System for collecting, analyzing, and transmitting information relevant to transportation networks

• US 9,451,019 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Herz, Frederick S. M., Lemaire, Pierre, Lemaire, Jean H., Labys, Walter Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, Eric W
• Application Number:
  US14/309,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20140308978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• 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 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1025 Dynamic adaptation of the criteria on which the server selection is based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 : Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

When individual persons or vehicles move through a transportation network, they are likely to be both actively and passively creating information that reflects their location and current behavior. In this patent, we propose a system that makes complete use of this information. First, through a broad web of sensors, our system collects and stores the full range of information generated by travelers. Next, through the use of previously-stored data and active computational analysis, our system deduces the identity of individual travelers. Finally; using advanced data-mining technology, our system selects useful information and transmits it back to the individual, as well as to third-party users; in short, it forms the backbone for a variety of useful location-related end-user applications.

Claims

1. A method of communicating electronically, the method comprising:

acquiring, at a server, location information for a plurality of mobile devices;

identifying, by the server, a particular mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices;

utilizing, by the server, conditional probability to assign a probability to a plurality of checkpoints around a current location of the particular mobile device;

identifying, based on the assigned probabilities, a subset of the checkpoints corresponding to a plurality of potential future locations for said particular mobile device, the subset of the checkpoints being multiple checkpoints; and

pre-caching digital content to the subset of the checkpoints.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing, by the server, a personal profile for said particular mobile device; and

delivering, by the server, the digital content to said particular mobile device based upon preferences identified in said personal profile, wherein delivering digital content occurs when the particular mobile device passes one of said plurality of potential future locations.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating, by the server, a current trip vector based upon the acquired location information, wherein the plurality of checkpoints are around the current trip vector, and wherein the digital content for delivery is further determined based upon preferences identified in said personal profile and based upon said current trip vector.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

acquiring user preference information specifying one or more preferences in said personal profile, wherein the digital content is determined based at least in part on the user preference information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the preferences include allowing the delivery of the digital content, and wherein the digital content is determined to be relevant to the location information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the digital content is an advertisement.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital content is pushed to the particular mobile device when the particular mobile device passes one of said plurality of potential future locations.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting a time at which the particular mobile device will pass a first checkpoint of the subset of the checkpoints, wherein digital content is pre-cached at the first checkpoint based on the predicted time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the prediction of the time is based on current traffic conditions, a projected route, and a speed of the particular mobile device.

10. A system for communicating content to a mobile user using a communications network, the system comprising:

one or more network servers on the communications network operative to;

acquire location information corresponding to the mobile user,

utilize, by the server, conditional probability to assign a probability to a plurality of checkpoints around a current location of the mobile user,

identify, based on the assigned probabilities, a subset of the checkpoints corresponding to a plurality of potential future locations for the mobile user, the subset of the checkpoints being multiple checkpoints, and

pre-cache digital content to the subset of the checkpoints, the one or more network servers including memory that stores the location information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more network servers on the communications network are further operative to:

access a personal profile for the mobile user,

determine content to deliver to the mobile user based upon preferences identified in said personal profile, and

communicate the determined content to the mobile user when the mobile user passes one of said plurality of potential future locations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more network servers on the communications network are further operative to:

generate a current trip vector based upon the acquired location information, wherein the plurality of checkpoints are around the current trip vector, wherein the digital content for delivery is further determined based upon preferences identified in said personal profile and said current trip vector.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more network servers on the communications network are further operative to:

acquire user preference information specifying one or more preferences in said personal profile, wherein the digital content is determined based at least in part on the user preference information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the preferences include allowing the delivery of the digital content, and wherein the digital content is determined to be relevant to the location information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the digital content is an advertisement.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

predicting a time at which the particular mobile device will pass a first checkpoint of the subset of the checkpoints, wherein digital content is pre-cached at the first checkpoint based on the predicted time.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the prediction of the time is based on current traffic conditions, a projected route, and a speed of the particular mobile device.