Mobility route optimization

• US 9,207,089 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedlander, Robert R., Kraemer, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Application Number:
  US13/252,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 701/433, 701/482, 701/533, 701/424, 701/422, 701/408, 701/516, 701/517, 701/527
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/22 for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/02 Crutches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• 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

Abstract

A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product guides mobility-impaired pedestrians. Mobile tracking readings are received from multiple mobility assistance devices, each of which has an affixed tracking device. Based on these mobile tracking readings, multiple pedestrian routes for mobility-impaired pedestrians, including an optimal pedestrian route that has the highest tracking history to a desired destination, are generated.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method of guiding mobility-impaired pedestrians, the processor-implemented method comprising:

a processor receiving a plurality of mobile tracking readings from each of multiple mobility assistance devices, wherein a tracking device is affixed to each of the multiple mobility assistance devices to generate the plurality of mobile tracking readings;

the processor identifying a plurality of pedestrian routes taken by the multiple mobility assistance devices to a desired destination, wherein the plurality of pedestrian routes are identified by the plurality of mobile tracking readings generated by tracking devices affixed to the multiple mobility assistance devices;

the processor identifying at least one optimal pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein said at least one optimal pedestrian route is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes; and

the processor transmitting directions that describe said at least one optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to a destination location.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor detecting a change in altitude location of at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices after losing and then subsequently regaining a signal from the tracking device on said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices;

the processor interpreting said change in altitude location after losing and then subsequently regaining said signal from the tracking device as being caused by said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices being transported in an elevator; and

the processor transmitting a location of said elevator to said current mobility-impaired pedestrian.

3. A computer program product for guiding mobility-impaired pedestrians, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to receive a plurality of mobile tracking readings from each of multiple mobility assistance devices, wherein a tracking device is affixed to each of the multiple mobility assistance devices to generate the plurality of mobile tracking readings;

second program instructions to identify a plurality of pedestrian routes taken by the multiple mobility assistance devices to a desired destination, wherein the plurality of pedestrian routes are identified by the plurality of mobile tracking readings generated by tracking devices affixed to the multiple mobility assistance devices;

third program instructions to identify at least one optimal pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein said at least one optimal pedestrian route is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes; and

fourth program instructions to transmit directions that describe said at least one optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to a destination location; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, further comprising:

fifth program instructions to detect a change in altitude location of at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices after losing and then subsequently regaining a signal from the tracking device on said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices;

sixth program instructions to interpret said change in altitude location after losing and then subsequently regaining said signal from the tracking device as being caused by said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices being transported in an elevator; and

seventh program instructions to transmit a location of said elevator to said current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

5. A computer system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a non-transitory computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to receive a plurality of mobile tracking readings from each of multiple mobility assistance devices, wherein a tracking device is affixed to each of the multiple mobility assistance devices to generate the plurality of mobile tracking readings;

second program instructions to identify a plurality of pedestrian routes taken by the multiple mobility assistance devices to a desired destination, wherein the plurality of pedestrian routes are identified by the plurality of mobile tracking readings generated by tracking devices affixed to the multiple mobility assistance devices;

third program instructions to identify at least one optimal pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein said at least one optimal pedestrian route is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian route from the plurality of pedestrian routes; and

fourth program instructions to transmit directions that describe said at least one optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to a destination location; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

6. The computer system of claim 5, further comprising:

fifth program instructions to detect a change in altitude location of at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices after losing and then subsequently regaining a signal from the tracking device on said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices;

sixth program instructions to interpret said change in altitude location after losing and then subsequently regaining said signal from the tracking device as being caused by said at least one of the multiple mobility assistance devices being transported in an elevator; and

seventh program instructions to transmit a location of said elevator to said current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.