Navigation device and method for enhancing traffic data

• US 20080177460A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adrian Blackwood, Geert Hilbrandie
• Original Assignee: Adrian Blackwood, Geert Hilbrandie
• Inventors: Blackwood, Adrian, Hilbrandie, Geert
• Application Number:
  US12/007,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes connecting a navigation device, located in a vehicle, to a server; transmitting information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle to the server; and receiving information, relating to potential delays along a route of travel of the vehicle, from the server, the received information being determined based at least partially upon information relating to changes in position and speed transmitted from navigation devices of a plurality of vehicles. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a modem to connect a navigation device, located in a vehicle, to a server; a transmitter to transmit information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle to the server; and a receiver to receive information, relating to potential delays along a route of travel of the vehicle, from the server, the received information being determined based at least partially upon information relating to changes in position and speed transmitted from navigation devices of a plurality of vehicles.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

connecting a navigation device, located in a vehicle, to a server;

transmitting information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle to the server; and

receiving information, relating to potential delays along a route of travel of the vehicle, from the server, the received information being determined based at least partially upon information relating to changes in position and speed transmitted from navigation devices of a plurality of vehicles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is established between a modem within the navigation device and the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting occurs at a time different from the receiving.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from or received by the navigation device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the connection is established between a modem within the navigation device and the server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is received periodically.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is transmitted from the navigation device during times other than times of periodic receipt.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the periodic receipt is every three minutes.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein, the information is transmitted from the navigation device based upon requests for information uploads from the server, during times other than times of periodic receipt.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, the information is transmitted from the navigation device based upon a request for an information upload from the server.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route of travel of the vehicle, based upon at least a desired destination and a current location of the vehicle; and

determining, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from or received by the navigation device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is received periodically.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein, the information is transmitted from the navigation device based upon a request for an information upload from the server.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an indication of potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle; and

determining, upon receiving a request to calculate a revised route of travel, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from or received by the navigation device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information is received periodically.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein, the information is transmitted from the navigation device based upon a request for an information upload from the server.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted from the navigation device upon establishment of the connection and upon receipt of a request for an information upload from the server.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted from the navigation device upon connecting to the server.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is established via a modem in an adapter of the navigation device, upon the adapter being connected to the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the connection is established via a modem in an adapter of the navigation device, upon the adapter being connected to the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein information is transmitted from or received by the navigation device in an initial start-up sequence with a device type code, as part of the connection between the navigation device and the server.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the information transmitted from the navigation device is useable by the server to identify the navigation device, to identify intended vehicle usage and vehicle type based upon the identified navigation device, and to increase at least one of mathematical accuracy and reliability in the information received by the navigation device, relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the information transmitted from the navigation device is further useable by the server to determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the information transmitted from the navigation device is further useable by the server to improve defining of traffic behavior, to further determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, and to aid the navigation device in providing a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the information transmitted from the navigation device is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information transmitted from the navigation device is useable to determine traffic behavior and expected flow patterns with enhanced accuracy and predictive methods, due to increased signal node identification.

30. The method of claim 12, wherein the connection between the navigation device and the server is a Network Interface Protocol connection, and wherein once the Network Interface Protocol connection is established, the information transmitted from the navigation device is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.

31. A navigation device, comprising:

means for connecting a navigation device, located in a vehicle, to a server;

means for transmitting information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle to the server; and

means for receiving information, relating to potential delays along a route of travel of the vehicle, from the server, the received information being determined based at least partially upon information relating to changes in position and speed transmitted from navigation devices of a plurality of vehicles.

32. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein the means for connecting includes a modem to establish the connection between the navigation device and the server.

33. The navigation device of claim 32, wherein the modem is in an adapter of the navigation device.

34. The navigation device of claim 32, wherein the modem is in a body of the navigation device.

35. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein the means for transmitting transmits at a time different from the receiving by the means for receiving.

36. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the means for transmitting or received by the means for receiving.

37. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein the means for receiving receives the information periodically.

38. The navigation device of claim 37, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established via a modem of the means for connecting, information is transmitted by the means for transmitting during times other than times of periodic receipt by the means for receiving.

39. The navigation device of claim 37, wherein the periodic receipt is every three minutes.

40. The navigation device of claim 37, wherein, the information is transmitted from the means for transmitting based upon requests for information uploads from the server, during times other than times of periodic receipt.

41. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein, the information is transmitted by the means for transmitting upon the means for receiving receiving a request for an information upload from the server.

42. The navigation device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for determining a route of travel of the vehicle, based upon at least a desired destination and a current location of the vehicle and for determining, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

43. The navigation device of claim 42, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the means for transmitting or received by the means for receiving.

44. The navigation device of claim 43, wherein the information is received periodically.

45. The navigation device of claim 43, wherein, the information is transmitted from the means for transmitting based upon a request for an information upload from the server.

46. The navigation device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for displaying an indication of potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle; and

means for determining, upon receiving a request to calculate a revised route of travel, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

47. The navigation device of claim 46, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the means for transmitting or received by the means for receiving.

48. The navigation device of claim 47, wherein the information is received periodically.

49. The navigation device of claim 47, wherein, the information is transmitted from means for transmitting based upon a request for an information upload from the server received by the means for receiving.

50. The navigation device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for storing information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted by the means for transmitting upon the means for connecting establishing the connection and upon the means for receiving receiving a request for an information upload from the server.

51. The navigation device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for storing information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted by the means for transmitting upon the means for connecting establishing the connection to the server.

52. The navigation device of claim 42, wherein information is transmitted from the means for transmitting or received by the means for receiving of the navigation device in an initial start-up sequence with a device type code, as part of the connection established by the means for connecting between the navigation device and the server.

53. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is useable by the server to identify the navigation device, to identify intended vehicle usage and vehicle type based upon the identified navigation device, and to increase at least one of mathematical accuracy and reliability in the information received by the navigation device, relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

54. The navigation device of claim 53, wherein the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is further useable by the server to determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

55. The navigation device of claim 53, wherein the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is further useable by the server to improve defining of traffic behavior, to further determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, and to aid the navigation device in providing a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

56. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device.

57. The navigation device of claim 56, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.

58. The navigation device of claim 57, wherein the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is useable to determine traffic behavior and expected flow patterns with enhanced accuracy and predictive methods, due to increased signal node identification.

59. The navigation device of claim 42, wherein the connection established by the means for connecting between the navigation device and the server is a Network Interface Protocol connection, and wherein once the Network Interface Protocol connection is established, the information transmitted from the means for transmitting is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.

60. A navigation device, comprising:

a modem to connect a navigation device, located in a vehicle, to a server;

a transmitter to transmit information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle to the server; and

a receiver to receive information, relating to potential delays along a route of travel of the vehicle, from the server, the received being determined based at least partially upon information relating to changes in position and speed transmitted from navigation devices of a plurality of vehicles.

61. The navigation device of claim 60, wherein the transmitter and receiver are part of a combined transceiver.

62. The navigation device of claim 61, wherein the modem is in an adapter of the navigation device.

63. The navigation device of claim 61, wherein the modem is in a body of the navigation device.

64. The navigation device of claim 60, wherein the transmitted is useable to transmit at a time different from the receiving by the receiver.

65. The navigation device of claim 60, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the transmitter or received by the receiver.

66. The navigation device of claim 60, wherein the receiver is useable to receive the information periodically.

67. The navigation device of claim 66, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established via the modem, information is transmitted by transmitter during times other than times of periodic receipt by the receiver.

68. The navigation device of claim 66, wherein the periodic receipt is every three minutes.

69. The navigation device of claim 66, wherein, the information is transmitted from the transmitter based upon requests for information uploads from the server, during times other than times of periodic receipt.

70. The navigation device of claim 60, wherein, the information is transmitted by the transmitter upon the receiver receiving a request for an information upload from the server.

71. The navigation device of claim 60, further comprising:

a processor to determine a route of travel of the vehicle, based upon at least a desired destination and a current location of the vehicle and to determine, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

72. The navigation device of claim 71, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the transmitter or received by the receiver.

73. The navigation device of claim 72, wherein the information is received periodically.

74. The navigation device of claim 72, wherein, the information is transmitted from the transmitter based upon a request for an information upload from the server.

75. The navigation device of claim 60, further comprising:

a display to display an indication of potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, subsequent to receipt of the information relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle; and

a processor to determine, upon receiving a request to calculate a revised route of travel, a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

76. The navigation device of claim 75, wherein, once the connection between the navigation device and the server is established, information is either transmitted from the transmitter or received by the receiver.

77. The navigation device of claim 76, wherein the information is received periodically.

78. The navigation device of claim 76, wherein, the information is transmitted from transmitter based upon a request for an information upload from the server received by the receiver.

79. The navigation device of claim 60, further comprising:

a memory to store information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted by the transmitter upon the modem establishing the connection and upon the receiver receiving a request for an information upload from the server.

80. The navigation device of claim 60, further comprising:

a memory to store information relating to changes in position and speed of the vehicle, wherein the stored information is transmitted by the transmitter upon the modem establishing the connection to the server.

81. The navigation device of claim 71, wherein information is transmitted from the transmitter or received by the receiver of the navigation device in an initial start-up sequence with a device type code, as part of the connection established by the modem between the navigation device and the server.

82. The navigation device of claim 81, wherein the information transmitted from the transmitter is useable by the server to identify the navigation device, to identify intended vehicle usage and vehicle type based upon the identified navigation device, and to increase at least one of mathematical accuracy and reliability in the information received by the navigation device, relating to potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

83. The navigation device of claim 82, wherein the information transmitted from the transmitter is further useable by the server to determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle.

84. The navigation device of claim 82, wherein the information transmitted from the transmitter is further useable by the server to improve defining of traffic behavior, to further determine traffic patterns and potential delays along the route of travel of the vehicle, and to aid the navigation device in providing a revised route of travel based upon the received information.

85. The navigation device of claim 81, wherein the information transmitted from the transmitter is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device.

86. The navigation device of claim 85, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.

87. The navigation device of claim 86, wherein the information transmitted from the transmitter is useable to determine traffic behavior and expected flow patterns with enhanced accuracy and predictive methods, due to increased signal node identification.

88. The navigation device of claim 71, wherein the connection established by the modem between the navigation device and the server is a Network Interface Protocol connection, and wherein once the Network Interface Protocol connection is established, the information transmitted from the transmitter is useable to determine a category type of the navigation device, wherein the category type of the navigation device includes at least one for commercial usage, consumer usage, motorcycle usage, and pedestrian usage.