Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2003-07-01
Trost, William (Department: 2683)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
C455S456500, C455S457000, C455S045000, C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587777
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the provision of traffic information to motor vehicles, and more particularly to the provision of traffic information regarding areas adjacent to the current location of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current methods of providing traffic information to the occupants of motor vehicles involve a generalized broadcast of information. The most common of these methods is a radio broadcast which is transmitted to any motor vehicle able to receive the radio signal and which contains information designed to appeal to a majority of the broadcast's listeners. An additional method for obtaining information about current traffic conditions involves telephoning traffic “hotlines” and receiving information regarding the traffic on various highways. Such information typically will provide current traffic information regarding traffic conditions on a stretch of highway, usually concentrating more closely on highways in urban areas with high volume traffic patterns. Similarly, available methods for computer access to traffic information focus on conditions affecting large geographical areas. Because the current methods of providing traffic information are designed to appeal to as many people as possible, they tend to lack detailed information regarding the driver's immediate area and instead include information that is not germane to a driver because the driver isn't near the reported location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The illustrated embodiment of the present invention addresses the deficiencies that exist in the available current methods of disseminating traffic information to occupants of motor vehicles. The present invention allows an occupant of a motor vehicle to obtain information regarding the traffic conditions in the area immediately surrounding their motor vehicle. The present invention also allows the display device in the motor vehicle to control the size of the geographic area for which traffic information is received. Because the information is confined to a specific area, a correspondingly greater level of detail regarding traffic conditions is provided than would be received in conventional traffic reports.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a network is located within a motor vehicle. Connected to this network are a global positioning satellite receiver, a display device and a server with a network interface. This embodiment also includes a second remote server that is accessible by the server located within the motor vehicle. The remote server is in contact with a database of current traffic information. The display device makes a request for current traffic information via the motor vehicle server to the remote server. The request format allows the size of the area adjacent to the motor vehicle, the area for which traffic information is desired, to be specified in the request. The request includes the motor vehicle's current location which was previously retrieved from the global positioning satellite. Optionally, the request will also include the motor vehicle's current heading and speed, also retrieved from the global positioning satellite receiver. The remote server uses the motor vehicle's current location and accesses the database of current traffic information. The remote server will retrieve any current traffic reports falling within the geographical area specified in the request and returns the information to the display device located within the motor vehicle. The information is then conveyed to the occupant of the motor vehicle via the display device.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a network is located within a motor vehicle. Connected to this network is a global positioning satellite receiver, a display device and an electronic device with a network interface connected to the Internet. The alternative embodiment also includes a remote server which is accessible by the electronic device located within the motor vehicle. The remote server is in contact with a database of current traffic information. The display device makes a request for current traffic information via the electronic device to the remote server. The request format allows the size of the area adjacent to the motor vehicle, the area for which traffic information is desired, to be specified in the request. The request includes the motor vehicle's current location which was previously retrieved from the global positioning satellite. Optionally, the request will also include the motor vehicle's current heading and speed, also retrieved from the global positioning satellite receiver. The remote server uses the motor vehicle's current location and accesses the database of current traffic information. The remote server will retrieve any current traffic reports falling within the geographical area specified in the request and returns the information to the display device located within the motor vehicle. The information is then conveyed to the occupant of the motor vehicle by the display device.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a network is located within a motor vehicle. Connected to this network are a global positioning satellite receiver, a display device and a server with a network interface. This embodiment also includes a wide area network (WAN) that is accessible by the server located within the motor vehicle. The wide area network is in contact with a database of current traffic information. The display device makes a request for current traffic information via the motor vehicle server to the wide area network. The request format allows the size of the area adjacent to the motor vehicle, the area for which traffic information is desired, to be specified in the request. The request includes the motor vehicle's current location which was previously retrieved from the global positioning satellite. Optionally, the request will also include the motor vehicle's current heading and speed, also retrieved from the global positioning satellite receiver. The invention uses the motor vehicle's current location and accesses the database of current traffic information. Current traffic reports falling within the geographical area specified in the request are sent from the wide area network to the to the display device located within the motor vehicle. The information is then conveyed to the motor vehicle network and then to the display device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5812069 (1998-09-01), Albrecht et al.
patent: 5908464 (1999-06-01), Kishigami et al.
patent: 6236933 (2001-05-01), Lang
patent: 6256577 (2001-07-01), Graunke
patent: 6313761 (2001-11-01), Shinada
patent: 6317684 (2001-11-01), Roeseler et al.
patent: 6466862 (2002-10-01), DeKock et al.
Zhaosheng Yang et al., A Framework of Telecommunication Subsystem for Urban Traffic Flow Guidance Systems (UTFGS), IEEE, vol.: 1, Sep. 6-9, 1999, pp. 371-374.
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Moorman, III Earl J.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
Trost William
LandOfFree
System and method for location based traffic reporting does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for location based traffic reporting, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for location based traffic reporting will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3062762