Vehicle navigation using timed turn and timed lane restrictions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination;
(2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," proceeding to step (6);
(3) when at least one node on the route has an associated TTR, denoted a "TTR node," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TTR node on the route;
(4) determining if the ETOA for at least one TTR node on the route lies in a buffered time interval of effectiveness, and when no ETOA for any TTR node on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the TTR node, proceeding to step (6);
(5) when the ETOA for at least one TTR node on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the at least one TTR node, redetermining a route for which a turn at the TTR node is not permitted and returning to step (2); and
(6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined route;
(ii) at least a portion of the redetermined route;
(iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route; and
(iv) n estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the redetermined route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for planning an optimum vehicle route from a selected origin to a selected destination with a selected departure time, taking account of the presence of timed turn restrictions and/or timed lane restrictions. Separate methods are provided for recalculation of a suitable route remainder, where an unanticipated timed turn or timed lane restriction or other traffic obstruction, such as a vehicle accident, is encountered enroute. Computations for an optimum route can be performed at the vehicle or at a station that communicates with the vehicle.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," proceeding to step (6); (3) when at least one node on the route has an associated TTR, denoted a "TTR node," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TTR node on the route; (4) determining if the ETOA for at least one TTR node on the route lies in a buffered time interval of effectiveness, and when no ETOA for any TTR node on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the TTR node, proceeding to step (6); (5) when the ETOA for at least one TTR node on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the at least one TTR node, redetermining a route for which a turn at the TTR node is not permitted and returning to step (2); and (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined route;
(ii) at least a portion of the redetermined route;
(iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route; and
(iv) n estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the redetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," proceeding to step (6); (3) when at least one TTR node on the route has an associated TTR, consecutively numbering each said TTR node on said route as n=1, . . . , N, and estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA(n)," of said vehicle at TTR node number n, where N is the total number of the TTR nodes present on said route; (4) forming a set S'"'"' of said TTR nodes on said route for which an estimated time of arrival ETOA(n'"'"') at a TTR node number n'"'"' satisfies the relation TTR(begin;
n'"'"')-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n'"'"')≦
TTR(end;
n'"'"')+.DELTA.t(buffer;
2), where n'"'"' is an integer lying between 1 and N, TTR(begin;
n'"'"') and TTR(end;
n'"'"') are the times at which the TTR number n'"'"' begins and ends at the TTR node number n'"'"', respectively, and Δ
t(buffer;
1) and Δ
t(buffer;
2) are selected positive time values, and when the set S'"'"' is empty, proceeding to said step (6);(5) when the ETOA for at least one TTR node on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the at least one TTR node, redetermining a route for which a turn at the TTR node is not permitted and returning to step (2); and (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined route, (ii) at least a portion of the redetermined route, (iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route, and (iv) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the redetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," is present, proceeding to step (9); (3) when at least one node on the route has an associated TTR, denoted a "TTR node," consecutively numbering the TTR nodes as n=1, . . . N, where N is the total number of TTR nodes present on the route; (4) for at least one integer n (1≦
n≦
N), estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA(n)," of the vehicle at TTR node number n;(5) determining if ETOA(n) satisfies the relation TTR(begin;
n)-Δ
t(buffer;
1)-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n)≦
TTR(end;
n)+Δ
t(buffer;
2), where TTR(begin;
n) and TTR(end;
n) are the times at which the TTR begins and ends at TTR node n, respectively, and Δ
t(buffer;
1) and Δ
t(buffer;
2) are selected non-negative time values;(6) when ETOA(n'"'"') for an index n'"'"' (1≦
n'"'"'≦
N) satisfies the relation TTR(begin;
n'"'"')-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n'"'"')≦
TTR(end;
n'"'"')+.DELTA.t(buffer;
2), determining an alternate vehicle route that begins at the selected origin at the selected time of departure, that ends at the destination, and that does not include a turn at TTR node number n, and returning to step (2);(7) when ETOA(n) for an index n (1≦
n≦
N) does not satisfy the relation TTR(begin;
n)-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n)≦
TTR(end;
n)+Δ
t(buffer;
2), replacing n by n+1;(8) when n does not satisfy n≦
N+1, returning to step (4); and(9) when n satisfies n≦
N+1, displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined vehicle route, (ii) at least a portion of the alternate vehicle route, (iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route and (iv) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the alternate vehicle route. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the route has no link with an associated timed lane restriction, denoted "TLR," proceeding to step (6); (3) when at least one link on the route has an associated TLR, denoted a "TLR link," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at least one TLR link on the route; (4) determining if the ETOA for at least one TLR link on the route lies in a buffered time interval of effectiveness, and when no ETOA for any TLR link on the first route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the associated TLR, proceeding to step (6); (5) when the ETOA for at least one TLR link on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TLR for the TLR link, redetermining a route in which time required to travel along the TLR link is increased by a selected time interval Δ
t(TLR); and(6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined route, (ii) at least a portion of the redetermined vehicle route, (iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route and (iv) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the redetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the route has no link with an associated timed lane restriction, denoted "TLR," proceeding to step (6); (3) when at least one link on said route is the TLR link, consecutively numbering each said TLR link on said route as n=1, . . . , N, and estimating said time of arrival, denoted "ETOA(n)," of said vehicle at TLR link number n, where N is the total number of said TLR links on said route. (4) forming a set S'"'"' of said TLR links on said route for which an estimated time of arrival ETOA(n'"'"') at a TLR link number n'"'"' (1≦
n'"'"'≦
N) satisfies the relation TLR(begin;
n'"'"')-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n'"'"')≦
TLR(end;
n'"'"')+.DELTA.t(buffer;
2), where n'"'"' is an integer lying between 1 and N, TLR(begin;
n'"'"') and TLR(end;
n'"'"') are times at which the TLR number n'"'"' begins and ends at the TLR link n'"'"', respectively, and Δ
t(buffer;
1) and Δ
t(buffer;
2) are selected non-negative time values, and when the set S'"'"' is empty, proceeding to step (6);(5) when the ETOA for at least one TLR link on the route lies in the buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TLR for the TLR link, redetermining a route in which time required to travel along the TLR link is increased by a selected time interval Δ
t(TLR); and(6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined route, (ii) at least a portion of the redetermined vehicle route, (iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the determined route and (iv) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the redetermined route. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for determining a route of travel for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) determining a present time and using a computer database to determine a vehicle route from a selected trip origin at a selected time of departure to a selected trip destination; (2) when the first route has no link with an associated timed lane restriction, denoted "TLR," is present, proceeding to step (9); (3) when at least one link on the route has an associated TLR, denoted a "TLR link," consecutively numbering the TLR link as n=1, . . . , N, where N is the total number of TLR links present on the first route; (4) for at least one integer n (1≦
n≦
N), estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA(n)," of the vehicle at TLR link number n;(5) determining if ETOA(n) satisfies the relation TLR(begin;
n)-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n)≦
TLR(end;
n)+Δ
t(buffer;
2), where TLR(begin;
n) and TLR(end;
n) are the times at which the TLR begins and ends at TLR link n, respectively, and Δ
t(buffer;
1) and Δ
t(buffer;
2) are selected non-negative time values;(6) when ETOA(n'"'"') for an index n'"'"' (1≦
n'"'"'≦
N) satisfies the relation TLR(begin;
n'"'"')-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n'"'"' )≦
TLR(end;
n'"'"')+Δ
t(buffer;
2), determining an alternate vehicle route that begins at the selected origin at the selected time of departure, that ends at the destination, for which the time required for travel, if any, along the TLR link n'"'"' is increased by a selected amount Δ
t(TLR), and returning to step (2);(7) when ETOA(n) for the index n (1≦
n≦
N) does not satisfy the relation TLR(begin;
n)-Δ
t(buffer;
1)≦
ETOA(n)≦
TLR(end;
n)+Δ
t(buffer;
2), replacing n by n+1;(8) when n does not satisfy n≧
N+1, returning to step (4); and(9) when n satisfies n≧
N+1, displaying, in visually perceptible form or audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the determined vehicle route, (ii) at least a portion of the alternate vehicle route, (iii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the first route and (iv) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination for the alternate vehicle route. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for determining or redetermining a route of travel for a vehicle that is enroute, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) determining a present time and a present location for a vehicle, and using a computer to provide a determined route from the vehicle present location to a selected destination, beginning at a selected time no earlier than the present time; (2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," proceeding to step (8); (3) when at least one node on the route exists with an associated TTR, denoted a "TTR node," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TTR node on the route; (4) when the ETOA for each TTR node on the route does not lie in a buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the TTR node, proceeding to step (8); (5) where at least one TTR node exists on the route for which the ETOA at the TTR node lies within the buffered time interval of effectiveness for the TTR, redetermining a route, from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, in which a turn at the TTR node is not permitted; (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the redetermined route and (ii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination using the redetermined route; (7) replacing the determined route, used to determine the ETOA at the TTR node in step (5), by the redetermined route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination; (8) comparing the vehicle present location with the location of the selected destination; (9) when the vehicle has reached the selected destination, proceeding to step (14); (10) when the vehicle has not reached the selected destination, determining whether the vehicle is following the route; (11) when the vehicle is following the route, returning to step (2); (12) when the vehicle is not following the route, reascertaining and displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least a portion of a reascertained route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at the present time; (13) replacing the route, used to determine whether the vehicle is following the route in step (10), by the reascertained route, and returning to step (2); and (14) indicating that the vehicle has reached the selected destination. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for determining or redetermining a route of travel for a vehicle that is enroute, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) determining a present time and a present location for a vehicle, and using a computer to provide a determined route from the vehicle present location to a selected destination, beginning at a selected time no earlier than the present time; (2) when the route has no link with an associated timed lane restriction, denoted "TLR," proceeding to step (8); (3) when at least one link on the route exists with an associated TLR, denoted a "TLR link," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TLR link on the route; (4) when the ETOA for each TLR link on the route does not lie in a buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TLR for the TLR link, proceeding to step (8); (5) where at least one link exists on the route for which a TLR is present and for which the ETOA at the TLR link lies within the buffered time interval of effectiveness for the TLR, adding an estimated non-negative time increment to the time required to travel along the TLR link because of presence of the lane restriction, and redetermining a route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, taking into account the time increment added to the time required to travel along the TLR link; (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the redetermined route and (ii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination using the redetermined route; (7) replacing the determined route, used to determine the ETOA at the TLR link in step (5), by the redetermined route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination; (8) comparing the vehicle present location with the location of the selected destination; (9) when the vehicle has reached the selected destination, proceeding to step (14); (10) when the vehicle has not reached the selected destination, determining whether the vehicle is following the route; (11) when the vehicle is following the route, returning to step (2); (12) when the vehicle is not following the route, reascertaining and displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least a portion of a reascertained route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at the present time; (13) replacing the route, used to determine whether the vehicle is following the route in step (10), by the reascertained route, and returning to step (2); and (14) indicating that the vehicle has reached the selected destination. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. Apparatus for determining a route of travel for a vehicle that is enroute, the apparatus comprising:
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a location determination system, denoted an "LD" system and carried on said vehicle, that receives LD signals and estimates or obtains (i) the present time and (ii) the present location of said vehicle, a display that can receive and visually or audibly display at least one of (a) an estimate of the vehicle present location and (b) at least a portion of a vehicle route; and a microprocessor and associated memory that contains information on a selected destination, that receives information on at least one of (i) the present time and (ii) the vehicle present location, and that is programmed to perform the following steps; (1) determining a route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at a time no earlier than the present time; (2) when the route has no node with an associated timed turn restriction, denoted "TTR," proceeding to step (8); (3) when at least one node on the route exists with an associated TTR, denoted a "TTR node," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TTR node on the route; (4) when the ETOA for each TTR node on the route does not lie in a buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TTR for the TTR node, proceeding to step (8); (5) when at least one TTR node exists on the route for which the ETOA at the TTR node lies within the buffered time interval of effectiveness for the TTR, redetermining a route, from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, in which a turn at the TTR node is not permitted; (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the redetermined route and (ii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination using the redetermined route; (7) replacing the route, used to determine the ETOA at the TTR node in step (5), by the redetermined route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination; (8) comparing the vehicle present location with the location of the selected destination; (9) when the vehicle has reached the selected destination, proceeding to step (14); (10) when the vehicle has not reached the selected destination, determining whether the vehicle is following the route; (11) when the vehicle is following the route, returning to step (2); (12) when the vehicle is not following the route, reascertaining and displaying, in visually perceptible form or audibly perceptible form, a reascertained route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at the present time; (13) replacing the route, used to determine whether the vehicle is following the route in step (10), by the reascertained route, and returning to step (2); and (14) indicating that the vehicle has reached the selected destination.
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44. Apparatus for determining a route of travel for a vehicle that is enroute, the apparatus comprising:
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a location determination system, denoted an "LD" system and carried on said vehicle, that receives LD signals and estimates or obtains (i) the present time and (ii) the present location of said vehicle, a display that can receive and visually or audibly display at least one of (a) an estimate of the vehicle present location and (b) at least a portion of a vehicle route; and a microprocessor and associated memory that contains information on a selected destination, that receives information on at least one of (i) the present time and (ii) the vehicle present location, and that is programmed to perform the following steps; (1) determining a route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at a time no earlier than the present time; (2) when the route has no link with an associated timed lane restriction, denoted "TLR," proceeding to step (8); (3) when at least one link on the route exists with an associated TLR, denoted a "TLR link," estimating a time of arrival, denoted "ETOA," of the vehicle at at least one TLR link on the route; (4) when the ETOA for each TLR link on the route does not lie in a buffered time interval of effectiveness of the TLR for the TLR link, proceeding to step (8); (5) where at least one link exists on the route for which a TLR is present and for which the ETOA at the TLR link lies within the buffered time interval of effectiveness for the TLR, adding an estimated non-negative time increment to the time required to travel along the TLR link because of presence of the lane restriction, and redetermining a route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, taking into account the time increment added to the time required to travel along the TLR link; (6) displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form or audibly perceptible form, at least one of (i) at least a portion of the redetermined route and (ii) an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at the selected destination using the redetermined route; (7) replacing the route, used to determine the ETOA at the TLR link in step (5), by the redetermined route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination; (8) comparing the vehicle present location with the location of the selected destination; (9) when the vehicle has reached the selected destination, proceeding to step (14); (10) when the vehicle has not reached the selected destination, determining whether the vehicle is following the route; (11) when the vehicle is following the route, returning to step (2); (12) when the vehicle is not following the route, reascertaining and displaying, in visually perceptible form or audibly perceptible form, a reascertained route from the vehicle present location to the selected destination, beginning at the present time; (13) replacing the route, used to determine whether the vehicle is following the route in step (10), by the reascertained route, and returning to step (2); and (14) indicating that the vehicle has reached the selected destination.
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Specification