Method of providing a destination alert to a transit system rider

• US 8,169,342 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• 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, Bilov, Dmytro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US12/234,778
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/994, 701/200, 701/206, 701/208, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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
• 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

Provided is a detection method used to alert a rider of a transit system that his or her upcoming destination location is approaching. The method detects upcoming transit stops and alerts the transit rider to prepare to depart the transit vehicle. Another alert to request a stop at the appropriate time may also be given. The detection method detects a destination location when the transit vehicle is not going to stop and service the second-to-last, or triggering, stop and when the transit vehicle stops at the triggering location and then resumes travel towards the destination location. The detection method establishes a triggering location, two regions about the triggering location, a destination location, a destination region about the destination location, and a current location and speed from available location data. The method then triggers alerts based on the current speed and the current location'"'"'s position within or without the established regions.

Claims

1. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold.

2. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the first region and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

3. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a destination location;

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region, the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location.

4. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold.

5. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

6. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location;

establishing a destination location;

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, the travel speed less than a predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location.

7. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold, and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

8. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold, and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the first region and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

9. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold,

establishing a destination location,

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location, and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region, the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

10. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location,

and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

11. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

12. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

triggering a first alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance of the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location;

establishing a destination location;

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location; and

triggering a second alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, the travel speed less than a predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

13. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold.

14. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the first region and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

15. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a first region about the triggering location;

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region;

establishing a travel speed at the current location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a destination location;

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region, the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location.

16. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at the current location; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold.

17. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

18. A method of providing a destination alert to a user, comprising:

establishing a triggering location;

establishing a current location;

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location;

establishing a predetermined speed threshold;

establishing a travel speed at current location;

establishing a destination location;

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location; and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, the travel speed less than a predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location.

19. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

20. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the first region and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

21. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a first region about the triggering location,

establishing a second region about the triggering location, wherein the second region is larger than the first region,

establishing a travel speed at the current location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold,

establishing a destination location,

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location lying within the second region and lying outside the first region, the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

22. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold,

establishing a travel speed at the current location, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, and the travel speed less than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

23. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold,

establishing a travel speed at current location, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location and the travel speed greater than the predetermined speed threshold,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.

24. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide a destination alert to a user comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

establishing a triggering location,

establishing a current location,

establishing a first predetermined distance from the triggering location, and

triggering an alert responsive to the current location being within the first predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a second predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a third predetermined distance from the triggering location,

establishing a predetermined speed threshold,

establishing a travel speed at current location,

establishing a destination location,

establishing a path between the triggering location and the destination location, and

triggering the alert responsive to the current location being less than the second predetermined distance from the triggering location, the current location being greater than the third predetermined distance from the triggering location, the travel speed less than a predetermined speed threshold, and the current location lying on the path between the triggering location and the destination location,

wherein the computer provides a destination alert to a user.