Bicycle directions

• US 8,600,658 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Leen, John M., Kalai, Iljya, Schwerin, Andrew M., Jones, Jonah, Shawcroft, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/786,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701409-411, 701416-419, 701/532, 701/538, 701/533, 701/1, 701/117, 701/446, 340/903, 707/E17.018, 707/E17.044
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments

Abstract

A mapping system tailors maps and directions for bicyclists. The mapping system stores map data including data about the suitability for biking along roads in a road network. A cost model, including a turn model, a hill model, and a penalty/bonus model is applied to the road network. The turn model models how long it takes to traverse an intersection. The hill model models a bicyclist'"'"'s speed based on the road grade. The penalty/bonus model adjusts the calculated cost of a road segment under the turn model and hill model to take account of steep hills and other unfavorable or favorable conditions along the road segment for bicycling. The mapping system generates one or more routes between an origin and destination. The generated route that has the lowest adjusted cost is determined to be a recommended route. The mapping system formats maps and/or directions to display recommended routes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a recommended bicycling route, the method comprising:

applying a cost model to a road network, the cost model including a hill model for estimating a bicyclist'"'"'s speed on a plurality of road segments in the road network based on a grade of the plurality of road segments;

determining, for the plurality of road segments, a traversal time based on the bicyclist'"'"'s speed;

receiving an origin and destination;

estimating respective total travel times for one or more estimated bicycling routes between the origin and destination based on the traversal times for the plurality of road segments;

determining at least one recommended bicycling route between the origin and destination based on the respective total travel times; and

formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a turn model for estimating a length of time for a bicyclist to traverse an intersection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that are bike trails.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that include a bike lane.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that are designated as good for bicycling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a penalty to road segments of the road network that are steep downhill grades.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a penalty to road segments of a road network that are arterial roads.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one recommended bicycling route between the origin and destination based on the application of the cost model to the road network comprises selecting a bicycling route having the lowest cost as a recommended bicycling route.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display comprises formatting directions corresponding to the at least one recommended bicycling route.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display comprises formatting a map including the at least one recommended bicycling route.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the map comprises distinguished indicators for bike-only trails, roads with bike lanes, and roads designated as good for bicycling.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a user modification to a recommended bicycling route displayed on the map, the modification entered by the user dragging a segment of the displayed recommended bicycling route to a different location on the map.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying terrain data on the map including the at least one recommended bicycling route.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the cycle speed is also based on a mass of a bicycle and a mass of a rider of the bicycle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calculating a power output required by a cyclist to traverse the plurality of road segments, wherein the cycle speed is also based on the power output.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the plurality of road segments have an uphill grade above a predetermined threshold; and

setting, on the determining, the bicyclist'"'"'s speed for the plurality of road segments equal to a walking speed.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting the bicyclist'"'"'s speed to a predetermined maximum travel velocity if the bicyclist'"'"'s speed is estimated to be greater than the maximum travel velocity.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the processor to carry out a process for generating a recommended bicycling route, the process comprising:

applying a cost model to a road network, the cost model including a hill model for estimating a bicyclist'"'"'s speed on a plurality of road segments in the road network based on a grade of the plurality of road segments;

determining, for the plurality of road segments, a traversal time based on the bicyclist'"'"'s speed;

receiving an origin and destination;

estimating respective total travel times for one or more estimated bicycling routes between the origin and destination based on the traversal times for the plurality of road segments;

determining at least one recommended bicycling route between the origin and destination based on the respective total travel times; and

formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a turn model for estimating a length of time for a bicyclist to traverse an intersection.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that are bike trails.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that include a bike lane.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a bonus to road segments of the road network that are designated as good for bicycling.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a penalty to road segments of the road network that are steep downhill grades.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cost model further includes a model for applying a penalty to road segments of a road network that are arterial roads.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein generating at least one recommended bicycling route between the origin and destination based on the application of the cost model to the road network comprises selecting a bicycling route having the lowest cost as a recommended bicycling route.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display comprises formatting directions corresponding to the at least one recommended bicycling route.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein formatting the at least one recommended bicycling route for display comprises formatting a map including the at least one recommended bicycling route.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the map comprises distinguished indicators for bike-only trails, roads with bike lanes, and roads designated as good for bicycling.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the process further comprises receiving a user modification to a recommended bicycling route displayed on the map, the modification entered by the user dragging a segment of the displayed recommended bicycling route to a different location on the map.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the process further comprises displaying terrain data on a map including the at least one recommended bicycling route.