System and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices

• US 10,251,026 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wormald, Christopher R., Loberto, Arcangelo, Reddy, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Washington, Erika A
• Application Number:
  US15/446,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system, computer program product, and method for displaying a warning graphic for traffic congestion is provided. The method begins with determining a mobile device approaching a zone comprising traffic congestion. Next a first warning graphic of the traffic congestion is displayed to the at least one mobile device approaching that zone, the warning graphic displayed on the one mobile device. A location of the mobile device is tracked overtime approaching that zone. The mobile device approaching is updated that zone regarding a progress of the traffic congestion indicated in the first warning graphic by displaying at least one follow-up warning graphic on the at least one mobile device, provided prior to the traffic congestion being cleared.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a warning graphic for traffic congestion, the method comprising:

determining at least one mobile device approaching a zone comprising traffic congestion;

displaying a first warning graphic of the traffic congestion to the at least one mobile device approaching that zone, the warning graphic displayed as an overriding pop-up notification on the at least one mobile device wherein the overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable link to enable a map to load;

tracking over time, a location of the at least one mobile device approaching that zone; and

updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone regarding a progress of the traffic congestion indicated in the first warning graphic by displaying at least one follow-up warning graphic on the at least one mobile device, provided prior to the traffic congestion being cleared, the at least one follow-up warning graphic also displayed as a follow-up overriding pop-up notification and including updated data to specify that it is an update, wherein the follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable updated map link to enable an updated map to load.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first warning graphic and at least one second warning graphic is displayed as part of a map program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first warning graphic comprises a tip for bypassing that zone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first warning graphic provides data to enable a map to be displayed, the map including at least a portion of that zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of first warning graphic alert and the at least one follow-up warning graphic is displayed in an over-riding pop-up notification are displayed as a cascade of notifications.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprises updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone once the traffic congestion has cleared.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for the first warning graphic from a particular one of the at least one mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, comprises updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone once the traffic congestion has cleared and another follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises another selectable updated map link to enable another updated map to load with a cleared status to avoid taking any detour prior to an execution of a detour.

9. A notification system for displaying a warning graphic for traffic congestion, the notification system comprising a processor, a communication interface, and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for operating said processor to:

determining at least one mobile device approaching a zone comprising traffic congestion;

displaying a first warning graphic of the traffic congestion to the at least one mobile device approaching that zone, the warning graphic displayed as an overriding pop-up notification on the at least one mobile device wherein the overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable link to enable a map to load;

tracking over time, a location of the at least one mobile device approaching that zone; and

updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone regarding a progress of the traffic congestion indicated in the first warning graphic by displaying at least one follow-up warning graphic on the at least one mobile device, provided prior to the traffic congestion being cleared, the at least one follow-up warning graphic also displayed as a follow-up overriding pop-up notification and including updated data to specify that it is an update, wherein the follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable updated map link to enable an updated map to load.

10. The notification system of claim 9, wherein the first warning graphic and at least one second warning graphic is displayed as part of a map program.

11. The notification system of claim 9, wherein the first warning graphic comprises a tip for bypassing that zone.

12. The notification system of claim 9, wherein the first warning graphic provides data to enable a map to be displayed, the map including at least a portion of that zone.

13. The notification system of claim 9, wherein at least one of first warning graphic alert and the at least one follow-up warning graphic is displayed in an over-riding pop-up notification.

14. The notification system of claim 9, further comprises updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone once the traffic congestion has cleared.

15. The notification system of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request for the first warning graphic from a particular one of the at least one mobile device.

16. The notification system of claim 9, comprises updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone once the traffic congestion has cleared and another follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises another selectable updated map link to enable another updated map to load with a cleared status to avoid taking any detour prior to an execution of a detour.

17. A computer storage element comprising computer executable instructions displaying a warning graphic for traffic congestion, the computer storage element comprising instructions for:

determining at least one mobile device approaching a zone comprising traffic congestion;

displaying a first warning graphic of the traffic congestion to the at least one mobile device approaching that zone, the warning graphic displayed as an overriding pop-up notification on the at least one mobile device wherein the overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable link to enable a map to load;

tracking over time, a location of the at least one mobile device approaching that zone; and

updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone regarding a progress of the traffic congestion indicated in the first warning graphic by displaying at least one follow-up warning graphic on the at least one mobile device, provided prior to the traffic congestion being cleared, the at least one follow-up warning graphic also displayed as a follow-up overriding pop-up notification and including updated data to specify that it is an update, wherein the follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises a selectable updated map link to enable an updated map to load.

18. The computer storage element of claim 17, wherein the first warning graphic and at least one second warning graphic is displayed as part of a map program.

19. The computer storage element of claim 17, wherein the first warning graphic comprises a tip for bypassing that zone.

20. The computer storage element of claim 17, comprises updating the at least one mobile device approaching that zone once the traffic congestion has cleared and another follow-up overriding pop-up notification comprises another selectable updated map link to enable another updated map to load with a cleared status to avoid taking any detour prior to an execution of a detour.