Methods and systems for optimizing network travel costs
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for computing travel costs across a region having an embedded network, the method comprising steps, performed by a computer, of:
- obtaining data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible;
obtaining a grid representing the region, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region and representing unit costs of travel across the cells;
preparing a cost-grid dataset comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid;
preparing, using the computer, a hybrid grid-network dataset comprising network travel costs between nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the preparing step comprises;
rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid;
identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and
computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells;
calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location;
storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and
querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region.
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Abstract
Methods and systems optimize travel costs both on and off a sequence of one or more networks used to represent travel, communication, or transport of anything within a spatial medium. Such systems and methods can develop a data structure for optimizing travel costs for a region having an embedded network. The data structure includes a grid representation of the region having an array of cells covering the region, an optimal-cost grid dataset containing optimal costs for travel between an initial location in the region and cells in the grid, a hybrid grid-network dataset representing travel costs within the network, within the grid, and between the network and the grid, and back-links among elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, reflecting optimal travel routes originating at the initial location. Methods and systems also include querying the datasets of the data structure to generate a route with an optimal travel cost from the initial location to a query point.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for computing travel costs across a region having an embedded network, the method comprising steps, performed by a computer, of:
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obtaining data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible; obtaining a grid representing the region, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region and representing unit costs of travel across the cells; preparing a cost-grid dataset comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid; preparing, using the computer, a hybrid grid-network dataset comprising network travel costs between nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the preparing step comprises; rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid; identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells; calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location; storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for computing travel costs across a region having an embedded network, comprising:
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means for obtaining a data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible; means for obtaining a grid representing the region, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region unit costs of travel across the cells; means for preparing a cost-grid dataset comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid; means for preparing a hybrid grid-network dataset representing network travel costs between the nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the means for preparing comprises; means for rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid; means for identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and means for computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells; means for calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location; means for storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and means for querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by a computer, for performing a method for computing travel costs across a region having an embedded network, the method comprising:
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obtaining data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible; obtaining a grid representing the region, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region and representing unit costs of travel across the cells; preparing a cost-grid dataset comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid; preparing, using the computer, a hybrid grid-network dataset representing network travel costs between nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the preparing step comprises; rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid; identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells; calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location; storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region.
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30. A computer-implemented method for determining a market area, the method comprising steps, performed by a computer, of:
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receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and determining a final market area based on the weighted bands, wherein defining bands includes; obtaining data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible; obtaining a grid representing the region associated with the market area, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region and representing unit costs of travel across each cell; preparing a cost-grid dataset comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid; preparing, using the computer, a hybrid grid-network dataset representing network travel costs between the nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the preparing step comprises; rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid; identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells; calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location; storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region.
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31. A system for determining a market area, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a potential market location and a maximum travel time; means for defining a preliminary market area around the potential market location using the maximum travel time from that potential market location; means for defining, within the preliminary market area, bands reflecting increasing travel time from the potential market location; means for weighting the bands according to a market-related factor; and means for determining a final market area based on the weighted bands, wherein means for defining bands includes; means for obtaining a data associated with the network, the network comprising nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the data associated with the edges indicates (i) allowed directions of travel along the edges, (ii) total travel costs to traverse the edges, and (iii) whether the edges are accessible; means for obtaining a grid representing the region associated with the market area, the grid comprising a plurality of cells covering the region and representing unit costs of travel across each cell; means for preparing a cost-grid dataset-comprising costs for off-network travel between an initial location in the region and the plurality of cells in the grid; means for preparing a hybrid grid-network dataset representing the network travel costs between nodes of the network, the off-network travel costs between cells of the grid, and travel costs between the network and the grid, wherein the means for preparing comprises; means for rasterizing accessible edges of the network to locate grid cells connecting the network with the grid; means for identifying, based on the rasterized edges, one or more of the plurality of cells of the grid that are accessible to the network; and computing the network travel costs associated with travel between the nodes of the network, and the travel costs between the nodes of the network and connected grid cells; means for calculating back-links between elements of the hybrid grid-network dataset, the back-links reflecting travel routes originating at the initial location; means for storing, using a storage device, the prepared hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links; and means for querying the hybrid grid-network dataset and the calculated back-links to identify a route with a minimum travel cost from the initial location to a query point within the region.
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Specification