US 2001/0027373 A1 · Distributed system and method for detecting traffic patterns

Abstract

A computer system for determining traffic patterns and congestion and using the determined traffic patterns and congestion to determine an appropriate route using a global positioning system and related route map calculator. A vehicle is provided with an onboard computer system adapted to determine travel time of a vehicle in a road segment and calculate a route based on this information. In addition, this information can be distributed to or otherwise shared with other vehicles and similar information can be received from other vehicles to provide a distributed network for generating and sharing experienced traffic patterns. The information can also be used to predict traffic patterns as well.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A computer system disposable on a vehicle, comprising:

(a) one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters configured to receive and transmit traffic condition information;
(b) a system location receiver configured to determine a position of the system;
and
(c) a signal processing unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters and the system location receiver, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform the steps comprising:
(i) determining a first and a second position of the system along a road segment;
(ii) determining an elapsed time between the first and second positions of the computer system;
and
(iii) determining whether the elapsed time indicates a congested traffic condition along the road segment by comparing the elapsed time with a stored time value for the road segment.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/853,558Filed 11 May 2001

Priority

3 Apr 2000

Published

4 Oct 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01C 21/3492
Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments: employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or…
G08G 1/01
Traffic control systems for road vehicles: detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
G08G 1/096716
Where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control: where the received information does not…
G08G 1/096758
Where a selection of the information might take place: where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information

Distributed system and method for detecting traffic patterns

Life of this patent

Distributed system and method for detecting traffic patterns

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34