Granted Patent B2

US 9,335,180 · App. 14/355,161 · Granted May 10, 2016

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, the memory comprising computer program code stored thereon, the at least one memory and computer program code being configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

identify one or more geographic route options, for a particular traveller, based on a travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for the traveler, wherein identifying a route is further based on route maneuverability factors including whether a route includes a straight road and whether a route includes a winding road; and

provide, based on the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria, respective range indication signal for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options following a user selection of time or distance criteria,

wherein the respective range indication signal provides a visual indication of a maximum travel range associated with meeting the travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective range indication signal dynamically varies for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective range indication signal provides a dynamically varying visual indication of a maximum travel range associated with meeting the travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the maximum travel range is provided by a visual range highlight or visual marker along one or more of the geographic route options.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the maximum travel range is provided by a visual range perimeter associated with a plurality of the geographic route options.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein respective range indication signal is based at least in part on travel conditions along the respective one or more geographic route options.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

provide, on a display, a visual indication of a range indication signal for an identified geographic route option; and

provide an audible indication of an availability of a range indication signal when a visual representation of a range indication signal for an identified geographic route option would be out of a current field of view displayed on the display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

vary the one or more geographic route options during a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria according to the particular route being adopted by the traveller following a user selection of time or distance criteria.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive selection input associated with one of the identified route geographic options and provide the respective range indication signalling for the selected geographic route option.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive travel time criteria input or travel distance criteria input for the particular traveler.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the identification of one or more geographic route options, for a particular traveller, comprises one of determination of one or more geographic route options by the apparatus and receipt of one of the identified geographic route options from another apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the travel distance criteria is provided by a management system for a vehicle used by the traveller.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective range indication signal is determined by the apparatus or another apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, when run on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least one of the following:

identify, for display, the one or more geographic route options, for a particular traveller, based on a travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for the traveller; and,

based on the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria, provide, for display, respective range indication signal for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options.

15. A method comprising:

identifying one or more geographic route options, for a particular traveller, based on a travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for the traveller, wherein identifying a route is further based on route maneuverability factors including whether a route includes a straight road and whether a route includes a winding road; and

providing, based on the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria, respective range indication signalling for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options following a user selection of time or distance criteria,

wherein the respective range indication signalling provides a visual indication of a maximum travel range associated with meeting the travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising dynamically varying the respective range indication signal for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the travel distance criteria is provided by a management system for a vehicle used by the traveller.

18. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, which when run on at least one processor, causes an apparatus to perform at least the following:

identifying one or more geographic route options, for a particular traveller, based on a travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for the traveller, wherein identifying a route is further based on route maneuverability factors including whether a route includes a straight road and whether a route includes a winding road; and

providing, based on the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria, respective range indication signalling for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options following a user selection of time or distance criteria,

wherein the respective range indication signalling provides a visual indication of a maximum travel range associated with meeting the travel time criteria or travel distance criteria for at least one of the identified one or more geographic route options over a validity period for the respective travel time criteria or travel distance criteria.

Assignments (10)