Generating optimal itineraries based on network connectivity

• US 9,103,677 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bauchot, Frederic, Dispensa, Jean-Claude, Drouet, Francois-Xavier, Marmigere, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/732,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps

Abstract

An approach for generating optimal itineraries is presented. As a response to a first message sent to a remote computer system by a global positioning device transported by a vehicle on a trip, the device receives a second message indicating optimal itineraries of the trip. The device receives a selection of an optimal itinerary indicating a path, a hop, an updated service provider to provide a service to a mobile device transported by the vehicle, and an updated network for providing the service. The device detects the vehicle at a position indicated by the hop, and in response, generates a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network. The global positioning device sends the third message to the mobile device and as a result, the mobile device makes a connectivity change to the updated service provider and/or to the updated network.

Claims

1. A method of generating optimal itineraries, the method comprising the steps of:

a global positioning device receiving a destination of a vehicle on a trip, a service requested for a mobile device being transported by the vehicle, a plurality of service providers that provide the service, and one or more networks via which the plurality of service providers provide the service to the mobile device, the global positioning device being transported by the vehicle, the global positioning device being a first computer system, and the plurality of service providers providing the service to the mobile device in a first cell determined by a second computer system;

the global positioning device determining a geographic position of the vehicle;

subsequent to the step of receiving the destination and determining the position, the global positioning device sending a first message to the second computer system that is remote from the vehicle, wherein the first message indicates the geographic position of the vehicle, the destination of the trip, the service, the plurality of service providers, and the one or more networks;

the global positioning device receiving a second message as a response to the first message, wherein the second message indicates a plurality of optimal itineraries generated by the second computer system;

the global positioning device extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries from the second message;

subsequent to the step of extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries, the global positioning device generating and displaying a plurality of choices identifying the plurality of optimal itineraries on a display device;

subsequent to the step of displaying the plurality of choices, the global positioning device receiving a selection by a user of a choice of the plurality of choices, wherein the selection identifies an optimal itinerary of the plurality of optimal itineraries, wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system as including a sequence of a first path followed by a second path, a hop, an updated service provider of the plurality of service providers, and an updated network of the one or more networks, the hop indicating a position on the first path at which a connectivity change is to occur from an initial service provider providing the service to the updated service provider providing the service and from an initial network via which the service is provided to the mobile device to the updated network via which the service is provided to the mobile device,

wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system in part based on a first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in a second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a first plurality of measures of network connectivity and in part based on a second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in a third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a second plurality of measures of network connectivity, the second cell being included in a first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell,

wherein the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell is indicated by a first measure of network connectivity included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in the third cell is indicated by a second measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second path is determined within the third cell by the second computer system,

wherein the third cell is selected by the second computer system from a second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell and the updated service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers by the second computer system, based on the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any other mobile device in the third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the second plurality of measures of network connectivity,

wherein the second plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system after the second computer system selects the second cell for each respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell, each measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in a respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell,

wherein the first path is determined within the second cell by the second computer system,

wherein the initial service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers and the second cell is selected from the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell by the second computer system, based on the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, and

wherein the first plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system for each respective cell of the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell, each measure of network connectivity being included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity and indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in the respective cell;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the global positioning device storing the optimal itinerary in a computer memory;

the global positioning device detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop;

in response to the step of detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop, the global positioning device generating a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network; and

the global positioning device sending the third message to the mobile device, wherein a result of the step of sending the third message and the step of receiving the selection identifying the optimal itinerary includes the mobile device making the connectivity change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that further indicates a time window during which the service is requested to be provided to the mobile device, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message, and wherein the time window indicates a period of time during which the service is required by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that indicates a cost requirement of the service, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service at a first cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service at a second cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and wherein the cost requirement indicates a maximum cost of providing the service to the mobile device.

4. A first computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to the CPU; and

a computer-readable, tangible storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device containing instructions that when carried out by the CPU via the memory implement a method of generating optimal itineraries, the method comprising the steps of;

a global positioning device receiving a destination of a vehicle on a trip, a service requested for a mobile device being transported by the vehicle, a plurality of service providers that provide the service, and one or more networks via which the plurality of service providers provide the service to the mobile device, the global positioning device being transported by the vehicle, the global positioning device being the first computer system, and the plurality of service providers providing the service to the mobile device in a first cell determined by a second computer system;

the global positioning device determining a geographic position of the vehicle;

subsequent to the step of receiving the destination and determining the position, the global positioning device sending a first message to the second computer system that is remote from the vehicle, wherein the first message indicates the geographic position of the vehicle, the destination of the trip, the service, the plurality of service providers, and the one or more networks;

the global positioning device receiving a second message as a response to the first message, wherein the second message indicates a plurality of optimal itineraries generated by the second computer system;

the global positioning device extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries from the second message;

subsequent to the step of extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries, the global positioning device generating and displaying a plurality of choices identifying the plurality of optimal itineraries on a display device;

subsequent to the step of displaying the plurality of choices, the global positioning device receiving a selection by a user of a choice of the plurality of choices, wherein the selection identifies an optimal itinerary of the plurality of optimal itineraries, wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system as including a sequence of a first path followed by a second path, a hop, an updated service provider of the plurality of service providers, and an updated network of the one or more networks, the hop indicating a position on the first path at which a connectivity change is to occur from an initial service provider providing the service to the updated service provider providing the service and from an initial network via which the service is provided to the mobile device to the updated network via which the service is provided to the mobile device,

wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system in part based on a first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in a second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a first plurality of measures of network connectivity and in part based on a second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in a third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a second plurality of measures of network connectivity, the second cell being included in a first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell,

wherein the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell is indicated by a first measure of network connectivity included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in the third cell is indicated by a second measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second path is determined within the third cell by the second computer system,

wherein the third cell is selected by the second computer system from a second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell and the updated service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers by the second computer system, based on the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any other mobile device in the third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the second plurality of measures of network connectivity,

wherein the second plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system after the second computer system selects the second cell for each respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell, each measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in a respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell,

wherein the first path is determined within the second cell by the second computer system,

wherein the initial service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers and the second cell is selected from the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell by the second computer system, based on the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, and

wherein the first plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system for each respective cell of the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell, each measure of network connectivity being included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity and indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in the respective cell;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the global positioning device storing the optimal itinerary in a computer memory;

the global positioning device detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop;

in response to the step of detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop, the global positioning device generating a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network; and

the global positioning device sending the third message to the mobile device, wherein a result of the step of sending the third message and the step of receiving the selection identifying the optimal itinerary includes the mobile device making the connectivity change.

5. The first computer system of claim 4, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that further indicates a time window during which the service is requested to be provided to the mobile device, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message, and wherein the time window indicates a period of time during which the service is required by the mobile device.

6. The first computer system of claim 4, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that indicates a cost requirement of the service, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service at a first cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service at a second cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and wherein the cost requirement indicates a maximum cost of providing the service to the mobile device.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable, tangible storage device that is not a transitory signal propagation medium; and

a computer-readable program code stored on the computer-readable, tangible storage device, said computer-readable program code containing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first computer system, implement a method of generating optimal itineraries, said method comprising the steps of;

a global positioning device receiving a destination of a vehicle on a trip, a service requested for a mobile device being transported by the vehicle, a plurality of service providers that provide the service, and one or more networks via which the plurality of service providers provide the service to the mobile device, the global positioning device being transported by the vehicle, the global positioning device being the first computer system, and the plurality of service providers providing the service to the mobile device in a first cell determined by a second computer system;

the global positioning device determining a geographic position of the vehicle;

subsequent to the step of receiving the destination and determining the position, the global positioning device sending a first message to the second computer system that is remote from the vehicle, wherein the first message indicates the geographic position of the vehicle, the destination of the trip, the service, the plurality of service providers, and the one or more networks;

the global positioning device receiving a second message as a response to the first message, wherein the second message indicates a plurality of optimal itineraries generated by the second computer system;

the global positioning device extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries from the second message;

subsequent to the step of extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries, the global positioning device generating and displaying a plurality of choices identifying the plurality of optimal itineraries on a display device;

subsequent to the step of displaying the plurality of choices, the global positioning device receiving a selection by a user of a choice of the plurality of choices, wherein the selection identifies an optimal itinerary of the plurality of optimal itineraries, wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system as including a sequence of a first path followed by a second path, a hop, an updated service provider of the plurality of service providers, and an updated network of the one or more networks, the hop indicating a position on the first path at which a connectivity change is to occur from an initial service provider providing the service to the updated service provider providing the service and from an initial network via which the service is provided to the mobile device to the updated network via which the service is provided to the mobile device,

wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system in part based on a first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in a second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a first plurality of measures of network connectivity and in part based on a second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in a third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a second plurality of measures of network connectivity, the second cell being included in a first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell,

wherein the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell is indicated by a first measure of network connectivity included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in the third cell is indicated by a second measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second path is determined within the third cell by the second computer system,

wherein the third cell is selected by the second computer system from a second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell and the updated service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers by the second computer system, based on the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any other mobile device in the third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the second plurality of measures of network connectivity,

wherein the second plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system after the second computer system selects the second cell for each respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell, each measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in a respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell,

wherein the first path is determined within the second cell by the second computer system,

wherein the initial service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers and the second cell is selected from the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell by the second computer system, based on the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, and

wherein the first plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system for each respective cell of the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell, each measure of network connectivity being included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity and indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in the respective cell;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the global positioning device storing the optimal itinerary in a computer memory;

the global positioning device detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop;

in response to the step of detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop, the global positioning device generating a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network; and

the global positioning device sending the third message to the mobile device, wherein a result of the step of sending the third message and the step of receiving the selection identifying the optimal itinerary includes the mobile device making the connectivity change.

8. The program product of claim 7, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that further indicates a time window during which the service is requested to be provided to the mobile device, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message, and wherein the time window indicates a period of time during which the service is required by the mobile device.

9. The program product of claim 7, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that indicates a cost requirement of the service, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service at a first cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service at a second cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and wherein the cost requirement indicates a maximum cost of providing the service to the mobile device.

10. A process for supporting computing infrastructure, the process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a first computer system, wherein the code in combination with the first computer system is capable of performing a method of generating optimal itineraries, the method comprising the steps of:

a global positioning device receiving a destination of a vehicle on a trip, a service requested for a mobile device being transported by the vehicle, a plurality of service providers that provide the service, and one or more networks via which the plurality of service providers provide the service to the mobile device, the global positioning device being transported by the vehicle, the global positioning device being the first computer system, and the plurality of service providers providing the service to the mobile device in a first cell determined by a second computer system;

the global positioning device determining a geographic position of the vehicle;

subsequent to the step of receiving the destination and determining the position, the global positioning device sending a first message to the second computer system that is remote from the vehicle, wherein the first message indicates the geographic position of the vehicle, the destination of the trip, the service, the plurality of service providers, and the one or more networks;

the global positioning device receiving a second message as a response to the first message, wherein the second message indicates a plurality of optimal itineraries generated by the second computer system;

the global positioning device extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries from the second message;

subsequent to the step of extracting the plurality of optimal itineraries, the global positioning device generating and displaying a plurality of choices identifying the plurality of optimal itineraries on a display device;

subsequent to the step of displaying the plurality of choices, the global positioning device receiving a selection by a user of a choice of the plurality of choices, wherein the selection identifies an optimal itinerary of the plurality of optimal itineraries, wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system as including a sequence of a first path followed by a second path, a hop, an updated service provider of the plurality of service providers, and an updated network of the one or more networks, the hop indicating a position on the first path at which a connectivity change is to occur from an initial service provider providing the service to the updated service provider providing the service and from an initial network via which the service is provided to the mobile device to the updated network via which the service is provided to the mobile device,

wherein the optimal itinerary is determined by the second computer system in part based on a first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in a second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a first plurality of measures of network connectivity and in part based on a second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in a third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity included in a second plurality of measures of network connectivity, the second cell being included in a first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell,

wherein the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell is indicated by a first measure of network connectivity included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any mobile device in the third cell is indicated by a second measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity, which is determined by the second computer system,

wherein the second path is determined within the third cell by the second computer system,

wherein the third cell is selected by the second computer system from a second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell and the updated service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers by the second computer system, based on the second signal quality provided by the updated service provider to any other mobile device in the third cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the second plurality of measures of network connectivity,

wherein the second plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system after the second computer system selects the second cell for each respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell, each measure of network connectivity included in the second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in a respective cell of the second plurality of cells adjacent to the second cell,

wherein the first path is determined within the second cell by the second computer system,

wherein the initial service provider is identified within the plurality of service providers and the second cell is selected from the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell by the second computer system, based on the first signal quality provided by the initial service provider to any mobile device in the second cell not being exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of the first plurality of measures of network connectivity, and

wherein the first plurality of measures of network connectivity is retrieved by the second computer system for each respective cell of the first plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell, each measure of network connectivity being included in the first plurality of measures of network connectivity and indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of the plurality of service providers to any mobile device in the respective cell;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the global positioning device storing the optimal itinerary in a computer memory;

the global positioning device detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop;

in response to the step of detecting that the vehicle is located at the position indicated by the hop, the global positioning device generating a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network; and

the global positioning device sending the third message to the mobile device, wherein a result of the step of sending the third message and the step of receiving the selection identifying the optimal itinerary includes the mobile device making the connectivity change.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that further indicates a time window during which the service is requested to be provided to the mobile device, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service within the time window indicated by the first message, and wherein the time window indicates a period of time during which the service is required by the mobile device.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of sending the first message includes sending the first message that indicates a cost requirement of the service, wherein the result of the step of sending the third message includes the mobile device making the connectivity change based on the initial service provider and the initial network providing the service at a first cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and based on the updated service provider and the updated network providing the service at a second cost that does not exceed the cost requirement, and wherein the cost requirement indicates a maximum cost of providing the service to the mobile device.