Method for transmitting traffic information

A process for transmitting traffic data pertaining to a highway network from a traffic data control center to at least one terminal, said process comprising

• providing a digital map database of a highway network in the form of a traffic file in the traffic data control center and in the terminal,
• representing sections of streets, lanes, and groups of lanes as segments in said digital map database,
• combining data pertaining to a chain of said segments which follow each other in numerical sequence in said highway network, said data being combined in said control center into a traffic data packet containing (a) an identifier symbol representing the identity of the segment at one end of the chain, (b) a numerical chain segment symbol representing the total number of segments in numerical sequence in the chain, (c) at least one condition symbol, including a last condition symbol, representing the condition of at least one of said segments in said chain, and (d) a pointer for at least one of said segments, said pointer indicating which one of said segments follows each said at least one of said segments in a direction of travel;
• and
• transmitting said data packet from said traffic data control center to said at least one terminal.