Method for controlling transport and travel operations

• US 6,163,748 A
• Filed: 03/09/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Guenther, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/264,708
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 73/178 R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/202
• 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: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

In a method for controlling transport and travel operations, the route between the starting point and the destination point is optimized to accommodate preselectable requirements and made available by means of a computer on the basis of stored general information by way of the junction points of a traffic network. Individual information concerning the accessibility of precise destination points is collected, stored and updated from the junction points of a general route network. This individual information is used, with other information, for computer-implemented optimization of the route and of the transport means.

Claims

1. Method for controlling transport and travel operations, in which a route between a selected starting point and a destination point is optimized to accommodate preselectable requirements, and is made available through a computer, comprising:

storing general information defining transportation media, including junction points of said media, within a geographic area;

collecting, storing and updating a database of individual information entries for destination points within the geographic area, each such individual information entry comprising a destination point designator for a particular destination point within the geographic area, together with accessibility data defining accessibility between said particular destination point and said transportation media; and

using said individual information entries in a computer-implemented optimization of a route and a transport means to the destination point.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the destination point designated in each individual information entry comprises a preexisting publicly available individual identification of the destination.

3. Method according to claim 2, where one of a telephone number and a fax number is used as the individual identification.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein an E-mail address is used as the individual identification.

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein a zip code is used as the individual identification.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

route planning is performed via an on-line service; and

a route between a precise starting point and a precise destination point is determined by the computer and is transmitted to the inquirer so that it can be electronically utilized or as a hard copy or by telefax.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of using said individual information entries comprises:

a user specifying a desired performance objective; and

said computer selecting and suggesting a destination point corresponding to the desired performance objective specified by the user.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein a current or predicted traffic situation is used to determine an optimal route.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein a route planning is transferred directly to a navigation system at the inquiring party.

10. Method according to claim 7, wherein the selected destination point is transferred directly to a navigation system of the inquiring party.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein a momentary location of a mobile destination or target point is determined and updated by localization or calls in the telephone radio network.

12. Method according to claim 8, wherein for the precise determination of location by way of a telephone radio network, geographic coordinates of the destination point are determined by way of a GPS navigation system and are transmitted by way of a cellular telephone.

13. A system for controlling transport and travel operations comprising:

a data processing unit;

a first computer readable memory storage medium encoded with a data structure comprising individual traffic codes assigned to respective institutions and entities within a geographic area, each of said traffic codes including i) an identity code which identifies a particular institution or entity by associating with it a preexisting publicly available designation, and ii) a linkage code, conjoined with said identity code, said linkage code characterizing accessibility between said particular institution or entity and transportation media within said geographic area;

means for remotely accessing said data processing unit, and for inputting a traffic code of an accessing entity together with a travel request including a traffic code of an institution or entity within said geographic area; and

means for communicating travel information from said data processing unit to said accessing entity.

14. A system for controlling transport and travel operations comprising:

a data processing unit;

a first computer readable memory storage medium encoded with a data structure comprising individual traffic codes assigned respectively to institutions and entities within a geographic area, each of said traffic codes including i) an identity code which identifies a particular institution or entity by associating with it a preexisting publicly available designation and ii) a linkage code, conjoined with said identity code, said linkage code characterizing accessibility between said particular institution or entity and transportation media within said geographic area;

means for remotely accessing said data processing unit, and for inputting a traffic code of an accessing entity together with a travel request including a traffic code of an institution or entity within said geographic area;

means for communicating travel information from said data processing unit to said accessing entity; and

a second computer readable memory storage medium encoded with a transportation database comprising information concerning transportation media within said geographic area, including at least route, timing, and connection information;

wherein said data processing unit utilizes information from said transportation database and traffic code information from said first computer readable memory storage medium to generate said travel information.

15. A method for controlling transport and travel operations comprising:

assigning to institutions and entities within a geographic area respective individual traffic codes, each of which includes an identity code that identifies a particular institution or entity by associating with it a publicly available designation, said identity code being conjoined with a linkage code which characterizes accessibility between said particular institution or entity and transportation media within said geographic area;

providing a remotely accessible transportation access database comprising said traffic codes;

a requesting entity entering a travel request into a central data processing system, said travel request comprising a traffic code assigned to the requesting entity and a traffic code of a particular institution or entity within the geographic area;

said central data processing system reading information from said transportation access database in response to said travel request, and processing said information with said travel request to generate travel information responsive to said travel request; and

said central data processing system communicating said travel information to said requesting entity.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said central data processing system also automatically makes travel reservations on transportation media in said geographic area in response to said travel request and provides travel documents to said requesting entity.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising

providing a transportation database comprising information concerning transportation media within said geographic area, including at least route, timing and connection information;

and

processing information from said transportation database and traffic code information from said transportation access database to generate said travel information.