APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING JOURNEY INFORMATION

• US 20120036183A1
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inrix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inrix Incorporated
• Inventors: Burr, Jonathan Charles, Gates, Gary, Slater, Alan George
• Granted Patent: US 9,798,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method of providing at least one journey option computation to user and a journey information computer system is provided. The journey information computer system comprising: a client interface configured to receive a calendar email invitation comprising appointment details and user identity information; a decode module operable to identify and extract the user identity information and the appointment details from the email; a travel information processor configured to compute at least one journey option based on the appointment details together with data received from a least one travel information source; and a communication module configured to send the at least one computed journey option to a user device.

Claims

1. A journey information computer system comprising:

a client interface configured to receive a calendar email invitation comprising appointment details and user identity information;

a decode module operable to identify and extract the user identity information and the appointment details from the email;

a travel information processor configured to compute at least one journey option based on the appointment details together with data received from a least one travel information source; and

a communication module configured to send the at least one computed journey option to a user device.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the decode module is configured to process the appointment details to generate a travel information data packet comprising at least a starting point and finishing point for a journey, and the user identity information.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the travel information processor receives the travel information data packet and uses it to compute the at least one journey.

4. The system according to any preceding claim further comprising a library of user profiles, each user profile comprising an address, and wherein the decode module is configured to use the user identity information to look up said address from the user profile and define the journey starting point in the travel information data packet as said address.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said address is one or more of a home address and a work address.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the user is prompted to select between the home and work address.

7. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the appointment details comprise:

date, time, duration and location.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the decode module is configured to define the location from the appointment details as the finishing point for the journey.

9. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the decode module is configured to use the duration from the appointment details to calculate a return journey.

10. The system according to any preceding claim further comprising a library of e-mail client templates, wherein each template describes the structure of appointment details in e-mails, and wherein the decode module uses the templates to selectively, in dependence upon the source of the calendar email invitation, identify and extract the appointment details from the e-mail.

11. The system of any of claims 4 to 10 wherein each user profile comprises more than one address and the user is prompted with a message to confirm the starting and/or ending point of the journey.

12. The system of any of claims 4 to 11 wherein each user profile further comprises preference information used by the travel information processor for journey computations.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the preference information includes one or more of:

preferred method of transport, cost preferences, environmental preferences.

14. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the user identifier is an e-mail address.

15. The system according to any preceding claim further comprising an e-mailer module for creating an email message comprising details of the computed journey and sending it to the user device.

16. The system according to any preceding claim further comprising a messenger module for creating a SMS/MMS message comprising details of the computed journey and sending it to the user device.

17. The system according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the message comprises updates and/or reminders regarding the journey.

18. The system according to any of claims 15 to 17 wherein the user device is one or more of:

a desktop computer;

a mobile phone;

a smart-phone;

a PDA.

19. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one travel information source includes one or more of:

real-time traffic information;

rail information;

flight information;

coach information;

local taxi companies;

public transport schedules.

20. The system according to any preceding claim wherein travel information is sent as regular updates to the user by the e-mailer module and/or messenger module before and/or during the journey.

21. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the travel information processor takes into consideration economic factors and outputs the most cost-effective journey to the user.

22. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the travel information processor takes into consideration environmental factors and outputs the most environmentally friendly journey to the user.

23. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the calculated journey option allows a predetermined amount of time for parking.

24. The system according to any preceding claim further comprising an interface to at least one datastore having records indicating parking availability in the vicinity of the end point, and presenting it as part of the journey option.

25. The system according to any preceding claim wherein the decode module sends an instruction to the e-mailer and/or messenger module to send a registration link back to the user, and the user completes profile information which is used to create/populate a user profile.

26. A method of providing at least one journey option computation to user, the method comprising:

receiving an email at a decode module;

extracting user identity information and appointment details from the email;

receiving travel information from at least one travel information source;

computing at least one journey option based on the appointment details and travel information using a travel information processor;

sending the at least one computed journey to a user device.

27. The method according to claim 26 further comprising using the appointment details to generate a travel information data packet comprising at least a starting point and finishing point for a journey, and the user identity information.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising receiving the travel information data packet and using it in the computation of the at least one journey.

29. The method according to any of claims 26-28 further comprising using the user identity information to look up an address from a library of user profiles, each user profile comprising an address, and defining the journey starting point in the travel information data packet as said address.

30. The method according to any of claims 26-29 wherein the appointment details comprise:

date, time, duration and location.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising using the location as the finishing point for that journey.

32. The method according to any of claims 26-31 further comprising extracting the duration from the appointment details to calculate a return journey start time and calculating a return journey based on reversing the starting and finishing points.

33. The method according to any of claims 26-32 further comprising referencing a library of e-mail client templates, wherein each template describes where an e-mail client application places appointment details in e-mails, and using the templates to identify and extract the appointment details from the e-mail.

34. The method according to any of claims 29-33 wherein each user profile comprises more than one address and the user is prompted with a message to confirm the starting and/or ending point of the journey.

35. The method according to any of claims 29-34 wherein user profiles further comprise preference information used by the travel information processor for journey computations.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein preference information includes one or more of:

preferred method of transport, cost preferences, environmental preferences.

37. The method according to any of claims 26-36 wherein the user identifier is an e-mail address.

38. The method according to any of claims 26-37 further comprising creating an email message comprising the journey and sending it to the user device.

39. The method according to any of claims 26-38 further comprising creating a SMS/MMS message comprising the journey and sending it to the user device.

40. The method according to claim 38 or 39 wherein the message comprises updates and/or reminders regarding the journey.

41. The method according to any of claims 38 to 40 wherein the user device is one or more of:

a desktop computer;

a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA.

42. The method according to any of claims 26-41 wherein the at least one travel information source includes one or more of:

real-time traffic information, rail information, flight information, coach information, local taxi companies, public transport schedules.

43. The method according to any of claims 26-42 further comprising sending regular traffic information updates to the user before and during the journey.

44. The method according to any of claims 26-43 wherein the travel information processor takes into consideration economic factors and outputs the most cost-effective journey to the user.

45. The method according to any of claims 26-44 wherein the travel information processor takes into consideration environmental factors and outputs the most environmentally friendly journey to the user.

46. The method according to any of claims 26-45 wherein the calculated journey allows a predetermined amount of time for parking.

47. The method according to any of claims 26-46 wherein the decode module sends an instruction to the e-mailer and/or messenger module to send a registration link back to the user, and the user completes profile information which is used to create/populate a user profile.

48. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure configured to perform the methods of claims 26-47.