Heterogeneous wireless network for traveler information

• US 6,292,747 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, George IV, Amro, Hatim Yousef
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, DALENA
• Application Number:
  US09/552,860
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 340/902, 340/903, 340/991, 340/992, 340/993, 455/456, 455/457, 455/458
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A wireless network and an associated communication device are disclosed. The communication device is typically mounted in a first vehicle and includes a location device, such as a global positioning system receiver, suitable for determining the first vehicle'"'"'s geographic position, a wireless transceiver enabled to communicate with a wireless transceiver of a second vehicle within a wireless range of the first vehicle, and a processor connected to the wireless transceiver and the location device. The processor is able to use the wireless transceiver and the location device to broadcast travel information of the first vehicle and to identify the presence of the second vehicle. The processor may also be enabled to display the position of the second vehicle on a display screen of the communication device or to enable the first vehicle to communicate with the second vehicle. The communication device may be configure to permit a user of the first vehicle, by clicking on an image of the second vehicle on the display screen, to obtain identification information of the second vehicle or to initiate a communication with the second vehicle. The communication with the traveler in the second vehicle may comprise a voice communication or an electronic message such as an email message. The first vehicle may include one or more environmental sensors connected to the processor that permit the communication device to broadcast weather information to other vehicle in the vicinity. The travel information exchanged among the vehicle may be organized into categories enabling the traveler to restrict information exchange based on one or more of the categories. The restriction criteria may include route criteria, transportation class criteria, and identity criteria.

Claims

1. A communication device for use in a first vehicle, comprising:

a location device suitable for determining the first vehicle'"'"'s geographic position;

a wireless transceiver enabled to communicate with a wireless transceiver of a second vehicle within a wireless range of the first vehicle;

a processor connected to the wireless transceiver and the location device and enabled to broadcast travel information of the first vehicle and detect the presence of the second vehicle and display an image indicating the position of the second vehicle on a display screen of the communication device and further configured to enable a user of the first vehicle, by clicking on the image of the second vehicle, to initiate communication with a user of the second vehicle.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the location device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the location of the second vehicle is displayed on the display screen relative to the position of the first vehicle.

4. The communication device of claim 3 further configured to enable a user of the first vehicle, by clicking on the image of the second vehicle to obtain identity information of the second vehicle.

5. The communication device of claim 4 wherein the identity information includes an electronic registration of the second vehicle.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the user of the second vehicle comprises voice communication.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the user of the second vehicle comprises email communication.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle includes at least one environmental sensor connected to the processor for gathering weather information and further wherein the communication device is enabled broadcast the weather information to the second vehicle.

9. A communication device, for use in a first vehicle, comprising:

a location device suitable for determining the first vehicle'"'"'s geographic position;

a wireless transceiver enabled to communicate with a wireless transceiver of a second vehicle within a wireless range of the first vehicle;

a processor connected to the wireless transceiver and the location device and enabled to broadcast travel information of the first vehicle and to detect the presence of the second vehicle and further enabled to display the position of the second vehicle on a display screen of the communication device and enable the first vehicle to communicate with the second vehicle if the second vehicle satisfies user selectable restriction criteria.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the restriction criteria include route criteria, transportation class criteria, and identity criteria.

11. A network for communicating travel information, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices, each located within a corresponding vehicle, wherein each communication device includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver, a global positioning system receiver, and a display screen; and

a router suitable for communicating with the wireless transceivers in each communication device within range of the router;

wherein

the communication devices are enabled to broadcast location information to the router and the router is enabled to distribute the location information to each of the plurality of vehicles and wherein each vehicle is enabled to receive the location information and, based thereon, to display images on its display screen indicating the relative locations of each vehicle and further wherein each communication device is enabled to initiate communication with a selected other vehicle if a traveler activates the other vehicle'"'"'s image on the display screen.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein the processor of each vehicle is enabled to display identity information of the selected other vehicle.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the identity information includes an electronic registration of the selected other vehicle.

14. The network of claim 11, wherein the communication with the selected other vehicle comprises voice communication.

15. The network of claim 11, wherein the communication with the user of the second vehicle comprises email communication.

16. The network of claim 11, wherein the first vehicle includes at least one environmental sensor connected to the processor for gathering weather information and further wherein the communication device is enabled broadcast the weather information to the other vehicles.

17. A network for communication travel information comprising:

a plurality of communication devices, each located within a corresponding vehicle, wherein each communication device includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver, a global positioning system receiver, and a display screen; and

a router suitable for communicating with the wireless transceivers in each communication device within range of the router;

wherein

the communication devices are enabled to broadcast location information to the router and the router is enabled to distribute the location information to each of the plurality of vehicles and wherein each vehicle is enabled to display images of the other vehicles on the display screen indicating their corresponding locations and further wherein the communication device is enabled to prevent display of a vehicle based on at least one restriction criteria.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the restriction criteria include route criteria, transportation class criteria, and identity criteria.