# US 2018/0023968 A1 · Route planning apparatus and method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2018/0023968 A1
- Document ID: US20180023968A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/545,917
- Filed: 2016-02-26
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27
- Assignees: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
- Applicants: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
- Inventors: Phil Stuchfield; Marlon Camps
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023968A1

## CPC

- 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 21/3415: {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 21/3446: {Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags or using precalculated routes}
- G01C 21/3453: {Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments}
- G01C 21/3617: {using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement}
- G01C 21/3655: {Timing of guidance instructions}
- G01C 21/3676: {Overview of the route on the road map}
- G01C 21/3697: {Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence)}
- G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases
- G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
- G08G 1/096844: {where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data}
- G01C 21/343: {Calculating itineraries (travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047)}
- H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- 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)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of planning a route (R) to a destination (14). A map database (9) defines a road network; and a communications network database (10) defines one or more network parameter for a wireless communication network. The method uses a routing algorithm to plan a route (R) to the destination (14) using the communications network database (10) to estimate connectivity to the wireless communication network along one or more routes generated using the map database (9). The present disclosure also relates to a route planning apparatus (1).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of planning a route to a destination, the method comprising:
accessing a map database defining a road network;
accessing a communications network database defining at least one network parameter for a wireless communication network;
using a routing algorithm to plan the route to the destination using the communications network database to estimate connectivity to the wireless communication network along the route; and
using a diary database to identify a scheduled time for an event requiring access to the wireless communication network,
wherein the routing algorithm is configured to plan the route such that a connection to the wireless communication network is available at the scheduled time, and wherein the routing algorithm is configured to schedule a stop at the scheduled time in a location where the connection to the wireless communication network is available.

### Claim at position 2

2-3. (canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination such that the connection to the wireless communication network is maintained for at least a defined portion of the route.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the routing algorithm is configured to estimate when and/or where the connection to the wireless communication will be lost and dynamically change the planned route to maintain the connection to the wireless communication network.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network parameter defines one or more of the following: signal strength, transfer speeds, dropped call information, data quality, bandwidth, bit error rate, throughput, coverage, bandwidth and network capacity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination to avoid areas in which the at least one network parameter is below one or more defined thresholds.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination to remain in areas in which the at least one network parameter is above one or more defined thresholds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network database defines location information of one or more local area wireless connections.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network parameter comprises historic data collected during one or more previous journeys.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, via a display screen, the at least one network parameter for the wireless communication network over the road network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one network parameter is displayed in one or more layers.

### Claim 13

A route planning apparatus, comprising;
a controller comprising an electronic processor;
an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein,
wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that the electronic processor is configured to:
access a map database defining a road network;
access a communications network database defining at least one network parameter for a wireless communication network;
implement a routing algorithm to plan a route to a destination using the communications network database to estimate connectivity to the wireless communication network along the route; and
access a diary database to identify a scheduled time for an event requiring access to the wireless communication network,
wherein the routing algorithm is configured to plan the route such that a connection to the wireless communication network is available at the scheduled time, and wherein the routing algorithm is configured to schedule a stop at the scheduled time in a location where the connection to the wireless communication network is available.

### Claim at position 13

14-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination such that the connection to the wireless communication network is maintained for at least a defined portion of the route.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the routing algorithm is configured to estimate when and/or where the connection to the wireless communication will be lost and dynamically change the planned route to maintain the connection to the wireless communication network.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one network parameter defines one or more of the following: signal strength, transfer speeds, dropped call information, data quality, bandwidth, bit error rate, throughput, coverage, bandwidth and network capacity.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The route planning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination to avoid areas in which the at least one network parameter is below one or more defined thresholds.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The route planning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the routing algorithm uses the communications network database to plan the route to the destination to remain in areas in which the at least one network parameter is above one or more defined thresholds.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communications network database defines location information of one or more local area wireless connections.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one network parameter comprises historic data collected during one or more previous journeys.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The route planning apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a display screen configured to display the at least one network parameter overlaid onto the road network and/or the route.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The route planning apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one network parameter is displayed in one or more layers, each layer representing a different network parameter.

### Claim 25 (depends on 13)

A vehicle comprising the route planning apparatus of claim 13.

### Claim at position 24

26-27. (canceled)