Method and system for providing and transmitting individualized traffic information

A method for providing and transmitting individualized traffic information to a user relating to a traffic network via a telephone network having at least one voice channel, wherein the traffic information is selected from a traffic database within an information center on request by the user, and is transmitted in voice form via the voice channel of the telephone network, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by the user a character-coded request to the information center containing at least information relating to the user's current location from which vicinity traffic information is desired;
• searching the traffic database for traffic information relevant to the request;
• assigning a reference code to the traffic information being searched in the information center;
• transmitting the assigned reference code to the user;
• calling by the user the searched traffic information by quoting the transmitted reference code;
• transmitting the searched traffic information to the user;
• storing the traffic information in the traffic database in coded form;
• collating individual traffic information in coded form and retaining it together with the reference code for a call by the user;
• and
• when the user calls the traffic information, converting the collated coded traffic information into the individual traffic information in spoken voice form.

A system for providing individualized traffic information to a user comprising:

• a telephone network having at least one voice channel;
• an information center connected to the telephone network and having an electronic data processing system and a traffic database stored in the electronic data processing system;
• and
• a plurality of terminals providing individualized traffic information relating to a traffic network to users when called by an individual user, said traffic information being transmitted to a respective one of the plurality of terminals in voice form via the at least one voice channel;
• wherein said terminals transmit character-coded requests to the information center comprising at least details relating to a geographic position of the user from which vicinity traffic information is desired and details relating to a travel route;
• said electronic data processing system searching for the traffic information relevant to the request in the traffic database and allocating a reference code to the searched traffic information for subsequent call by the user, said reference code being transmitted to the user via the telephone network,
• wherein the user can call the traffic information being searched by transmitting the allocated reference code to the information center, said searched traffic information being transmitted to the user terminal when called by the user;
• and
• predefined reference codes stored in the information center, said predefined reference codes being transmitted to the terminal when the search in the traffic database is unsuccessful.

A system for providing individualized traffic information to a user comprising:

• a telephone network having at least one voice channel;
• an information center connected to the telephone network and having an electronic data processing system and a traffic database stored in the electronic data processing system;
• and
• a plurality of terminals providing individualized traffic information relating to a traffic network to users when called by an individual user, said traffic information being transmitted to a respective one of the plurality of terminals in voice form via the at least one voice channel;
• wherein said terminals transmit character-coded requests to the information center comprising at least details relating to a geographic position of the user from which vicinity traffic information is desired and details relating to a travel route;
• wherein said electronic data processing system searching for the traffic information relevant to the request in the traffic database and allocating a reference code to the searched traffic information for subsequent call by the user, said reference code being transmitted to the user via the telephone network;
• wherein the user can call the traffic information being searched by transmitting the allocated reference code to the information center, said searched traffic information being transmitted to the user terminal when called by the user;
• and
• a memory device in the information center where said electronic data processing system stores traffic information responsive to the request along with the allocated reference code for a predetermined period of time for the user to call, said electronic data processing system deleting the stored traffic information and allocated reference code upon expiration of the predetermined period of time, wherein said individually collated traffic information is provided to the user in spoken voice form and is stored in spoken voice form in the information center for a predetermined period of time.

A system for providing individualized traffic information to a user comprising:

• a telephone network having at least one voice channel;
• an information center connected to the telephone network and having an electronic data processing system and a traffic database stored in the electronic data processing system;
• and
• a plurality of terminals providing individualized traffic information relating to a traffic network to users when called by an individual user, said traffic information being transmitted to a respective one of the plurality of terminals in voice form via the at least one voice channel;
• wherein said terminals transmit character-coded requests to the information center comprising at least details relating to a geographic position of the user from which vicinity traffic information is desired and details relating to a travel route;
• said electronic data processing system searching for the traffic information relevant to the request in the traffic database and allocating a reference code to the searched traffic information for subsequent call by the user said, reference code being transmitted to the user via the telephone network;
• wherein the user can call the traffic information being searched by transmitting the allocated reference code to the information center, said searched traffic information being transmitted to the user terminal when called by the user, and
• wherein the traffic information is stored in the traffic database in coded form and the individual traffic information is collated in coded form and retained together with the reference code for calling by the user, said information center further comprising a voice generator for converting the collated and coded individual traffic information into spoken voice form for transmission to the user terminal when the user calls the traffic information.