Method and apparatus for the display of temporal distance data

• US 6,933,860 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gehman, Les
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/836,554
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/995.11, 340/995.12, 340/995.13, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 340/995.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.21, 340/995.22, 340/995.23, 340/995.24, 340/995.25, 340/995.26, 340/995.27, 340/995.28, 701/200, 701/204
• US Class Current: 340/995.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

An electronic device is built including a memory, a processor, and a display. The processor is configured to calculate an array of estimated travel time data from a first location to a plurality of locations within a destination area from a set of situational parameters and a set of user parameters. These situational parameters may include data such as: the location, condition, and speed limits of roads and paths; the availability of public transportation; terrain information such as elevation, slope, the presence of trails and vegetation; and weather information such as wind speed and precipitation. User parameters may include data such as: the user'"'"'s mode of transportation, the user'"'"'s physical abilities, and the load the user is carrying.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a memory configured to store a first location, destination area, user parameters, and situational parameters;

a processor electrically coupled to said memory, and configured to calculate temporal distance data for a destination area from said first location, user parameters, and situational parameters, and store said temporal distance data in said memory; and

a display electrically coupled to said memory, and configured to graphically represent said temporal distance data.

2. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a GPS device electrically coupled to said processor configured to provide said first location.

3. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface electrically coupled to said processor configured to receive at least some of said situational parameters from an external computer.

4. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said user parameters include a mode of transportation.

5. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said user parameters include a user'"'"'s physical condition.

6. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said user parameters include a load the user is carrying.

7. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of roads.

8. An electronic device as recited in claim 7,

wherein said situational parameters include the condition of said roads.

9. An electronic device as recited in claim 7,

wherein said situational parameters include the speed limit of said roads.

10. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the current weather conditions.

11. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include a weather forecast.

12. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters includes terrain data.

13. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters includes elevation data.

14. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of trails.

15. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the location and type of emergency services.

16. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of gas stations.

17. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of hotels.

18. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said temporal distance data includes all locations reachable within a time limit.

19. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said graphical representation includes temporal contour lines.

20. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said graphical representation includes shaded areas.

21. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said graphical representation includes colored areas.

22. An electronic device comprising:

a memory configured to store a first location, destination area, user parameters, and situational parameters;

a processor electrically coupled to said memory, and configured to calculate temporal distance data for a destination area from said first location, user parameters, and situational parameters, and store said temporal distance data in said memory; and

a printer electrically coupled to said memory, and configured to graphically represent said temporal distance data.

23. An electronic device as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a GPS device electrically coupled to said processor configured to provide said first location.

24. An electronic device as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a network interface electrically coupled to said processor configured to receive at least some of said situational parameters from an external computer.

25. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said user parameters include a mode of transportation.

26. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said user parameters include a user'"'"'s physical condition.

27. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said user parameters include a load the user is carrying.

28. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of roads.

29. An electronic device as recited in claim 28,

wherein said situational parameters include the condition of said roads.

30. An electronic device as recited in claim 28,

wherein said situational parameters include the speed limit of said roads.

31. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the current weather conditions.

32. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include a weather forecast.

33. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters includes terrain data.

34. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters includes elevation data.

35. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of trails.

36. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the location and type of emergency services.

37. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of gas stations.

38. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of hotels.

39. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said temporal distance data includes all locations reachable within a time limit.

40. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said graphical representation includes temporal contour lines.

41. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said graphical representation includes shaded areas.

42. An electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein said graphical representation includes colored areas.

43. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a first location;

b) receiving a destination area;

c) receiving user parameters;

d) receiving situational parameters;

e) dividing said destination area into a plurality of regions;

f) calculating an estimated time required to travel from said first location to at least some of said plurality of regions; and

g) saving temporal distance data resulting from said calculating step in a memory; and

h) graphically representing said temporal distance data.

44. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said step of graphically representing said temporal distance data uses an electronic display.

45. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said step of graphically representing said temporal distance data uses a printer.

46. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said first location is received from a GPS device.

47. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein at least some of said situational parameters are received through a network interface.

48. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said user parameters include a mode of transportation.

49. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said user parameters include a user'"'"'s physical condition.

50. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said user parameters include a load the user is carrying.

51. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of roads.

52. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 51,

wherein said situational parameters include the condition of said roads.

53. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 51,

wherein said situational parameters include the speed limit of said roads.

54. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the current weather conditions.

55. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include a weather forecast.

56. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters includes terrain data.

57. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters includes elevation data.

58. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of trails.

59. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the location and type of emergency services.

60. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of gas stations.

61. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said situational parameters include the location of hotels.

62. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said temporal distance data includes all locations reachable within a time limit.

63. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said graphical representation includes temporal contour lines.

64. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said graphical representation includes shaded areas.

65. A method for the graphical display of temporal distance data as recited in claim 43,

wherein said graphical representation includes colored areas.