Network-based traffic congestion notification service

• US 6,253,146 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Katseff, Howard Paul, Markowitz, Robert Edward, Robinson, Bethany Scott, Hanson, Karrie Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/455,243
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/204, 701/211, 701/208, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 340/988, 340/995, 340/990, 340/905, 455/409, 455/412
• US Class Current: 701/202
• 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: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities

Abstract

A server platform in the PSTN performs the service of calling the subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested. The service makes an initial call when the fastest commute route is congested. It also makes additional calls each time it finds a better alternate route. The server can accommodate any subscriber commuting pattern. If a street on the subscriber'"'"'s customary route is found to be congested, then the server sequentially tests additional streets having geographic coordinates nearby, dynamically searching for an alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion. The server has a voice response unit (VRU) in the platform, to announce to the subscriber that the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested. Following an initial call to the subscriber, the server continues to search for better alternate routes having the least congestion and it calls the subscriber again if it finds a better alternate route.

Claims

1. A network platform server in a PSTN for calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

a storage in the platform, storing subscriber records organized by scheduled commuting time of a subscriber;

highway records stored in the storage, organized by street name;

digital voice records stored in the storage, having pre-recorded street names, standard descriptions of congestion conditions, and stock phrases needed to announce to a subscriber that the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested;

a data processor in the platform, for running a traffic watching process that collects congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in a region and storing in each highway record, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

said data processor running a clock watching process that searches all subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with the scheduled commuting time in the respective record, and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

said data processor running a call-decision process that analyzes each selected subscriber record identified by the clock watching process to determine that the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested;

said data processor sequentially testing alternate routes having geographic coordinates near to the subscriber'"'"'s customary route, to search for an alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion;

said data processor running a subscriber calling process that responds to the determination of congestion of the subscriber'"'"'s customary route, by accessing the subscriber records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number which it outputs to a voice response unit;

whereby recorded phrases are announced by the voice response unit to the subscriber describing the congestion and the alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion.

2. The network platform server of claim 1, which further comprises:

an algorithm to advise the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference by storing in the platform the subscriber'"'"'s specification of the way the subscriber usually chooses his routes to avoid or accept tolls;

the algorithm simulating the subscriber'"'"'s choices of routes according to the specification;

the algorithm relating a number of minutes required to detour a toll route, with a value in dollars of that lost time to the subscriber.

3. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

collecting congestion measurements in a network server for respective segments of highways in a region and storing each measurement in a highway record;

searching subscriber records in the network server for matches of the time-of-day with scheduled commuting times in the respective record, and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

analyzing subscriber records in the network server identified by the searching step, and for a street name in a subscriber record for a scheduled commute, searching highway records for a congestion measurement, comparing it to a threshold value, and sequentially testing additional streets having geographic coordinates nearby, to identify an alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion; and

accessing the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number and outputting it to a voice response unit to announce to the subscriber the street segment having the congestion and the alternate route which has been found.

4. The network server method of claim 3, which further comprises:

following an initial call to the subscriber, the network server continuing to search for better alternate routes having the least congestion and calling the subscriber again if a better alternate route is found.

5. A network platform server in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

a first database of subscriber records organized by customary time for commuting;

a second database of highway records organized by street name;

a third database of digital voice records for a voice response unit (VRU) associated with the platform, that have pre-recorded street names, standard descriptions of congestion conditions, and stock phrases needed to announce to the subscriber that the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested;

a data processor for running a traffic watching daemon that collects congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in the region and stores in each highway record of the second database, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

said data processor running a clock watching daemon that searches all subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with a customary commuting time in the respective record, and selects those subscriber records having a current match;

said data processor running a call-decision process that analyzes each selected subscriber record identified by the clock watching daemon, including an algorithm for advising the subscriber of routes that that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference;

said data processor running a subscriber calling process that accesses the first database of subscriber records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number which it outputs to the VRU;

whereby recorded phrases are prepared by the VRU to announce to the subscriber a street segment having the congestion and an alternate route suggested for the congested street segment.

6. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

running a traffic watching daemon that collects congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in the region and stores in each highway record of a database, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

running a clock watching daemon that searches all subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with customary times of commutes and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

running a call-decision process that analyzes each selected subscriber record identified by the clock watching daemon, including an algorithm for advising the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference;

running a subscriber calling process that accesses the first database of subscriber records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number which it outputs to a VRU;

whereby recorded phrases are prepared by the VRU to announce to the subscriber the street segment having congestion and an alternate route suggested for the congested street segment.

7. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

collecting congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in the region and storing in each highway record of a database, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

searching all subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with a customary commuting time and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

analyzing each selected subscriber record identified, including an algorithm for advising the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference;

accessing the first database of subscriber records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number which is output to a VRU;

whereby recorded phrases are prepared by the VRU to announce to the subscriber the street segment having congestion and an alternate route suggested for the congested street segment.

8. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

running a traffic watching daemon that collects congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in the region and stores in each highway record of a database, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

running a clock watching daemon that searches all subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with a customary time and selects those subscriber records having a current match;

running a call-decision process that analyzes each selected subscriber record identified by the clock watching daemon, including an algorithm for advising the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference;

said call-decision daemon using of “

toll-adjusted travel times”

, wherein each time a toll road is encountered in a path, the daemon adds an additional amount of time to the computed travel time to obtain the toll-adjusted travel time, the additional amount being the toll paid on the route multiplied by a value specified by the subscriber;

running a subscriber calling process that accesses the first database of subscriber records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number which outputs to a VRU;

whereby recorded phases are concatenated by VRU to announce to the subscriber the street segment having congestion and an alternative route suggested for the congested street segment.

9. The network server method of claim 8, wherein the subscriber calls the server using a cellular phone while driving, thereby eliminating the need for the subscriber to interact with the service before each commute in order to set up traffic monitoring.

10. The network server method of claim 8, wherein the server uses position estimation to determine the vehicle'"'"'s current location using the subscriber'"'"'s starting time and the server'"'"'s estimates of traffic conditions.

11. The network server method of claim 8, wherein the server remembers routes commonly used by a subscriber when he calls in to the server to set up traffic monitoring, thereby simplifying the interactions by requiring a choice of among only a few routes the subscriber commonly uses instead of all possible routes.

12. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

collecting congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in a region and storing in a highway record, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

searching subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with a customary commuting time in the respective record, and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

determining that traffic congestion exists along a commuting path customarily used by a subscriber identified in said searching;

determining the identified subscriber'"'"'s present location along said commuting path;

determining whether the identified subscriber has passed said traffic congestion;

accessing the identified subscriber'"'"'s records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s mobile telephone number;

calling the identified subscriber'"'"'s mobile telephone and announcing the highway segment having congestion and announcing alternate routes for the congested segment.

13. The network server method of claim 12, which further comprises:

following an initial call to the subscriber, the network server continuing to search for better alternate routes having the least congestion and calling the subscriber again if a better alternate route is found.

14. The network server method of claim 13, which further comprises:

an algorithm to advise the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference by storing in the platform the subscriber'"'"'s specification of the way the subscriber usually chooses his routes to avoid or accept tolls;

the algorithm simulating the subscriber'"'"'s choices of routes according to the specification;

the algorithm relating a number of minutes required to detour a toll route, with a value in dollars of that lost time to the subscriber.

15. A network server method in the PSTN for performing a service of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

collecting congestion measurements for respective segments of highways in a region and storing in a highway record, a congestion metric for the geographic coordinates of each segment of the respective highway;

searching subscriber records for matches of the time-of-day with a customary commuting time in the respective record, and selecting those subscriber records having a current match;

determining that traffic congestion exists along a commuting path customarily used by a subscriber identified in said searching, including an algorithm to advise the subscriber of routes that avoid tolls according to the subscriber'"'"'s preference by storing in the platform the subscriber'"'"'s specification of the way the subscriber usually chooses his routes to avoid or accept tolls, the algorithm simulating the subscriber'"'"'s choices of routes according to the specification, the algorithm relating a number of minutes required to detour a toll route, with a value in dollars of that lost time to the subscriber;

determining the identified subscriber'"'"'s present location along said commuting path;

determining whether the identified subscriber has passed said traffic congestion;

accessing the identified subscriber'"'"'s records to obtain the subscriber'"'"'s mobile telephone number;

calling the identified subscriber'"'"'s mobile telephone and announcing the highway segment having congestion and announcing alternate routes for the congested segment.

16. A method of doing business in a telecommunications network of calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s scheduled travel route is congested, comprising:

collecting congestion measurements in a telecommunications network for respective segments of roadways in a region;

analyzing scheduled travel of a subscriber over said roadway segments for a congestion condition and identifying an alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion; and

calling the subscriber and announcing the roadway segment having the congestion condition and the alternate route which has been found.

17. The method of doing business of claim 16, which further comprises:

following an initial call to the subscriber, continuing to search for better alternate routes having less congestion and calling the subscriber again if a better alternate route is found.

18. A network platform server in a network for calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

a storage in the platform, storing subscriber records organized by scheduled commuting time of a subscriber and highway records organized by street location;

a data processor in the platform, storing in each highway record, a congestion metric for segments of respective highways;

said data processor matching time-of-day with scheduled commuting time in the respective record and selecting those subscriber records having a match;

said data processor determining whether a subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested;

said data processor searching for an alternate route near to a subscriber'"'"'s customary route, the alternate route having an acceptable level of congestion;

a voice response unit coupled to said data processor to announce a congestion condition and an alternate route to a subscriber in response to determining that a subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested.

19. A network platform method in a network for calling a subscriber if the subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested, comprising:

storing subscriber records organized by scheduled commuting time of a subscriber and highway records organized by street location;

storing in each highway record, a congestion metric for segments of respective highways;

matching time-of-day with scheduled commuting time in the respective record and selecting those subscriber records having a match;

determining whether a subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested;

searching for an alternate route near to a subscriber'"'"'s customary route, the alternate route having an acceptable level of congestion; and

announcing a congestion condition and an alternate route to a subscriber in response to determining that a subscriber'"'"'s customary commuting route is congested.