SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TRAFFIC NOTIFICATIONS TO MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20150373502A1
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: WORMALD, Christopher R., LOBERTO, Arcangelo, REDDY, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices is provided. The system obtains device data from a plurality of mobile devices within a similar area, gathered using, e.g., a GPS system. According to the speed that the mobile devices are travelling and the location of the similar area, traffic events can be identified and other mobile devices notified to provide dynamic updates as traffic situations change. Follow up notifications can be provided to update the user regarding the progress of traffic congestion, detours can be suggested, and various alerts provided. The mobile device may be connected to or part of a vehicle and leverage the notification system to provide different types of alerts and to notify users using various mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining location based notifications, the method comprising:

in response to determining a low fuel event by a wireless device in a vehicle, sending the location of the vehicle to a notification system remote to the wireless device; and

receiving a notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device regarding road congestion, the notification including a location of at least one fuel station relative to the location to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an updated notification regarding a change in the notification indicative of creating a detour to the at least one fuel station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification based on a type of fuel used by the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification based on user preference for a brand of fuel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to determining a low fuel event by a wireless device in a vehicle includes turning on a location determining application prior to sending the location of the vehicle to a notification system remote to the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a map with the location of the vehicle.

7. A method for obtaining location based notifications, the method comprising:

receiving a traffic notification from a notification system, the notification having been determined using a location and speed data sent by a wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device, the traffic notification including a detour; and

receiving an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification indicative of avoiding the detour.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising automatically turning on a location determining application on the wireless device, to obtain the location for the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending fuel level data for a vehicle communicable with the wireless device to the notification system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fuel level data is obtained via a short range connection between an in-vehicle system and the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises an indication of at least one refueling station associated with at least one criterion provided to the notification system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a route associated with the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification comprises information associated with traffic congestion in a zone associated with the location for the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is within the traffic congestion.

15. A notification system comprising a processor, a communication interface, and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for operating said processor to:

determine a low fuel event by a wireless device in a vehicle;

in response to low fuel event, send the location of the vehicle to a notification system remote to the wireless device; and

receive a notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device regarding road congestion, the notification including a location of at least one fuel station relative to the location to the vehicle.

16. The notification system of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a notification based on a type of fuel used by the vehicle.

17. The notification system of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a notification based on user preference for a brand of fuel.

18. A notification system comprising a processor, a communication interface, and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for operating said processor to:

receive a traffic notification from a notification system, the notification having been determined using a location and speed data sent by a wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device, the traffic notification including a detour; and

receive an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification indicative of avoiding the detour.

19. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for providing traffic notifications, said computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

in response to determining a low fuel event by a wireless device in a vehicle, sending the location of the vehicle to a notification system remote to the wireless device; and

receiving a notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device regarding road congestion, the notification including a location of at least one fuel station relative to the location to the vehicle.

20. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for providing traffic notifications, said computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

receiving a traffic notification from a notification system, the notification having been determined using a location and speed data sent by a wireless device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other wireless device, the traffic notification including a detour; and

receiving an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification indicative of avoiding the detour.