SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRIP PLANNING

A system and method for finding an optimum travel plan for several subsequent destinations. The system can receive several destinations from the user and determine the optimum travel plan. The different destinations can be provided by capturing an address or location from a webpage or uploading an image of the destination.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for trip planning, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for determining an optimum travel plan for multiple subsequent destinations.

BACKGROUND

Maps and route planning applications are known in the art. Such applications can show the different routes available to reach a destination. Moreover, the applications can receive starting and destination locations and provides turn-by-turn navigation to the destination. The startling location can be the current location as determined by the GPS unit or any location that can be manually entered.

The user willing to travel to more than one place generally plans the travel to minimize the travel time. Currently, planning is done manually in the mind, the user reaches the first destination and from there travels to the next destination. Planning the travel plan between different destinations is time-consuming and hard. Moreover, a lot of factors can affect the average time to reach a place, such as traffic, road closures, alternate paths, etc. Thus, a long-term desire is there for a system and method for trip planning to multiple subsequent destinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a trip planning system and method foran optimum travel plan to multiple subsequent destinations.

It is an additional object of the present invention that the optimum travel plan may require minimum travel time.

It is still an additional object of the present invention that the optimum travel plan has the shortest travel distance.

It is a further object of the present invention that the system can take other factors, such as appointment time, meeting time, or visiting duration of a destination.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the system can receive locations and additional information from different sources.

It is also an additional object of the present invention that the system may not require manual entering the different destinations.

In one aspect, disclosed is a system and method for finding an optimum travel plan for multiple subsequent destinations. The system can receive multiple destination locations from different routes.

In one aspect, the system can manually receive a destination and add the received destination to the list of destinations.

In one aspect, the system through an interface can capture the destinations from search engines, directories, andb portals.

In one aspect, the system can retrieve the destination from an image of the destination, wherein the image includes the GPS coordinates of where the image was captured.

In one aspect, the system can show the optimum travel plan superimposed on a dynamic map. The dynamic map can show other places of interest, medical facilities, diagnostic centers, and like.

These and other objects, advantages of the embodiments herein, and summary of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a system and method for trip planning between multiple subsequent destinations. The disclosed system can find an optimum travel plan that requires lesser travel time and is shorter in travel distance. The disclosed system and method can be helpful to a person wishing to travel to multiple subsequent destinations. For example, the salespersons typically make multiple visits to different destinations. Persons looking to buy or rent a home generally visit multiple sites to enquire and experience the site before making the deal. Similarly, to buy general items, like clothing, car, and like, persons tend to visit different stores to personally experience the brands.

The disclosed system can receive a list of destinations from a user and determine an optimum travel plan. The disclosed system can consider different parameters such as travel distance, traffic, halts, and like to determine the optimum plan. The system can also receive other factors such as the appointment time of one or more of the destinations. A destination the user desire to visit may have a certain time restriction during which the user can visit the place, such as opening hours of a shop. Or the user desire to check a site can have an appointment time or duration in which the user can visit the site. The disclosed system can, while processing the optimum travel plan, consider the above factors. The disclosed system through an interface can also receive additional information from the user for making the travel plan. Such additional information can include the time to spend at a particular destination. The disclosed system can consider different factors to optimize the travel route to subsequent destinations, such as the number of turns on the route. A user may not desire to have many turns but look for a straighter route.

The user can determine the possible destinations by past experiences, feedback from friends, online searching, catalogs, and like. In one case, the system can provide a plugin or app that can monitor the webpages for addresses. On finding such addresses, an option can be provided by the system, wherein the user can select the option to capture an associated address. For example, while searching for a property on a real estate website or listing or directory, the disclosed system through a plugin can look for addresses on the webpage and add an option next to each address that allows for capturing the address of the property directly. In one case, an icon can be provided next to the address, wherein the user can click on the icon to add the associated address to the list of destinations.

In one aspect, the websites, directories, listings, and like can add an option next to each listing, wherein clicking the option by the user adds the address of the listing to the list of destinations. Referring toFIG. 1, which shows a real estate listing with a link above the title of the listing. The link has the text “Add to trip planner”, wherein activation of the link sends the address/serial number of the listing to the list of the destinations of the user. The system, besides capturing the address from the link, can also receive additional information, such as timings during which the site is open for visitors.

In one aspect, the system can receive the destinations or addresses of the destination from the user. The system can provide an interface having a form, wherein the user can enter the address. The system can parse the address, and search the location associated with the address. Thereafter, the system through the interface can show the location to the user, wherein the user can either confirm the location or select another.

In one aspect, the disclosed system can also provide a search interface to the user, wherein the search interface may allow a user to search the desired destination. For example, a search interface for real estate listings can be provided that allows a user to search for real estate listings.FIG. 2shows an exemplary embodiment of the search interface for real estate listings. The search interface provides a form having options, such as location, property types, property status, beds, baths, price range, and like. The user can search for one or more options. The results of the search can be shown on a different interface wherein the interface has the option to select one or more listings, which can then be received by the system for making the travel plan.

In one aspect, the disclosed system can provide an interface to receive images from a user device. The user device can be a smartphone, laptop, desktop, workstation, iPad, tablet computer, and like. The user device can include a camera for capturing images. Alternatively, the images which have been captured through another device can be downloaded to the user device. The user device can also include network circuitry for connecting to the disclosed system through a network. The network can be wired or wireless. Wired networks may include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), coaxial cable lines, or optical fiber lines. The wireless networks may include BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), an infrared channel or satellite band, cellular networks such as 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.

The interface on the user device can be provided as application software. In one case, the application software can be downloaded from an application distribution platform, such as App Store, Google Play, Chrome Webstore, and Amazon Appstore. Alternatively, the interface can also be provided through world-wide-web and accessible on the user's device through a web browser, such as Chrome. Also, the plugin, extension, software engines, and like provided by the system can be incorporated in the application software or the web browser.

A user can upload an image through the interface, as shown inFIG. 3, using a file system of the user device. The interface can retrieve the location coordinates from the metadata of the image. The interface can upload the location coordinate to the system which can then retrieve the exact geographical address of the location coordinates. The geographical location/address can then be displayed on the interface, as shown inFIG. 4. The interface can provide an option to change the address. Alternatively, the system can receive the image and retrieve the geographical address to determine the location. The location can then be added to the list of the destinations the user desire to visit.

The travel route plan can be superimposed on a map, preferably a dynamic map. The functions of the dynamic map such as turn-by-turn navigation, traffic, medical facilities, fuel stations, road closures, hazards, natural calamities, eateries, and like can be provided by the dynamic map. The different facilities and places of interest can also be provided as a layer on the dynamic map. The map interface can provide an option to select one or more layers and hide other layers on the dynamic map. For example, a drop-down menu can be provided with the label of the layers. The label can be such as traffic, covid-19 testing facilities, restaurants, and like. The user on the map interface can select one or more of the layers.FIG. 5shows a main interface500, provided by the system, and presented on the user device. Interface500is having three options510to add a new destination. A clickable button515can be activated by the user for determining the optimum travel plan. Area520on interface500shows route segments between the starting point and first destination, and between the subsequent destinations. On the right side of the interface can be seen the travel plan superimposed on a map interface540. The map interface can also be presented in a separate window. The map interface also having a drop-down menu530that permits a user to select one or more layers and hide the other.

In one embodiment, disclosed is a method for generating a travel plan for subsequent destinations.FIG. 6shows a flow chart600illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the method for generating an optimum travel plan for several travel destinations. At step610, the system can receive a destination from a user. The destination can be added in the form of addresses, GPS coordinates, or like method known in the art for identifying a location. The destinations can be also be added through a search interface, capturing directly from a webpage, uploading an image having location coordinates, and like methods. The system, upon receiving the address, can add it to an array variable, referred to herein as the destination array, at step620. The system can check if any additional address is received, at step630. In case, the additional address is received by the system, it can be added to the destination array. If all the addresses have been provided by the user, the user can click the option to determine the optimum travel plan, at step640. For example, a clickable button can be provided on an interface. The button can have text, such as “Plan Trip”. The system can then determine the optimum travel plan based on the predetermined range of factors, at step650. The system can then present the destinations on a map interface, at step660. For example, the destinations can be presented as icons on the map. The travel plan including the navigation route can then be superimposed on the map interface, at step670. The map interface includes the dynamic map for navigation and other information.