Systems and methods for providing topographical graphs and travel routes based on perceived exertion

• US 9,217,649 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Inventors: Dror, Moshe, Carl, Katherine E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US14/051,338
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3822 Road feature data, e.g. slope data

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a topographical graph are provided. A computer-implemented method for providing a topographical graph includes accessing, by a computer processor, road map data associated with a geographic area, and accessing, by the computer processor, elevation data associated with the geographic area. The computer processor references the elevation data to determine points at which there is a change in incline along roads in the geographic area. The topographical graph is constructed, with the points defining nodes in the topographical graph, and arcs between the nodes representing road segments having a substantially constant degree of incline. Further provided are methods for determining levels of perceived exertion in traversing arcs, and for optimizing travel routes for minimal perceived exertion.

Claims

1. A method for providing a topographical graph, the method comprising:

accessing, over a communication network, a database storing road map data associated with a geographic area;

accessing, over the communication network, a database storing elevation data associated with the geographic area;

executing instructions via a processor of a user computing device, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

references the elevation data to identify one or more points at which there is a change in incline along roads in the geographic area,

constructs the topographical graph, the identified points defining nodes in the topographical graph, and arcs between the nodes representing road segments having a constant degree of incline, wherein nodes and arcs of the topographical graph respectively correspond with geographical positions of the identified points at which there is a change in incline and the road segments having a constant degree of incline, and

identifies a level of perceived exertion for each arc in the constructed topographical graph, wherein the identified level of perceived exertion is based on a user skill level for a mode of travel, the user skill level for the mode of travel having been inputted by the user; and

providing a selected travel route to the user via a graphical user interface, wherein the selected travel route is selected from a plurality of different possible travel routes between a starting point and an ending point based on a total level of perceived exertion for a set of one or more arcs associated with each travel route.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving input from the user regarding the starting point and the ending point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each arc comprises one or more consecutive elementary pieces, each elementary piece of an arc having a substantially same degree of incline, wherein determining the level of perceived exertion in traversing an arc comprises:

determining the level of perceived exertion in traversing each of the elementary pieces of an arc based on;

an average time a person having the user skill level for the mode of travel takes to traverse the elementary piece using the mode of travel;

a weight of the elementary piece, based on the degree of incline and the user skill level for the mode of travel; and

a position of the elementary piece in an ordered set of the consecutive elementary pieces making up the arc; and

summing the determined level of perceived exertion for each of the elementary pieces making up the arc.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the travel route based on minimal perceived exertion, wherein the selected travel route has the lowest total level of perceived exertion amongst the plurality of different possible travel routes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed road map data includes data regarding one or more rest stops, overnight accommodations, and points of interest, and further comprising creating additional nodes for at least one of the rest areas, overnight accommodations, and points of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user computing device is wearable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein constructing the topological graph comprises accessing a topological graph application hosted at least in part at a server over the communication network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the server is part of a cloud computing environment.

9. A system for providing a topographical graph, comprising:

a road map database that stores road map data associated with a geographic area;

an elevation database that stores elevation data associated with the geographic area; and

a user computing device hosting a topographical graph application, the topographical graph application executed by a processor to;

access the road map data stored at the road map database over a communication network,

access the elevation data stored at the elevation database over the communication network,

reference the elevation data to identify one or more points at which there is a change in incline along roads in the geographic area,

construct the topographical graph, the identified points defining nodes in the topographical graph, and arcs between the nodes representing traversable road segments having a substantially constant degree of incline, wherein nodes and arcs of the topographical graph respectively correspond with geographical positions of the identified points at which there is a change in incline and the road segments having a constant degree of incline,

identify a level of perceived exertion for each arc in the constructed topographical graph, wherein the identified level of perceived exertion is based on a user skill level for a mode of travel, the user skill level for the mode of travel having been inputted by the user, and

provide a selected travel route to the user via a graphical user interface, wherein the selected travel route is selected from a plurality of different possible travel routes between a starting point and an ending point based on a total level of perceived exertion for a set of one or more arcs associated with each travel route.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the topographical graph application is remote from at least one of the road map database and the elevation database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the topographical application is further executed by the processor to select the travel route based on minimal perceived exertion, wherein the selected travel route has the lowest total level of perceived exertion amongst the plurality of different possible travel routes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each arc comprises one or more consecutive elementary pieces, each elementary piece of an arc having a substantially same degree of incline, wherein the application is configured to determine the level of perceived exertion in traversing an arc by:

determining the level of perceived exertion in traversing each of the elementary pieces of an arc based on;

an average time a person having the user skill level for the mode of travel takes to traverse the elementary piece using the mode of travel;

a weight of the elementary piece, based on the degree of incline and the user skill level for the mode of travel; and

a position of the elementary piece in an ordered set of the consecutive elementary pieces making up the arc; and

summing the determined level of perceived exertion for each of the elementary pieces making up the arc.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computerized device further includes a GPS module for determining a location of the computerized device, wherein the topographical graph application is further configured to indicate the determined location of the computerized device with respect to the constructed topographical graph.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the user computing device is wearable.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the user computing device constructs the topological graph by accessing a topological graph application hosted at least in part at a server over the communication network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is part of a cloud computing environment.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having embodied thereon executable instructions for performing a method for providing a topographical graph, the method comprising:

accessing a road map database that is electronically accessible over a communication network, the road map database storing road map data associated with a geographic area;

accessing an elevation database that is electronically accessible over the communication network, the elevation database storing elevation data associated with the geographic area

referencing the elevation data to identify one or more points at which there is a change in incline along roads in the geographic area;

constructing the topographical graph, the identified points defining nodes in the topographical graph, and arcs between the nodes representing traversable road segments having a constant degree of incline, wherein nodes and arcs of the topographical graph respectively correspond with geographical positions of the identified points at which there is a change in incline and the road segments having a constant degree of incline;

identifying a level of perceived exertion for each arc in the constructed topographical graph, wherein the identified level of perceived exertion is based on a user skill level for a mode of travel, the user skill level for the mode of travel having been inputted by the user; and

providing a selected travel route to the user via a graphical user interface, wherein the selected travel route is selected from a plurality of different possible travel routes between a starting point and an ending point based on a total level of perceived exertion for a set of one or more arcs associated with each travel route.