Traffic information notification system

• US 20030033077A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

In a traffic information notifying system, a management center is connected through communication networks information terminal devices owned by a traveler and information centers that provide various traffic information. The management center registers a travel plan input from the terminal devices, and monitors the traffic information of the information centers to check for any traffic flow disruption on the registered travel route. If there is any disruption, the management center notifies it to the traveler through the terminal devices.

Claims

1. A traffic information notifying system comprising:

a terminal device owned by a user;

an information center for providing traffic information; and

a management center operatively connected to the terminal device and the information center for communication therewith, wherein the management center includes;

means for registering therein a travel plan input from the terminal device, the travel plan including route information about a travel route to a destination point and time information about time of passing and arrival on the travel route;

means for monitoring a traffic flow disruption which is influential on the travel plan based on the registered travel plan and the traffic information; and

means for notifying the traffic flow disruption to the terminal device.

2. The notifying system as in claim 1, wherein the terminal device is constructed to operate as the management center as well.

3. The notifying system as in claim 1, wherein the management center further includes means for calculating at least one of alternative departure time and alternative travel route recommended to avoid the traffic flow disruption based on the traffic information when the traffic flow disruption occurs, and the notifying means notifies at least one of the alternative departure time and the alternative travel route in addition to the traffic flow disruption.

4. The notifying system as in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notifying means notifies the traffic flow disruption to another terminal device as well which the owner registered at the time of registering the travel plan.

5. The notifying system as in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal device is a portable communication device which the user can carry.

6. A traffic information notifying program for a computer connected to a terminal device owned by a user and an information center for providing traffic information to operate the computer to perform steps of:

registering a travel plan input from the terminal device, the travel plan including route information about a travel route to a destination point and time information about time of passing and arrival on the travel route;

monitoring a traffic flow disruption which is influential on the travel plan based on the registered travel plan and the traffic information; and

notifying the traffic flow disruption to the terminal device.