# US 2014/0207369 A1 · System and method for controlling the transmission of traffic information to a vehicle navigation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207369 A1 - Document ID: US20140207369A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/746,066 - Filed: 2013-01-21 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-21 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Go Yuasa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207369A1 ## CPC - G01C 21/3492: {employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968)} - G08G 1/091: {Traffic information broadcasting (broadcasting communication H04H)} - G08G 1/096822: {where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times} - G08G 1/096827: {where the route is computed onboard} - G08G 1/096844: {where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data} - G08G 1/0112: {from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]} - G08G 1/0133: {for classifying traffic situation} - G08G 1/0141: {for traffic information dissemination} - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract Systems and methods for improved vehicle navigation using mobile communication device (e.g., phone) technology as a means for transmitting vehicle route data that has been updated as a result of changed or changing traffic conditions. A mobile communication device is connected between a vehicle and a remote server. Traffic information from both broadcast and mobile network sources is analyzed by the server, a difference(s) therebetween is detected, and the difference(s) is compared to a predetermined difference value. If the detected difference exceeds the predetermined difference value, difference information is extracted and used to produce updated route data, which is then transmitted via the mobile communication device to the vehicle. The transmission of updated route data is limited to only situations where there is a sufficient change in traffic conditions, and the data transmitted is preferably limited to only difference data so as to avoid exceeding mobile communication device plan limits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle navigation system comprising: an onboard vehicle navigation device; sensors for detecting and reporting vehicle speed and direction; a broadcast source of traffic information; a mobile network source of traffic information; a remotely located server having a processor and memory, the server in communication with the broadcast source of traffic information and the mobile network source of traffic information, and further including a software program adapted to compare traffic information from the broadcast source with traffic information from the mobile network source, to detect a difference therebetween, and to compare any detected difference to a predetermined difference value; and a mobile communication device in communication with the onboard vehicle navigation device and the server, the mobile communication device acting as a conduit for transmitting route guidance requests from the vehicle navigation device to the server, and for transmitting route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device; wherein, upon receipt of a request for updated route guidance data from the vehicle navigation device, the server is adapted to transmit updated route guidance data to the vehicle navigation device only when a detected difference between traffic information from the broadcast source and traffic information from the mobile network source is determined to exceed the predetermined difference value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the sensors for detecting and reporting vehicle speed and direction are a part of the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the sensors for detecting and reporting vehicle speed and direction are adapted to transmit data to the server via the mobile communication device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast source of traffic information is satellite-based or FM radio-based. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mobile network source of traffic information is comprised of one or more vehicles adapted to transmit vehicle travel information to the remotely located server via a mobile communication device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the server includes a database of map data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined difference value is based on a traffic condition selected from the group consisting of the length of a traffic jam and a number of traffic accidents within a given section of a calculated route. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is in wired communication with the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is in wireless communication with the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle navigation system of claim 1, wherein the server is adapted to send only difference data when transmitting updated route guidance data to the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 12 A vehicle navigation system comprising: a vehicle navigation device, said device further comprising: a processing device, a storage device for storing map data, a GPS receiver for locating the position of the vehicle, and an onboard display device for displaying a location of the vehicle and a calculated route on a map; a mobile communication device in communication with the onboard vehicle navigation device and the server, the mobile communication device acting as a conduit for transmitting route guidance requests from the vehicle navigation device to the server, and for transmitting route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device; a broadcast source of traffic information; a mobile network source of traffic information; and a remotely located server having a processor and a database of map data, the server in communication with the mobile communication device, the broadcast source of traffic information and the mobile network source of traffic information, the server further including a software program(s) adapted to perform route guidance calculations based on destination information and vehicle location information received from the mobile communication device, to compare traffic information from the broadcast source with traffic information from the mobile network source, to detect a difference therebetween, and to compare any detected difference to a predetermined difference value; wherein, upon receipt of an initial request for route guidance data, the server is adapted to calculate a route and to transmit the route to the vehicle via the mobile communication device; and wherein, upon receipt of a subsequent request for updated route guidance data from the mobile communication device, the server is adapted to transmit updated route guidance data to the mobile communication device only when a detected difference between traffic information from the broadcast source and traffic information from the mobile network source is determined to exceed the predetermined difference value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the broadcast source of traffic information is satellite-based or FM radio-based. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the mobile network source of traffic information is comprised of one or more vehicles adapted to transmit vehicle travel information to the remotely located server via a mobile communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined difference value is based on a traffic condition selected from the group consisting of the length of a traffic jam and a number of traffic accidents within a given section of a calculated route. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication device is in wired communication with the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The vehicle navigation system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communication device is in wireless communication with the vehicle navigation device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The vehicle navigation system of claim 13, wherein the server is adapted to send only difference data when transmitting updated route guidance data to the mobile communication device. ### Claim 20 A navigation method for navigating a vehicle, comprising: providing a calculated route to a destination via at least a map presented on a vehicle navigation device located onboard the vehicle; providing sensors for detecting and reporting vehicle speed and direction and, while navigating the route, using signals from the sensors to update the map; providing a broadcast source of traffic information; providing a mobile network source of traffic information; placing a remotely located server having a processor and memory in communication with the broadcast source of traffic information and the mobile network source of traffic information; placing a mobile communication device in communication with the onboard vehicle navigation device and the server, the mobile communication device serving as a conduit for transmitting route guidance requests from the vehicle navigation device to the server, and for transmitting route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device; requesting from the server, by means of the vehicle navigation device and through the mobile communication device, updated route guidance data; at the server, upon receipt of a request for updated route guidance data from the vehicle navigation device, causing a software program associated with the server to compare traffic information obtained from the broadcast source with traffic information obtained from the mobile network source, to detect a difference therebetween, and to compare any detected difference to a predetermined difference value; transmitting updated route guidance data from the server to the vehicle navigation device only when a detected difference between traffic information from the broadcast source and traffic information from the mobile network source is determined through execution of the software program to exceed the predetermined difference value; and upon receipt of the updated route guidance data at the vehicle navigation device, updating the calculated route to the destination.