SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING DEPARTURE NOTIFICATIONS

• US 20140129142A1
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pelmorex Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Kantarjiev, Christopher, Hubbard, Jonathan, Tash, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,127,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/533
• 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 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• 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 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for determining the necessary departure time to allow for an on-time or desired arrival time at a particular location over a particular route based on the evaluation of historic, present, and predicted road conditions.

Claims

1. A method for creating departure alerts comprising:

receiving user input associated with a scheduled trip, the user input including an origination point, arrival point, arrival date, and arrival time;

generating a preliminary route of travel between the origination point and the arrival point based on the user input;

determining a travel time for traversing the route of travel;

calculating a scheduled departure time based on the user input and the travel time;

receiving user selection of one or more notification times, wherein the one or more notification times are selected from the scheduled departure time and times between the scheduled departure time and the present time;

creating one or more departure alerts respectively associated with the one or more selected notification times, wherein each departure alert is based on the scheduled departure time and the user input associated with the scheduled trip;

delivering the one or more departure alerts to the user at the one or more respective notification times.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more departure alerts are delivered to the user at regularly scheduled intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a departure alert including an up-to-date departure time to the user at a predetermined time before the scheduled departure time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering an updated departure time to the user if the travel time changes by more than a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input associated with the scheduled trip further includes user preferences.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences include a departure buffer time.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences include routing restrictions.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences include a selection of one or more communication mediums or protocols to be used in delivering the one or more departure alerts to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more departure alerts are delivered to the user using one or more communication mediums or protocols.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

authenticating the user; and

obtaining the user preferences from user account information associated with the authentication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user inputs an origination point and/or arrival point by selecting a point corresponding to a location on a graphic representation of a map.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a departure alert includes one or more of:

a graphic representation of the preliminary route, turn-by-turn driving instructions, the travel time, and the scheduled departure time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input indicative of an acceptance or rejection of the preliminary route of travel; and

generating an alternative route of travel when the received user input is indicative of a rejection of the preliminary route of travel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining an updated travel time for traversing the alternative route of travel, and wherein the scheduled departure time is calculated based on the alternative route of travel and the user input.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the preliminary route of travel is the quickest route for traversing between the origination point and the arrival point.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reassessing the preliminary route of travel based on a prediction of average speed over the preliminary route of travel; and

determining whether the scheduled departure time will allow for traversing between the origination point and the arrival point by the arrival date and arrival time.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

generating a modified departure time based on the reassessment; and

delivering a departure alert to the user, wherein the departure alert includes the modified departure time.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating an alternative route of travel based on the reassessment; and

delivering a departure alert to the user, wherein the departure alert includes the alternative route of travel.