Travel assistant device

• US 8,138,907 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Barbeau, Sean J., Winters, Philip L., Perez, Rafael, Labrador, Miguel, Georggi, Nevine
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/464,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/994, 340/932.2, 340/573.1, 340/457, 701/213, 701/200, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A travel assistant device to help individuals use transit systems. The device is particularly suited to help individuals with special needs (i.e. physical or mental disabilities) successfully navigate the transit system through cues that are delivered through the device. In certain embodiments the device utilizes a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cell phone. The GPS features of the cell phone enable the location of a transit rider to be identified. The wireless communication features of the device allow positional data to be transmitted from the device to a geographic information system and to one or more interested parties to track the location of the transit rider. The device can be integrated with vehicle location systems of a transit system to coordinate the transit of the transit rider. In additional aspects the system facilitates the delivery of signal, cues or other communication to the transit rider to enable the rider to safely and effectively use the transit system without the immediate presence of a guide or supervisor.

Claims

1. A travel assistant device comprising:

a sensor module to track the real-time location of a transit rider;

a wireless communication module in communication with a transit information system, the transit information system providing the real-time location of a target transit vehicle to be ridden by transit rider to arrive to a predetermined destination location;

the transit information system identifies to transit rider the target transit vehicle; and

a notification module to deliver notifications to the transit rider;

wherein the device;

receives the real-time location of the target transit vehicle compares the real-time location of the transit rider transit real-time location of the target transit vehicle, and delivers a notifications to the notification module responsive to a deviation between the real-time location of the transit rider in relation to the real-time location of the target transit vehicle the rider should be on.

2. A travel assistant device that detects improper boardings, the device comprising:

a sensor module to track the real-time location of a transit rider;

a wireless communication module in communication with a transit information system, the transit information system providing the real-time location of a plurality of transit vehicles accessible to the transit rider and predetermined routes each transit vehicle; and

a notification module to deliver notifications to the transit rider, wherein the device;

identifies to the transit rider a target transit vehicle that will take the transit rider to a predetermined destination;

receives the real-time location of the target transit vehicle,

compares the real-time location of the transit rider and the location of the target transit vehicle;

delivers a notification responsive to detecting that the transit rider is on an alternate transit vehicle other than the target transit vehicle.

3. The travel assistant device of claim 2 wherein the notification is transmitted from the device to the travel rider on the alternate transit vehicle.

4. The travel assistant device of claim 2 wherein the notification is transmitted via the wireless communication module to a remote caretaker of the transit rider.

5. A travel assistant device that detects missed boarding, the device comprising:

a sensor module to track the real-time location of a transit rider;

a wireless communication module in communication with a transit information system, the transit information system providing the real-time location of a plurality of transit vehicles accessible to the transit rider and predetermined routes each transit vehicle; and

a notification module to deliver notifications to the transit rider, wherein the device;

identifies to the transit rider a target transit vehicle that will take the transit rider to a predetermined destination;

identifies a predetermined boarding location for the transit rider to board the target transit vehicle;

receives the real-time location of the target transit vehicle;

compares the real-time location of the transit rider, the location of the target transit vehicle, and the predetermined route for the target transit vehicle;

delivers a notification responsive to a determination that the target transit vehicle has passed the anticipated boarding location for the transit rider.

6. The travel assistant device of claim 5 wherein the notification is transmitted from the device to the travel rider.

7. The travel assistant device of claim 5 wherein the notification is transmitted via the wireless communication module to a remote caretaker of the transit rider.