Retrieval Of Vehicular Traffic Information Optimized For Wireless Mobile Environments

• US 20090254272A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Decarta (Uber Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendrey, Geoffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

Two-way communication between a mobile device and a server is used to provide increased relevance of traffic information at lower bandwidth. The complexity, amount of storage and processing power required of the mobile navigation device are minimized, since the server performs much of the required computing. A transactional billing model can be used to bill the driver based on usage or consumption of traffic information. A driver selects a destination and routing preferences on a mobile device, and the local system generates a routing. The mobile device sends the planned route and preferences to a server. The server uses real-time traffic flow and incident information to determine an estimated driving time for the planned route. The server may also generate alternative routes, with an estimated time for each alternative route. The traffic and time information for the planned and alternative routes are then transmitted back to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing navigation guidance to a driver, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a destination;

receiving route preference information;

plotting a route from an origin location to the selected destination;

requesting from a server traffic information related to the plotted route;

receiving the requested traffic information from the server; and

displaying in a user interface of a navigation device the received traffic information and an estimated travel time associated with the received traffic information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation device includes a global positioning system radio, and the route is plotted using information from the radio.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one alternative route from the server.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving an estimated driving time for the alternative route.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving from the server real-time traffic information associated with the alternative route.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein traffic information related to the plotted route is requested automatically from the server responsive to receiving the selection of the destination.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein traffic information related to the plotted route is requested from the server responsive to user input for the traffic information.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing route guidance along the plotted route.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the route guidance is begun prior to receiving the requested traffic information from the server.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the route guidance is begun only after receiving the requested traffic information from the server.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the route guidance is begun at the earlier of a threshold time elapsing and the receiving of the requested traffic information.

12. A method for providing navigation guidance to a driver, the method comprising:

receiving a plotted route from an origin to a destination;

receiving route preference information;

determining, using real-time traffic data, an estimated time from the origin to the destination along the plotted route;

identifying at least one alternative route from the origin to the destination, the alternative route having an estimated driving time based on real-time traffic data less than the determined estimated time along the plotted route; and

transmitting to a mobile navigation device the estimated time along the plotted route, and the alternative route.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting to the mobile navigation device the estimated time along the alternative route.

14. A computer program product for providing navigation guidance to a driver, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor to carry out the steps of:

receiving a selection of a destination;

plotting a route from an origin location to the selected destination;

requesting from a server traffic information related to the plotted route;

receiving the requested traffic information from the server; and

displaying in a user interface of a navigation device the received traffic information and an estimated travel time associated with the received traffic information.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising additional instructions to carry out the steps of:

receiving from the server an alternative route from the origin location to the selected destination; and

providing route guidance to the selected destination along the received alternate route.

16. A system for providing navigation guidance to a driver, comprising:

a database including address and mapping information;

a traffic module, adapted to receive real-time traffic data; and

a server routing engine, coupled to the database and the traffic module, and adapted to;

receive a plotted route from an origin to a destination;

determine, using the real-time traffic data received by the traffic module, an estimated time from the origin to the destination along the plotted route;

identify at least one alternative route from the origin to the destination, the alternative route having an estimated driving time based on real-time traffic data less than the determined estimated time along the plotted route; and

transmit over a network to a mobile navigation device the estimated time along the plotted route, and the alternative route.