Centralized facility and intelligent on-board vehicle platform for collecting, analyzing and distributing information relating to transportation infrastructure and conditions
First Claim
1. In an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, a method for use in association with a user vehicle from said plurality of vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
- the user vehicle environment collecting data generated within the user vehicle environment;
the user vehicle environment processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
the user vehicle environment generating at least one event indicator upon determination of event occurrence; and
causing the communication of information including the at least one event indicator from the user vehicle environment to at least one other vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An on-board intelligent vehicle system includes a sensor assembly to collect data and a processor to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event. The data may be collected from existing standard equipment such as the vehicle communication bus or add-on sensors. The data may be indicative of conditions relating to the vehicle, roadway infrastructure, and roadway utilization, such as vehicle performance, roadway design, roadway conditions, and traffic levels. The detection of an event may signify abnormal, substandard, or unacceptable conditions prevailing in the roadway, vehicle, or traffic. The vehicle transmits an event indicator and correlated vehicle location data to a central facility for further management of the information. The central facility sends communications reflecting event occurrence to various relevant or interested users. The user population can include other vehicle subscribers (e.g., to provide rerouting data based on location-relevant roadway or traffic events), roadway maintenance crews, vehicle manufacturers, and governmental agencies (e.g., transportation authorities, law enforcement, and legislative bodies).
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Citations
168 Claims
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1. In an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, a method for use in association with a user vehicle from said plurality of vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
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the user vehicle environment collecting data generated within the user vehicle environment;
the user vehicle environment processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
the user vehicle environment generating at least one event indicator upon determination of event occurrence; and
causing the communication of information including the at least one event indicator from the user vehicle environment to at least one other vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a facility;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the facility including the at least one event indicator;
said facility being operably configured (i) to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment to determine whether the received communication contains information having relevance to any other vehicle, and (ii) to communicate information to any vehicle associated with the relevance determination, the facility communication including information indicative of the at least one event indicator associated with the received vehicle communication. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a communication network;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the communication network including the at least one event indicator. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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at least one vehicle environment collecting data generated within the respective vehicle environment;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively processing the respective collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively generating at least one respective event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence; and
processing the at least one event indicator generated by the at least one vehicle environment to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to maintenance of the roadway network. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relating to at least one maintainable feature of the roadway network. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment;
a second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
a third means for generating at least one respective event indicator upon a respective determination of event occurrence by said second means; and
a fourth means for processing the at least one event indicator generated by said third means to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to maintenance of the roadway network. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relevant to at least one maintainable feature of the roadway network. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a facility;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the facility including the at least one event indicator;
said facility being operably configured (i) to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment to determine whether the received communication contains information having relevance to roadway maintenance, and (ii) to communicate information to an appropriate roadway maintenance entity or responsible transportation authority in reference to a processed communication determined to be relevant, the facility communication including information indicative of the at least one event indicator associated with the relevant received vehicle communication. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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at least one vehicle environment collecting data generated within the respective vehicle environment;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively processing the respective collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively generating at least one respective event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence; and
processing the at least one event indicator generated by the at least one vehicle environment to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to at least one functionality of the respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relating to at least one functionality of a respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment;
a second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
a third means for generating at least one respective event indicator upon a respective determination of event occurrence by said second means; and
a fourth means for processing the at least one event indicator generated by said third means to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to at least one functionality of the respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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81. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relevant to at least one functionality of the respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84)
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85. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a facility;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the facility including the at least one event indicator;
said facility being operably configured (i) to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment to determine whether the received communication contains information having relevance to at least one functionality of the respective vehicle environment, and (ii) to communicate information to an appropriate vehicle manufacturer or vehicle equipment manufacturer in reference to a processed communication determined to be relevant, the facility communication including information indicative of the at least one event indicator associated with the relevant received vehicle communication.
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86. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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at least one vehicle environment collecting data generated within the respective vehicle environment;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively processing the respective collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
the at least one vehicle environment respectively generating at least one respective event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence; and
processing the at least one event indicator generated by the at least one vehicle environment to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to at least one of traffic-related measure and roadway infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A method for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles are traveling in a roadway network, each vehicle defining a respective vehicle environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relating to at least one of traffic-related measure and roadway infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment;
a second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event;
a third means for generating at least one respective event indicator upon a respective determination of event occurrence by said second means; and
a fourth means for processing the at least one event indicator generated by said third means to determine relevance of the at least one event indicator to at least one of traffic-related measure and roadway infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100)
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101. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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first means for collecting data generated within at least one vehicle environment; and
second means for processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event relevant to at least one of traffic-related measure and roadway infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104)
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105. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of in-use vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a facility;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the facility including the at least one event indicator;
said facility being operably configured (i) to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment to determine whether the received communication contains information having relevance to at least one of traffic-related measure and roadway infrastructure, and (ii) to communicate information to an appropriate governmental body in reference to a processed communication determined to be relevant, the facility communication including information indicative of the at least one event indicator associated with the relevant received vehicle communication and a location indicator of the vehicle environment associated therewith.
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106. A method for use in association with a vehicle traveling on a roadway, the vehicle defining an environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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the vehicle environment collecting data generated within the vehicle environment; and
the vehicle environment processing the collected data to determine the occurrence of at least one event. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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121. A vehicle on-board system for use with a vehicle, the vehicle defining an environment, said system comprising:
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a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the vehicle environment; and
a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138)
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139. A method for use in association with a plurality of vehicles each defining a respective environment, the plurality of vehicles traveling in a roadway environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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a central facility operably receiving a respective communication from at least one vehicle environment, each respective vehicle communication comprising (i) at least one event indicator indicative of the occurrence of an event relating to the associated vehicle environment, and (ii) a location indicator indicative of the location of the vehicle; and
the central facility processing any communication received from a respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151)
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152. A system for use in association with a plurality of vehicles each defining a respective environment, the plurality of vehicles traveling in a roadway environment, said system comprising:
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a communication network; and
a central facility, said central facility being operably configured to enable communication with at least one vehicle environment via said communication network;
said central facility being operably configured to receive a respective communication from at least one vehicle environment, each respective vehicle communication comprising;
(i) at least one event indicator indicative of the occurrence of an event relating to the associated vehicle environment, and (ii) a location indicator indicative of the location of the vehicle;
said central facility being operably configured to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment. - View Dependent Claims (153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164)
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165. A system for use in an environment where a plurality of vehicles each defining a respective vehicle environment are traveling in a roadway network, said system comprising:
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a central facility, said central facility being operably configured to enable communication with at least one vehicle environment;
at least one vehicle environment including a respective vehicle on-board system comprising;
a data system, the data system being operably configured to collect data generated within the respective vehicle environment, a processor, the processor being operably configured to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event, the processor being operably configured further to generate at least one event indicator upon a determination of event occurrence, and a communication unit, the communication unit being operatively coupled to at least one of the data system and the processor, the communication unit being operably configured to send a communication to the central facility including the at least one event indicator;
said central facility being operably configured (i) to process any communication received from a respective vehicle environment to determine whether the received communication contains information having relevance to at least one user application, and (ii) to issue a communication to a user associated with an affirmative relevance determination. - View Dependent Claims (166, 167, 168)
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Specification