SELECTED DRIVER NOTIFICATION OF TRANSITORY ROADTRIP EVENTS

• US 20120089326A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trip Routing Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trip Routing Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bouve, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Stored executable logic causes a processor to operate so as to receive route parameter data, including a start location and end location for future travel, from various users. The processor generates route data based on the received route parameter data for each user. The generated route data for each user includes geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in that user'"'"'s route parameter data. The processor stores, in a database, the generated route data for each user in association with an identifier of that user and contact information for contacting that user while in route.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for generating travel route data, comprising:

storage media; and

logic stored on the storage media, wherein the stored logic is configured to be executable by a processor and thereby cause the processor to operate so as to;

receive (i) first user route parameter data from a first user, including a start location and end location for future travel, (ii) second user route parameter data from a second user, including a start location and end location for future travel, and (iii) third user route parameter data from a third user, including a start location and end location for future travel;

generate (i) first user route data based on said received first user route parameter data, (ii) second user route data based on said received second user route parameter data, and (iii) third user route data based on said received third user route parameter data, wherein the generated first user route data includes first geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of first geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the first user route parameter data, the generated second user route data includes second geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of second geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of second geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the second user route parameter data, and the generated third user route data includes third geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of third geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the third user route parameter data; and

direct storage, in a database, of (i) the generated first route data in association with an identifier of the first user and contact information for contacting the first user while in route, (ii) the generated second route data in association with an identifier of the second user and contact information for contacting the second user in route, and (iii) the generated third route data in association with an identifier of the third user and contact information for contacting the third user while traveling.

2. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, wherein execution of the stored logic by the processor also thereby causes the processor to operate so as to:

receive reported event data, including a description of an event and an event location;

compare geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with (i) said strings of first geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored imbedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers, (ii) said strings of second geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored imbedded strings of second geographic coordinate identifiers, and (iii) said strings of third geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored imbedded strings of third geographic coordinate identifiers;

determine, based on the coordinate comparison, if (i) said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location, (ii) said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location, and (iii) said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location; and

direct transmission of a message regarding the event (i) to the first user based on the stored contact information for contacting the first user only if it is determined that said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location, (ii) to the second user based on the stored contact information for contacting the second user only if it is determined that said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location, and (iii) to the third user based on the stored contact information for contacting the third user only if it is determined that said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location.

3. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein the stored applicable user route data are determined to correspond to said received event location if the stored applicable user route data includes geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to geographic coordinates that match the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location.

4. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein the stored applicable user route data are determined to correspond to said received event location if the strings of the geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored imbedded strings of applicable geographic coordinate identifiers include geographic coordinates within a predefined proximity to the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location.

5. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the received event location is defined by other than geographic coordinates;

execution of the stored logic by the processor also thereby causes the processor to operate so as to determine said geographic coordinates corresponding to the received event location; and

the comparing of geographic coordinates is performed using the determined geographic coordinates corresponding to the received event location.

6. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 5, wherein the received event location is defined either by a street address or by route and mile numbers.

7. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein the event is related to a commercial offering, sightseeing, recreation, an emergency, weather, traffic or construction.

8. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein execution of the stored logic by the processor also thereby causes the processor to operate so as to:

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the first user, but only if it has been determined that said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location;

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the second user, but only if it has been determined that said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location;

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the third user, but only if it has been determined that said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location;

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the first user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location;

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the second user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location;

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the third user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the third user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored third user route data beyond the received event location;

wherein the message regarding the event is directed to be transmitted (i) to the first user only if it is also determined that the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location, (ii) to the second user only if it is also determined that the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location, and (iii) to the third user only if it is determined that the third user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored third user route data beyond the received event location.

9. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

only said stored first user route data and said stored second user route data were determined to correspond to said received event location;

the message regarding the event was directed to be transmitted only to the first user and the second user; and

execution of the stored logic by the processor also thereby causes the processor to operate so as to;

receive from the first user, in response to the transmitted message regarding the event, current travel location data, representing a current location of the first user along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data;

receive from the second user, in response to the transmitted message regarding the event, current travel location data, representing a current location of the second user along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data;

compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates corresponding to said received first user current travel location data;

compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates corresponding to said received second user current travel location data;

determine, based on the comparison with the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received first user current travel location data, if the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location;

determine, based on the comparison with the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received second user current travel location data, if the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location;

direct transmission of another message, including a notification of the event, to the first user based on the stored contact information for contacting the first user only if it is determined that the first user has not traveled beyond the received event location; and

direct transmission of another message, including a notification of the event to the second user based on the stored contact information for contacting the second user only if it is determined that the second user has not traveled beyond the received event location.

10. A system for generating travel route data, comprising:

a modem configured to receive (i) first user route parameter data from a first user, including a start location and end location for future travel, (ii) second user route parameter data from a second user, including a start location and end location for future travel, and (iii) third user route parameter data from a third user, including a start location and end location for future travel;

a processor configured to generate (i) first user route data based on said received first user route parameter data, (ii) second user route data based on said received second user route parameter data, and (iii) third user route data based on said received third user route parameter data, wherein the generated first user route data includes first geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of first geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the first user route parameter data, the generated second user route data includes second geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of second geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of second geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the second user route parameter data, and the generated third user route data includes third geographic coordinate data with imbedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of third geographic coordinates defining a travel path between the start and end locations included in the third user route parameter data; and

a database configured to store (i) the generated first route data in association with an identifier of the first user and contact information for contacting the first user while in route, (ii) the generated second route data in association with an identifier of the second user and contact information for contacting the second user in route, and (iii) the generated third route data in association with an identifier of the third user and contact information for contacting the third user while traveling.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the modem is further configured to receive reported event data, including a description of an event and an event location;

the processor is further configured to;

compare geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with (i) said strings of first geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored embedded strings of first geographic coordinate identifiers, (ii) said strings of second geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored embedded strings of second geographic coordinate identifiers, and (iii) said strings of third geographic coordinates corresponding to the stored embedded strings of third geographic coordinate identifiers;

determine, based on the coordinate comparison, if (i) said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location, (ii) said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location, and (iii) said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location; and

direct the modem to transmit a message regarding the event (i) to the first user based on the stored contact information for contacting the first user only if it is determined that said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location, (ii) to the second user based on the stored contact information for contacting the second user only if it is determined that said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location, and (iii) to the third user based on the stored contact information for contacting the third user only if it is determined that said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the stored applicable user route data are determined to correspond to said received event location if the stored applicable user route data includes embedded strings of geographic coordinate identifiers corresponding to strings of geographic coordinates that match the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location.

13. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the stored applicable user route data are determined to correspond to said received event location if the strings of geographic coordinates corresponding to the strings of applicable geographic coordinate identifiers include geographic coordinates within a predefined proximity to the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location.

14. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

the received event location is defined by other than geographic coordinates;

the processor is further configured to determine said geographic coordinates corresponding to the received event location; and

the comparing of geographic coordinates is performed using the determined geographic coordinates corresponding to the received event location.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the received event location is defined either by a street address or by route and mile numbers.

16. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the event is related to a commercial offering, sightseeing, recreation, an emergency, weather, traffic or construction.

17. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the first user, but only if it has been determined that said stored first user route data corresponds to said received event location;

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the second user, but only if it has been determined that said stored second user route data corresponds to said received event location;

also compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates representing a current location of the third user, but only if it has been determined that said stored third user route data corresponds to said received event location;

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the first user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location;

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the second user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location; and

if the comparison with the geographic coordinates representing a current location of the third user has been performed, also determine, based on that comparison, if the third user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored third user route data beyond the received event location;

wherein the message regarding the event is transmitted (i) to the first user only if it is also determined that the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location, (ii) to the second user only if it is also determined that the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location, and (iii) to the third user only if it is determined that the third user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored third user route data beyond the received event location.

18. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

only said stored first user route data and said stored second user route data were determined to correspond to said received event location;

the message regarding the event was transmitted only to the first user and the second user;

the modem is further configured to;

receive from the first user, in response to the transmitted message regarding the event, current travel location data, representing a current location of the first user along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data;

receive from the second user, in response to the transmitted message regarding the event, current travel location data, representing a current location of the second user along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data ; and

the processor is further configured to;

compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates corresponding to said received first user current travel location data;

compare the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received event location with geographic coordinates corresponding to said received second user current travel location data;

determine, based on the comparison with the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received first user current travel location data, if the first user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored first user route data beyond the received event location;

determine, based on the comparison with the geographic coordinates corresponding to said received second user current travel location data, if the second user has not traveled along the travel path defined by the stored second user route data beyond the received event location;

direct the modem to transmit another message, including a notification of the event, to the first user based on the stored contact information for contacting the first user only if it is determined that the first user has not traveled beyond the received event location; and

direct the modem to transmit another message, including a notification of the event to the second user based on the stored contact information for contacting the second user only if it is determined that the second user has not traveled beyond the received event location.