System and method for providing information to an operator of a motor vehicle

• US 20050216184A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Gregory Ehlers
• Inventors: Ehlers, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An information system and method provides information to an operator of a motor vehicle. A destination location and a current position of the motor vehicle are established. A planned route as a function of the destination location and the current position is established and communicated to at least one traffic control system, an alternate route is established as a function of a factor which may delay travel over the planned route, the destination location, and the new current position and a modified route plan is communicated to at least one traffic control system. The traffic control received positional data on the vehicle and controls the traffic control devices under its management to expedite the transit of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. An information system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input system for establishing a destination location of the motor vehicle;

a positioning system for establishing a current position of the motor vehicle;

a routing system for establishing a planned route as a function of the destination location and the current position, for receiving information relating to a factor which may delay travel over the planned route, establishing a new current position and responsively establishing an alternate route as a function of the factor, the destination location, and the new current position.

34. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, further comprising a preference device containing preference information related to an operator of the motor vehicle, the routing system for establishing the planned route and/or alternate route as a function of the preference information.

35. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, the input system comprising a user interface, the system further comprising a communication system for communicating information to an operator.

36. An information system, as set forth in claim 35, the communication system including a display coupled to the routing system for graphically and/or textually displaying the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator.

37. An information system, as set forth in claim 35, the communication system including one or more speakers for audibly communicating the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator.

38. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, the received information related to the factor including a plurality of parameters which may affect the estimated time of arrival.

39. An information system, as set forth in claim 38, the plurality of parameters including at least one of location of factor, vector coordinates of factor, radial impact of factor, or gradient impact of factor.

40. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the routing system receives the receiving information related to the factor from any suitable system over any suitable network.

41. An information system, as set forth in claim 40, the routing system being able to receive data, voice or entertainment services.

42. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, the routing system for monitoring the current position of the motor vehicle, determining if the operator has not followed the planned route, and responsively modifying the planned route as a function of the position of the motor vehicle.

43. An information system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the network is a two-way network.

44. An information system, as set forth in claim 43, the routing system for transmitting data across the two-way network including the current position, all aspects of vehicle progress along the planned route and vehicle operational characteristics.

45. A computer based method for providing information to an operator of a motor vehicle, comprising:

establishing a destination location of the motor vehicle;

establishing a current position of the motor vehicle;

establishing a planned route as a function of the destination location and the current position;

for receiving information related to a factor which may delay travel over the planned route; and

,

establishing a new current position and responsively establishing an alternate route as a function of the received information, the destination location, and the new current position.

46. A method, as set forth in claim 45, including the steps of storing preference information related to an operator of the motor vehicle and establishing the planned route and/or alternate route as a function of the preference information.

47. A method, as set forth in claim 45, including the step of communicating the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator.

48. A method, as set forth in claim 47, wherein the step of communicating the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator includes the step of graphically and/or textually displaying the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator on a display.

49. A method, as set forth in claim 47, wherein the step of communicating the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator includes the step of audibly communicating the planned route and/or the alternate route to the operator.

50. A method, as set forth in claim 45, the received information related to the factor including a plurality of parameters which may affect the estimated time of arrival.

51. A method, as set forth in claim 50, the plurality of parameters including at least one of location of factor, vector coordinates of factor, radial impact of factor, or gradient impact of factor.

52. A method, as set forth in claim 45, including the step of receiving the information related to the factor from an external system over a network.

53. A method, as set forth in claim 45, including the step of monitoring the current position of the motor vehicle, determining if the operator has not followed the planned route, and responsively modifying the planned route as a function of the position of the motor vehicle.

54. A method, as set forth in claim 52, wherein the network is a two-way network.

55. An information system, as set forth in claim 54, including the step of transmitting data across the two-way network including the current position, all aspects of vehicle progress along the planned route and vehicle operational characteristics.