Multi-modal route planning

• US 8,949,028 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Klampfl, Erica, Liu, Yimin
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Luke
• Application Number:
  US14/093,883
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 701/538, 701/533, 701/727, 701/527
• US Class Current: 701/538
• 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

Abstract

A route start point and a route end point are specified. Data is retrieved relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route, and including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type. A route is determined between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying the route parameter to the attribute.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

receive input specifying a route start point and a route end point;

retrieve data relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route;

retrieve data including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type; and

determine a route between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying a route parameter to the attribute;

wherein applying the route parameter includes excluding at least one waypoint from consideration for the route.

2. The system of claim 1, the attribute further relating to a parking cost for the vehicle type.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to retrieve data identifying a user planning to traverse the route, and to determine the route parameter at least in part according to the user'"'"'s identity or a number of vehicle occupants.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute identifies at least one of a fueling station, a public transit station, a car-sharing station, a pedestrian waypoint, and a high-occupancy roadway.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes a parking cost for the vehicle type at a specific waypoint.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one of a geo-coordinate, weather data, availability of a special lane based on a vehicle type, a number of vehicle occupants, presence of one or more charging stations, a road condition, a location of a vehicle-sharing service, vehicle type availability, and availability of one or more biking lanes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle type is one of a motor-cycle, a motor-scooter, a bicycle, a number of occupants in a vehicle, and an automobile.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is included in a vehicle.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving input specifying a route start point and a route end point;

retrieving data relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route;

retrieving data including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type; and

determining a route between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying a route parameter to the attribute;

wherein applying the route parameter includes excluding at least one waypoint from consideration for the route.

10. The method of claim 9, the attribute further relating to a parking cost for the vehicle type.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising retrieving data identifying a user planning to traverse the route, and to determine the route parameter at least in part according to the user'"'"'s identity or a number of vehicle occupants.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one attribute identifies at least one of a fueling station, a public transit station, a car-sharing station, a pedestrian waypoint, and a high-occupancy roadway.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one attribute includes a parking cost for the vehicle type at a specific waypoint.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one of a geo-coordinate, weather data, availability of a special lane based on a vehicle type, a number of vehicle occupants, presence of one or more charging stations, a road condition, a location of a vehicle-sharing service, vehicle type availability, and availability of one or more biking lanes.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle type is one of a motor-cycle, a motor-scooter, a bicycle, a number of occupants in a vehicle, and an automobile.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having tangibly embodied thereon instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions including instructions to:

receive input specifying a route start point and a route end point;

retrieve data relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route;

retrieve data including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type; and

determine a route between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying a route parameter to the attribute;

wherein applying the route parameter includes excluding at least one waypoint from consideration for the route.

17. The medium of claim 16, the attribute further relating to a parking cost for the vehicle type.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one attribute includes a parking cost for the vehicle type at a specific waypoint.