Predictive navigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282132-A1
Application number	US-201514670701-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, computer system and computer program product for predicting traffic is provided. A processor determines a content of a first message posted to a social network, determines that the content of the first message describes a first event, determines an amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event, determines a content of a second message posted to a social network, determines that the content of the second message describes the first event, and adjusts the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event based, at least in part, on the content of the first and second message.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of predicting traffic, the method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, a content of a first message posted to a social network; determining, by the one or more processors, that the content of the first message describes a first event; determining, by the one or more processors, an amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event; determining, by the one or more processors, a content of a second message posted to a social network; determining, by the one or more processors, that the content of the second message describes the first event; and adjusting, by the one or more processors, the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event based, at least in part, on the content of the first and second message.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message indicates one or more of (i) a type of the first event, (ii) a location of the first event, and (iii) a time frame that first event will occur.

3 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more processors, an observed amount of traffic caused by the first event; determining, by the one or more processors, a difference between (i) the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event and (ii) the observed amount of traffic caused by the first event; and in response to the difference being above a certain amount of traffic, adjusting, by the one or more processors, an amount of predicted traffic to be caused by a second event, wherein the second event occurs at a later time than the first event.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event is increased based, at least in part, on the first and second message describing the first event.

5 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, a content of an article posted to a news server; determining, by the one or more processors, that the content of the article describes the first event; and adjusting, by the one or more processors, the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event based, at least in part, on the content of the first message and the article.

6 . The method of claim 2 , the method further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more processors, a location as a destination to for navigation; determining, by the one or more processors, a route from a current location to the destination; determining, by the one or more processors, a portion of the route intersects with a location of the first event; and determining, by the one or more processors, a first alternative route which bypasses the portion of the route intersecting with the location of the first event.

7 . The method of claim 6 , the method further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, a content of a second message posted to a social network; determining, by the one or more processors, the content of the second message describes a second event; determining, by the one or more processors, a portion of the first alternative route intersects with a location of the first and second event; and determining, by the one or more processors, a second alternative route which bypasses the portion of the route intersecting with the location of the first event and the portion of the first alternative route intersecting with the location of the second event.

8 . A computer program product for predicting traffic, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine a content of a first message posted to a social network;
program instructions to determine that the content of the first message describes a first event;
program instructions to determine an amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event;
program instructions to determine a content of a second message posted to a social network;
program instructions to determine that the content of the second message describes the first event; and
program instructions to adjust the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event based, at least in part, on the content of the first and second message.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the first message indicates one or more of (i) a type of the first event, (ii) a location of the first event, and (iii) a time frame that first event will occur.

10 . The computer program product of claim 8 , the program instructions further comprising:
program instructions to receive an observed amount of traffic caused by the first event; program instructions to determine a difference between (i) the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event and (ii) the observed amount of traffic caused by the first event; and program instructions to, in response to the difference being above a certain amount of traffic, adjust an amount of predicted traffic to be caused by a second event, wherein the second event occurs at a later time than the first event.

11 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event is increased based, at least in part, on the first and second message describing the first event.

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , the program instructions further comprising:
program instructions to determine a content of an article posted to a news server; program instructions to determine that the content of the article describes the first event; and program instructions to adjust the amount of predicted traffic to be caused by the first event based, at least in part, on the content of the first message and the article.

13 . The computer program product of claim 9 , the program instructions further comprising:
program instructions to receive a location as a destination to for navigation; program instructions to determine a route from a current location to the destination; program instructions to determine a portion of the route intersects with a location of the first event; and program instructions to determine a first alternative route which bypasses the portion of the route intersecting with the location of the first event.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , the program instructions further comprising:
program instructions determine a content of a second message posted to a social network; program instructions determine the content of the second message describes a second event; program instructions determine a portion of the first alternative route intersects with a location of the first and second event; and program instructions determine a second alternative route which bypasses the portion of the route intersecting with the location of the first event and the portion of the first alternative route intersecting with the location of the second event.

15 . A computer system for predicting traffic, the computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors; one or more computer readable storage media; and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine a content of a first message posted to a social network;
program instructions to determine that the content of the first message describes a first event;
program instructions to determine an amount of pr

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Bostick James E
• Cunico Jr Hernan A
• Ganci Jr John M
• Keen Martin G

Classifications

• G06N7/01 Primary

  Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks · CPC title

• H04L51/046

  Interoperability with other network applications or services · CPC title

• G01C21/3415 Primary

  Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents · CPC title

• G08G1/01

  Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled (G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04W4/023 Primary

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title