Multimode transportation transitions

• US 9,212,924 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Salowitz, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shudy, Angelina
• Application Number:
  US14/465,236
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/413, 701/416, 701/428, 701/431, 701/433, 701/434, 701/440, 701/467, 701/520
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A rich set of inter-transportation-mode transitions can be supported. For example, when generating a route from a starting location to a destination, transitions to or from walking can be included that are immediately discernable by the traveler without reference to compass directions. Further functionality, such as support for multiple doors of a transit vehicle can be supported. An overall improved user experience and fewer errors for travelers who combine different transportation modes into their trips can result.

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computing device, the method comprising:

storing an internal representation of an inter-transportation-mode transition between a first mode of transportation and a second, different mode of transportation, wherein the internal representation is stored in or derived from a map representation;

receiving a request to generate a route from a starting location to an ending location;

in response to the request, generating the route, the route comprising a plurality of transportation modes and an inter-transportation-mode transition instruction comprising a compass-free direction to proceed for the inter-transportation-mode transition from the first mode of transportation to the second, different mode of transportation, wherein the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition represents exiting a transit vehicle and the compass-free direction to proceed as a compass-free direction to turn after exiting the transit vehicle, wherein generating the route comprises converting the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition into the inter-transportation-mode transition instruction, and wherein the inter-transportation-mode transition instruction comprises the compass-free direction to turn after exiting the transit vehicle when transitioning from the transit vehicle to walking; and

displaying or electronically speaking the inter-transportation-mode transition instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction to proceed is based on an implied orientation during the transition.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction to proceed is based on an implied orientation after exiting the transit vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction to proceed comprises a traveler-centric description of the direction to proceed during the transition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the direction to proceed comprises a change in direction.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction to proceed comprises a vehicle-centric description of the direction to proceed when not inside the transit vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction to proceed comprises an instruction to cross a street.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the route comprises:

for a plurality of possible doors of the transit vehicle, generating an instruction indicating a particular door out of the possible doors.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of possible doors comprise a right side of the transit vehicle and a left side of the transit vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the transition instruction comprises reference to a visible landmark.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the route comprises:

for a plurality of possible portals of a station, generating an instruction indicating a particular portal out of the possible portals.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing an internal representation of a map representing a plurality of inter-transportation-mode transitions as transition nodes, wherein an inter-transportation-mode transition is represented as a transition node between a first segment node of a first transportation mode and a second segment node of a second, different transportation mode;

wherein generating the route comprises choosing a particular transition node out of the transition nodes based on the ending location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the internal representation represents an entry point for the inter-transportation-mode transition with an entry point data structure; and

the entry point data structure is generic to representation of a door of a bus, a portal of a transit station, and an end of a bike path.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a current location of the computing device with a Global Positioning System receiver; and

using the current location of the computing device as the starting location.

15. A system comprising:

in one or more computer-readable media, a stored representation of a map comprising information about an inter-transportation-mode transition;

an internal representation of an inter-transportation-mode transition between a first transportation mode and a second, different transportation mode, wherein the internal representation is stored in or derived from the stored representation of the map;

a route generator configured to accept a starting location and destination location, wherein the route generator is further configured to read the stored representation of the map and generate a route from the starting location to the destination location, wherein the route generator is further configured to, based on the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition and a template describing exiting a transit vehicle, output a description of the route comprising an inter-transportation-mode transition instruction comprising a compass-free direction to proceed for a transition from a first mode of transportation to a second, different mode of transportation, wherein the compass-free direction indicates a direction to turn after exiting the transit vehicle when transitioning from the transit vehicle to walking; and

an output device configured to display or electronically speak the inter-transportation-mode transition instruction.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition comprises indications of a plurality of possible doors of the transit vehicle for an inter-transportation-mode transition to or from walking.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition comprises indications of a plurality of possible platforms of a transit station for an inter-transportation-mode transition to or from walking.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition comprises an indication of a vehicle-centric direction.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition comprises an indication of a landmark for a transition to walking.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a Global Positioning System receiver configured to determine a current location of a mobile device;

wherein the route generator is configured to accept the current location of the mobile device as the starting location.

21. One or more computer-readable memories, magnetic storage media, or optical storage media comprising computer-executable instructions causing a computing system to perform a method comprising:

for an inter-transportation-mode transition from a first mode of transportation to a second, different mode of transportation, generating an instruction for inclusion in a route from a starting location to a destination location, wherein generating the instruction comprises;

from an internal representation of the inter-transportation-mode transition storing the first mode of transportation, the second, different mode of transportation, an indication of one out of a plurality of possible open sides of a vehicle through which to exit, and a traveler-centric indication of a direction to travel while walking after exiting the vehicle, wherein the direction to travel is based on an implied orientation of a traveler exiting from the indicated open side of the vehicle, generating the indication of the one out of the plurality of possible open sides of the vehicle through which to exit;

generating the traveler-centric indication of the direction to travel while walking after exiting the vehicle; and

substituting the indication of the one out of the plurality of possible open sides of the vehicle through which to exit and the traveler-centric indication of the direction to travel while walking after exiting the vehicle into a template for the instruction; and

displaying or electronically speaking the instruction.