Self-measuring automotive traffic

• US 20050256634A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Boll, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing traffic density and flow information obtained from wireless devices. The wireless devices may be wireless telephones having Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities. A server interacts with the wireless telephones wireless telephones to compile the traffic density and flow information. The traffic density and flow information is then available for dissemination to requesting wireless telephones, or other requesting clients capable of contacting the server.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

acquiring data from a plurality of wireless devices; and

utilizing the acquired data from the plurality of wireless devices to compile traffic density and flow information pertaining to a geographical area where the plurality of wireless devices are located.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are wireless telephones having Global Positioning System (GPS) capability.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless telephones are being transported by way of a moving vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless telephones each provide at least acquired data including latitudinal and longitudinal position data.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless telephones each further provide at least acquired data including velocity and elevational data.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising disseminating at least part of the compiled traffic density and flow information to wireless devices.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein disseminating includes providing at least part of the compiled traffic density and flow information only to wireless devices that supply at least part of the acquired data.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the disseminated information is in the form of one of a graphical representation including detailed traffic density and flow information, a dataset indicating the number and state of vehicles in a vicinity, voice communicated traffic density and flow information, and commands detailing routing information.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein disseminating the information includes transmitting the information via a Digital Control Channel.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein disseminating the information includes transmitting the information via an Analog Control Channel.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a server for acquiring data from a plurality of wireless devices, the server utilizing the acquired data form the plurality of wireless devices to compile at least one of traffic density and flow information pertaining to a geographical area where the plurality of wireless devices are located.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the server is coupled to a wireless service provider.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the wireless service provider includes at least one Base Station (BS) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the server provides the compiled traffic density and flow information to at least one wireless device requesting such information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the server provides the compiled traffic density and flow information to at least one wireless device only if the requesting device is a supplier of the acquired data.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the server is a web-server capable of being accessed via the Internet.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are wireless phones having Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are wireless phones having location awareness capabilities.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are wireless phones, and the wireless service provider includes position awareness technology for determining positions of the wireless phones.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the compiled information is traffic density information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the compiled information is flow information.