Apparatus for and method of providing data to an external application

• US 8,165,800 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cotares Limited
• Original Assignee: Cotares Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Alan Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US13/197,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.

Claims

1. A computerised method of selecting a route or routes through a network which takes account of previous occasions when portions of that network have been used, the method comprising:

associating each portion of the network with a cost function;

varying the cost function associated with each portion of the network based on a familiarity level indicative of how often each portion of the network has previously been used wherein said familiarity level is altered each time said portion of the network is traversed and

searching the network for a route or routes with a low overall cost.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the route selection takes account of how recently portions of that network have been used.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the route selection gives preference to routes used less frequently and less recently.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the route selection gives preference to the use of portions of the network that have been used before over portions of the network that have not been used before.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the route selection gives preference to the use of portions of the network that have been recently used over portions of the network that have not been used before and portions of the network that have not been used recently.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the route selection gives preference to routes used more frequently and more recently.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the network is a road network.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the previous usage taken into account is previous usage by a particular vehicle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the previous usage taken into account is previous usage by a particular driver.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the previous usage taken into account is previous usage by a particular set of vehicles.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the previous usage taken into account is previous usage by a particular set of drivers.

12. Apparatus for selecting a route or routes through a network which takes account of previous occasions when portions of that network have been used, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

associate each portion of the network with a cost function;

vary the cost function associated with each portion of the network based on a familiarity level indicative of how often each portion of the network has previously been used wherein said familiarity level is altered each time said portion of the network is traversed and

search the network for a route or routes with a low overall cost.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the processor is configured to take account of how recently portions of that network have been used.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the route selection gives preference to routes used less frequently and less recently.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the processor is configured to give preference to the use of portions of the network that have been used before over portions of the network that have not been used before.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the processor is configured to give preference to the use of portions of the network that have been recently used over portions of the network that have not been used before and portions of the network that have not been used recently.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the route selection gives preference to routes used more frequently and more recently.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the network is a road network.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the processor is configured to vary the cost function by taking into account previous usage by a particular vehicle.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the processor is configured to vary the cost function by taking into account previous usage by a particular driver.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, the processor is configured to vary the cost function by taking into account previous usage by a particular set of vehicles.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, the processor is configured to vary the cost function by taking into account previous usage by a particular set of drivers.