Patent Application
20130198031
Advancements in navigation technology have made global positioning systems (GPS) a staple in today's marketplace. Today, GPS navigation systems are omnipresent and operable as standalone devices, applications on mobile phones, and as onboard vehicle systems. GPS systems are generally used to provide routing information between two identified points of interest. Typically, a user enters a particular destination into the GPS system and a preferred route is determined. More modern devices are configured to account for real-time traffic conditions in determining the preferred route. These GPS systems still heavily rely on manual entry or input from the user, which is often a burdensome and time-consuming task.
The features and advantages of the inventions as well as additional features and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
The following discussion is directed to various embodiments. Although one or more of these embodiments may be discussed in detail, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. Furthermore, as used herein, the designators “A”, “B” and “N” particularly with respect to the reference numerals in the drawings, indicate that a number of the particular feature so designated can be included with examples of the present disclosure. The designators can represent the same or different numbers of the particular features.
The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the user of similar digits. For example, 143 may reference element “43” in
Typically, GPS systems only provide the positional or location information associated with the GPS-enabled device or vehicle. Some GPS systems include storage databases for storing and displaying points of interest along a current route (e.g., gas station, court house, shopping mall). More advanced GPS systems use aspects of business intelligence (BI) to inform an operating user of approaching items based on current events. However, there is still a need in the art for a more automated, useful, and user-friendly approach to determining the preferred or optimized navigational route for drivers and GPS systems alike.
When driving or traveling along a route, most people follow distinct travel patterns such that these travel patterns usually become repetitive and thus recognizable. Moreover, modern motor vehicles include a number of sensors for indicating gasoline usage, tire pressure, and oxygen levels for example. These sensors aid in alerting an operating user when the vehicle needs servicing or that the vehicle will be negatively impacted if driven in its current condition. Furthermore, the combined effect of the sensor readings may provide additional insight into a vehicle performance, particularly when considering environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for optimum routing for GPS navigational systems. Business intelligence, predictive analysis, and sensor data associated with the motor vehicle and environment are utilized to provide the most optimum route between two identified travel locations. According to one example, historical travel and route information is stored in the system such that a destination can be predicted using the current location and time in addition to the stored travel data. Furthermore, an optimum route of travel is computed based on the sensor information associated with the vehicle and/or environment and a distance between the current location and the predicted destination.
Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the views,
Display unit 128 represents an electronic visual display and touch-sensitive display configured to display images and GPS information to the operating user. The display unit 128 may include a graphical user interface 116 for enabling input interaction 104 (e.g., touch-based) between the user and the computing device 102. Still further, storage medium 130 represents volatile storage (e.g. random access memory), non-volatile store (e.g. hard disk drive, read-only memory, compact disc read only memory, flash storage, etc.), or combinations thereof. Furthermore, storage medium 130 includes software 132 that is executable by processor 120 and, that when executed, causes the processor 120 to perform some or all of the functionality described herein. For example, the routing intelligence unit 126 may be implemented as executable software within the storage medium 130 (e.g., DVD-based navigation), or as replacement for the processing unit 120.
Vehicular and environmental sensors 114 are used for providing external/internal operating and environmental conditions to the processing unit 120. For example, sensors 114 represents sensors for indicating mechanical and/or electrical conditions of the vehicle such as tire pressure sensors, oxygen sensors, fuel sensors and the like for providing information relating to the tire pressure, oxygen, and fuel status respectively, so as inform the system and user about the vehicle's performance. Moreover, environmental sensors for detecting the ambient temperature, pollution levels and the like may also be utilized for providing environmental information to the processing unit 120. For example, tire pressure (PSI) is important because it can affect how a vehicle drives and stops. Excessive tire pressure may cause an uncomfortable drive while too little pressure can cause tire overheating—with either having to potential to lead to a traffic accident. Moreover, changes in the air temperature can affect your tire pressure as tires may either gain or lose one pound of pressure for every 10 degrees in temperature change. The process unit 120 and routing intelligence unit 126 are configured to account for these types of affects on the vehicle's performance when calculating the optimum travel route.
The global positioning receiver 110 is configured to calculate the geographic location of the user or vehicle based on signals received from GPS satellite 122 as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. More importantly, the GPS receiver 110 is configured to provide the geographical information to the processing unit 120 including the current geographical location of the device 102 and possible destination locations (e.g., if the user desires to obtain a service or product). In addition, real-time weather and traffic feeds 124 (as well as forecasted weather and traffic data) may be obtained from an internetwork 122 or weather satellites/beacon based on the current and/or destination geographical locations, and then read by the processing unit 120.
Once the data is processed by the processing unit 120, the one or more optimum routes may be displayed to the user on a dashboard or display screen 118 associated with the routing system 100. There may also be an option to automatically accept the most cost-efficient option. In addition, the results may be self-learning such that further options are supplied based on the inclusion of new or updated information. According to one example embodiment, the route determination process may be initiated by the user upon entering a command to go to a destination for a particular purpose such as work or shopping for example. Based on the current day and time and travel pattern information from the routing intelligence unit, the processing unit 120 and system 100 can automatically execute the route determination process and provide travel options to the user for initiating the journey.
Examples of the present invention provide a system and method for optimum routing on a GPS-enabled device. Through use of the internal and external sensor and GPS information, predictive analysis can determine numerous routes to a particular destination. In the present example, an optimized route may be suggested to the user based upon knowledge of user's travel patterns, the car's current performance capabilities as provided by the sensors, and its GPS position. Furthermore, numerous advantages are enabled through implementation of the optimum routing intelligence system. For example, effective analysis of the on-board vehicle sensors serves to improve the vehicle's performance thereby reducing fuel consumption while also extending the life of the vehicle. Moreover, the predicted destination and optimum route(s) may be computed and provided to the operating user automatically and without manual input from the user.
Furthermore, while the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example, although exemplary embodiments describe the routing and GPS system being implemented within a motor vehicle, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the routing intelligence and GPS system may be implemented on a mobile device, laptop, or any other device configured to transmit and receive GPS information. Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
