Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-05-22
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
C701S118000, C701S119000, C701S121000, C340S905000, C340S910000, C340S988000, C340S990000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236933
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to traffic monitoring systems, and more particularly, to such systems that provide instantaneous, continuous, and specific information on traffic congestion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many municipalities use video cameras perched on top of tall poles located at different locations along roadways to monitor traffic congestion. The video cameras are operated by individuals in a central viewing office who watch a bank of monitors showing images of the traffic from the video cameras. By watching these images, trained individuals are able to analyze the traffic congestion and provide some quantitative measurement, (i.e. stopped, slow, below or at speed limit; and light, moderate, heavy, grid-locked, respectively). Local television and radio stations are able to broadcast this information to drivers who turn on their televisions and radios for the latest traffic update. This method of monitoring and reporting traffic congestion is commonly referred to as the view-and-relay method.
One problem with the view-and-relay method is that information is not instantaneously updated and immediately available to drivers. With dozens of video cameras located around a region, it often takes several minutes before an accident or a slow down on a roadway is recognized and reported to the public. When a report is finally given, the precise location or cause of the traffic congestion and the lanes of traffic affected can be difficult to determine. The quantitative terms used to describe the resulting traffic congestion may be too vague to be useful.
Another problem with the view-and-relay method is that it does not provide estimated travel time between points on a route. Knowing such information, estimated times of arrival (ETA) from a starting location to a desired destination following a preferred route or following alternative routes could be provided taking into consideration current or future traffic conditions along on roadways used in the routes.
Another problem with the view-and-relay method is that it does not provide comparative roadway traffic congestion information that would allow drivers to choose alternative, less congested roadways. In a large metropolitan area, alternative roadways are usually available for reaching a desired destination. Knowing the current and anticipated traffic conditions on the preferred roadway and on alternate roadways would allow drivers to adjust their plans regarding which routes to reduce their travel time and to more evenly distributed traffic flow over all the roadways in the region.
Another problem with the view-and-relay method is that it does not provide information on the flow of traffic in the individual lanes. It is well known that the flow of traffic in individual lanes in a multiple lane roadway can vary greatly. While accidents and merging traffic is often the cause of the variation, in some instances drivers with different driving styles cause the variations. Knowing which lane is flowing faster would be desirable for many drivers.
A further problem with the view-and-relay method is that it does not provide predictive or anticipated traffic congestion information. For example, how is traffic congestion on a freeway impacted when a lane closes for construction at 10:00 P.M.? Or, is traffic congestion on different roadways in the region impacted when a large sporting event ends? To answer these questions, both current and anticipated traffic congestion information on selected roadways must be known. Unfortunately, the view-and-relay method does not provide this information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system of monitoring and reporting traffic congestion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system that provides more accurate and more updated traffic information.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system that can be used to provide alternate routes to drivers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system that can be used to provide estimated times of arrival for a route using either the preferred roadway, or the alternate roadways.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system that can provide comparative roadway and route information to drivers, thereby enabling them to choose less congested roadways and faster routes.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide predictive or anticipated traffic congestion information.
These and other objects are met by the improved traffic monitoring system disclosed herein that uses a plurality of monitoring electronic devices located in different motor vehicles travelling on various roadways throughout a selected region. Each monitoring electronic device, which may be a hand-held device, a laptop computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or an on-board computer, is coupled to a means capable of instantaneously establishing the physical location, the heading and the velocity (collectively referred to as movement information) of the monitoring electronic device at any time while driving. Each monitoring electronic device is also coupled to a wireless communication means that enables the monitoring electronic device to connect to a wide area computer network, such as the INTERNET anywhere throughout the region. A central computer is provided that connects to the wide area network, which is designed to receive the movement information from a plurality of monitoring electronic devices.
During operation, the movement information is continuously transmitted to and processed by the central computer to create a large traffic congestion database for the region. The traffic congestion database is constantly updated and used along with other databases to provide traffic and other traffic-related information for users on roadways in the region. More specifically, the information in the databases can be used to inform users of current or anticipated traffic conditions on roadways along their current routes, and on roadways on alternative routes. In addition, the information from the databases can be used to inform users of the traffic flow on specific traffic lanes on a multiple lane roadway, such as the HOV lanes.
In addition to providing current traffic congestion information, the system can also be used to provide estimated times of arrival (ETAs) for current or alternative routes based on current anticipated predicted traffic conditions. During use, users submit a request for ETA information to the central computer for a specific route. The request is submitted along with a start time, destination information, and route information. The central computer then processes the request and the accompanying information using a plurality of router engines and databases to provide an ETA for the selected route. Along with providing ETAs for a selected route, the system can also be used to provide ETAs for alternative routes and/or anticipated future routes. In order to provide an ETA, the central computer may use an optional roadway specific database that contains specific information about the various roadways along the route, the total distance to be traveled along the route; the number of stop lights along each roadway; and the anticipated velocity of the user's motor vehicle based on the posted speed limit, historical information relative to that route, and the anticipated velocity of the user's motor vehicle based on the posted speed limit, and/or the calculated average velocity of other monitoring electronic devices traveling ahead of the user on the roadways. In addition, the central computer may also use an optional roadway event database that contains information on past, present and future events that may affect traffic on the roadways along the route, such as construction, sporting events, a parade, etc. By using all of the above databases, the central computer is able to provide relatively accurate ETAs twenty-four four hours per day,
Beaulieu Yonel
Craine Dean A.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
InfoMove.com, Inc.
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