Intelligent global positioning system service

• US 9,791,573 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Feltham, Andrew S., Harries, Dominic P., White, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): CASS, JEAN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/755,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO

Abstract

An approach for an intelligent GPS service is provided. The approach monitors a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are routes traveled by a user in a plurality of successive journeys. The approach determines one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, the one or more common sub-routes having a plurality of points in common with each other. The approach determines whether the one or more common sub-routes exceed a pre-determined threshold. The approach flags each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding a pre-determined threshold. The approach identifies one or more flagged common-sub-routes within a calculated route.

Claims

1. A method for improving route navigation assistance on a client device, the method comprising:

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are routes travelled by a user in a plurality of successive journeys;

determining, by one or more computer processors, one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, the one or more common sub-routes having a plurality of points in common with each other;

determining, by one or more computer processors, whether the one or more common sub-routes exceed a pre-determined threshold, wherein determining includes comparing a number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes against the pre-determined threshold, wherein the pre-determined threshold is a user defined threshold indicating the one or more common sub-routes is frequently traveled by the user;

responsive to a determination that the number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes exceeds the pre-determined threshold, flagging, by one or more computer processors, each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding the pre-determined threshold, wherein flagging includes determining a measurable distance the one or more common sub-routes have the plurality of points in common;

identifying, by one or more computer processors, one or more flagged common sub-routes within a calculated route, wherein identifying includes determining the calculated route for a journey, wherein the calculated route includes the one or more flagged common sub-routes, and determining at least one of the one or more flagged common sub-routes matches one or more direction sequences of the calculated route;

suppressing, by one or more computer processors, route navigation assistance for one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein suppressing includes substituting one or more matched direction sequences of the calculated route with the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, prompting the user to confirm suppression of detailed instructions for each identified flagged common sub-routes is desired, and responsive to the user confirming suppression of the detailed instructions is desired, suppressing the detailed instructions for each of the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes; and

responsive to the user continuing to the next direction following the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes in the calculated route, augmenting, by one or more computer processors, one or more functions of the client device, wherein augmenting includes enabling a power save mode while traveling the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein the power save mode includes searching for an updated GPS location of the client device less frequently.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring a plurality of routes, further comprises at least one of:

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, the plurality of routes passively;

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, the plurality of routes actively; and

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, the plurality of routes utilizing a combination of passive and active monitoring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, further comprises:

modeling, by one or more computer processors, each of the plurality of routes as a route, r, wherein the route includes an ordered set of points, p, joined by one or more lines on a two-dimensional plane; and

storing, by one or more computer processors, each modeling of the plurality of routes in a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein flagging each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding a pre-determined threshold, further comprises:

storing, by one or more computer processors, one or more flagged common sub-routes to a database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that at least one point in the first route matches at least one point in a second route, determining, by one or more computer processors, a level of equivalency between the first route and the second route;

wherein determining a level of equivalency includes determining a distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent and determining one or more directions at the at least one point are the same along the distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, the level of equivalency exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more flagged common-sub-routes within a calculated route, further comprises:

retrieving, by one or more computer processors, one or more flagged common sub-routes from a database; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, at least one of the one or more flagged common sub-routes match at least one segment of the calculated route.

7. A computer program product for improving route navigation assistance on a client device, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are routes travelled by a user in a plurality of successive journeys;

program instructions to determine one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, the one or more common sub-routes having a plurality of points in common with each other;

program instructions to determine whether the one or more common sub-routes exceed a pre-determined threshold, wherein determining includes comparing a number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes against the pre-determined threshold, wherein the pre-determined threshold is a user defined threshold indicating the one or more common sub-routes is frequently traveled by the user;

responsive to a determination that the number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes exceeds the pre-determined threshold, program instructions to flag each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding the pre-determined threshold, wherein flagging includes determining a measurable distance the one or more common sub-routes have the plurality of points in common;

program instructions to identify one or more flagged common sub-routes within a calculated route, wherein identifying includes determining the calculated route for a journey, wherein the calculated route includes the one or more flagged common sub-routes, and determining at least one of the one or more flagged common sub-routes matches one or more direction sequences of the calculated route;

program instructions to suppress route navigation assistance for one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein suppressing includes one or more matched direction sequences of the calculated route with the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, prompting the user to confirm suppression of detailed instructions for each identified flagged common sub-routes is desired, and responsive to the user confirming suppression of the detailed instructions is desired, suppressing the detailed instructions for each of the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes; and

responsive to the user continuing to the next direction following the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes in the calculated route, program instructions to augment one or more functions of the client device, wherein augmenting includes enabling a power save mode while traveling the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein the power save mode includes searching for an updated GPS location of the client device less frequently.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein program instructions to monitor a plurality of routes, further comprises at least one of:

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes passively;

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes actively; and

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes utilizing a combination of passive and active monitoring.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein program instructions to determine one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, further comprises:

program instructions to model each of the plurality of routes as a route, r, wherein the route includes an ordered set of points, p, joined by one or more lines on a two-dimensional plane; and

program instructions to store each modeling of the plurality of routes in a database.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein program instructions to flag each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding a pre-determined threshold, further comprises:

program instructions to store one or more flagged common sub-routes to a database.

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

responsive to a determination that at least one point in the first route matches at least one point in a second route, program instructions to determine a level of equivalency between the first route and the second route;

wherein determining a level of equivalency includes determining a distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent and determining one or more directions at the at least one point are the same along the distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, the level of equivalency exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein program instructions to identify one or more flagged common-sub-routes within a calculated route, further comprises:

program instructions to retrieve, one or more flagged common sub-routes from a database; and

program instructions to determine at least one of the one or more flagged common sub-routes match at least one segment of the calculated route.

13. A computer system for improving route navigation assistance on a client device, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage devices;

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are routes travelled by a user in a plurality of successive journeys;

program instructions to determine one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, the one or more common sub-routes having a plurality of points in common with each other;

program instructions to determine whether the one or more common sub-routes exceed a pre-determined threshold, wherein determining includes comparing a number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes against the pre-determined threshold, wherein the pre-determined threshold is a user defined threshold indicating the one or more common sub-routes is frequently traveled by the user;

responsive to a determination that the number of times the user travels the one or more common sub-routes exceeds the pre-determined threshold, program instructions to flag each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding the pre-determined threshold, wherein flagging includes determining a measurable distance the one or more common sub-routes have the plurality of points in common;

program instructions to identify one or more flagged common sub-routes within a calculated route, wherein identifying includes determining the calculated route for a journey, wherein the calculated route includes the one or more flagged common sub-routes, and determining at least one of the one or more flagged common sub-routes matches one or more direction sequences of the calculated route;

program instructions to suppress route navigation assistance for one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein suppressing includes substituting one or more matched direction sequences of the calculated route with the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, prompting the user to confirm suppression of detailed instructions for each identified flagged common sub-routes is desired, and responsive to the user confirming suppression of the detailed instructions is desired, suppressing the detailed instructions for each of the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes; and

responsive to the user continuing to the next direction following the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes in the calculated route, program instructions to augment one or more functions of the client device, wherein augmenting includes enabling a power save mode while traveling the one or more identified flagged common sub-routes, wherein the power save mode includes searching for an updated GPS location of the client device less frequently.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein program instructions to monitor a plurality of routes, further comprises at least one of:

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes passively;

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes actively; and

program instructions to monitor the plurality of routes utilizing a combination of passive and active monitoring.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein program instructions to determine one or more common sub-routes within the plurality of routes, further comprises:

program instructions to model each of the plurality of routes as a route, r, wherein the route includes an ordered set of points, p, joined by one or more lines on a two-dimensional plane; and

program instructions to store each modeling of the plurality of routes in a database.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein program instructions to flag each of the one or more common sub-routes exceeding a pre-determined threshold, further comprises:

program instructions to store one or more flagged common sub-routes to a database.

17. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that at least one point in the first route matches at least one point in a second route, program instructions to determine a level of equivalency between the first route and the second route;

wherein determining a level of equivalency includes determining a distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent and determining one or more directions at the at least one point are the same along the distance that the first route and the second route remain consistent; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, the level of equivalency exceeds a pre-determined threshold.