Method, system and article of manufacture for identifying regularly traveled routes

A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• a database for storing one or more trip records corresponding to one or more routine trips;
• a positioning subsystem for providing position information;
• an interface providing a driver identity;
• a processor operatively coupled to the database, the interface and the positioning subsystem;
• and
• a software program executable by the processor for generating at least one trip record identifying a routinely traveled route by comparing the position information and the driver identity to the trip records stored in the database.

A method of notifying an end user of traffic conditions, comprising:

• determining whether a vehicle is engaging in a routine trip;
• retrieving from a computer-readable database route information associated with the routine trip and a driver identity;
• accessing real-time traffic information corresponding to the route information;
• and
• notifying the end user of the traffic conditions indicated by the real-time traffic information.

A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

• a receiver for receiving real-time traffic information;
• a database for storing one or more trip records of trip information corresponding to one or more routine trips;
• an interface providing an identity of an end user;
• a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, the interface and the database;
• a learning mode program executable by the processor for generating at least one trip record associated with the identity of the end user by monitoring and recording trip information during operation of a vehicle, the learning mode program storing the at least one trip record in the database;
• and
• an operational mode program executable by the processor for determining whether a vehicle is engaging in a routine trip, for retrieving from the database trip information stored in a trip record associated with the routine trip, for accessing real-time traffic information corresponding to the trip information, and for notifying the end user of traffic conditions indicated by the real-time traffic information.