Diversified route planning for public transportation network

Abstract

A route planner for a transportation network is disclosed. The route planner generates k suggested routes based on a user query using a diversified k shortest routes technique. The diversified k shortest routes techniques analyzes a transportation graph and suggests k routes to the user. The diversified k shortest routes can provide a user with options to take the next best route if they miss the optimal one. These options also include other preferences, such as less number of transfers, as long as they are reasonable in terms of total travel time. The suggested routes take into account travel calendars, as well as location-to-location queries which require geocoding and reverse geocoding capabilities. Transfers between different types of transportation services such as train and bus are also supported.