# US 11,994,396 B2 · Method and apparatus for providing drop-off locations for passengers of a vehicle to reach different destinations via a multimodal route > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,396 B2 - Document ID: US11994396B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/425,599 - Filed: 2019-05-29 - Published: 2020-12-03 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-29 - Assignees: HERE Global B.V. - Applicants: Here Global B.V. - Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994396B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/3423: {Multimodal routing} - G01C 21/20: Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) - 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 21/343: {Calculating itineraries (travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047)} - G01C 21/3438: {Rendezvous; Ride sharing} - 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 21/3691: {Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions (arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09)} - G06Q 30/0284: {Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters} - G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) - 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) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An approach is provided for providing drop-off locations for passengers of a vehicle to reach different destinations via a multimodal route. A routing platform receives a request to generate a navigation route, i.e., a multi-point intermodal route that directs the passengers to reach the destinations using the vehicle in combination with the other mode of transport. The routing platform further computes the navigation route based on an optimization parameter to include a route taken by the vehicle and at least one intermodal route leg. The navigation route includes drop-off locations where subsets of the passengers access the other mode of transport to complete the at least one intermodal route leg to at least one of the destinations. The optimization parameter is minimized with respect to the route taken by the vehicle and/or the at least one intermodal route leg. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a request to generate a navigation route including a starting point, wherein the navigation route is a multi-point intermodal route that directs a plurality of passengers of a vehicle to reach a plurality of destinations using the vehicle in combination with at least one other mode of transport, and wherein the destinations are different for one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers, wherein the plurality of passengers are located at the starting point when the request to generate the navigation route is received; computing the navigation route based on an optimization parameter to include a route taken by the vehicle and at least one intermodal route leg, wherein the navigation route includes one or more drop-off locations where the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers can access the at least one other mode of transport to complete the at least one intermodal route leg to at least one destination of the destinations, and wherein the optimization parameter is minimized with respect to the route taken by the vehicle, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof; determining real-time information on an availability, a condition, a departure time, a delay time, or a combination thereof of the at least one other mode of transport; and providing the one or more drop-off locations, the navigation route, or a combination thereof as an output, wherein the navigation route, the one or more drop-off locations, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof are determined based on the real-time information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization parameter includes at least one of: a total travel time or a total travel distance for the route taken by the vehicle; a least amount of detour for the route taken by the vehicle, wherein the detour is determined with respect to a respective destination of the destinations that is associated with the vehicle; a travel time or a travel distance for the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers; a quality level of the at least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; a number of the one or more drop-off locations; a total travel time or a total travel distance for all of the plurality of passengers; an arrival time of a last passenger of the plurality of passengers at a last destination of the destinations; a safety level of the least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; and a total cost for completing the navigation route to all of the destinations for said all of the plurality of passengers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other mode of transport includes a public transport, a shared vehicle, a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating at least one reservation of the at least one other mode of transport for the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers to complete the at least one intermodal route leg. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a shared vehicle, and wherein the navigation route includes a handover of the shared vehicle from a first passenger of the plurality of passengers to a second passenger of the plurality of passengers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the handover occurs on reaching a respective destination of the first passenger, the one or more drop-off location associated with the first passenger, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: computing an optimal route to a primary destination of the vehicle, wherein the primary destination is the at least one destination associated with the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers that include a driver, a designated main passenger, or a combination thereof of the vehicle; and determining a corridor representing a geographic area within a threshold distance along the optimal route, wherein the one or more drop-off locations are selected from one or more transport hubs falling within the corridor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting the plurality of passengers from a larger group of passengers based on an optimization of the navigation route, the one or more drop-off locations, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the one or more drop-off locations, the at least one destination, at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof based on a mobility graph associated with the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, configured to execute the computer program code to: receive a request to generate a navigation route including a starting point, wherein the navigation route is a multi-point intermodal route that directs a plurality of passengers of a vehicle to reach a plurality of destinations using the vehicle in combination with at least one other mode of transport, and wherein the destinations are different for one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers, wherein the plurality of passengers are located at the starting point when the request to generate the navigation route is received; compute the navigation route based on an optimization parameter to include a route taken by the vehicle and at least one intermodal route leg, wherein the navigation route includes one or more drop-off locations where the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers can access the at least one other mode of transport to complete the at least one intermodal route leg to at least one destination of the destinations, and wherein the optimization parameter is minimized with respect to the route taken by the vehicle, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof; determine real-time information on an availability, a condition, a departure time, a delay time, or a combination thereof of the at least one other mode of transport; and provide the one or more drop-off locations, the navigation route, or a combination thereof as an output, wherein the navigation route, the one or more drop-off locations, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof are determined based on the real-time information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optimization parameter includes at least one of: a total travel time or a total travel distance for the route taken by the vehicle; a least amount of detour for the route taken by the vehicle, wherein the detour is determined with respect to a respective destination of the destinations that is associated with the vehicle; a travel time or a travel distance for the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers; a quality level of the at least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; a number of the one or more drop-off locations; a total travel time or a total travel distance for all of the plurality of passengers; an arrival time of a last passenger of the plurality of passengers at a last destination of the destinations; a safety level of the least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; and a total cost for completing the navigation route to all of the destinations for said all of the plurality of passengers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one other mode of transport includes a public transport, a shared vehicle, a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: compute an optimal route to a primary destination of the vehicle, wherein the primary destination is the at least one destination associated with the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers that include a driver, a designated main passenger, or a combination thereof of the vehicle; and determine a corridor representing a geographic area within a threshold distance along the optimal route, wherein the one or more drop-off locations are selected from one or more transport hubs falling within the corridor. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps: receiving a request to generate a navigation route including a starting point, wherein the navigation route is a multi-point intermodal route that directs a plurality of passengers of a vehicle to reach a plurality of destinations using the vehicle in combination with at least one other mode of transport, and wherein the destinations are different for one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers, wherein the plurality of passengers are located at the starting point when the request to generate the navigation route is received; computing the navigation route based on an optimization parameter to include a route taken by the vehicle and at least one intermodal route leg, wherein the navigation route includes one or more drop-off locations where the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers can access the at least one other mode of transport to complete the at least one intermodal route leg to at least one destination of the destinations, and wherein the optimization parameter is minimized with respect to the route taken by the vehicle, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof; determining real-time information on an availability, a condition, a departure time, a delay time, or a combination thereof of the at least one other mode of transport; and providing the one or more drop-off locations, the navigation route, or a combination thereof as an output, wherein the navigation route, the one or more drop-off locations, the at least one intermodal route leg, or a combination thereof are determined based on the real-time information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the optimization parameter includes at least one of: a total travel time or a total travel distance for the route taken by the vehicle; a least amount of detour for the route taken by the vehicle, wherein the detour is determined with respect to a respective destination of the destinations that is associated with the vehicle; a travel time or a travel distance for the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers; a quality level of the at least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; a number of the one or more drop-off locations; a total travel time or a total travel distance for all of the plurality of passengers; an arrival time of a last passenger of the plurality of passengers at a last destination of the destinations; a safety level of the least one intermodal route leg to the least one destination; and a total cost for completing the navigation route to all of the destinations for said all of the plurality of passengers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the at least one other mode of transport includes a public transport, a shared vehicle, a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform: computing an optimal route to a primary destination of the vehicle, wherein the primary destination is the at least one destination associated with the one or more subsets of the plurality of passengers that include a driver, a designated main passenger, or a combination thereof of the vehicle; and determining a corridor representing a geographic area within a threshold distance along the optimal route, wherein the one or more drop-off locations are selected from one or more transport hubs falling within the corridor.