ESTIMATION OF TRAVEL TIMES USING BLUETOOTH
First Claim
1. A system to determine a traffic condition from a first vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
- a traffic management system having a processor;
a first communication link at a first roadside location that sends a first inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the first roadside location, the first communication link having a processor that generates a first timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the first timestamped signal to the traffic management system;
a second communication link at a second roadside location that sends an inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the second roadside location, the second communication link having a processor that generates a second timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the second timestamped signal to the traffic management system; and
wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines a travel time between the first and the second roadside locations using at least the first timestamped signal and the second timestamped signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for estimating travel time using at least two remote systems to record the times amps associated with obtaining identifying information of a wireless Bluetooth enabled, or other WPAN technology, electronic device in a vehicle. A remote system in one embodiment is a Bluetooth enhanced traffic controller. Characteristics of Bluetooth technology, such as a unique address for each Bluetooth capable device are used to detect a vehicle with a Bluetooth device by at least a first and a second remote system. Vehicle identifying data including at least a time stamp is transmitted by the remote systems to a central system. The central system determines a travel time, or an estimated travel delay. Travel time related data is provided by the central system to a display, such as a variable or dynamic message sign.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system to determine a traffic condition from a first vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic management system having a processor; a first communication link at a first roadside location that sends a first inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the first roadside location, the first communication link having a processor that generates a first timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the first timestamped signal to the traffic management system; a second communication link at a second roadside location that sends an inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the second roadside location, the second communication link having a processor that generates a second timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the second timestamped signal to the traffic management system; and wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines a travel time between the first and the second roadside locations using at least the first timestamped signal and the second timestamped signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system to determine a traffic condition from vehicles carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic management system having a processor; a plurality of communication links, each of the plurality of communication links located at a different roadside location and each of the plurality of communication links comprising; a communication circuit that sends an inquiry message intended for Bluetooth enabled communication devices and receives a communication from any nearby Bluetooth enabled communication device that includes the identity of the nearby Bluetooth enabled communication, and a processor that generates a timestamped signal by timestamping the communication, wherein the communication circuit transmits the timestamped signal to the traffic management system; wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines travel times between the roadside locations using the timestamped signals received from each of the plurality of communication links. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A traffic controller being connected to a traffic light to determine a traffic condition from a nearby vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic control unit to control the traffic light; a Bluetooth communication circuit, the Bluetooth communication circuit transmitting a Bluetooth inquiry message, receiving a response signal from the Bluetooth enabled communicating device from the nearby vehicle and providing a signal that identifies the Bluetooth enabled communicating device; a processor that timestamps the signal to form an output signal; and a communication device to transmit the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification