System and method for realtime community information exchange

• US 20090287401A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Levine, Uri, Shabtai, Ehud, Shinar, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• 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 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• 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 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 Traffic data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096805 where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
• 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

Abstract

System and method for traffic mapping service are disclosed for allowing plurality of users having each a navigation device to transmit their locations to a server and optionally to signal to the server their requested destination. The system and method are further capable of calculating traffic parameters such as current traffic speed at a given road based on the momentary locations of the users. The system and method of the invention may also calculate and advise the users of preferred roads to take in order to arrive at the requested location with minimum delay.

Claims

1. A system for traffic mapping service, the system comprising:

a plurality of navigation devices ascribed each to one of a plurality of members of the service, respectively; and

a server for receiving information on momentary location of each of said members from said plurality of navigation devices, and for providing a traffic data on a map based on said momentary locations.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server is further for providing a preferred route to arrive at a required destination, based on said locations.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said server is further for receiving from a user member said required destination.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said server is further for estimating said required destination of a user.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein said server is further for choosing a group of members from said plurality of members which share the same group definitions and for providing a preferred route to arrive said destination, based on information received from of said group members.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said preferred route is calculated according to definitions of preferred route given by the user member.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said preferred route is recalculated periodically.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said preferred route is recalculated upon request of the user member.

9. A system according to claim 5, wherein said group definitions are from a list comprising:

momentary locations relevant to a route to said required destination, the type of mobility of the member, direction of travel of the member and distance from said user member.

10. A system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said group definitions is defined by the user member.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said definitions defined by the user member are from a list comprising:

the type of mobility of the member, direction of travel of the member, distance from said user member, the kind of road being traveled by the user.

12. A system according to claim 5, wherein said server is further for choosing said group of members according to specification of the members by the user member.

13. A system according to claim 5, wherein said server is for re-calculating said group of members periodically.

14. A system according to claim 5, wherein said server is for re-calculating said group of members according to at least one of a list comprising changes in situations of said members, changes in traffic, changes in characteristics of members and changes in definitions of said group.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server is for receiving updates on momentary location of each of said members periodically.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said server is further for calculating velocities of the members based on changes in the locations of the member between one update to the next one.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server is further for providing updates of said traffic data periodically.

18. A system according to claim 5, wherein said server is further for receiving alerts and/or messages from at least one of said plurality of members and for providing said preferred route also based on said alerts and/or messages.

19. A method for providing traffic mapping service, the method comprising:

receiving information on location of each of plurality of members of said service; and

providing a traffic map based on said locations.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising providing a preferred route to arrive a required destination, based on said locations.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising receiving from a user member said required destination.

22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising estimating said required destination of a user.

23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising choosing a group of members from said plurality of members which share the same group definitions, wherein said providing a preferred route is based on information received from of said group members.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein said providing a preferred route comprises calculating said preferred route according to definitions of preferred route given by the user member.

25. A method according to claim 20, further comprising recalculating said preferred route periodically.

26. A method according to claim 20, further comprising recalculating said preferred route upon request of the user member.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein said group definitions are from a list comprising:

momentary locations relevant to a route to said required destination, the type of mobility of the member, direction of travel of the member and distance from said user member.

28. A method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said group definitions is defined by the user member.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said definitions defined by the user member are from a list comprising:

the type of mobility of the member, direction of travel of the member, distance from said user member, the kind of road being traveled by the user.

30. A method according to claim 23, wherein said choosing is according to specification of the members by the user member.

31. A method according to claim 23, further comprising re-calculating of said group of members periodically.

32. A method according to claim 23, further comprising re-calculating said group of members according to at least one of a list comprising changes in situations of said members, changes in traffic, changes in characteristics of members and changes in definitions of said group.

33. A method according to claim 19, further comprising receiving updates on momentary location of each of said members periodically.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising calculating velocities of the members based on changes in the locations of the member between one update to the next one.

35. A method according to claim 19, further comprising providing updates of said traffic data periodically.

36. A method according to claim 23, further comprising receiving alerts and/or messages from at least one of said plurality of members and providing said preferred route also based on said alerts and/or messages.