Predictive Transit Calculations for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile computing devices often require users to perform multiple searches and manual evaluations to determine an appropriate departure time for traveling to a mass transit station, lacking an organized presentation of information.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine the exit location and predicted duration of travel using a transportation service, allowing for automatic notification of relevant travel information without the need for additional user searches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mobile computing device presents requested information in an organized way, then user convenience is improved, but the device requires more complex processing and integration of multiple data sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate search functions (directions, travel time, departure time) into a single integrated predictive transit calculation system. The system merges location services, transit schedule data, and travel time estimation into one unified service that automatically provides organized travel information without requiring users to perform multiple separate searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations by determining predicted departure times in advance based on current location, destination, and transit schedules. It proactively calculates and presents organized travel information before the user needs to make a decision, rather than waiting for multiple separate queries to be executed and manually evaluated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the device requires multiple searches to determine departure time, then information completeness is improved, but the time required for information gathering increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinformation gathering time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations by determining predicted departure times in advance based on current location, destination, and transit schedules. It proactively calculates and presents organized travel information before the user needs to make a decision, rather than waiting for multiple separate queries to be executed and manually evaluated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user location and transit schedule data, providing real-time feedback on predicted departure times. As the user moves or as schedules update, the system automatically recalculates and presents updated information, ensuring completeness without requiring additional user-initiated searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If the device performs predictive transit calculations, then automation level is improved, but computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation levelVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial calculations by focusing only on the specific transit routes and schedules relevant to the user's current location and destination. Rather than calculating all possible transit options globally, it performs targeted predictive calculations for applicable routes, reducing computational energy while maintaining high automation for the user's specific needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3128292B1Predictive transit calculations
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3128292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3128292B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3128292B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computing device is described that determines an exit location at which a user of a computing device exited a stop associated with a transportation service. The computing device determines a predicted duration of travel by the user from a current location of the computing device to the exit location at which the user exited the stop associated with the transportation service. The computing device outputs, for display, a notification based at least in part on the predicted duration.