IDENTIFYING CUSTOM RENDEZVOUS POINTS BETWEEN USERS AND VEHICLES PLYING ON CUSTOM ROUTES

• US 20130110396A1
• Filed: 10/21/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technomedia Software Solutions Private Limited
• Original Assignee: Technomedia Software Solutions Private Limited
• Inventors: Choudhury, Joydeep Roy
• Granted Patent: US 9,267,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/468
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention facilitates identification of custom rendezvous points between users and vehicles plying on custom routes. In one embodiment, a system on board the vehicle receives notifications from users while the vehicle is plying/in transit on the custom route. The system determines the respective transit states (capturing the static and/or dynamic aspects) of the vehicle corresponding to the notifications. The system then inspects the transit states to identify the rendezvous points between the users and the vehicle plying on the custom route. The users by providing the notifications at different time instances (that is, when the vehicle is at different locations/points on the custom route) can cause different “custom” rendezvous points to be identified based on the preferences of the users using the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of identifying custom rendezvous points between users and vehicles plying on custom routes, said method being performed in a system located on a first vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of notifications from a plurality of users while said first vehicle is in transit on a first custom route;

determining a plurality of transit states of said first vehicle corresponding to said plurality of notifications, wherein each of said plurality of transit states corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of notifications; and

inspecting said plurality of transit states to identify a first set of custom rendezvous points for said plurality of users,

wherein said first set of custom rendezvous points facilitates said plurality of users to rendezvous with said first vehicle plying on said first custom route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each transit state in said plurality of transit states comprises a GPS (global positioning system) location of said first vehicle at the time of said receiving of the corresponding notification, a route distance indicating the distance travelled by said first vehicle on said first custom route from a start point, a bearing of said first vehicle, a speed of said first vehicle, and a dwell time indicating the duration for which said first vehicle has been at said GPS location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said inspecting is performed using a plurality of windows, said method further comprising:

collecting a first set of transit states corresponding to notifications received within a first window of said plurality of windows, wherein said plurality of transit states comprises said first set of transit states;

determining whether there exists a first custom rendezvous point within said first window; and

processing said first set of transit states according to a first manner if said determining determines that said first custom rendezvous point exists within said first window and according to a second manner otherwise.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first set of transit states corresponds to notifications received from a first set of users of said plurality of users, wherein said first manner comprises:

identifying that said first set of transit states are similar to the state of said first custom rendezvous point;

determining whether said first set of users are already assigned to a second custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said second custom rendezvous point;

if said determining determines that said first set of users are already assigned to said second custom rendezvous point, checking with said first set of users whether the users desire to board from said first custom rendezvous point and reassigning said first set of users to said first custom rendezvous point if the users desire to board from said first custom rendezvous point; and

otherwise, assigning said first custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first manner further comprises:

identifying that said first set of transit states differ in bearing to the state of said first custom rendezvous point;

checking whether said first set of users are agreeable to rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point;

if said first set of users are agreeable to rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point, assigning said first custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point; and

otherwise, assigning a third custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said third custom rendezvous point is different from said first custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said third custom rendezvous point.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first manner further comprises:

identifying that said first set of transit states differ in route distance to the state of said first custom rendezvous point; and

assigning, in response to said identifying, a fourth custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said fourth custom rendezvous point is different from said first custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said fourth custom rendezvous point.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said first set of transit states corresponds to notifications received from a first set of users of said plurality of users, wherein said second manner comprises:

identifying that there exists a first transit state in said first set of transit states that has said speed as zero and said dwell time greater than a pre-defined duration; and

assigning said GPS location of said first transit state as a second rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said second custom rendezvous point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second manner further comprises:

identifying that there exists a point of interest within a pre-defined distance from each of said first set of transit states; and

assigning said GPS location of said point of interest as a third rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said third custom rendezvous point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said second manner further comprises:

determining a location having an average distance from each of said first set of transit states; and

assigning said location as a fourth rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said fourth custom rendezvous point.

10. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for causing a system to identify custom rendezvous points between users and vehicles plying on custom routes, said system being located in a first vehicle, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by said one or more processors in said system causes said system to perform the actions of:

receiving a plurality of notifications from a plurality of users while said first vehicle is in transit on a first custom route;

determining a plurality of transit states of said first vehicle corresponding to said plurality of notifications, wherein each of said plurality of transit states corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of notifications; and

inspecting said plurality of transit states to identify a first set of custom rendezvous points for said plurality of users,

wherein said first set of custom rendezvous points facilitates said plurality of users to rendezvous with said first vehicle plying on said first custom route.

11. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 10, wherein each transit state in said plurality of transit states comprises a GPS (global positioning system) location of said first vehicle at the time of said receiving of the corresponding notification, a route distance indicating the distance travelled by said first vehicle on said first custom route from a start point, a bearing of said first vehicle, a speed of said first vehicle, and a dwell time indicating the duration for which said first vehicle has been at said GPS location.

12. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein said inspecting is performed using a plurality of windows, further comprising one or more instructions for:

collecting a first set of transit states corresponding to notifications received within a first window of said plurality of windows, wherein said plurality of transit states comprises said first set of transit states;

determining whether there exists a first custom rendezvous point within said first window; and

processing said first set of transit states according to a first manner if said determining determines that said first custom rendezvous point exists within said first window and according to a second manner otherwise.

13. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said first set of transit states corresponds to notifications received from a first set of users of said plurality of users, wherein said first manner comprises performing the actions of:

identifying that said first set of transit states are similar to the state of said first custom rendezvous point;

determining whether said first set of users are already assigned to a second custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said second custom rendezvous point;

if said determining determines that said first set of users are already assigned to said second custom rendezvous point, checking with said first set of users whether the users desire to board from said first custom rendezvous point and reassigning said first set of users to said first custom rendezvous point if the users desire to board from said first custom rendezvous point; and

otherwise, assigning said first custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said first manner further comprises performing the actions of:

identifying that said first set of transit states differ in bearing to the state of said first custom rendezvous point;

checking whether said first set of users are agreeable to rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point;

if said first set of users are agreeable to rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point, assigning said first custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said first custom rendezvous point; and

otherwise, assigning a third custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said third custom rendezvous point is different from said first custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said third custom rendezvous point.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein said first manner further comprises performing the actions of:

identifying that said first set of transit states differ in route distance to the state of said first custom rendezvous point; and

assigning, in response to said identifying, a fourth custom rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said fourth custom rendezvous point is different from said first custom rendezvous point, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said fourth custom rendezvous point.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said first set of transit states corresponds to notifications received from a first set of users of said plurality of users, wherein said second manner comprises performing the actions of:

identifying that there exists a first transit state in said first set of transit states that has said speed as zero and said dwell time greater than a pre-defined duration; and

assigning said GPS location of said first transit state as a second rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said second custom rendezvous point.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein said second manner further comprises performing the actions of:

identifying that there exists a point of interest within a pre-defined distance from each of said first set of transit states; and

assigning said GPS location of said point of interest as a third rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said third custom rendezvous point.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein said second manner further comprises performing the actions of:

determining a location having an average distance from each of said first set of transit states; and

assigning said location as a fourth rendezvous point to said first set of users, wherein said first set of users rendezvous with said first vehicle at said fourth custom rendezvous point.

19. A computing system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices that enables a plurality of users to send a plurality of notifications to a first vehicle in transit on a first custom route; and

a system located in said first vehicle operable to;

receive said plurality of notifications from said plurality of mobile devices;

determine a plurality of transit states of said first vehicle corresponding to said plurality of notifications, wherein each of said plurality of transit states corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of notifications; and

inspect said plurality of transit states to identify a first set of custom rendezvous points for said plurality of users,

wherein said first set of custom rendezvous points facilitates said plurality of users to rendezvous with said first vehicle plying on said first custom route.

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein each transit state in said plurality of transit states comprises a GPS (global positioning system) location of said first vehicle at the time of said receiving of the corresponding notification, a route distance indicating the distance travelled by said first vehicle on said first custom route from a start point, a bearing of said first vehicle, a speed of said first vehicle, and a dwell time indicating the duration for which said first vehicle has been at said GPS location.