# US 10,371,536 B2 · Alternative routes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,536 B2 - Document ID: US10371536B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/520,415 - Filed: 2015-10-20 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-20 - Assignees: Tomtom Navigation B.V. - Applicants: TomTom Navigation B.V. - Inventors: Felix Godafoss König; Michael Marte; Jose F. Santiago Nunez; Kees Wesselius; Stanislav Zheltov; Thomas Gerhard Helmut Schickinger; William Breen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371536B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/3415: {Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents} - G01C 21/3461: {Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types or segments such as motorways, toll roads or ferries} - G01C 21/3484: {Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles} - G01C 21/34: Route searching; Route guidance - 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)} - G01C 21/3661: {Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio} - G01C 21/3676: {Overview of the route on the road map} - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract A method is disclosed for generating routes in an area covered by an electronic map. The map comprises a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of a navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. A main route from an origin to a destination is generated through the network in a manner which favors segments which are segments of a predefined sub-network. When the user commences travel, the method involves identifying a first decision point along the main route being travelled that is a decision point of the sub-network. An alternative route is generated between the decision point and the destination, in a method involving favoring segments of the sub-network, and in which the outgoing segment of the main route being travelled to the first decision point is blocked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating routes through a navigable network, the navigable network being represented by an electronic map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable elements of the navigable network, the segments being connected by nodes, the method comprising: defining a sub-network of the navigable network comprising a network of intersecting routes through the navigable network between an origin and a destination of a first origin-destination pair, the sub-network being represented by a subset of segments of the electronic map, and wherein nodes at which there are two or more outgoing segments of the subset of segments are indicative of decision points of the sub-network; generating a main route between an origin and a destination of a second origin-destination pair; and identifying a first decision point of the sub-network to be encountered along the main route, and generating an alternative route between the decision point and the destination of the second origin-destination pair using a route generation process in which at least a first segment of the portion of the main route outgoing from the node representative of the first decision point is blocked and in which the subset of segments representative of the sub-network are favoured. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-network is represented by segments of a set of previously travelled routes through the navigable network between the origin and the destination of the first origin-destination pair. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising defining the sub-network of the navigable network, and generating the main route between the second origin-destination pair in a route generation process which favours the segments representative of the sub-network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-network is represented by segments of a set of a plurality of alternative routes calculated between the origin and the destination of the first origin-destination pair. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, comprising generating the main route between the origin and destination of the second origin-destination pair, and using the main route in generating the set of a plurality of alternative routes between the origin and destination, the segments of the main route and the plurality of alternative routes representing the sub-network, wherein the first origin-destination pair corresponds to second origin-destination pair. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising generating at least one alternative route between the origin and the destination of the second origin-destination pair, optionally wherein the or each alternative route is generated using a route generation process which favours the segments representative of the sub-network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising identifying the next decision point of the sub-network along the main route, when it is determined that a user has chosen to continue on the existing main route after passing the first decision point, and generating an alternative route between the decision point and the destination of the second origin-destination pair using a routing process in which at least a first segment of the portion of the main route outgoing from the node representative of the decision point is blocked and in which the subset of segments representative of the sub-network are favoured. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, comprising, when a user chooses to take the alternative route rather than the main route from the origin to the destination of the second origin-destination pair, taking the alternative route as the new main route, identifying the next decision point of the sub-network along the new main route, and generating an alternative route between the decision point and the destination of the second origin-destination pair using a routing process in which at least a first segment of the portion of the new main route outgoing from the node representative of the decision point is blocked and in which the subset of segments representative of the sub-network are favoured. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the generating an alternative route between a decision point of the sub-network along the main route and the destination of the second origin-destination pair is carried out after the user commences travel along the main route. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the generating an alternative route is carried out when a current position of the user comes within a predetermined distance of the decision point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the generating an alternative route between a decision point of the sub-network along the main route and the destination of the second origin-destination pair is carried out only in respect of the next decision point of the sub-network along the main route ahead of a current position along the main route, and not for any subsequent decision point ahead of the current position prior to the current position of the user reaching the decision point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising displaying a schematic representation of the main route together with an indication of the position of the decision point along the route and an indication of the alternative route at the decision point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a set of navigation instructions for guiding a user along the main route and/or the new main route. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a portable navigation device. ### Claim 15 A system for generating routes through a navigable network, the navigable network being represented by an electronic map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable elements of the navigable network, the segments being connected by nodes, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory; the processor configured to: define a sub-network of the navigable network comprising a network of intersecting routes through the navigable network between an origin and a destination of a first origin-destination pair, the sub-network being represented by a subset of segments of the electronic map, and wherein nodes at which there are two or more outgoing segments of the subset of segments are indicative of decision points of the sub-network; generate a main route between an origin and a destination of a second origin-destination pair; and identify a first decision point of the sub-network to be encountered along the main route, and generating an alternative route between the decision point and the destination of the second origin-destination pair using a routing process in which at least a first segment of the portion of the main route outgoing from the node representative of the first decision point is blocked and in which the subset of segments representative of the sub-network are favoured. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the system is a portable navigation device. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a system, cause the system to perform a method for generating routes through a navigable network, the navigable network being represented by an electronic map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable elements of the navigable network, the segments being connected by nodes, the method comprising: defining a sub-network of the navigable network comprising a network of intersecting routes through the navigable network between an origin and a destination of a first origin-destination pair, the sub-network being represented by a subset of segments of the electronic map, and wherein nodes at which there are two or more outgoing segments of the subset of segments are indicative of decision points of the sub-network; generating a main route between an origin and a destination of a second origin-destination pair; and identifying a first decision point of the sub-network to be encountered along the main route, and generating an alternative route between the decision point and the destination of the second origin-destination pair using a route generation process in which at least a first segment of the portion of the main route outgoing from the node representative of the first decision point is blocked and in which the subset of segments representative of the sub-network are favoured. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the sub-network is represented by segments of a set of previously travelled routes through the navigable network between the origin and the destination of the first origin-destination pair. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sub-network is represented by segments of a set of previously travelled routes through the navigable network between the origin and the destination of the first origin-destination pair.