Patent ID: 8352175
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of generating optimal itineraries, said method comprising: a computer system receiving a first message from a global positioning device that determines a geographic position of a vehicle on a trip, wherein said computer system is remote from said vehicle, and wherein said first message indicates said geographic position of said vehicle, a destination of said trip, a service requested for a mobile device being transported by said vehicle, a plurality of service providers that provide said service, and one or more networks via which said plurality of service providers provide said service to said mobile device; said computer system determining a first cell in which said service to said mobile device is provided by said plurality of service providers; for each respective cell of a first plurality of cells adjacent to said first cell, said computer system retrieving a first plurality of measures of network connectivity, each measure of network connectivity included in said first plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of said plurality of service providers to any mobile device in said respective cell; said computer system determining a first measure of network connectivity of said retrieved first plurality of measures of network connectivity indicates a first signal quality provided by a first service provider to any mobile device in a second cell, said first service provider included in said plurality of service providers and said second cell included in said first plurality of cells adjacent to said first cell; said computer system determining said first signal quality provided by said first service provider to said any mobile device in said second cell is not exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved first plurality of measures of network connectivity; based on said first signal quality provided by said first service provider to said any mobile device in said second cell not being exceeded by said any other signal quality indicated by said any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved first plurality of measures of network connectivity, said computer system identifying said first service provider within said plurality of service providers and selecting said second cell from said first plurality of cells adjacent to said first cell; said computer system determining a first path within said selected second cell; subsequent to said selecting said second cell and for each respective cell of a second plurality of cells adjacent to said second cell, said computer system retrieving a second plurality of measures of network connectivity, each measure of network connectivity included in said second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicating a respective signal quality provided by a respective service provider of said plurality of service providers to any mobile device in said respective cell of said second plurality of cells; said computer system determining a second measure of network connectivity of said retrieved second plurality of measures of network connectivity indicates a second signal quality provided by a second service provider to any mobile device in a third cell, said second service provider included in said plurality of service providers and said third cell included in said second plurality of cells adjacent to said second cell; said computer system determining said second signal quality provided by said second service provider to said any mobile device in said third cell is not exceeded by any other signal quality indicated by any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved second plurality of measures of network connectivity; based on said second signal quality provided by said second service provider to said any mobile device in said third cell not being exceeded by said any other signal quality indicated by said any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved second plurality of measures of network connectivity, said computer system identifying said second service provider within said plurality of service providers and selecting said third cell from said second plurality of cells adjacent to said second cell; said computer system determining a second path within said selected third cell; in part based on said first signal quality provided by said first service provider to said any mobile device in said second cell not being exceeded by said any other signal quality indicated by said any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved first plurality of measures of network connectivity and in part based on said second signal quality provided by said second service provider to said any mobile device in said third cell not being exceeded by said any other signal quality indicated by said any other measure of network connectivity of said retrieved second plurality of measures of network connectivity, said computer system determining an itinerary for said trip as a plurality of paths including a sequence of said first path followed by said second path, and as one or more hops including a hop indicating a position on said first path at which a connectivity change is to occur from said first service provider providing said service to said mobile device to said second service provider providing said service to said mobile device; and said computer system sending a second message as a response to said first message, wherein said second message indicates said itinerary, wherein a result of said sending said second message and said vehicle reaching said position indicated by said hop is said mobile device making said connectivity change.