US6317685B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for providing alternate routes with a navigation system
Assignee: Here Global BV
•
Filing: 2000-03-13
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Granted: 2001-11-13
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Expires: 2020-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A feature for a navigation system that provides an evaluation of alternate routes. According to this feature, the navigation system compares the actual time of travel along a route to the estimated time of travel along the route. If the actual time of travel exceeds the estimated time of travel, alternate routes to the destination are calculated and provided to the user. This feature enables driver-experienced traffic conditions to be taken into account.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J. Kozak
- 👤 Lawrence M. Kaplan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/3407; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q10/025; G06Q10/04; G06Q10/047; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0204; G06Q30/0205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A program, for use with a vehicle navigation system capable of calculating a route from an origin to a destination, estimating a time of travel from said origin to said destination, and determining a location of a vehicle and an actual time of travel of said vehicle along said route, comprising: means for determining whether the actual time of travel of said vehicle to a position along said route exceeds an estimated time of travel to said position along said route by a threshold amount of time; and means for automatically initiating calculation of one or more alternate routes to said destination when said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said threshold amount of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A program, for use with a vehicle navigation system capable of calculating a route from an origin to a destination, estimating a time of travel from said origin to said destination, and determining a location of a vehicle and an actual time of travel of said vehicle along said route, comprising: means for determining whether the actual time of travel of said vehicle to a position along said route exceeds an estimated time of travel to said position along said route by a threshold amount of time; and means for automatically initiating calculation of one or more alternate routes to said destination when said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said threshold amount of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount is configurable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount is based on a fixed amount of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount is based on a relative amount of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount is based on both a fixed amount of time and a relative amount of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said means for determining whether the actual time of travel of said vehicle to a position along said route exceeds an estimated time of travel to said position along said route by a threshold amount is invoked only upon input by a user requesting such determination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The program of claim 1 wherein said means for determining whether the actual time of travel of said vehicle to a position along said route exceeds an estimated time of travel to said position along said route by a threshold amount is invoked automatically on a periodic basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A vehicle navigation system comprising: a route calculator, capable of calculating a route of travel along roadways from an origin to a destination; a route travel time estimator, capable of estimating a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator; a vehicle position locator, capable of determining the position of a vehicle relative to a roadway; an actual time of travel calculator, capable of determining the actual time of travel of said vehicle along a route calculated by said route calculator; a threshold parameter; a travel time deviation calculator, capable of determining with respect to at least a portion of a route calculated by said route calculator whether an actual time of travel determined by said actual time of travel calculator exceeds an estimated time of travel determined by said route travel time estimator by a given amount based on said threshold parameter; and an alternate route calculator capable of calculating an alternate route of travel along roadways to said destination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A vehicle navigation system comprising: a route calculator, capable of calculating a route of travel along roadways from an origin to a destination; a route travel time estimator, capable of estimating a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator; a vehicle position locator, capable of determining the position of a vehicle relative to a roadway; an actual time of travel calculator, capable of determining the actual time of travel of said vehicle along a route calculated by said route calculator; a threshold parameter; a travel time deviation calculator, capable of determining with respect to at least a portion of a route calculated by said route calculator whether an actual time of travel determined by said actual time of travel calculator exceeds an estimated time of travel determined by said route travel time estimator by a given amount based on said threshold parameter; and an alternate route calculator capable of calculating an alternate route of travel along roadways to said destination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said travel time deviation calculator operates automatically on a periodic basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said travel time deviation calculator operates only upon input by a user requesting such operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The navigation system of claim 8 or 9 wherein said alternate route calculator is responsive to said travel time deviation calculator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The navigation system of claim 9 wherein said alternate route calculator calculates an alternative route of travel along roadways to said destination automatically upon a determination by said travel time deviation calculator that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said threshold parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The navigation system of claim 11 wherein said alternate route calculator calculates an alternative route of travel along roadways to said destination automatically upon a determination by said travel time deviation calculator that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said threshold parameter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The navigation system of claim 8 , 9 or 10 wherein said alternate route calculator is responsive only upon input by a user requesting calculation of an alternate route of travel along roadways to said destination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said route travel time estimator estimates a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator based on one or both of distance and speed limit information relating to said roadways.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said route travel time estimator estimates a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator based on measured time of travel relating to said roadways.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said route calculator calculates a route of travel along roadways from an origin to a destination in consideration of broadcast traffic information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is configurable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is based on a fixed amount of time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is based on a relative amount of time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is based on both a fixed amount of time and a relative amount of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
185 words
A vehicle navigation system comprising: a route calculator, capable of calculating a route of travel along roadways from an origin to a destination; a route travel time estimator, capable of estimating a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator; a vehicle position locator, capable of determining the position of a vehicle relative to a roadway; an actual time of travel calculator, capable of determining the actual time of travel of said vehicle along a route calculated by said route calculator; a threshold parameter; a travel time deviation calculator, capable of determining with respect to at least a portion of a route calculated by said route calculator whether an actual time of travel determined by said actual time of travel calculator exceeds an estimated time of travel determined by said route travel time estimator by a given amount based on said threshold parameter; and an alternate route calculator capable of calculating an alternate route of travel along roadways to said destination, wherein said alternate route calculator is disabled where an estimated time of travel is less than a pre-determined amount.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
185 words
A vehicle navigation system comprising: a route calculator, capable of calculating a route of travel along roadways from an origin to a destination; a route travel time estimator, capable of estimating a time of travel along roadways of a route calculated by said route calculator; a vehicle position locator, capable of determining the position of a vehicle relative to a roadway; an actual time of travel calculator, capable of determining the actual time of travel of said vehicle along a route calculated by said route calculator; a threshold parameter; a travel time deviation calculator, capable of determining with respect to at least a portion of a route calculated by said route calculator whether an actual time of travel determined by said actual time of travel calculator exceeds an estimated time of travel determined by said route travel time estimator by a given amount based on said threshold parameter; and an alternate route calculator capable of calculating an alternate route of travel along roadways to said destination, wherein said alternate route calculator is disabled where an estimated time of travel is less than a pre-determined amount.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The navigation system of claim 8 wherein said alternate route calculator calculates one or more alternate routes upon a determination by said travel time deviation calculator that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said given amount based on said threshold parameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The navigation system of claim 23 wherein at least one of said one or more alternate routes calculated by said alternate route calculator is offered to a user of the navigation system for selection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The navigation system of claim 23 wherein an alternate route calculated by said alternate route calculator is not offered to a user of the navigation system for selection where the estimated time of travel for said alternate route exceeds the estimated time of travel for the remaining portion of the original route by a pre-determined amount.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The navigation system of claim 23 wherein at least one of said one or more alternate routes calculated by said alternate route calculator includes portions of the original route.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
133 words
A method in a navigation system, comprising: calculating a route of travel for a vehicle along roadways from an origin to a destination; estimating the time of travel to one or more points along said route; calculating the actual time of travel of said vehicle to said one or more points along said route; determining whether said actual time of travel of said vehicle to one of said one or more points along said route exceeds said estimated time of travel to said one of said one or more points by a given amount based on a threshold parameter; and calculating one or more alternates routes to said destination upon a determination that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by a given amount based on said threshold parameter.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
133 words
A method in a navigation system, comprising: calculating a route of travel for a vehicle along roadways from an origin to a destination; estimating the time of travel to one or more points along said route; calculating the actual time of travel of said vehicle to said one or more points along said route; determining whether said actual time of travel of said vehicle to one of said one or more points along said route exceeds said estimated time of travel to said one of said one or more points by a given amount based on a threshold parameter; and calculating one or more alternates routes to said destination upon a determination that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by a given amount based on said threshold parameter.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
124 words
A method in a navigation system, comprising: identifying a destination selected by a user of said navigation system; identifying the roadways traveled by said user between a first location and second location; calculating the actual time of travel of said user from said first location to said second location; estimating the time of travel along said identified roadways between said first location and said second location; determining whether said actual time of travel of said vehicle exceeds said estimated time of travel by a given amount based on a threshold parameter; and calculating two or more routes to said destination upon a determination that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said given amount based on said threshold parameter.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
124 words
A method in a navigation system, comprising: identifying a destination selected by a user of said navigation system; identifying the roadways traveled by said user between a first location and second location; calculating the actual time of travel of said user from said first location to said second location; estimating the time of travel along said identified roadways between said first location and said second location; determining whether said actual time of travel of said vehicle exceeds said estimated time of travel by a given amount based on a threshold parameter; and calculating two or more routes to said destination upon a determination that said actual time of travel exceeds said estimated time of travel by said given amount based on said threshold parameter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 5 minutes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 10 minutes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 15 minutes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 10% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 25% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 50% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said threshold amount of time is 100% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 5 minutes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 10 minutes.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 15 minutes.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 10% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 25% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 50% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said threshold parameter is 100% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 5 minutes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 10 minutes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 15 minutes.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 10% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 25% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 50% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said threshold parameter is 100% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 5 minutes.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 10 minutes.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 15 minutes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 10% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 25% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 50% of said estimated time of travel.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said threshold parameter is 100% of said estimated time of travel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-12 | 2005-05-14 | 2005-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-12 | 2009-05-14 | 2009-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-12 | 2013-05-14 | 2013-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |