DETERMINING A STATUS OF ADHERENCE TO A TRAFFIC REGULATION

• US 20110153116A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Quenton Lanier, Bedingfield, James Carlton SR.
• Application Number:
  US12/642,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153116A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

An indication of a traffic regulation, such as a speed limit, is transmitted to a vehicle. Equipment on the vehicle determines whether the vehicle is in adherence to the traffic regulation, and appropriate information and/or cues are provided to the driver of the vehicle. Cues can be audible, visual, mechanical (vibration), or a combination thereof. The equipment on the vehicle can be a stand alone receiver unit, a part of the vehicle, a mobile communications device, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a traffic regulation;

determining a status of adherence by a vehicle to the received traffic regulation; and

when it is determined that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation, providing a cue indicating that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising, when it is determined that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation, providing at least one of an audible, a visual, or a mechanical indication of the traffic regulation.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising, when it is determined that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation, providing an indication of a repercussion of not adhering to the traffic regulation.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the repercussion is determined in accordance with a driving record of an individual driver.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising, when it is determined that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation, controlling the vehicle to bring the vehicle in adherence with the traffic regulation.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising, when it is determined that the vehicle is in adherence with the traffic regulation, providing at least one of an audible, a visual, or a mechanical indication of the traffic regulation.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising storing the status of adherence to the traffic regulation.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the indication of a traffic regulation is received by a receiver on the vehicle; and

the cue is provided via at least one of audibly, visually, or mechanically via the vehicle.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the indication of a traffic regulation is received by a communications device within the vehicle; and

the cue is provided via at least one of audibly visually, or mechanically via the communications device.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

an indication of to provide a cue is provided from the communications device to the vehicle, and

the cue is provided via at least one of audibly visually, or mechanically via the vehicle.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the vehicle.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the speed is determined via a global positioning system.

13. A processor comprising:

an input/output portion configured to;

receive an indication of a traffic regulation; and

when it is determined that a vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation, provide a cue indicating that the vehicle is not in adherence with the traffic regulation;

a processing portion configured to;

determine a speed of the vehicle; and

determine a status of adherence to the received traffic regulation by a vehicle in accordance with the determined speed; and

a memory portion configured to store a history of adherence status.

14. The processor in accordance with claim 13, wherein the processor is a stand alone receiving unit within the vehicle.

15. The processor in accordance with claim 13, wherein the processor is a mobile communications device.

16. The processor in accordance with claim 13, the processing portion further configured to provide an indication of a repercussion of not adhering to the traffic regulation.

17. The processor in accordance with claim 13, wherein the repercussion is determined in accordance with a driving record of an individual driver.

18. The processor in accordance with claim 13, wherein the speed is determined via a global positioning system.