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US 11,530,929 B1Granted
Navigational system for meeting real-time user needs
AssigneeUnited Services Automobile Association (USAA)
InventorArthur Quentin Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to navigational systems, devices, and methods for preparing route guidance information that incorporates user needs—and ensures fulfilment of those needs under a variety of conditions. In particular, this disclosure relates to preparing route guidance information that ensures a user is directed along a route that includes stops where various needs such as e.g. medical, food, or water can be met while also minimizing traffic. Such a system may be useful, for example, when evacuating from a metro region in the face of an oncoming natural disaster such as a hurricane.
Claims15
A system for preparing and sending route guidance information comprising:
- a server computer including a processor;
- the server computer being in communication with at least one consumption database;
- and
- the server also being in communication with at least one mobile computing device;
- wherein the server computer is configured to perform the steps of:
- receiving traffic information from a traffic database;
- receiving location information from the mobile computing device;
- receiving personal consumption needs information from the mobile computing device, the personal consumption needs information being inputted into the mobile computing device by a user;
- retrieving information from the at least one consumption database, wherein the at least one consumption database includes information related to a location and availability of a consumable resource;
- calculating fulfilment information, the fulfilment information being information regarding whether and where a personal consumption need of the user matches the location and availability of the consumable resource, by comparing the information related to the consumable resource from the consumption database with the location information and the personal consumption needs information received from the mobile computing device;
- preparing route guidance information, from a first geographic location specified in the location information received from the mobile computing device to a second geographic location, the route guidance information being calculated based on both the traffic information and the fulfilment information;
- wherein the second geographic location is automatically determined by the system so as to fulfil the personal consumption needs by matching the personal consumption needs with the fulfilment information;
- receiving a ranking of two or more consumption needs from the mobile computing device, the ranking having been inputted into the mobile computing device by the user, wherein the route guidance information is further prepared based on the ranking, such that the route guidance information prioritizes fulfilment of higher priority needs even if lower priority needs cannot also be fulfilled along a certain travel route described by the route guidance information;
- and
- sending the route guidance information and fulfilment information to the mobile computing device.
12 more elements
A method of operating a navigation system including a computer system in communication with at least one mobile computing device, the computer system being configured to perform the steps of:
- receiving traffic information from a traffic database;
- receiving location information from the mobile computing device;
- receiving a set of two or more personal consumption needs information from the mobile computing device, the set of personal consumption needs information being entered into the mobile computing device by a user of the mobile computing device and being descriptive of the user's need for two or more types of consumable resources;
- retrieving supply information from at least two separate consumption databases, the supply information being descriptive of a location and amount available of each of two or more types of consumable resources that correspond to each of the two or more types of personal consumption needs;
- calculating present fulfilment information by comparing the set of personal consumption needs information to the supply information;
- calculating future fulfilment information by comparing the present fulfilment information with the traffic information to determine a draw-down rate over time at which each of the two or more of types of consumable resources will be used up, so as to predict availability of each of the two or more consumable resources at a future time;
- preparing route guidance information based on the traffic information, the present fulfilment information, and the future fulfilment information such that the route guidance information is automatically determined so as to allow the user to fulfil each of the two or more personal consumption needs by travelling to the location of each of the two or more consumable resources at the future time calculated in the future fulfillment information;
- receiving a ranking of two or more consumption needs from the mobile computing device, the ranking having been inputted into the mobile computing device by the user, wherein the route guidance information is further prepared based on the ranking, such that the route guidance information prioritizes fulfilment of higher priority needs even if lower priority needs cannot also be fulfilled along a certain travel route described by the route guidance information;
- and
- sending the route guidance information, and future fulfilment information, to the mobile computing device.
7 more elements
A mobile computing device configured to:
- receive initiating event information, the initiating event information including geographic data regarding a danger region and a safety region;
- generate location data based on a location of the mobile computing device;
- receive traffic information from a traffic database;
- receive inputs from a user of the mobile computing device relating to personal consumption needs information of the user;
- retrieve information from at least one consumption database, wherein the at least one consumption database includes information related to a location and availability of a consumable resource;
- calculate whether the mobile computing device is located within the danger region by comparing the initiating event information with the location data;
- calculate fulfilment information, the fulfilment information being information regarding whether and where a personal consumption need of the user matches the location and availability of the consumable resource, by comparing the information related to the consumable resource from the consumption database with the location data and the personal consumption needs information;
- prepare route guidance information, from a first geographic location within the danger region to a second geographic location within the safety region, the route guidance information being calculated based on both the traffic information and the fulfilment information;
- wherein the second geographic location is automatically determined by the system so as to fulfil the personal consumption needs by matching the personal consumption needs with the fulfilment information and avoid the danger region by travelling into the safety region;
- receive a ranking of two or more consumption needs from the mobile computing device, the ranking having been inputted into the mobile computing device by the user, wherein the route guidance information is further prepared based on the ranking, such that the route guidance information prioritizes fulfilment of higher priority needs even if lower priority needs cannot also be fulfilled along a certain travel route described by the route guidance information;
- and
- display the route guidance information and fulfilment information on the mobile computing device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.