Portable real-time traffic information device and method

• US 20020158922A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ike J. Song, Richard L. Clark
• Original Assignee: Ike J. Song, Richard L. Clark
• Inventors: Song, Ike J., Clark, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US10/116,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/864
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A real-time and portable graphical traffic information display device and method is provided. The real-time traffic information can be gathered for various agencies using multiple technologies. Real-time traffic information can be provided to a subscriber 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In a preferred embodiment, the portable display device includes a full color fixed map of a region'"'"'s roadway system with LEDs (light emitting diodes) illuminating with various colors and/or blinking at different intervals to indicate traffic conditions at the locations represented by the LED.

Claims

1. A graphical information display system, comprising:

a platform;

a graphical image disposed on said platform;

a plurality of individually controllable light sources disposed on said platform proximate to said graphical image and arranged in a pattern which correlates to said graphical image; and

an electronic circuit coupled to said plurality of individually controllable light sources and configured to receive data through a wireless RF (radio frequency) transmission, and further configured to individually control said plurality of individually controllable light sources in accordance with data received through a wireless RF transmission.

2. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a pager signal transmitting system.

3. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a frequency modulated sub-carrier radio transmission system.

4. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by an amplitude modulated sub-carrier radio transmission system.

5. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a short wave radio transmission system.

6. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a microwave communication transmission system.

7. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a satellite radio transmission system.

8. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a digital Audio Broadcasting transmission system.

9. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a cell phone transmission system.

10. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a Global Systems for Mobile Communications transmission system.

11. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said RF transmission comprises a transmission by a Wireless Application Protocol transmission system.

12. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said data comprises motor vehicle traffic information.

13. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said graphical image comprises a map.

14. The graphical information display system of claim 13, wherein said map comprises a map of roadways.

15. The graphical information display system of claim 13, wherein said map covers the roadways of a region serviced by a plurality of pager numbers.

16. The graphical information display system of claim 13, wherein said map covers the roadways of a region serviced by a single pager number.

17. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a pager chip set.

18. The graphical information display system of claim 17, wherein said pager chip set comprises a bi-directional pager chip set.

19. The graphical information display system of claim 17, wherein said pager chip set comprises a uni-directional pager chip set.

20. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit further comprises an identification chip set.

21. The graphical information display system of claim 20, wherein said identification chip set comprises a non-volatile memory.

22. The graphical information display system of claim 20, wherein said identification chip set comprises a smart chip.

23. The graphical information display system of claim 20, wherein said smart chip is user replaceable.

24. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of individually controllable light sources are configured to be further controlled by at least one user operated switch.

25. The graphical information display system of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to receive data by a push-type data transfer.

26. The graphical information display system of claim 1, further comprising an LCD (liquid crystal display).

28. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a pager signal transmission.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a frequency modulated sub-carrier radio transmission.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving an amplitude modulated sub-carrier radio transmission.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a short wave radio transmission.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a microwave communication transmission.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a satellite radio transmission.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a Digital Audio Broadcasting transmission.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a cell phone transmission.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a Global Systems for Mobile Communications transmission.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission comprises receiving a Wireless Application Protocol transmission.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data from a wireless RF transmission with a first electrical circuit comprises receiving a wireless RF transmission with a pager chip set.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving data comprises receiving traffic related data.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprises controlling said individually controllable light sources in accordance with electronic commands form an identification chip set.

44. The method of transmitting vehicle information of claim 29, wherein the information system comprises a pager system.

45. A traffic information system comprising the graphical information display system of claim 1.

47. The information system of claim 46, wherein the graphical information display receives the traffic information from the transmitter through an RF transmission.

27. A method of graphically displaying information, comprising:

arranging a plurality of individually controllable light sources adjacent to a graphical image a nd in a pattern correlating to said graphical image;

receiving data from a wireless RF transmission with a first electronic circuit;

an

individually controlling said plurality of individually controllable light sources in accordance to said data from a wireless RF transmission with a second electronic circuit.

41. A method of graphically displaying information, comprising:

receiving traffic-related data from a wireless RF transmission;

selectively activating certain light sources of a plurality of individually controllable light sources in accordance with data from a wireless RF transmission, wherein said plurality of individually controllable light sources are located adjacent to a graphical image.

42. A display device, comprising:

a fixed image;

at least one light source disposed proximate to said fixed image;

an electronic circuit coupled to said at least one light source, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to receive information from a source external to said electronic circuit and control the functioning of said at least one light source in accordance with the received information.

43. A method of transmitting vehicle information, comprising:

detecting vehicle data with at least one sensor;

formatting the data into a prescribed format; and

transmitting the data over an information system compatible with the prescribed format.

46. An information system, comprising:

a sensor configured to provide a transmitter with traffic information;

a graphical information display configured to receive traffic information from the transmitter.