SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITINERARY PLANNING
The present invention relates to a method and system for itinerary planning. The method commences with the receipt of an itinerary-planning request specifying an origin and a destination. A build of network segments extending from the origin is generated. A continuing network segment extending from the build is identified. The continuing network segment is discarded if the continuing network segment is marked as a local network segment and is distant from the origin and from the destination. The continuing network segment is evaluated if the network segment is proximate to one of the origin and the destination. At least one suitable itinerary is determined for the itinerary-planning request. The at least one suitable itinerary is outputted.
1 . A method for itinerary planning, comprising:
receiving an itinerary-planning request specifying an origin and a destination;
generating a build of network segments extending from said origin;
identifying a continuing network segment extending from said build;
discarding said continuing network segment if said continuing network segment is marked as a local network segment and is distant from said origin and from said destination;
evaluating said continuing network segment if said network segment is proximate to one of said origin and said destination;
determining at least one suitable itinerary for said itinerary-planning request; and
outputting said at least one suitable itinerary.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said discarding comprises:
determining a distance between said origin and the end point of said continuing network segment; and
discarding said continuing network segment if said distance exceeds a threshold.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said distance is a travel distance between said origin and the end point of said continuing network segment.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said threshold is constant.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said threshold is variable.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said discarding comprises:
discarding said continuing network segment if said continuing network segment is outside a region of said destination.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said region is defined by a distance threshold.
8 . A method for itinerary planning, comprising:
receiving an itinerary-planning request specifying an origin and a destination;
generating a build of network segments extending from said origin;
identifying a continuing network segment extending from said build;
if said continuing network segment is distant from said origin and from a destination, evaluating said continuing network segment only if said continuing network segment is marked as a trunk network segment;
determining at least one suitable itinerary for said itinerary-planning request; and
outputting said at least one suitable itinerary.
9 . A system for itinerary planning, comprising:
a database of network segments;
a processor executing computer-executable instructions for analyzing said network segments and, in response to an itinerary-planning request specifying an origin and a destination, generating a build of network segments extending from said origin, identifying a continuing network segment extending from said build, discarding said continuing network segment if said continuing network segment is marked as a local network segment and is distant from said origin and from a destination, evaluating said continuing network segment if said network segment is proximate to one of said origin and said destination, determining at least one suitable itinerary for said itinerary-planning request, and outputting said at least one suitable itinerary.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said processor determines a distance between said origin and the end point of said continuing network segment, and discards said continuing network segment if said distance exceeds a threshold.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said distance is a travel distance between said origin and the end point of said continuing network segment.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein said threshold is constant.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein said threshold is variable.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said processor discards said continuing network segment if said continuing network segment is outside a region of said destination.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein said region is defined by a distance threshold.
16 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a marking tool for enabling the marking of said network segments as local or trunk network segments.