Mobility route optimization

• US 9,322,657 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• 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 WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/836,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• 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 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• 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 21/3461 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 21/3484 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A processor-implemented method, system, and computer program product guides mobility-impaired pedestrians. A processor receives mobile tracking readings from each of multiple mobility assistance devices, and identifies pedestrian routes taken by the mobility assistance devices to a desired destination. The processor identifies multiple routes, each of which has more mobile tracking readings than other pedestrian routes. The processor associates a recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken to a first pedestrian route, and associates a lack of the recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken to a second pedestrian route. If the recurring public event is currently in progress along the first pedestrian route, then the processor transmits directions that describe the second pedestrian route at which the public event is not occurring.

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 multiple optimal pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein each of said multiple optimal pedestrian routes is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes;

the processor associating a recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a first optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

the processor associating a lack of said recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a second optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

the processor determining that said recurring public event is presently occurring;

the processor, in response to determining that the recurring public event is presently occurring, selecting the second optimal pedestrian route for transmission to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

the processor transmitting directions that describe said second optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to the desired destination.

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

the processor associating a first time of day during which mobile tracking readings were taken for the first optimal pedestrian route;

the processor associating a second time of day during which mobile tracking readings were taken for the second optimal pedestrian route;

the processor identifying a current time of day for the current mobility-impaired pedestrian traveling to the desired destination;

the processor, in response to determining that the first time of day and the current time of day are substantially similar, selecting the first optimal pedestrian route for transmission to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian.

3. 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.

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

the processor identifying a specific mobility impairment affecting a specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings;

the processor generating a type-specific pedestrian route for mobility-impaired pedestrians having said specific mobility impairment, wherein said type-specific pedestrian route is generated from past mobile tracking readings for said specific type of user;

the processor identifying a mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

the processor, in response to matching the mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian to the specific mobility impairment affecting the specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings, transmitting the type-specific pedestrian route to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian.

5. 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 multiple optimal pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein each of said multiple optimal pedestrian routes is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes;

fourth program instructions to associate a recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a first optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

fifth program instructions to associate a lack of said recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a second optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

sixth program instructions to determine that said recurring public event is presently occurring;

seventh program instructions to, in response to determining that the recurring public event is presently occurring, select the second optimal pedestrian route for transmission to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

eighth program instructions to transmit directions that describe said second optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to the desired destination; and

wherein

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

6. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising:

ninth program instructions to associate a first local weather condition to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a first optimal pedestrian route;

tenth program instructions to associate a second local weather condition to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a second optimal pedestrian route;

eleventh program instructions to identify a real-time local weather condition for the current mobility-impaired pedestrian traveling to the desired destination; and

twelfth program instructions to, in response to determining that the first local weather condition and the real-time local weather condition are substantially similar, select the first optimal pedestrian route for transmission to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein

the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

7. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising:

ninth 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;

tenth 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

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

wherein

the ninth, tenth, and eleventh program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising:

ninth program instructions to identify a specific mobility impairment affecting a specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings;

tenth program instructions to generate a type-specific pedestrian route for mobility-impaired pedestrians having said specific mobility impairment, wherein said type-specific pedestrian route is generated from past mobile tracking readings for said specific type of user;

eleventh program instructions to identify a mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

twelfth program instructions to, in response to matching the mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian to the specific mobility impairment affecting the specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings, transmit the type-specific pedestrian route to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein

the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media.

9. 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 multiple optimal pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes, wherein each of said multiple optimal pedestrian routes is identified as having more mobile tracking readings than any other pedestrian routes from the plurality of pedestrian routes;

fourth program instructions to associate a recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a first optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

fifth program instructions to associate a lack of said recurring public event to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a second optimal pedestrian route from said multiple optimal pedestrian routes;

sixth program instructions to determine that said recurring public event is presently occurring;

seventh program instructions to, in response to determining that the recurring public event is presently occurring, select the second optimal pedestrian route for transmission to a current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

eighth program instructions to transmit directions that describe said second optimal pedestrian route, to the desired destination, to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian for traveling to the desired destination; and

wherein

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

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

ninth program instructions to associate a first local weather condition to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a first optimal pedestrian route;

tenth program instructions to associate a second local weather condition to times during which mobile tracking readings were taken for a second optimal pedestrian route;

eleventh program instructions to identify a real-time local weather condition for the current mobility-impaired pedestrian traveling to the desired destination; and

twelfth program instructions to, in response to determining that the first local weather condition and the real-time local weather condition are substantially similar, select the first optimal pedestrian route for transmission to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein

the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

11. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

ninth 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;

tenth 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

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

wherein

the ninth, tenth, and eleventh program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

ninth program instructions to identify a specific mobility impairment affecting a specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings;

tenth program instructions to generate a type-specific pedestrian route for mobility-impaired pedestrians having said specific mobility impairment, wherein said type-specific pedestrian route is generated from past mobile tracking readings for said specific type of user;

eleventh program instructions to identify a mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

twelfth program instructions to, in response to matching the mobility impairment of said current mobility-impaired pedestrian to the specific mobility impairment affecting the specific type of user of one of said multiple mobility assistance devices that provided past mobile tracking readings, transmit the type-specific pedestrian route to the current mobility-impaired pedestrian; and

wherein

the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.