FORECASTING ARRIVAL TIMES

• US 20170038220A1
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weksler, Arnold S., Mese, John Carl, Peterson, Nathan J., VanBlon, Russell Speight, Waltermann, Rod D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

Apparatuses, method, systems, and program products are disclosed for forecasting arrival times. A method includes receiving, by a processor, travel data in response to requesting travel data from each of one or more users travelling to a location. The travel data includes data associated with one or more factors that affect an arrival time of each user at the location. A method includes calculating an estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users based on the travel data. A method includes presenting the estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor, the code comprising;

code that receives travel data in response to requesting travel data from each of one or more users travelling to a location, the travel data comprising data associated with one or more factors that affect an arrival time of each user at the location;

code that calculates an estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users based on the travel data; and

code that presents the estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that receives new travel data in response to requesting travel data from each user of the one or more users at predetermined intervals and updates the estimated arrival times based on the new travel data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the travel data is requested from each of the one or more users in response to each user accepting an invitation to meet at the location.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the estimated arrival times for each user are presented in one or more of:

a mapping service;

a navigation system;

a mobile application;

a website; and

an email application.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that calculates an estimated arrival time to the location for each user as a function of different modes of transportation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more factors comprise:

a user'"'"'s location;

weather along a predicted travel path of the user;

traffic along the predicted travel path of the user;

construction along the predicted travel path of the user;

a user'"'"'s rate of travel;

public transportation delays;

one or more detours taken by a user; and

user-provided information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that incorporates one or more delays into the estimated time of arrival for a user based on one of a location of the user and a predicted travel path of the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that determines a user is not travelling to the location in response to the user travelling in a different direction than a predicted travel path.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that determines a percentage of users that will arrive at the location at a particular time based on the estimated arrival times.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that determines the first user to arrive at the location based on the estimated arrival times.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising code that determines an order of users arriving at the location based on the estimated arrival times.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, travel data in response to requesting travel data from each of one or more users travelling to a location, the travel data comprising data associated with one or more factors that affect an arrival time of each user at the location;

calculating an estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users based on the travel data; and

presenting the estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving new travel data in response to requesting travel data from each user of the one or more users at predetermined intervals and updates the estimated arrival times based on the new travel data.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the travel data is requested from each of the one or more users in response to each user accepting an invitation to meet at the location.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the estimated arrival times for each user are presented in one or more of:

a mapping service;

a navigation system;

a mobile application;

a website; and

an email application.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more factors comprise:

a user'"'"'s location;

weather along a predicted travel path of the user;

traffic along the predicted travel path of the user;

construction along the predicted travel path of the user;

a user'"'"'s rate of travel;

public transportation delays;

one or more detours taken by a user; and

user-provided information.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising incorporating one or more delays into the estimated time of arrival for a user based on one of a location of the user and a predicted travel path of the user.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a percentage of users that will arrive at the location at a particular time based on the estimated arrival times.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a user is not travelling to the location in response to the user travelling in a different direction than a predicted travel path.

20. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

receiving travel data in response to requesting travel data from each of one or more users travelling to a location, the travel data comprising data associated with one or more factors that affect an arrival time of each user at the location;

calculating an estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users based on the travel data; and

presenting the estimated arrival time at the location for each user of the one or more users.