IN-VEHICLE ALERT DELIVERY MAXIMIZING COMMUNICATIONS EFFICIENCY AND SUBSCRIBER PRIVACY

• US 20090322560A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Watkins, Gary A., Tengler, Steven C., Johnson, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US12/165,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• 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 system and method are provided for enhancing subscriber privacy while delivering location-based in-vehicle alerts to the subscribers of a mobile traffic reporting system by disassociating subscriber information from location information transmitted by a traffic probe vehicle. In various examples, the in-vehicle alerts include Flash Flood alerts, Hurricane alerts, Amber alerts, as well as non-crisis alerts, such as traffic hotspots, locations of inexpensive gas stations, and various points of interest.

Claims

1. In a mobile traffic reporting system, a method for enhancing subscriber privacy while delivering in-vehicle alerts to a traffic probe vehicle associated with a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving input of an alert configuration from the subscriber;

disassociating subscriber information from traffic probe information by assigning a unique identifier to a traffic probe message originating from the traffic probe vehicle, the traffic probe information in the message comprising the vehicle'"'"'s location, speed, and direction of travel;

receiving the traffic probe message with the unique identifier;

filtering a plurality of alerts based on the alert configuration corresponding to the traffic probe message having the unique identifier; and

delivering one or more filtered alerts to the traffic probe vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of alerts comprises one of a flash flood alert, a hurricane alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, and a point of interest alert.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying whether the traffic probe vehicle is in a location corresponding to the plurality of alerts.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising foregoing multiple deliveries of the one or more filtered alerts when the traffic probe vehicle is in the location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically assigning a new unique identifier to the traffic probe message originating from the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the traffic probe message and delivering the one or more filtered alerts during the course of a single communication session.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing time stamp information from the traffic probe message; and

initiating a separate communication session for delivering the one or more filtered alerts.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message from the traffic probe vehicle, the acknowledgment message comprising a confirmation of delivery of the one or more filtered alerts.

9. In a mobile traffic reporting system, a method for enhancing subscriber privacy while delivering in-vehicle alerts to a traffic probe vehicle associated with a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving input of an alert configuration from the subscriber;

disassociating subscriber information from traffic probe information by assigning a unique identifier to a traffic probe message originating from the traffic probe vehicle, the traffic probe information in the message comprising the vehicle'"'"'s location, speed, and direction of travel;

in a first communication session, receiving the traffic probe message with the unique identifier;

filtering a plurality of alerts based on the alert configuration corresponding to the traffic probe message having the unique identifier;

removing time stamp information from the traffic probe message; and

in a second communication session, delivering the one or more filtered alerts to the traffic probe vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of alerts comprises one of a flash flood alert, a hurricane alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, and a point of interest alert.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising identifying whether the traffic probe vehicle is in a location corresponding to the plurality of alerts.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising foregoing multiple deliveries of the one or more filtered alerts when the traffic probe vehicle is in the location.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising periodically assigning a new unique identifier to the traffic probe message originating from the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message from the traffic probe vehicle, the acknowledgment message comprising a confirmation of delivery of the one or more filtered alerts.

15. An in-vehicle alert delivery system comprising:

a traffic probe vehicle associated with a subscriber to a mobile traffic reporting system, the traffic probe vehicle periodically transmitting a traffic probe message; and

a call center for delivering in-vehicle alerts to the traffic probe vehicle in response to receiving the traffic probe message, wherein the call center, disassociates subscriber information from traffic probe information by assigning a unique identifier to the traffic probe message and filtering a plurality of alerts based on a predetermined alert configuration, the predetermined alert configuration corresponding to the traffic probe message having the unique identifier.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of alerts comprises one of a flash flood alert, a hurricane alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, and a point of interest alert.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the call center identifies whether the traffic probe vehicle is in a location corresponding to the plurality of alerts.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the call center foregoes multiple deliveries of the one or more filtered alerts when the traffic probe vehicle is in the location.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the unique identifier is temporary.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the call center removes time stamp information from the traffic probe message and initiates a separate communication session for delivering the one or more filtered alerts.