Route calculation method

• US 7,072,765 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoeveling, Joerg, Hoffmann, Ralf, Schmidt, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/343,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/209, 701/210, 340/995.19, 340/995.21
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries

Abstract

A method for calculating a route from a starting location to a destination location is described; it is characterized in that the route is calculated after specifying at least one pass-through destination location by way of at least one pass-through destination point, which is situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location specified by a specified criterion.

In contrast with the route calculation method known from the related art, the specified pass-through destinations are not part of the trip route, but instead, except for a specified circumscribed area, they function as vaguely specified interpolation points for influencing the route calculation.

Claims

1. A method for performing a route calculation from a starting location to a destination location, comprising:

specifying at least one pass-through destination location;

after specifying the at least one pass-through destination location, determining at

least one pass-through destination point automatically for each of the at least one pass-through destination location, the at least one pass-through destination point being situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location, determined by a specified criterion; and

calculating the route via the at least one pass-through destination point.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the specified criterion is a specified distance from the at least one pass-through destination location.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the specified distance is one of a fixedly specified distance value and a specifiable distance value.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the specified distance is derived from a calculated route length.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein, depending on which criterion defines a wider circumscribed area, one of:

the specified distance is one of a fixedly specified distance value and a specifiable distance value, and

the specified distance is derived from a calculated route length.

6. A method for performing a route calculation from a starting location to a destination location, comprising:

specifying at least one pass-through destination location;

after specifying the at least one pass-through destination location, determining at least one pass-through destination point automatically for each of the at least one pass-through destination location, the at least one pass-through destination point being situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location, determined by a specified criterion;

calculating the route via the at least one pass-through destination point;

setting the starting location as a starting point for the route calculation;

setting a first pass-through destination location of the at least one pass-through destination location;

calculating a first route segment from the starting point to the at least one pass-through destination point that is determined automatically and is situated in an interception range about the first pass-through destination location, determined according to the specified criterion;

setting a first end point of the first route segment as a second starting point for a calculation of a second route segment;

with respect to an additional pass-through destination location, setting a next pass-through destination location of the at least one pass-through destination location as a second pass-through destination location;

calculating the second route segment from the second starting point to the at least one pass-through destination point that is determined automatically and is situated in the interception range about the second pass-through destination location, determined according to the specified criterion;

setting a second end point of the second route segment as a third starting point for a calculation of a third route segment;

with respect to no additional pass-through destination location, calculating the first route segment from the second starting point to the first pass-through destination location; and

obtaining the route by arranging each calculated route segment in a sequence.

7. A method for performing a route calculation from a starting location to a destination location, comprising:

specifying at least one pass-through destination location;

after specifying the at least one pass-through destination location, determining at least one pass-through destination point automatically for each of the at least one pass-through destination location, the at least one pass-through destination point being situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location, determined by a specified criterion; and

calculating the route via the at least one pass-through destination point, wherein

the specified criterion is a change in road class for reaching the at least one pass-through destination location.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the specified criterion is a change in road class to a road of a lower class road, the change being for reaching the at least one pass-through destination location.

9. A method for performing a route calculation from a starting location to a destination location, comprising:

specifying at least one pass-through destination location;

after specifying the at least one pass-through destination location, determining at least one pass-through destination point automatically for each of the at least one pass-through destination location, the at least one pass-through destination point being situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location, determined by a specified criterion; and

calculating the route via the at least one pass-through destination point, wherein

the specified criterion is a change in road class for reaching the at least one pass-through destination location, within a specified distance from the at least one pass-through destination location.