System and method for ensuring a person reaches a destination on time

• US 8,521,407 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Haynes, James III, Ulwick, Anthony W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, ROBERT T
• Application Number:
  US13/233,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/19, 701/433, 701/467, 701/465, 701/533, 701/532, 701/408, 701/410, 455/456.3, 455/418
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 where the complete route is computed only once and not updated

Abstract

A system includes a first interface module and a route determining module. The first interface module interfaces with a scheduling program and retrieves from the scheduling program a meeting time and a meeting location for a meeting scheduled by a user using the scheduling program. The route determining module determines (i) a route from a first location to the meeting location and (ii) a departure time for the user to depart from the first location to reach the meeting location at the meeting time. The route determining module determines the route and the departure time based on (i) predicted traffic conditions and (ii) predicted weather conditions surrounding the first location and the meeting location prior to the meeting time.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first interface module that interfaces with a scheduling program and that retrieves from the scheduling program a meeting time and a meeting location for a meeting scheduled by a user using the scheduling program;

a route determining module that determines (i) a route from a first location to the meeting location and (ii) a departure time for the user to depart from the first location to reach the meeting location at the meeting time,

wherein the route determining module determines the route and the departure time based on (i) predicted traffic conditions and (ii) predicted weather conditions surrounding the first location and the meeting location prior to the meeting time;

a monitoring module that monitors traffic and weather while the user travels the route; and

an updating module that updates the route based on the monitored traffic and weather.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the monitoring module monitors traffic and weather surrounding the first location and the meeting location prior to the departure time; and

the updating module updates the departure time based on the monitored traffic and weather.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a planning module that plans one or more stops for the user between the first location and the meeting location, wherein the route determining module determines the route and the departure time based on the one or more stops.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a learning module that learns travel patterns of the user, wherein the planning module plans the one or more stops for the user between the first location and the meeting location based on the travel patterns.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a parking module that receives parking information of a plurality of parking locations near the meeting location before the meeting time and that selects one of the parking locations for a vehicle of the user, wherein the route determining module updates the route and the departure time based on the selected parking location.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the scheduling program is executed by at least one of a plurality of devices including a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a personal computer; and

the first interface module receives at least one of the route and the departure time from the route determining module and outputs the at least one of the route and the departure time to the user on the at least one of the plurality of devices.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second interface module that interfaces with an output system of a vehicle of the user and that outputs the updated route to the user on the output system.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second interface module that interfaces with a control system of a vehicle of the user, wherein the monitoring module monitors at least one of the traffic and the weather using the control system.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second interface module that interfaces with a control system of a vehicle of the user and that receives data related to operation of the vehicle, wherein the updating module updates the route based on the data.

10. A method comprising:

interfacing with a scheduling program and retrieving from the scheduling program a meeting time and a meeting location for a meeting scheduled by a user using the scheduling program;

determining (i) a route from a first location to the meeting location and (ii) a departure time for the user to depart from the first location to reach the meeting location at the meeting time,

wherein the determinations are based on (i) predicted traffic conditions and (ii) predicted weather conditions surrounding the first location and the meeting location prior to the meeting time;

monitoring module traffic and weather while the user travels the route; and

updating the route based on the monitored traffic and weather.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

monitoring traffic and weather surrounding the first location and the meeting location prior to the departure time; and

updating the departure time based on the monitored traffic and weather.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

planning one or more stops for the user between the first location and the meeting location; and

determining the route and the departure time based on the one or more stops.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

learning travel patterns of the user; and

planning the one or more stops for the user between the first location and the meeting location based on the travel patterns.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving parking information of a plurality of parking locations near the meeting location before the meeting time;

selecting one of the parking locations for a vehicle of the user; and

updating the route and the departure time based on the selected parking location.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein:

executing the scheduling program on at least one of a plurality of devices including a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, and a personal computer; and

outputting at least one of the route and the departure time to the user on the at least one of the plurality of devices.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

interfacing with an output system of a vehicle of the user; and

outputting the updated route to the user on the output system.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

interfacing with a control system of a vehicle of the user; and

monitoring at least one of the traffic and the weather using the control system.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

interfacing with a control system of a vehicle of the user;

receiving data related to operation of the vehicle; and

updating the route based on the data.