GPS-based traffic monitoring system

• US 20070005225A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sehat Sutardja
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,472 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 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• 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 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A method for providing traffic information comprises maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of the traffic information. The method comprises receiving vector and location data from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a first set of roads, analyzing the vector and location data, generating traffic reports based on the vector and location data and transmitting the traffic reports to the vehicles that are subscribers of the traffic information.

Claims

1. (canceled)

6. A method for providing traffic information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

receiving vector and location data from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a first set of roads

analyzing said vector and location data;

generating traffic reports based on said vector and location data;

transmitting said traffic reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

diagnosing a possible problem with a first vehicle using said vector and location data; and

using a remote service assistance system to contact said first vehicle when said vector and location data indicates said possible problem.

7. A method for providing traffic information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

receiving vector and location data from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a first set of roads;

analyzing said vector and location data;

generating traffic reports based on said vector and location data;

transmitting said traffic reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

diagnosing a possible problem with a first vehicle using said vector and location data;

using a remote service assistance system to contact said first vehicle when said vector and location data indicates said possible problem;

comparing a speed of one of said vehicles on a first road to a first threshold and to an average traffic speed on said first road; and

selectively contacting said vehicle using a remote service assistance system based on said comparison.

2. The method of claim 7 further comprising at least one of:

receiving requests for said traffic reports from said vehicles and transmitting said traffic reports to subscribers of said traffic reports; and

pushing said traffic reports to said subscribers.

3. The method of claim 7 further comprising billing said subscribers for said traffic information.

4. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting said location and vector data when one of said plurality of vehicles is traveling on a first set of predetermined roads; and

not transmitting said location and vector data when said one of said plurality of vehicles is traveling on a second set of predetermined roads.

5. The method of claim 7 wherein said traffic report includes traffic speed information for traffic on at least one road of said first set of roads.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving parking data from said vehicles; and

generating parking status information for public parking spots based on said parking data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said parking status information includes at least one status type selected from a group consisting of leaving, filled, open and unknown.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said vehicles transmit said vector and location data on a periodic basis.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

monitoring changes in speed of said vehicle; and

transmitting said vector and location data when said vehicle speed change is greater than a speed change threshold.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of parking status reports;

receiving location and parking indication data from said vehicles;

generating said parking status reports; and

selectively transmitting said parking status reports to said vehicles that are subscribers.

11. A method for providing traffic information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

receiving vector and location data from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a first set of roads;

analyzing said vector and location data;

generating traffic reports based on said vector and location data;

transmitting said traffic reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

monitoring changes in direction of said vehicle; and

transmitting said vector and location data when said vehicle changes direction greater than a direction change threshold.

15. A method for providing parking information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

receiving parking indication and location data from a plurality of vehicles when said vehicles are parked in public parking spots;

generating parking reports based on said parking indication and location data;

transmitting said parking reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

selectively generating location and parking indication data when an engine of said vehicle is turned off; and

selectively transmitting said location and parking indication data.

13. The method of claim 15 further comprising selectively transmitting parking indication and location data when one of said vehicles parks in a public parking spot.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting vector and location data when said vehicle leaves said public parking spot.

17. A method for providing parking information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

receiving parking indication and location data from a Plurality of vehicles when said vehicles are Parked in public parking spots;

generating parking reports based on said parking indication and location data,

transmitting said parking reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of parking status reports;

receiving location and parking indication data from said vehicles;

generating said parking status reports; and

selectively transmitting said parking status reports to said vehicles that are subscribers,

wherein said parking status report for a respective one of said vehicles includes parking information related to parking spots within a predetermined distance of said respective one of said vehicles.

18. A method for providing traffic information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

receiving vector and location data from a plurality of vehicles traveling on a first set of roads;

analyzing said vector and location data;

generating traffic reports based on said vector and location data;

transmitting said traffic reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said traffic information;

monitoring when said vehicle transitions from one road to another road; and

transmitting said vector and location data when said transitions occur.

19. A method for providing parking information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

receiving parking indication and location data from a plurality of vehicles when said vehicles are parked in public parking spots;

generating parking reports based on said parking indication and location data; and

transmitting said parking reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information, and

displaying said parking reports on a display in at least one of said vehicles, wherein said parking reports include a map showing a parking status of a plurality of parking spots.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising at least one of:

receiving requests for said parking reports from said vehicles and transmitting said parking reports to subscribers of said parking reports; and

pushing said parking reports to said subscribers.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising billing said subscribers for said parking information.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting said parking indication and location data when one of said plurality of vehicles parks in a public parking spot; and

not transmitting said parking indication and location data when said one of said plurality of vehicles parks in a non-public parking spot.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said parking report includes parking status information for parking spots and wherein said status information includes at least one status type that is selected from a group consisting of leaving, filled, open and unknown.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting vector and location data when said vehicle leaves said public parking spot.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of parking status reports.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said parking status report for a respective one of said vehicles includes parking information related to parking spots within a predetermined distance of said at least one vehicle.

25. A method for providing parking information, comprising:

maintaining a list of vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

receiving parking indication and location data from a plurality of vehicles when said vehicles are parked in public parking spots;

generating parking reports based on said parking indication and location data;

transmitting said parking reports to said vehicles that are subscribers of said parking information;

selectively generating location and parking indication data when an engine of said vehicle is turned off; and

selectively transmitting said location and parking indication data.