System and method for providing alternative routes

• US 8,825,376 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Szybalski, Andrew Timothy, Lin, Jocelyn, Riegelsberger, Jens, Hoag, Daniel Timothy, Yang, Audrey Ya-Jun, Shade, Judith
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/729,182
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 701/412, 701/413, 701/417, 701/431, 701/436, 340/995.23, 340/995.15, 340/995.14
• US Class Current: 701/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents

Abstract

At least some embodiments herein provide a navigation interface which provides notifications to a user regarding the impact a missed transit connection will have on the user'"'"'s final arrival time. The navigation interface may also provide pre-calculated transit-based route alternatives. The missed connection notifications and pre-calculated alternatives may allow an individual to a make more informed decisions regarding the route he/she is travelling to his/her desired destination.

Claims

1. A routing system for providing a current route to a desired destination of a user, the current route including at least one transit connection, the system comprising:

a display; and

a navigation interface provided on the display, the interface configured to provide current route information related to the current route to the user, the current route information including;

a route indicator displaying at least one step of the current route;

a next connection time indicator displaying a departure time of the at least one transit connection in the current route;

an arrival time indicator displaying a calculated final arrival time at the destination based on the current route; and

a missed connection indicator displaying a notification representative of a predicted impact on the calculated final arrival time due to the user missing the at least one transit connection.

2. The routing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to provide at least one pre-calculated alternative route notification to the user.

3. The routing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one pre-calculated alternative route notification provides alternative route information related to an alternative route to the desired destination, the alternative route information including at least one of:

an alternative route indicator displaying at least one step of the alternative route;

an alternative next connection time indicator displaying a departure time of at least one transit connection in the alternative route;

an alternative arrival time indicator displaying a calculated alternative final arrival time at the destination based on the alternative route; and

an alternative missed connection indicator displaying a notification representative of a predicted impact on the alternative final arrival time due to the user missing the at least one transit connection in the alternative route.

4. The routing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one pre-calculated alternative route notification is provided adjacent the current route information.

5. The routing system of claim 4, wherein the navigation interface 5 is further configured to replace the current route information with the alternative route information in response to an action by the user.

6. The routing system of claim 5, wherein the display is a touch screen and the action by the user is at least one of a swiping action and a long-press input on the display.

7. The routing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one pre-calculated alternative route notification is overlaid on top of the current route indicator.

8. The routing system of claim 1, wherein the missed connection indicator includes an avatar.

9. The routing system of claim 8, wherein the avatar includes a facial expression.

10. The routing system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to provide a progress indicator, the progress indicator providing information related to whether the user is currently travelling at an appropriate speed to catch the at least one transit connection in the current route.

11. The routing system of claim 10, wherein the progress indicator is represented by a speedometer.

12. A method for providing a current route to a desired destination of a user via a routing system, the routing system including a navigation interface and memory, the method comprising acts of:

receiving, with the navigation interface, the desired destination of the user, current GPS information of the user, and transit information;

generating, based on the desired destination of the user, the current UPS information of the user, the transit information, and map information stored in memory, a current route to the desired destination, the current route including at least one transit connection;

providing, with a display of the navigation interface, information related to the current route including;

a route indicator including at least one step of the current route;

a next connection time indicator displaying a departure time of the at least one transit connection in the current route;

a final arrival time indicator including a calculated final arrival time at the desired destination based on the current route;

a missed connection indicator including an indication of a predicted impact on the final arrival time due to the user missing the at least one transition connection in the current route.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising acts of:

generating, based on the desired destination of the user, the current UPS information of the user, the transit information, and map information stored in memory, at least one alternative route to the desired destination, the at least one alternative route including at least one transit connection; and

providing an alternative route notification to the user, the alternative route notification including information related to the alternative route including at least one of;

a route indicator including at least one step of the alternative route;

a next connection time indicator including a departure time of the at least one transit connection in the alternative route;

a final arrival time indicator including a calculated final arrival time to the desired destination based on the alternative route; and

a missed connection indicator, including an indication of a predicted impact on the final arrival time due to the user missing the at least one transition connection in the alternative route.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the alternative route notification is provided adjacent the information related to the current route.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising an act of replacing the information related to the current route with the information related to the alternative route in response to an action by the user.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising an act of updating the alternative route notification at periodic intervals.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the information related to the current route further includes a progress indicator including information related to whether the user is currently travelling at an appropriate speed to catch the at least one transit connection in the current route.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising an act of displaying a warning to the user in response to the progress indicator indicating that the user is currently traveling at an inadequate speed.