GB2346697A

GB2346697A - Travel assistance method and device

Info

Publication number: GB2346697A
Application number: GB9901799A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Peter Herzig; Rainer Frank
Original assignee: Motorola GmbH
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Germany GmbH
Priority date: 1999-01-28
Filing date: 1999-01-28
Publication date: 2000-08-16
Also published as: GB9901799D0

Abstract

A travel assistance device 71 provides a user of the device with travel advice. The user inputs journey- related data, such as starting time (TS, fig. 1) starting location (L1), target destination (L4) and selects one or more public transportation system (S). From this data and time table, access point and map data available in databases an optimal Route is calculated and displayed. This route comprises the ways from the users starting location (L1) to his target destination L4 via computed entry and exit points (L3, L4) to the transportation system (S). Preferably, the travel assistance device 71 makes use of possibilities of the Internet and uses different sets of data which are organized in different databases 90 as well as Internet background computation, wherein the communication between travel assistance device 71 and background computer happens by mobile telephony. Preferably, the travel assistance device 71 comprises compass 77 clock 80 and GPS receiver 82 to provide the user during the journey with current time and position, also displayed simultaneous with the route.

Description

REFERENCE NUMBERS Fig. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of travel assistance equipment 70 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Travel assistance equipment 70 comprises hand held travel assistance device 71 and remote service provider device 72. Travel assistance device 71 for providing a user of the device with travel advice comprises processor 73, which is coupled to keyboard 74, pointing device 75, display 76, compass 77, memory 78, clock 80, GPS receiver 82, and radio telephone 84. Processor 73 receives user input from keyboard 74, pointing device 75, current time from clock 80 and current position from GPS receiver 82. Processor 73 controls display 76, memory 78, and radio telephone 84. Service provider device 72 comprises telephone unit 86, computer 88, and databases 90.

Computer 88 provides Internet background computation from user data received via telephone unit 86 and data from databases 90.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING IT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a travel assistance device and methods for providing a user of a travel assistance device with travel advise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A user of a public transportation system undertakes a journey from a starting point to a target destination via entry points and exit points of at least one public transportation system. For optimal traveling, which is typically on the route of the shortest travel time, the user has to plan the journey considering restrictions, such as the public transportation system available, his access to the system, and the timing of connections. This requires familiarity with the system or at least information about the geography at the starting point and the target destination including the locations of the access points of the transportation system, and information of the transportation system's time table.

Currently, railroad companies provide map and timetable information via compact disc or via Internet to the user of a personal computer. The user has to choose his entry and exit points of the transportation system and timing restrictions with respect to departure or arrival times with respect to the entry and exit points. Either the Internet computer or the personal computer calculate possible optimized routes and accompanying timetables. These data is provided as tables and optionally the user may get a graphic diagram of the route showing entry, connection and exit points of the transportation system. The user gets no assistance about the parts of the journey from the starting point to the entry point and from the exit point to the target destination. Nor gets the user information about his current location during the journey.

Public city transportation operators provide timetable information via Internet to a user having Internet access. The user has to choose his entry and exit points of the transportation system and timing restrictions with respect to departure or arrival times with respect to the entry and exit points. The Internet computer calculates an optimized route and accompanying timetable. These data is provided as table only. The user gets no assistance about the parts of the journey from the starting point to the entry point and from the exit point to the target destination. Nor gets the user information about his current location during the journey. Nor gets the user graphic route information.

Tourist offices of cities provide graphic map information via Internet to a user having Internet access. The map information contains access points of the transportation system. The user gets no assistance about planning and timing a route using the public transportation system.

Tour guiding systems are available for cars employing a built-in computer having a CD-ROM drive and a GPS receiver. The maps are provided as CDs. The user chooses his target destination and takes the GPS provided current location as default starting point. The computer calculates the route which is displayed on a graphic display. During the journey GPS system provides the current location which is also shown on the graphic display. These tour guiding systems have no access to public transportation systems.

There is a need for a device which provides the user of a public transportation system with travel advise, including providing the optimal traveling, which is typically on the route of the shortest travel time, the user has to plan the journey considering restrictions, such as the public transportation system available, his access to the system, and the timing of connections. These requires familiarity with the system or at least information about the geography at the starting point and the target destination including the locations of the access points of the transportation system, and information of the transportation system's time table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The underlying problem of the invention is to provide a travel assistance device and method to provide travel information during the journey.

The problem of the invention is solved by applying the features laid down in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

The present invention is particular advantageous in that it provides the user of a travel assistance device an optimized route from a first location to a target destination including at least one public transportation system. The optimal route is calculated under consideration of a time table of the transportation system, geographical information, and a time related to the journey. Thus, the user is assisted in determining advantageous entry and exit points to the transportation system and in determining advantageous subroutes from the first location to the entry point and from the exit point to the target destination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a flow chart diagram of a work flow of a travel assistance device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flow chart diagram of a more detailed work flow of a step the flow chart diagram of Fig. 1 according to the present invention ; Fig. 3 is a schematic graphic providing information according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of a travel assistance device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 shows flow chart diagram 10 of a work flow demonstrating a method of providing a user of a travel assistance device with travel advise according to the present invention. This embodiment makes use of possibilities providable in the Internet. The invention uses different sets of data which are currently typically organized in different databases. The embodiment explained with flow chart diagram 10 uses radio communication to establish Internet access. Further the Internet access is used to provide databases and computing remote from the travel assistance device.

The user starts at 11 with step 12 to initialize his travel assistance device and to prepare his journey by having his travel assistance device establishing Internet access to a suitable service provider via radio communication. The response from the Internet is that the user is asked to enter journey specific details.

Meanwhile, step 14, the coordinates of the current position L are retrieved from a Global Positioning System which is part of the travel assistance device. Also, current time T is retrieved from an internal clock.

According to step 16 the user enters journey specific details. He inputs a time related to the journey, in this example starting time TS is determined to be the current time. Further the user determines first location L1. In this example his already received current GPS position is submitted as his starting location. The user further determines target destination L4 in form of an address. Also he selects one or more public transportation system S, in this example he chooses bus B and subway U as possible transportation system S= (B, U).

These submitted data are evaluated in step 18 via Internet background computing. In addition to the submitted data TS, L1, L4, S the background computer loads from databases access points APS and time table TTS of transportation systems S, and also geographical information GI, e. g. map data.

With this information, the background computer calculates in step 20 optimal route R (TS, L1, L4, S, APS, TTS, GI), connections CS within the transportation systems S, duration of the journey D and estimated arrival time TD. Also, selected geographical information GIS (R, GI) is selected from geographical information GI with respect to the specific route R.

Selected geographical information GIS contains map data of an area related to and including route R which is significantly smaller than the geographical information GI but sufficient to inform the user about his journey. The travel assistance device receives these data as response from the service provider.

Meanwhile, step 22, the user selects display mode M of the travel assistance device in which mode he wants the travel advise to appear, here a moving map mode with additional foreground text as display mode M.

In step 24 travel assistance device displays the received information in display mode M. For supervision, the input data starting time TS, first location L1, target destination L4, and selected possible transportation system S are displayed as text together with the calculated information connections CS, duration of the journey D and arrival time TD.

Additionally, optimal route R, first location Ll, target destination L4, current position L and connections CS are displayed as graphics, using appropriate information from selected geographical information GIS.

Now, the preparation for the journey is complete and the journey can begin.

During the journey, step 26 is executed. Once started, the amount of text information displayed is reduced to the target destination L4, connections CS, duration of the journey D, arrival time TD and newly includes current time T. The travel assistance device repeatedly retrieves current position L from GPS and updates route graphics accordingly. In the chosen moving map mode M, an appropriate part of route R is chosen in accordance with current position L from selected geographical information GIS. If the GPS system fails to determine current position L because of signal reception failure, e. g. in a subway, this will be indicated in that the last valid current position L changes its appearance.

Fig. 2 shows flow chart diagram 30 of a more detailed work flow of step 20 of flow chart diagram 10 of Fig. 1 according to the present invention. From route R are derived subroutes Rl, R2, and R3 which are employed to explain the connections between the input and calculated variables. Step 20 of flow chart diagram 10 comprises several substeps which generate final or useful intermediate results.

Starting at 31, substep 32 determines entry point L2 to transportation system S from access points APS of transportation systems S, geographical information GI, and first location L1. In this simple example entry point L2 is the closest access point to/from first location Ll.

Substep 34 determines exit point L3 of transportation system S from access points APS of transportation systems S, geographical information GI, and target destination L4. In this simple example exit point L3 is the access point with the shortest street path to/from target destination L4.

Substep 36 finds first subroute Rl from first location Ll to entry point L2 which is the shortest street path, from Ll, L2, and geographical information GI.

Substep 38 estimates duration of first subroute DR1 from first subroute Rl and geographical information GI by estimation of an evaluated path length and an assumed pedestrian velocity.

Substep 40 evaluates second subroute R2 from entry point L2 to exit point L3 from L2, L3, access points APS and time table TTS of transportation systems S, and the supposed time for entering the public transport system which is starting time TS plus duration of first subroute DR1.

Substep 42 specifies connections CR2 of second subroute R2, e. g. to change between bus and subway, from R2.

Substep 44 estimates duration of second subroute DR2 from second subroute R2, time table TTS, and the supposed time for entering the public transport system.

Substep 46 finds third subroute R3 from exit point L3 to target destination L4 which is the shortest street path, from L3, L4, and geographical information GI.

Substep 48 estimates duration of third subroute DR3 from third subroute R3 and geographical information GI by estimation of an evaluated path length and an assumed pedestrian velocity.

Substep 50 combines route R from subroutes R1, R2, and R3.

Substep 52 combines duration of the journey D summarized from duration of subroutes DR1, DR2, and DR3.

Substep 54 estimates arrival time TD to be starting time TS plus duration of the journey D.

Substep 56 selects geographical information GIS including an overview map including complete route R in a large scale and map data of an area around route R in a small scale.

In Fig. 3 graphic 60 provides travel information during a journey according to the present invention. In graphic 60 map 62 provides graphic map information and text field 64 provides text information. Map 62 emphasizes route 66 comprising first subroute Rl from first location LI to entry point L2 of a public transportation system, second subroute R2 from entry point L2 to exit point L3 of the transportation system, and third subroute R3 from exit point L3 to target destination L4. Subroute R1 starting in first location Ll is a suggested walk to a tram stop at L2.

Subroute R2 is a public transportation path from entry point L2 via connection point Cl to exit point L3. Subroute R2 employs a tram from the tram stop at L2 to connection point Cl which is a subway station, and a subway from connection point Cl to exit point L3 of a public transportation system. Subroute R3 starting at exit point L3 is a suggested walk to target destination L4.

Map 62 indicates the users current position by L and provides scale 68.

Text field 64 provides text information such as the time table of the tram and subway used and the current time. This information includes the kind of public transport used and the one connection involved.

In a more general aspect, a method of providing a user of a travel assistance device with travel advise, comprises the steps of: -determining a first location ; -determining a target destination; -determining a time related to the journey; -calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination including at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system, to geographical information, and to the time related to the journey; -informing the user of the optimal route.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the time related to the journey is not limited to be the starting time but that also the arrival time or any other time therebetween such as"around noon"is possible and will know which adaptations are necessary to provide therefore.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: -determining a current position of the travel assistance device; -informing the user of the current position of the travel assistance device.

With this feature, wherein the current position of the travel assistance device is preferably determined employing a Global Positioning System, the user is assured to know his current position even in a city he is not familiar with. Advantageously, the first location of the travel assistance device is determined from the current position of the travel assistance device. Preferably, the current position of the travel assistance device is determined employing interpolation considering time table information and the actual time, should temporarily no the Global Positioning System information be available.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, informing the user employs a graphic display and/or an acoustic output device of the travel assistance device.

Advantageously, determining the first location or the target destination employs an acoustic input device, a keyboard, and/or a graphic input device of the travel assistance device.

In another preferred embodiment according to the invention calculating an optimal route is performed at least partially outside the travel assistance device. Preferably, the databases containing geographical information, time tables and access points are at least partially remote from the travel assistance device. Preferably, the travel assistance device provides Internet access and calculating the optimal route is at least partially performed remotely in response to Internet access, and/or at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system or the geographical information is downloaded from the Internet. A very effective way is that the computing is done in a background computer of an Internet provider which has access to all needed databases, as in the example described above. Similarly, the computing can be done in a personal computer which has access to all needed databases via CD-ROM or Internet. In a yet another preferred embodiment according to the invention at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system, the geographical information, and the optimal route is downloaded from a personal computer. Advantageously, the optimal route is at least partially performed in advance before the journey.

Also, calculating an optimal route can be performed at least partially inside the travel assistance device. Access to all needed databases can be established via CD-ROM or Internet or a temporary PC connection before the journey.

In another preferred embodiment according to the invention the travel assistance device provides radio communication to a radio network or a cellular telephone network. This allows information transfer via a telephone network.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the travel assistance device provides information concerning alternative routes, should any mode of transport in the calculated route be unavailable or be delayed.

In still another preferred embodiment according to the invention the travel assistance device provides a user with a moving map display, showing the location of the user throughout a journey.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the travel assistance device provides a user with prompts concerning connections which the user is to make during the journey.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the step of calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination comprises the sub-steps of -calculating an optimal entry point among the access points of the at least one public transportation system with respect to the first location; -calculating an optimal exit point among the access points of the at least one public transportation system with respect to the target destination; -calculating a first subroute from the first location to the entry point; -calculating a second subroute from the exit point to the target destination ; -calculating a third subroute from the entry point to the exit point using the at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system and to the time related to the journey.

Preferably, the step of calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination comprises the sub-steps of -estimating a time needed for the first subroute; -estimating a time needed for the second subroute; -estimating a time needed for the third subroute using the at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system and to the time related to the journey. Advantageously, the sub-step of calculating the second subroute from the entry point to the exit point is performed outside the travel assistance device.

Preferably, the step of calculating the optimal route employs additionally topographical information. Such topographical information is understood to be altitude information and/or other additional information which can be considered when a part of the route is planned, e. g. road conditions. This is useful to plan an optimal route without steep slope or lighted at night.

Preferably, the travel assistance device provides price information for at least one subroute.

Fig. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of travel assistance equipment 70 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Travel assistance equipment 70 comprises hand held travel assistance device 71 and remote service provider device 72. Travel assistance device 71 for providing a user of the device with travel advice comprises processor 73, which is coupled to keyboard 74, pointing device 75, display 76, compass 77, memory 78, clock 80, GPS receiver 82, and radio telephone 84. Processor 73 receives user input from keyboard 74, pointing device 75, current orientation from compass 77, current time from clock 80 and current position from GPS receiver 82. Processor 73 controls display 76, memory 78, and radio telephone 84. Service provider device 72 comprises telephone unit 86, computer 88, and databases 90. Computer 88 provides Internet background computation from user data received via telephone unit 86 and data from databases 90.

Travel assistance equipment 70 is suitable to perform a method of providing a user of a travel assistance device with travel advise according to the present invention as described above. Travel assistance equipment 70 makes use of possibilities providable in the Internet and uses different sets of data which are organized in different databases 90. Travel assistance equipment 70 uses radio communication between via radio telephone 84 of travel assistance device 71 and telephone unit 86 of service provider device 72 to establish Internet access. Further the Internet access is used to provide databases 90 and computing by computer 88 of service provider device 72 remote from travel assistance device 71.

The use of travel assistance device 71 is explained with reference to the method described above with respect to Fig. 1. The user starts with step 12 of Fig. 1 to initialize travel assistance device 71 and to prepare his journey by having travel assistance device 71 establishing Internet access to service provider device 72 via radio telephone 84 of travel assistance device 71 and telephone unit 86 of service provider device 72.. The response from the Internet is that the user is asked to enter journey specific details.

Meanwhile, step 14 of Fig. 1, the coordinates of current position L are retrieved from GPS receiver 82 and current time T is retrieved from clock 80.

According to step 16 of Fig. 1 the user enters journey specific details.

He inputs a time related to the journey, in this example starting time TS is determined to be the current time. Further the user determines first location L1. In this example his already received current GPS position is submitted as his starting location. The user further determines target destination L4 in form of an address. Also he selects one or more public transportation system S with pointing device 75 from a menu which is part of the Internet response, in this example he chooses bus B and subway U as possible transportation system S= (B, U).

These submitted data are evaluated in step 18 of Fig. 1 via Internet background computing in computer 88 of service provider device 72. In addition to the submitted data TS, L1, L4, S computer 88 loads from databases 90 access points APS and time table TTS of transportation systems S, and also geographical information GI, e. g. map data.

With this information, computer 88 calculates in step 20 of Fig. 1 optimal route R (TS, L1, L4, S, APS, TTS, GI), connections CS within the transportation systems S, duration of the journey D and estimated arrival time TD. Also, selected geographical information GIS (R, GI) is selected from geographical information GI with respect to the specific route R.

Selected geographical information GIS contains map data of an area related to and including route R which is significantly smaller than the geographical information GI but sufficient to inform the user about his journey. Travel assistance device 71 receives these data as response from the service provider device 72 and stores them in memory 78.

Meanwhile, step 22 of Fig. 1, the user selects display mode M of travel assistance device 71 from an internally generated menu in which mode he wants the travel advise to appear, here a moving map mode with additional foreground text as display mode M.

In step 24 of Fig. 1 travel assistance device 71 displays on display 76 the received information in display mode M. For supervision, the input data starting time TS, first location L1, target destination L4, and selected possible transportation system S are displayed as text together with the calculated information connections CS, duration of the journey D and arrival time TD. Additionally, optimal route R, first location L1, target destination L4, current position L and connections CS are displayed as graphics, using appropriate information from selected geographical information GIS. Now, the preparation for the journey is complete and the journey can begin.

During the journey, step 26 of Fig. 1 is executed. Once started, the amount of text information displayed on display 76 is reduced to the target destination L4, connections CS, duration of the journey D, arrival time TD and newly includes current time T. Travel assistance device 71 repeatedly retrieves current position L from GPS receiver 82 and updates route graphics accordingly. In the chosen moving map mode M, an appropriate part of route R is chosen in accordance with current position L from selected geographical information GIS. If the GPS system fails to determine current position L because of signal reception failure, e. g. in a subway, this will be indicated in that the last valid current position L changes its appearance.

Outside transportation systems S, current orientation O is retrieved from compass 77. Current orientation O is displayed directly in graphic form together with the map so that the user knows his orientation relative to his surroundings so that he can decide in which direction to go. Or current orientation O is evaluated within travel assistance device 71 together with route R and selected geographical information GIS such that as a result the direction to go is calculated and displayed directly.

In a more general aspect, travel assistance device 71 for providing a user of the device with travel advice, comprises: (a) data input means 74,75; (b) means 78 for receiving information and storing information concerning (i) the locations of access points to at least one public transportation system, (ii) timetables of the said at least one public transportation system; (iii) geographical information; and (c) means 76 for informing a user of travel assistance device 71 of the optimal route from a first location to a target destination employing the stored information and a time related to the journey, the first location, the target destination, and the time related to the journey being specified by the user of travel assistance device 71.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises means 80 for determining the current time.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises radio communication means 84 providing radio communication to a radio network or a cellular telephone network.

In another preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises means for receiving real-time information about the current state of the at least one public transportation system and/or the estimated times of arrival of vehicles in the public transportation system.

In still another preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises means for downloading at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system, the geographical information, and the optimal route from a personal computer.

In yet another preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises means for providing a user of the travel assistance device with information concerning alternative routes, should any mode of transport in the calculated route be unavailable or be delayed.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention, travel assistance device 71 comprises a compass. This helps the user of travel assistance device 71 to orientate with respect to the map and to his actual surrounding. Advantageously this is an electronic compass whichs data can be linked to selected geographical information GIS. Then, the direction to go can be displayed to the user directly.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of providing a user of a travel assistance device with travel advise, comprising the steps of: -determining a first location; -determining a target destination ; -determining a time related to the journey; -calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination including at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system, to geographical information, and to the time related to the journey; -informing the user of the optimal route.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: -determining a current position of the travel assistance device; -informing the user of the current position of the travel assistance device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the current position of the travel assistance device is determined employing a Global Positioning System.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first location of the travel assistance device is determined from the current position of the travel assistance device.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the current position of the travel assistance device is determined employing interpolation considering time table information and the actual time, should temporarily no the Global Positioning System information be available.
6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein informing the user employs a graphic display and/or an acoustic output device of the travel assistance device.
7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein determining the first location or the target destination employs an acoustic input device, a keyboard, and/or a graphic input device of the travel assistance device.
8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein calculating an optimal route is performed at least partially outside the travel assistance device.
9. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein calculating an optimal route is performed at least partially inside the travel assistance device.
10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the step of calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination comprises the sub-steps of -calculating an optimal entry point among the access points of the at least one public transportation system with respect to the first location ; -calculating an optimal exit point among the access points of the at least one public transportation system with respect to the target destination; -calculating a first subroute from the first location to the entry point; -calculating a second subroute from the exit point to the target destination; -calculating a third subroute from the entry point to the exit point using the at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system and to the time related to the journey.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of calculating an optimal route from the first location to the target destination comprises the substeps of -estimating a time needed for the first subroute; -estimating a time needed for the second subroute; -estimating a time needed for the third subroute using the at least one public transportation system with respect to access points and a time table of the at least one public transportation system and to the time related to the journey.
12. The method of any of claims 10 or 11, wherein the travel assistance device provides price information for at least one subroute.
13. The method of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the step of calculating the optimal route employs additionally topographical information.
14. The method of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the travel assistance device provides radio communication to a radio network or a cellular telephone network.
15. The method of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the travel assistance device provides Internet access and wherein calculating the optimal route is at least partially performed remotely in response to Internet access, and/or at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system or the geographical information is downloaded from the Internet.
16. The method of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system, the geographical information, and the optimal route is downloaded from a personal computer.
17. The method of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein calculating the optimal route is at least partially performed in advance before the journey.
18. The method of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the travel assistance device provides information concerning alternative routes, should any mode of transport in the calculated route be unavailable or be delayed.
19. The method of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the travel assistance device provides a user with a moving map display, showing the location of the user during a journey.
20. The method of any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the travel assistance device provides a user with prompts concerning connections which the user is to make during the journey.
21. A travel assistance device for providing a user of the device with travel advice, comprising: (a) data input means; (b) means for receiving information and storing information concerning (i) the locations of access points to at least one public transportation system, (ii) timetables of the said at least one public transportation system; (iii) geographical information; and (c) means for informing a user of the radio communication device of the optimal route from a first location to a target destination employing the stored information and a time related to the journey, the first location, the target destination, and the time related to the journey being specified by the user of the travel assistance device.
22. The travel assistance device in accordance with claim 21, wherein a user of the radio communication device can specify either a present location or a planned starting point of a journey as the first location.
23. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 22, further comprising a Global Positioning System receiver for determining a current position of the travel assistance device.
24. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 23, further comprising means for calculating the optimal route from the first location to the target destination employing the stored information.
25. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 24, whereby the calculated optimal route includes: (i) a first subroute from the first location to a first access point to the at least one public transportation system; (ii) a second subroute from the first access point of the at least one public transportation system to the final access point of the at least one public transportation system; (iii) a third subroute from the final access point of the at least one public transportation system to the target destination, the first access point being the access point where the user is to enter the transportation network, and the final access point being the access point where the user is to exit the transportation network.
26. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 25, further comprising means for determining the current time.
27. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 26, further comprising radio communication means providing radio communication to a radio network or a cellular telephone network.
28. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 27, further comprising means for receiving real-time information about the current state of the at least one public transportation system and/or the estimated times of arrival of vehicles in the public transportation system.
29. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 28, further comprising means for downloading at least one of the time table of the at least one public transportation system, the geographical information, and the optimal route from a personal computer.
30. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 29, further comprising means for providing a user of the travel assistance device with information concerning alternative routes, should any mode of transport in the calculated route be unavailable or be delayed.
31. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 30, further comprising means for estimating a user of the travel assistance device with: (i) a moving map display, showing the location of the user throughout a journey; and/or (ii) prompts concerning connections which the user is to make during the journey.
32. The travel assistance device in accordance with any of claims 21 to 31, further comprising a compass.