to determine a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination, and an output device (206) for providing the departure time to a user.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

—

a processing resource and an output device for providing a departure time to a user, wherein the processing resource is configured to;

receive user schedule data from at least one user device, and to obtain destination data representative of a destination and a desired arrival time from the user schedule data;

determine an expected travel time to the destination in dependence upon historic travel data, wherein said historic travel data comprises measured average speed data at different times;

determine a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination such that the user arrives at the destination by the desired arrival time;

recalculate the expected travel time in dependence upon current travel data when the determined departure time is within a predetermined threshold of the current time, wherein the current travel data is indicative of current travel conditions; and

update the departure time in dependence upon the recalculated expected travel time.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, comprising a portable navigation device, wherein at least one of the processing resource and the output device is included in the portable navigation device.

3. A navigation system according claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to monitor the current time, and to provide an alarm signal in dependence upon a comparison between the current time and the departure time.

6. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to select a route from a plurality of possible routes to the destination location in dependence upon expected travel time to the destination location for each of the possible routes.

7. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to determine, for each of a plurality of possible routes to the destination location, a measure representative of the expected reliability of the expected travel time for the route, and to select a route in dependence upon the reliability measures for the routes.

8. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to add or subtract an offset time to or from the departure time.

9. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to perform the determination of expected travel time and/or the determination of departure time and/or the selection of a route to the destination location and/or the selection of the or an offset time in dependence upon at least one constraint.

10. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one constraint comprises a requirement to optimise travel time to the destination and/or a requirement to arrive by a required arrival time.

11. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one constraint comprises a requirement to depart and/or arrive within at least one time window.

15. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the current travel data comprises at least one of traffic data and weather data.

17. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to update the determination of departure time periodically and/or in dependence upon receipt of travel data.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

12-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18. A method of operation of a navigation apparatus comprising:

—

receiving user schedule data from at least one user device at the navigation apparatus to obtain destination data representative of a destination and a desired arrival time from the user schedule data;

determining an expected travel time to the destination in dependence upon historic travel data, wherein said historic travel data comprises measured average speed data at different times;

determining a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination such that the user arrives at the destination by the desired arrival time;

recalculating the expected travel time in dependence upon current travel data when the determined departure time is within a predetermined threshold of the current time, wherein the current travel data is indicative of current travel conditions;

updating the departure time in dependence upon the recalculated expected travel time; and

providing the departure time to a user.

19. (canceled)

20. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions executable to put into effect a method of operation of a navigation apparatus comprising:

receiving user schedule data from at least one user device at the navigation apparatus to obtain destination data representative of a destination and a desired arrival time from the user schedule data;

determining an expected travel time to the destination in dependence upon historic travel data, wherein said historic travel data comprises measured average speed data at different times;

determining a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination such that the user arrives at the destination by the desired arrival time;

recalculating the expected travel time in dependence upon current travel data when the determined departure time is within a predetermined threshold of the current time, wherein the current travel data is indicative of current travel conditions;

updating the departure time in dependence upon the recalculated expected travel time and

providing the departure time to a user.

21. A navigation system comprising:

a processing resource and an output device for providing a departure time to a user, wherein the processing resource is configured to;

receive destination data representative of a destination, to determine an expected travel time to the destination;

determine, for each of a plurality of possible routes to the destination location, a measure representative of the expected reliability of the expected travel time for the route;

select a route in dependence upon the reliability measures for the routes; and

determine a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination;

the processing resource being further configured to;

receive a user input for specifying whether an appointment is of high importance; and

,

if the appointment is of high importance, select a route only from amongst routes having a reliability level above a predetermined threshold.

22. A method of operation of a navigation apparatus comprising:

receiving destination data representative of a destination location at the navigation apparatus;

determining, for each of a plurality of possible routes to the destination location, a measure representative of the expected reliability of the expected travel time for the route;

selecting a route in dependence upon the reliability measures for the routes;

determining an expected travel time to the destination;

determining a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination; and

providing the departure time to a user;

the method further comprising;

receiving a user input for specifying whether an appointment is of high importance; and

,

if the appointment is specified to be of high importance, selecting the route only from amongst routes having a reliability level above a predetermined threshold.

23. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions executable to put into effect a method of operation of a navigation apparatus comprising:

receiving destination data representative of a destination location at the navigation apparatus;

determining, for each of a plurality of possible routes to the destination location, a measure representative of the expected reliability of the expected travel time for the route;

selecting a route in dependence upon the reliability measures for the routes;

determining an expected travel time to the destination;

determining a departure time in dependence upon the expected travel time to the destination; and

providing the departure time to a user;

the method further comprising;

receiving a user input for specifying whether an appointment is of high importance; and

,

if the appointment is specified to be of high importance, selecting the route only from amongst routes having a reliability level above a predetermined threshold.