Methods, Apparatuses, And Computer Program Products For Automatically Detecting Levels Of User Dissatisfaction With Transportation Routes

• US 20150088599A1
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gatti, Maira Athanazio De Cerqueira, Suzuki, Akiko, Villa Real, Lucas C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,546,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

An aspect of this invention is a method that includes monitoring sensors to collect information for a transportation route, and generating a graph from the collected information where the graph includes a plurality of nodes, each node representing a stop on the at least one transportation route. Each of respective nodes is associated with a corresponding transportation stop density and a corresponding passenger leaving rate. The corresponding transportation stop density is compared with at least one predetermined density threshold and the corresponding passenger leaving rate is compared with at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold to determine a level of dissatisfaction for each of the respective nodes. A tangible output is generated that identifies a level of user dissatisfaction for each of the plurality of nodes.

Claims

1. A computer-executable method comprising:

monitoring one or more sensors to collect information for at least one transportation route;

generating one or more graphs from the collected information where each of the graphs includes a plurality of nodes, each node representing a stop on the at least one transportation route, each of respective nodes being associated with a corresponding transportation stop density and a corresponding passenger leaving rate;

comparing the corresponding transportation stop density with at least one predetermined density threshold and comparing the corresponding passenger leaving rate with at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold to determine a level of dissatisfaction for each of the respective nodes; and

generating a tangible output identifying a level of user dissatisfaction for each of the plurality of nodes.

2. The computer-executable method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an electronic subscription request identifying a stop on the at least one transportation route.

3. The computer-executable method of claim 2 further comprising responding to the electronic subscription request by transmitting a notification associated with an expected arrival of a transportation vehicle for the at least one transportation route at the identified stop.

4. The computer-executable method of claim 3 further comprising receiving a status signal from the transportation vehicle indicative of one or more of a current location or a current passenger capacity for the transportation vehicle.

5. The computer-executable method of claim 4 further comprising estimating an arrival time for the transportation vehicle at the identified stop according to the electronic subscription request and the status signal.

6. The computer-executable method of claim 3 wherein the one or more sensors collect information for the stop on the at least one transportation route by sensing motion at the stop, the sensed motion being indicative of one or more prospective passengers leaving the stop prior to an arrival of the transportation vehicle at the stop.

7. The computer-executable method of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined density threshold comprises at least a critical density threshold and a non-critical density threshold.

8. The computer-executable method of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold comprises at least a critical leaving rate threshold and a non-critical leaving rate threshold.

9. A computer-readable memory that contains computer program instructions, wherein the execution of the computer program instructions by at least one data processor results in performance of operations which comprise:

monitoring one or more sensors to collect information for at least one transportation route;

generating one or more graphs from the collected information where each of the graphs includes a plurality of nodes, each node representing a stop on the at least one transportation route, each of respective nodes being associated with a corresponding transportation stop density and a corresponding passenger leaving rate;

comparing the corresponding transportation stop density with at least one predetermined density threshold and comparing the corresponding passenger leaving rate with at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold to determine a level of dissatisfaction for each of the respective nodes; and

generating a tangible output identifying a level of user dissatisfaction for each of the plurality of nodes.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 9 further comprising computer program instructions for receiving an electronic subscription request identifying a stop on the at least one transportation route.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 10 further comprising computer program instructions for responding to the electronic subscription request by transmitting a notification associated with an expected arrival of a transportation vehicle for the at least one transportation route at the identified stop.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 11 further comprising computer program instructions for receiving a status signal from the transportation vehicle indicative of one or more of a current location or a current passenger capacity for the transportation vehicle.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 12 further comprising computer program instructions for estimating an arrival time for the transportation vehicle at the identified stop according to the electronic subscription request and the status signal.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 11 wherein the one or more sensors collect information for the stop on the at least one transportation route by sensing motion at the stop, the sensed motion being indicative of one or more prospective passengers leaving the stop prior to an arrival of the transportation vehicle at the stop.

15. The computer-readable memory of claim 9 wherein the at least one predetermined density threshold comprises at least a critical density threshold and a non-critical density threshold.

16. The computer-readable memory of claim 9 wherein the at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold comprises at least a critical leaving rate threshold and a non-critical leaving rate threshold.

17. A data processing system that comprises at least one data processor connected with at least one memory that stores computer program instructions for:

monitoring one or more sensors to collect information for at least one transportation route;

generating one or more graphs from the collected information where each of the graphs includes a plurality of nodes, each node representing a stop on the at least one transportation route, each of respective nodes being associated with a corresponding transportation stop density and a corresponding passenger leaving rate;

comparing the corresponding transportation stop density with at least one predetermined density threshold and comparing the corresponding passenger leaving rate with at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold to determine a level of dissatisfaction for each of the respective nodes; and

generating a tangible output identifying a level of user dissatisfaction for each of the plurality of nodes.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising computer program instructions for receiving an electronic subscription request identifying a stop on the at least one transportation route.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising computer program instructions for responding to the electronic subscription request by transmitting a notification associated with an expected arrival of a transportation vehicle for the at least one transportation route at the identified stop.

20. The data processing system of claim 19 further comprising computer program instructions for receiving a status signal from the transportation vehicle indicative of one or more of a current location or a current passenger capacity for the transportation vehicle.

21. The data processing system of claim 20 further comprising computer program instructions for estimating an arrival time for the transportation vehicle at the identified stop according to the electronic subscription request and the status signal.

22. The data processing system of claim 19 wherein the one or more sensors collect information for the stop on the at least one transportation route by sensing motion at the stop, the sensed motion being indicative of one or more prospective passengers leaving the stop prior to an arrival of the transportation vehicle at the stop.

23. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined density threshold comprises at least a critical density threshold and a non-critical density threshold.

24. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined leaving rate threshold comprises at least a critical leaving rate threshold and a non-critical leaving rate threshold.