Computer System and Method for Providing Warnings to a User for Completing Tasks From the Task List

• US 20090105947A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Henneberke, Ana, Nachesa, Anna
• Application Number:
  US12/225,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer system is disclosed, including a processor unit, arranged to communicate with a memory and a positioning device, the memory including a map database and a task list, the task list including at least one task, where at least one of the at least one task has a location indicator associated therewith. The positioning device is arranged to provide information about a position. In at least one embodiment, the computer system is arranged to compute an estimated travel parameter from a current position to a location indicator associated with one of the at least one task using the map database, to compare the estimated travel parameter to a threshold value, and to generate a warning signal if the computed estimated travel parameter is smaller than the threshold value.

Claims

1. Computer system, comprising:

a processor unit, arranged to communicate with a memory and a positioning device, the memory being including a map database and a task list, the task list including at least one task, wherein at least one of the at least one task includes a location indicator associated therewith, the positioning device being arranged to provide information about a position, wherein the computer system is arranged to

compute an estimated travel parameter from a current position as measured by the positioning device to a location indicator associated with one of the at least one task using the map database,

compare the computed estimated travel parameter to a threshold value, and

generate a warning signal if the computed estimated travel parameter is smaller than the threshold value.

2. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the map database includes address information and points of interest, the points of interest being divided into POI categories.

3. Computer system according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the location indicator associated with a task is a POI category, the computer system is arranged to perform the computing of the estimated travel parameter by:

selecting a number of POFs from the map database from the POI category using a POI-selection algorithm,

computing estimated travel parameters from the current position to each of the selected POFs, and

selecting the POI of the number of POFs having the relatively smallest computed estimated travel parameter.

4. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the estimated travel parameter is computed by computing a route from the current position to the location indicator using navigation software.

5. Computer system according to claim 4, wherein the estimated travel parameter is computed according to criteria.

6. Computer system according to claim 4, wherein the estimated travel parameter is computed taking into account current traffic information.

7. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one task includes a threshold value associated with therewith, and is performed by comparing the estimated travel parameter to the predetermined threshold value associated with the relevant task.

8. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein each task has a time associated with therewith.

9. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value varies.

10. Computer system according to claim 8, wherein the threshold value varies depending on the time associated with the task.

11. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the estimated travel parameter is one of an estimated travel time and an estimated travel distance.

12. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is one of a time threshold and a distance threshold.

13. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal includes at least one of an acoustic warning signal, a spoken warning message and a warning signal provided using a speaker.

14. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal is a warning icon displayed on a display.

15. Computer system according to claim 14, wherein the warning icon is a virtual button, which, when pressed, triggers the computer system to provide navigation instructions to navigate a user to the relevant location indicator.

16. Computer system according to claim 1, where the computer system includes at least one of a navigation device, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a laptop.

17. Computer system according to claim 1, where the computer system is arranged to register completion of a task.

18. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is a navigation device.

19. Vehicle, comprising a computer system according to claim 1.

23. Computer system according to claim 2, wherein each location indicator is one of an address and POI category.

24. Computer system according to claim 11, wherein the threshold value is one of a time threshold and a distance threshold.

25. Computer system according to claim 1, further comprising the memory and the positioning device.

20. Method, comprising:

providing a map database and a task list, the task list including at least one task, wherein at least one of the at least one task includes a location indicator associated therewith;

computing an estimated travel parameter from a current position, as measured by a positioning device, to a location indicator associated with one of the at least one tasks using the map database;

comparing the computed estimated travel parameter to a threshold value; and

generating a warning signal if the computed estimated travel parameter is smaller than the threshold value.

21. Computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement, arranged to perform the method of claim 20.

22. Data carrier, comprising a computer program according to claim 21.