# US 12,222,212 B2 · Systems and methods for predicting estimated time of arrival

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- Number: US 12,222,212 B2
- Document ID: US12222212B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/182,675
- Filed: 2021-02-23
- Published: 2021-08-26
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-24
- Assignees: Schneider Enterprise Resources, LLC
- Applicants: Schneider Enterprise Resources, LLC
- Inventors: Matt Roherty; Jaime Wilson; Brendt Peeters
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222212B2

## CPC

- G01C 21/3617: {using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement}
- G01C 21/343: {Calculating itineraries (travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047)}
- G01C 21/3614: {through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map}
- G01S 17/58: Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
- 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)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A system and method compute a transit time for travel of a vehicle from a first site to a second site. The system and method include determining a dwell time at the second site, computing an initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the vehicle based on the dwell time and the transit time, and updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival based upon a user workflow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
computing a transit time for travel of each of a plurality of vehicles, the travel comprising a plurality of stops;
for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops:
computing a dwell time, wherein the dwell time is computed based at least on one of a type of delivery, a weighted function of a historical dwell time at the stop, or line of service;
computing an initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop based on the dwell time and the transit time for the stop;
automatically updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop, based upon an appointment time at the stop and calculated hours of service of a driver of the vehicle;
automatically updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and next available time for remaining stops of the plurality of stops by computing a delta to the initial predicted estimated transit time of arrival of the remaining stops based on the appointment time for at least one stop of the remaining stops and the calculated hours of service of the driver of the vehicle remaining after the departure from the stop;
updating the dwell time for the remaining stops based on updated dwell data, the updated dwell data including dwell times correlated by driver and transit leg, wherein updating the dwell time comprises generating, based on the updated dwell data, an estimated activity time for each stop of the remaining stops based on historical dwell times of the driver of the vehicle on transit legs associated with the remaining stops to generate a dwell table including projected dwell times for the remaining stops; and
displaying, at a user interface of the vehicle, the updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the vehicle for at least one of the stop or a next stop of the remaining stops.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein computing of the transit time is based on one or more of distances between the plurality of stops, weather condition, traffic condition, and historical data from a previous trip.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an average of data received from a first service and a second service to compute the plurality of transit times responsive to determining that a difference in a distance estimate acquired from the data received from the first service and the second service is greater than a threshold distance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein computing the dwell time based on the weighted function comprises computing a first dwell time for a current date and a second dwell time for a first day following the current date, wherein each of the first dwell time and the second dwell time is based on the historical dwell time of at least one predetermined historical period.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising computing the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops by adding the dwell time and the transit time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and the next available time for the remaining stops comprises determining at least one of hours of service, break time, or leeway time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops comprises:
determining a number of hours of service remaining in a current user shift of the driver of the vehicle;
determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop is greater than or equal to the number of hours of service remaining in the current user shift; and
updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop by adding a break time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops comprises:
determining a number of hours of service remaining in a current user shift of the driver of the vehicle;
determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop is less than the number of hours of service remaining in the current user shift; and
updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop by adding a leeway time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising updating an itinerary for travel of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles from the stop to the next stop based upon an actual time of arrival or actual time of departure at the stop.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
receiving an indication of the actual time of arrival at the next stop without receiving the indication of the actual time of departure from the stop; and
determining the actual time of departure from the stop based upon the actual time of arrival at the next stop.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops comprises:
determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at the stop is before an appointment start time at the stop; and
keeping the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop unchanged upon determining that the sum of the appointment start time and the dwell time is within the hours of service of the driver.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops comprises:
determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at the stop is before an appointment start time at the stop; and
updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop upon determining that the sum of the appointment start time and the dwell time is after the hours of service of the driver, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival comprises adding a break time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops comprises:
determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at the stop is after an appointment end time at the stop; and
updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop based upon a leeway time.

### Claim 14

A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:
compute a transit time for travel of each of a plurality of vehicles, the travel comprising a plurality of stops;
for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops:
compute a dwell time at the stop based at least on one of a type of delivery, a weighted function of a historical dwell time at the stop, or line of service;
compute an initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop based on the dwell time and the transit time for the stop;
automatically update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop, based upon an appointment time at the stop and calculated hours of service of a driver of the vehicle;
automatically update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and next available time for remaining stops of the plurality of stops, by computing a delta to the initial predicted estimated transit time of arrival of the remaining stops based on the appointment time for at least one stop of the remaining stops and the calculated hours of service of the driver of the vehicle remaining after the departure from the stop;
update the dwell time for the remaining stops based on updated dwell data, the updated dwell data including dwell times correlated by driver and transit leg, wherein updating the dwell time comprises generating, based on the updated dwell data, an estimated activity time for each stop of the remaining stops based on historical dwell times of the driver of the vehicle on transit legs associated with the remaining stops to generate a dwell table including projected dwell times for the remaining stops; and
display, at a user interface of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, the updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the vehicle for at least one of the stop or a next stop of the remaining stops.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein computing the dwell time based on the weighted function comprises computing a first dwell time for a current date and a second dwell time for a first day following the current date, wherein each of the first dwell time and the second dwell time is based on the historical dwell time of at least one predetermined historical period, wherein the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival is computed by adding the dwell time and the transit time.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein to update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops, the processor further executes the computer-readable instructions to:
determine a number of hours of service remaining in a current user shift of the driver of the vehicle;
compare the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop with the number of hours of service remaining in the current user shift; and
update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop by:
adding a break time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop upon determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop is greater than the number of hours of service remaining in the current user shift; or
adding a leeway time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop upon determining that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop is less than or equal to the number of hours of service remaining in the current user shift.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein to update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops, the processor further executes the computer-readable instructions to:
determine that the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at the stop is before an appointment start time at the stop; and
keep the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop unchanged upon determining that the sum of the appointment start time and the dwell time is within an hours of service of the driver, or update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop upon determining that the sum of the appointment start time and the dwell time is after the hours of service of the driver, wherein updating the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop comprises adding a break time to the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the stop.

### Claim 18

A system comprising:
a memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon; and
a processor that executes the computer-readable instructions to:
compute a transit time for travel of each of a plurality of vehicles, the travel comprising a plurality of stops;
for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and for each stop of the plurality of stops:
compute a dwell time, wherein the dwell time is computed based at least on one of a type of delivery, a weighted function of a historical dwell time at the stop, or line of service;
compute an initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop based on the dwell time and the transit time for the stop;
automatically update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival at and departure from the stop, based upon an appointment time at the stop and calculated hours of service of a driver of the vehicle;
automatically update the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and next available time for remaining stops of the plurality of stops, by computing a delta to the initial predicted transit time of the remaining stops based on the appointment time for at least one stop of the remaining stops and the calculated hours of service of a driver of the vehicle remaining after the departure from the stop;
update the dwell time for the remaining stops based on updated dwell data, the updated dwell data including dwell times correlated by driver and transit leg, by generating, based on the updated dwell data, an estimated activity time for each stop of the remaining stops based on historical dwell times of the driver of the vehicle on transit legs associated with the remaining stops to generate a dwell table including projected dwell times for the remaining stops; and
display, at a user interface of the vehicle, the updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the vehicle for at least one of the stop or a next stop of the remaining stops.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes the computer-readable instructions to update an itinerary for travel of the vehicle from the stop to the next stop based upon an actual time of arrival or actual time of departure at the stop, wherein the processor receives an indication of the actual time of arrival at the next stop without receiving the indication of the actual time of departure from the stop, and wherein the processor determines the actual time of departure from the stop based upon the actual time of arrival at the next stop.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein computing the dwell time based on the weighted function comprises computing a first dwell time for a current date and a second dwell time for a first day following the current date, wherein each of the first dwell time and the second dwell time is based on the historical dwell time of at least one predetermined historical period, wherein the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival is computed by adding the dwell time and the transit time.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a trip plan for displaying to the driver, the trip plan comprising the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and the next available time of the vehicle, and showing how the initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival, departure, and the next available time of the vehicle is computed.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit time of arrival, departure, and the next available time comprises updating the initial predicted transit time of arrival, departure, and the next available time at a predetermined frequency.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the initial predicted transit time of arrival, departure, and next available time comprises updating the initial predicted transit time of arrival, departure, and the next available time in real-time.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
displaying, at a customer interface, an updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the remaining stops of the plurality of stops.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
transmitting an updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the remaining stops of the plurality of stops to a fleet tracking system of the plurality of vehicles.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining, based on the updated initial predicted transit estimated time of arrival of the remaining stops of the plurality of stops that an appointment needs to be rescheduled.