Method for offering a user reward based on a chosen navigation route

• US 8,121,780 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2008
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen Of America (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen Of America (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Gerdes, Arati, Rosario, Daniel, Lee, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US12/122,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,374 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/209, 701/210, 340/439, 340/994, 340/988, 340/990, 340/989
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport

Abstract

A method for offering a user reward based on a chosen navigation route includes calculating alternative routes from a starting location to a destination location by taking into consideration route segments including public transportation route segments and road network route segments. The alternative routes are presented to a user. A reward is offered for choosing a respective one of the routes. A navigation system that performs the route calculation preferably queries a network database for public transportation information.

Claims

1. A method for offering a user reward based on a chosen navigation route, the method which comprises:

inputting a destination location by using an interface for a navigation system;

calculating routes from a starting location to the destination location by taking into consideration route segments including public transportation route segments and road network route segments, wherein the step of calculating routes from the starting location to the destination location includes querying, with the navigation system, a network database for public transportation information and wherein the step of calculating the routes includes calculating at least one hybrid route including a public transportation route segment and a road network route segment;

presenting the routes including the at least one hybrid route as alternative routes to a user;

offering a reward for choosing a respective one of the routes; and

redeeming a reward by performing an authentication operation selected from the group consisting of performing an authentication with a wireless transmitter to be carried by a user for identifying a user entitled to a reward and performing an authentication by requiring a user to enter an authorization code in order to identify a user entitled to a reward.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of querying the network database includes using a wireless Internet access to retrieve information about public transportation schedules.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the routes includes searching for routes offering a park-and-ride opportunity.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the routes includes using up-to-date information including real-time road traffic information and public transportation route schedule information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the routes includes taking into account at least one item of information selected from the group consisting of an average speed on a road network route segment, a schedule for a public transportation route segment, a fare price for a public transportation route segment, parking costs, an applicable discount for a route and a real-time location of a public transportation vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, which comprises displaying, with the navigation system, a location of a public transportation vehicle in a real-time manner as a dynamic point of interest.

7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises displaying, with the navigation system, respective estimated travel costs and estimated travel times for the alternative routes in order to allow a user to compare the alternative routes.

8. The method according to claim 7, which comprises displaying respective estimates for emissions generated for the alternative routes.

9. The method according to claim 1, which comprises measuring an impact of route calculations on user behavior by using a wireless broadcasting technology.

10. The method according to claim 1, which comprises offering a reward for using public transportation for at least one route segment wherein the reward is a user reward selected from the group consisting of a free travel ticket, a discounted travel ticket, free parking, discounted parking, a free pass to a car pool lane, and a monetary reward.

11. The method according to claim 1, which comprises calculating an accumulated environmental impact of a user'"'"'s travel activities in terms of an amount of carbon dioxide generated.

12. The method according to claim 1, which comprises tracking an arrival time of a public transportation vehicle and providing information on how to adjust one of a travel time and a vehicle speed of a personal vehicle in order to allow coordinating the travel time of the personal vehicle and the arrival time of the public transportation vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, which comprises presenting, with the navigation system, return trip options for routes involving public transportation.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating routes includes taking into account current traffic information together with historical models of traffic congestion on a road network in order to calculate travel times, fuel consumption and emissions generated on the road network.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating routes includes weighting route segments according to criteria including a length of a route segment, a speed limit for a route segment, emissions generated on a route segment, fuel consumed on a route segment, and traffic congestion on a route segment.