Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-20
2001-09-18
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C455S456500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention generally relates to field of wireless communication systems and more particularly to a network of traveling vehicles adapted to exchange network traveling information with each other.
2. History of Related Art
The increasing prevalence of electronic devices such as personal data administrators (PDAs), laptop computers, global positioning system, and wireless devices reflects the enormous demand for mobile data services. Despite this demand, however, an integrated solution enabling travelers to identify one another and exchange information relevant to travel itself is currently lacking. In the area of air travel for example, commercial airplanes currently lack an adequate method with which to identify and communicate with one another. Pilot reports and other important travel information are still largely generated manually and distributed through an intermediary such as an air traffic controller or flight service station on the ground. With respect to commercial trucking, the limitations of systems such as citizen band radios are readily apparent. Such systems provide only a limited ability for the driver of one vehicle to communicate with the driver of another vehicle that is in close proximity. Data transmission is not enabled with such a system and the ability to identify other travelers is limited to number of travelers that respond to a particular request. With respect to passenger automobile travel, the ability to identify readily and communicate with other drivers is virtually non-existent. While a cellular or PCS telephone can be used to communicate with selected travelers (i.e., the travelers whose mobile phone number is known), there is no present solution that enables one to determine easily the number and location of vehicles on the road. It would be desirable, therefore, to implement a network that facilitates the gathering and distribution of travel information to enable travelers of all types to determine the identify or existence of other travelers in their vicinity and to communicate with these travelers thereby resulting in more efficient, safe, and comfortable travel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems identified above are in large part addressed by a wireless network and an associated communication device according to the present invention. The communication device is typically mounted in a first vehicle and includes a location device, such as a global positioning system receiver, suitable for determining the first vehicle's geographic position, a wireless transceiver enabled to communicate with a wireless transceiver of a second vehicle within a wireless range of the first vehicle, and a processor connected to the wireless transceiver and the location device. The processor is able to use the wireless transceiver and the location device to broadcast travel information of the first vehicle and to identify the presence of the second vehicle. The processor may also be enabled to display the position of the second vehicle on a display screen of the communication device or to enable the first vehicle to communicate with the second vehicle. The communication device may be configure to permit a user of the first vehicle, by clicking on an image of the second vehicle on the display screen, to obtain identification information of the second vehicle or to initiate a communication with the second vehicle. The communication with the traveler in the second vehicle may comprise a voice communication or an electronic message such as an email message. The first vehicle may include one or more environmental sensors connected to the processor that permit the communication device to broadcast weather information to other vehicle in the vicinity. The travel information exchanged among the vehicle may be organized into categories enabling the traveler to restrict information exchange based on one or more of the categories. The restriction criteria may include route criteria, transportation class criteria, and identity criteria.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5349520 (1994-09-01), Hickman
patent: 5428544 (1995-06-01), Shyu
patent: 5432841 (1995-07-01), Rimer
patent: 6028537 (2000-02-01), Suman et al.
patent: 6088648 (2000-07-01), Shah et al.
patent: 6133853 (2000-10-01), Obradovich et al.
Amro Hatim Yousef
Kraft, IV George
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lally Joseph P.
Nguyen Tan
Schelkopf J. Bruce
Tran Malena
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