Method and system for simulating travel

• US 6,558,164 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Raha, Mohua
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/871,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20020182569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/33, 434/35, 434/36, 434/38, 434/41, 434/43, 434/44, 434/61, 434/62, 434/69
• US Class Current: 434/62
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/203 for taking-off or landing condition

Abstract

A method and device to simulate travel is disclosed. A user may simulate a travel, which can be for either business or for pleasure, before the user actually travels. By simulating the travel before hand, a measure of predictability is introduced for the user during the actual travel. The travel simulation may simulate conditions such as the weather and traffic patterns for cars, trains, buses, planes, and the like. The conditions are dynamically adjusted in response to the user'"'"'s inputs. The travel may be simulated for individuals who are not able to take an actual trip due to health and or other reasons.

Claims

1. A travel simulating system, comprising:

an environmental information supplier configured to transmit environmental information related to environmental conditions based on a plurality of inputs from a user, wherein the environmental information includes at least actual environmental information;

a travel information supplier configured to transmit travel information related to travel based on said plurality of user inputs and said information related to environmental conditions, wherein the travel information includes at least an actual travel information; and

a travel simulator configured receive said environmental information, said travel information, and said plurality of user inputs to simulate a travel, wherein said travel simulator is configured to dynamically adjust to deviation from planned travel routes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said travel simulator comprises:

a user interface configured to receive said plurality of user inputs from said user and to send simulation information to said user; and

a simulation program generating said simulation information to said user interface based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs, said environmental information, and said travel information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of user inputs include a plurality of simulation attributes, and said plurality of simulation attributes includes one or more of a source, a destination, time, a method of travel, a type of travel, and a travel option.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said user interface comprises:

an input system configured to receive said plurality of user inputs and transmit said plurality of user inputs to said simulation program; and

an output system configured to receive said simulation information, including audio and visual information, from said simulation program for displaying to said user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

said input system comprises one or more of a keyboard, a pointing device, an automobile-style input device, and a tactile input device; and

said output system comprises one or more of a head-mounted display (HMD), speaker, a panoramic viewing screen, and a tactile output device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said user interface includes at least one of:

an artificial intelligence device configured to serve as both said input and output systems; and

a virtual reality interface device configured to serve as both said input and output systems.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said simulation program is implemented in one or both of hardware and software.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said travel simulator is configured to dynamically adjust said generation of said simulation information based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs, said environmental information, and said travel information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said environmental information supplier comprises at least one of:

a weather data supplier configured to transmit said weather information to said travel simulator, wherein said weather information includes one of a predicted weather condition and an actual weather condition; and

a obstruction data supplier configured to transmit said obstruction information to said travel simulator, wherein said obstruction information includes one of a predicted obstruction and an actual obstruction.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said environmental information supplier further comprises at least one of:

a current weather data source configured to transmit a current weather data to said weather data supplier, wherein said current weather data source includes at least one of local, regional, national, international, and satellite sources;

a weather database configured to perform one or both of transmitting said predicted weather condition to said weather data supplier and updating information within said weather database with said current weather data;

a current obstruction data source configured to transmit a current obstruction data to said obstruction data supplier, wherein said current obstruction data source includes at least one of road construction, building construction, a natural disaster, and said satellite sources; and

an obstruction database configured to perform one or both of transmitting said predicted obstruction condition to said obstruction data supplier and updating information within said obstruction database with said current obstruction data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said environmental information supplier is configured to dynamically adjust said transmission of said environmental information based on one or both of said plurality of user inputs and said travel information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said travel information supplier comprises:

a travel data supplier configured to transmit said travel information to said travel simulator, wherein said travel information includes one or both of a predicted travel condition and an actual travel condition; and

a mapping information source configured to transmit mapping information to said travel data supplier.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said travel information supplier further comprises at least one of:

a current traffic data source configured to transmit a current traffic data to said traffic data supplier wherein said current traffic data source includes at least one of local traffic, traffic cameras, and satellite sources; and

a traffic database configured to perform one or both of transmitting said predicted traffic condition to said traffic data supplier and updating information within said traffic database with said current traffic data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said travel information supplier is configured to dynamically adjust said transmission of said travel information based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs and said environmental information.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said travel simulator is further configured to output at least a tactile information.

16. A method to simulate travel, comprising:

a) receiving a plurality of inputs from a user;

b) retrieving environmental information based on said plurality of user inputs;

c) retrieving travel information based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs and said environmental information; and

e) simulating travel based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs, said environmental information, and said travel information, wherein said simulating includes dynamically adjusting to deviation from planned travel routes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step b) includes at least one of:

retrieving a current weather information;

retrieving a current obstruction information;

predicting a weather information; and

predicting an obstruction information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said plurality of user inputs include simulation attributes, wherein said simulation attributes include any combinations of source, destination, time, method of travel, type of travel, and travel options.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein in step e), said simulating includes dynamically adjusting said travel based on one or more of said plurality of user inputs, said environmental information, and said travel information.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said simulating step includes outputting at least a tactile information.

21. A travel simulating system, comprising:

a weather data supplier configured to transmit a weather information, wherein said weather information includes one of a predicted weather condition and an actual weather condition, said predicted weather condition being based on inputs from a user and information within a weather information database and said actual weather condition being based on said plurality of user inputs and current weather forecasts;

an obstruction data supplier configured to transmit an obstruction information, wherein said obstruction information includes one of a predicted obstruction condition and an actual obstruction condition, said predicted obstruction condition being based on said plurality of user inputs and information within an obstruction information database and said actual obstruction condition being based on said plurality of user inputs and current obstruction data;

a travel information supplier configured to transmit a travel information based on one or more said plurality of user inputs, said weather information, and said obstruction information, wherein said travel information includes routes; and

a travel simulator configured to simulate travel based on one or more said plurality of user inputs, said weather condition, said obstruction information, and said travel information, wherein said plurality of user inputs include one or more of source, destination, time, method of travel, type of travel, and travel options, wherein said travel simulator is configured to dynamically adjust to deviation from planned travel routes.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein one or both of said weather information and obstruction information databases are updatable with said actual weather and obstruction conditions, respectively.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said travel simulator is further configured to output at least a tactile information.