METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TRAVEL INFORMATION

• US 20160069695A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Broadbent, Samuel Mark, Geelen, Pieter Andreas, Hareau, Stphane, Santiago Nunez, Jose F.
• Application Number:
  US14/785,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069695A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• 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 21/3691 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: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality

Abstract

A method of providing route attribute information is described, together with a device for performing the same. The method comprises accessing information indicative of a primary route to a destination location determined with respect to a trip database storing information indicative of a personal road network of a user of a mobile device, and an attribute of the primary route. One or more alternate routes to the destination location are determined, together with an attribute of each alternate route. Attribute information associated with at least one alternate route to the destination is output when a location of the mobile device is proximal to a decision point of the personal road network.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor communicably coupled to a trip database storing information indicative of a personal road network of a user of the mobile device; and

a memory storing information indicative of a primary route to a destination location and an attribute of the route,

wherein the processor is arranged to operably execute a route attribute module (RAM) to determine one or more alternate routes to the destination location and an attribute of each alternate route, and to display on a display device attribute information associated with at least one alternate route to the destination when a location of the mobile device is proximal to a decision point of the personal road network.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the decision point of the personal road network is a location from which at least one alternate route exists to the destination location via the personal road network.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the RAM is arranged to recalculate the attribute of the primary route to the destination in view of received information.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the received information is one or more of received traffic information and received weather information.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the RAM is arranged to calculate the one or more alternate routes in view of the received information.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the RAM is arranged to determine an attribute delta for each alternate route and to display the attribute delta as the attribute information.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, comprising a display device, and wherein the processor is arranged to cause the display device to display an indication of the attribute of the primary route associated with a road segment of the primary route and the attribute information of the one or more alternate routes associated with road segments of the respective one or more alternate route from the decision point.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the RAM is arranged to determine an attribute delta for each alternate route and to display the attribute delta as the attribute information, and wherein the processor is arranged to display the indication as the attribute delta.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the RAM is arranged to select one of the alternate routes as a new primary route when the attribute of the alternate route improves upon the attribute associated with the current primary route.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the RAM is arranged to select the new primary route when the attribute of the alternate route improves upon the attribute associated with the current primary route by more than a predetermined margin.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the RAM is arranged to identify the former primary route as one of the alternate routes.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the RAM is arranged to select one of the alternate routes as a new primary route when the attribute of the alternate route improves upon the attribute associated with the current primary route, and wherein the RAM is arranged to display the indication of the attribute of the new primary route and the attribute delta of the one or more alternate routes.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the attribute is an estimated time of arrival (ETA).

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the personal road network of a user is a network of road segments previously traversed by the user.

15. A method of providing route attribute information, comprising:

accessing information indicative of a primary route to a destination location determined with respect to a trip database storing information indicative of a personal road network of a user of a mobile device, and an attribute of the primary route;

determining one or more alternate routes to the destination location and an attribute of each alternate route; and

outputting attribute information associated with at least one alternate route to the destination when a location of the mobile device is proximal to a decision point of the personal road network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more alternate routes are routes to the destination location via the personal network.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving traffic information and recalculating the attribute of the primary route in view the received information; and

calculating the attribute of each of the one or more alternate routes in view of the received information.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising determining when the attribute of one of the alternate routes improves upon the attribute associated with the current primary route and selecting the alternate route as a new primary route.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the alternate route is selected as a new primary route when the attribute of the alternate route improves upon the attribute associated with the current primary route by more than a predetermined margin.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer software operable, when executed, to cause one or more processors to perform a method according to claim 15.

20-23. -23. (canceled)