Using location data to determine traffic information

A device for determining current traffic condition, said device comprising:

• a processing unit;
• a database coupled to said processing unit, said database storing results of calculation performed by said processing unit;
• and
• a memory for storing maps, traffic level indicators, and road data coupled to said processing unit, each of said traffic level indicators being calculated based on a difference between a speed limit at a road segment, obtained from said road data, and an average velocity of vehicles at said road segment.

A method of estimating a travel time between a first geographic location and a second geographic location, said method comprising:

• determining a route between said first and second geographic locations;
• receiving locations of a plurality of mobile units along said route over a data network;
• computing an average velocity of said plurality of mobile units on said route;
• providing a traffic level indicator for said route based on said average velocity and a speed limit along said route;
• and
• deriving said travel time using the distances of said route, and said traffic level indicator.

A system for providing current traffic conditions, said system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile units each adapted to provide a current location;
• a wireless communication network accessible by said mobile units to report the current locations;
• a data network linked to said wireless communication network;
• and
• a processing unit linked to said data network to receive said current locations, said processing unit being adapted to compute a traffic level indicator based on an average velocity derived from said current locations of said mobile units.