Intelligent travel routing system and method

• US 8,108,141 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Typhoon IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Ehrlacher, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/200,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096855 where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver details on I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36

Abstract

A method of assigning routes to a plurality of users includes determining a cost for each of a plurality of roadway segments. The cost of a roadway segment is commensurate with the roadway segment'"'"'s inclusion in one or more existing routes from a start location to a destination location. The method further includes generating a plurality of new routes. Each generated route includes one or more roadway segments. The generated routes are assigned to each of the plurality of users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of assigning routes to a plurality of users, the method comprising:

determining a cost for each of a plurality of roadway segments, wherein the cost of a roadway segment is commensurate with the roadway segment'"'"'s inclusion in one or more existing routes from a first start location to a first destination location;

generating a plurality of new routes from a second start location to a second destination location, wherein each new route comprises one or more roadway segments included in the plurality of roadway segments;

receiving a user preference from each of the plurality of users; and

assigning each of the plurality of users one or more of the new routes based on the received user preferences and the cost of the roadway segments comprising the plurality of new routes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the cost for each of the plurality of roadway segments based on the plurality of new routes; and

modifying the one or more existing routes based on the updated cost.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the assigned new routes to the plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning each of the plurality of users is performed by at least one of:

selecting a new route at random from the plurality of routes;

selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a user priority level; and

selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a round robin selection scheme.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost of a roadway segment is further commensurate with at least one of:

traffic levels on the roadway segment;

characteristics of the roadway segment;

weather conditions on the roadway segment; and

events that may impact traffic levels on the roadway segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the existing routes are determined by contacting one or more other users via a peer-to-peer connection.

7. A computer-implemented method for selecting a route for a user, the method comprising:

determining a cost for each of a plurality of road segments, wherein the cost of a road segment is commensurate with an increase in collective travel time associated with assigning the roadway segment to a new route;

receiving a new route request message, wherein the new route request message comprises a start location and a destination location;

generating a plurality of routes that link the start location and the destination location, wherein each route in the plurality of routes comprises one or more of the plurality of road segments;

determining a route cost for each route in the plurality of routes;

selecting a new route for a user from the plurality of routes;

receiving an indication that the user is following the new route; and

selecting a secondary route for the user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing the new route to a user device for display to the user.

9. The method of claim 7 further, comprising:

providing the user with the secondary route.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting a new route from the plurality of routes is performed by at least one of:

selecting a new route at random from the plurality of routes;

selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a user priority level; and

selecting a new route from the plurality of routes based on a round robin selection scheme.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the route cost is a sum of the cost of the one or more of the plurality of roadway segments comprising the route.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the route cost comprises:

a sum of the cost of the one or more of the plurality of roadway segments comprising the route; and

a weighting factor commensurate with one or more user preferences.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

modifying one or more existing routes based on the selection of the new route.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the cost of a roadway segment is further commensurate with at least one of:

traffic levels on the roadway segment;

characteristics of the roadway segment;

weather conditions on the segment; and

events that may impact traffic levels on the roadway segment.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the start location (c) is determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS) component included in a user device.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the cost is determined by contacting one or more other users via a peer-to-peer connection.

17. A system for assigning routes to a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a cost determination component configured to determine a cost for each of a plurality of roadway segments, wherein the cost of a roadway segment is commensurate with the roadway segment'"'"'s inclusion in one or more existing routes from a first start location to a first destination location;

a route generation component configured to generate a plurality of new routes from a second start location to a second destination location, wherein each new route comprises one or more roadway segments included in the plurality of roadway segments;

a receiver unit configured to receive a user preference from each of the plurality of users; and

a route assignment component configured to assign each of the plurality of users one or more of the new routes based on the received user preferences and the cost of the roadway segments comprising the plurality of new routes.