Real-time ad hoc traffic alert distribution
First Claim
1. A traffic condition alert system comprising a mobile unit having electronic connection to at least one ad hoc communications network, said mobile unit having a status;
- a communications system executing on said mobile unit, said communications system enabling a flow of communications messages across said at least one ad hoc communications network;
a traffic characterization data system executing on said mobile unit, said data system setting said status of said mobile unit, said data system creating, transmitting, and receiving traffic characterization data, said flow of communications messages containing said traffic characterization data, said traffic characterization data having a pre-defined relationship to said status;
a traffic characterization protocol system executing on said mobile unit, said protocol system sequencing execution of said data system according to said flow of communications messages and said status; and
a report system executing on said mobile unit, said report system monitoring said status, said report system preparing an interpretation of said status and reporting said interpretation to a user of the traffic condition alert system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic characterization system and method of use for executing a traffic characterization protocol over an ad hoc communications network. Conventional in-vehicle computers and conventional wireless local area network (LAN) transceivers host the traffic characterization system and the messages generated by the system. As a traffic jam occurs, the mobile units send out traffic characterization data in a sequence activated by the content of the messages and traffic characterization protocol of the present invention. All vehicles participating in the traffic characterization system and approaching the traffic jammed area receive the characterization data and have the opportunity to route around the jam.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A traffic condition alert system comprising
a mobile unit having electronic connection to at least one ad hoc communications network, said mobile unit having a status; -
a communications system executing on said mobile unit, said communications system enabling a flow of communications messages across said at least one ad hoc communications network;
a traffic characterization data system executing on said mobile unit, said data system setting said status of said mobile unit, said data system creating, transmitting, and receiving traffic characterization data, said flow of communications messages containing said traffic characterization data, said traffic characterization data having a pre-defined relationship to said status;
a traffic characterization protocol system executing on said mobile unit, said protocol system sequencing execution of said data system according to said flow of communications messages and said status; and
a report system executing on said mobile unit, said report system monitoring said status, said report system preparing an interpretation of said status and reporting said interpretation to a user of the traffic condition alert system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for processing traffic condition alerts comprising:
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initializing an ad hoc communications network interface, said network interface having electronic connection with a mobile unit, said mobile unit having a vehicle monitor;
initializing a database, said database having electronic connection with said mobile unit, said database containing a status, said status being set by said vehicle monitor;
listening for incoming traffic characterization data messages, said incoming messages arriving from said ad hoc network receiving said incoming messages, said incoming messages containing location- and time-tagged traffic characterization data;
processing said incoming messages according to said traffic characterization protocol;
transmitting outgoing traffic characterization data messages periodically over said ad hoc network according to a traffic characterization protocol, said outgoing messages containing said status, a location of said mobile unit, and a timestamp;
updating said database according to said location- and time-tagged traffic characterization data incoming messages;
transmitting said outgoing messages when said status is set;
updating said database when said status is set; and
creating a report said report created on demand, said report created according to said status. - View Dependent Claims (10, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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11. A mobile unit for processing traffic characterization data comprising:
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an ad hoc communications network interface having electronic connection with the mobile unit, said network interface enabling exchange of incoming and outgoing traffic characterization data among mobile units on said network;
a traffic data system for receiving said incoming traffic characterization data;
a vehicle monitor for collecting internal traffic characterization data;
a traffic characterization protocol, said traffic characterization protocol setting a status, said status being a function of said incoming traffic characterization data and said internal traffic characterization data; and
a report system for creating reports from said status.
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12. A communications message for exchanging traffic characterization data using a traffic characterization protocol, said message comprising:
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a message header, said message header formatted according to a communications protocol, a time- and location-tagged traffic characterization data field, said data field concatenated to said header to form a partial message;
a counter field for preventing system loops, said counter field concatenated to said partial message to form said communications message, said communications message formatted for electronic transmission on a communications network, said communications network connecting a plurality of mobile units one with another, said plurality of mobile units having a common understanding of said communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification