Predictive model for automated vehicle recommendation system

• US 6,233,517 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Froeberg, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/136,208
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/208, 701/214, 701/200, 701/204, 701/300, 701/302, 340/907, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

A system and method for determining which of a plurality of vehicles is able to respond most quickly to an event. In one embodiment, the present invention divides a geographic region into a plurality of geographic cells. The present automatic vehicle recommendation system then calculates a response time for each of the plurality of vehicles to travel from each of the geographic cells to every other of the geographic cells. The position of each of the plurality of vehicles is monitored by an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system. The present automatic vehicle recommendation system then determines which of the plurality of vehicles is able to respond most quickly to an event reported to a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system. The event is located within one of the geographic cells. The present invention then communicates to the CAD system which of the plurality of vehicles is able to respond most quickly to the reported event. Thus, the present invention provides a system which automatically recommends which of a plurality of vehicles can respond most quickly to an event, a system which can function in conjunction with an existing AVL or CAD system, and a system which reduces CAD system operator decision making processes.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a processor coupled to a bus, and a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing information, a computer-implemented method for indicating which of a plurality of vehicles to dispatch to a location within a geographic area comprising the steps of.

a) dividing a geographic region into a plurality of geographic cells;

b.) calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications;

c.) incorporating geographic cell information into an automatic vehicle location system such that position information for a plurality of vehicles monitored by said automatic vehicle location system further comprises an indication of said geographic cell in which said plurality of vehicles are respectively located;

d) determining which of said plurality of vehicles is able most efficiently to be dispatched by a computer aided dispatch system to a location within one of said geographic cells; and

e) communicating to said computer aided dispatch system which of said plurality of vehicles should be dispatched.

2. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

considering the type of roads on which said plurality of vehicles would travel when traveling between said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

considering the number of intersections said plurality of vehicles would encounter when traveling between said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

considering the type of intersections said plurality of vehicles would encounter when traveling between said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

calculating a response time for a vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

calculating the travel distance required for a vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells by considering road classifications further comprises the step of:

calculating the fuel consumption required for a vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells.

8. In a computer system including a processor coupled to a bus, and a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing information, a computer-implemented method for indicating which of a plurality of vehicles to dispatch to a location within a geographic area comprising the steps of:

a) dividing a geographic region into a plurality of geographic cells;

b) calculating a cost for a vehicle to travel from a first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells;

c) developing a list indicating said calculated cost for said vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells;

d) recording empirical data for said vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to said second of said geographic cells

e) comparing empirical cost data for said vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to a second of said geographic cells with said cost calculated in step b); and

f) altering said list of step c) using said empirical data such that the accuracy of said list is improved.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of altering said list further comprises the step of:

replacing said calculated cost with said empirical cost data.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of altering said list further comprises the step of:

merging said calculated cost with said empirical cost data.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

g) using said empirical data to estimate cost data for said vehicle to travel from said first of said geographic cells to a third of said geographic cells.

12. A system for indicating the fastest responding vehicle within a geographic area comprising:

an automatic vehicle location system for tracking vehicles within a geographic area;

a computer aided dispatch system coupled to said automatic vehicle location system; and

an automatic vehicle recommendation system coupled to said computer aided dispatch system and said automatic vehicle location system, said automatic vehicle recommendation system for communicating to said computer aided dispatch system which of said vehicles is able to respond in the shortest time to an event reported to said computer aided dispatch system, said automatic vehicle recommendation system further comprising;

a cell database comprising a plurality of geographic cells subdivided from said geographic area, said plurality of geographic cells including a target cell, and

a vehicle response time matrix comprising response times for said vehicles to travel from one of said geographic cells to another of said geographic cells.

13. The system of claim 12 further wherein said target cell is a small-sized cell particularly defining a location to which a vehicle is expected to be dispatched.

14. The system of claim 13 further wherein said location to which a vehicle is expected to be dispatched is selected from the group consisting of an amusement park, a shopping mall, a stadium, and a university.

15. The system of claim 12 further wherein said target cell is a small-sized cell particularly defining a location from which a vehicle is expected to be dispatched.

16. The system of claim 15 further wherein said location from which a vehicle is expected to be dispatched is an ambulance posting station.

17. The system of claim 15 further wherein said location from which a vehicle is expected to be dispatched is a fire station.