Computer-implemented systems and methods for planning a route

A computer-implemented method, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:

• obtaining information identifying origin nodes disposed along a travel route, the origin nodes providing options for departing from the travel route to a destination node;
• computing first costs for travelling between the origin nodes and the destination node through at least one intermediate node;
• identifying a corresponding one of the origin nodes associated with a minimum of the computed first costs;
• and
• determining a path between the corresponding origin node and the destination node, the determined path comprising the at least one intermediate node.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a storage device that stores a set of instructions;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the storage device and operative with the set of instructions to:
• obtain information identifying origin nodes disposed along a travel route, the origin nodes providing options for departing from the travel route to a destination node;
• compute first costs for travelling between the origin nodes and the destination node through at least one intermediate node;
• identify a corresponding one of the origin nodes associated with a minimum of the computed first costs;
• and
• determine a path between the corresponding origin node and the destination node, the determined path comprising the at least one intermediate node.

The apparatus of 30, wherein:

• the travel route comprises a route traversed in a geographic region;
• the destination node comprises a point of interest in the geographic region;
• and
• the determined path comprises one or more roads in the geographic region.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

• obtaining information identifying origin nodes disposed along a travel route, the origin nodes providing options for departing from the travel route to a destination node;
• computing costs for travelling between the origin nodes and the destination node through at least one intermediate node;
• identifying a corresponding one of the origin nodes associated with a minimum of the computed first costs;
• and
• determining a path between the corresponding origin node and the destination node, the determined path comprising the at least one intermediate node.