Method and apparatus for presenting traffic information in a vehicle

• US 6,442,473 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors, Lisle, Linda Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/239,330
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/200, 701/207, 701/211, 342/46, 342/57, 342/69, 340/901, 340/906, 340/907, 340/917, 340/919, 340/988, 340/905
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A method and apparatus for acquiring a traffic signal for presentation in a vehicular mounted display. A receiver is located on the vehicle for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal proximate to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a location and direction determining systems for determining a location and direction of the vehicle. A decoding systems is present for decoding the traffic message. A selection systems is used for determining an appropriate traffic signal display for the vehicular mounted display according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal. The traffic signal display is displayed on a display in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring a traffic signal for presentation in a vehicular mounted display comprising:

a receiver for receiving a traffic message from the traffic signal proximate to a vehicle;

location and direction determining means for determining a location and direction of the vehicle;

decoding means for decoding the traffic message;

means for determining an appropriate traffic signal display for the vehicular mounted display according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal; and

the vehicular mounted display for displaying the traffic signal display;

wherein the traffic signal conveys driving rules to drivers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the traffic signal is a fixed traffic sign.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle is a sign or means for directing a traffic behavior of drivers of vehicles which is at least in part visible to drivers of the vehicles, and the determining means determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a traffic signal type of the proximate traffic signal.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a state of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

2. A system for acquiring a traffic signal for presentation in a vehicular mounted display comprising:

a receiver for receiving a traffic message from the traffic signal proximate to a vehicle;

location and direction determining means for determining a location and direction of the vehicle;

decoding means for decoding the traffic message;

means for determining an appropriate traffic signal display for the vehicular mounted display according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal;

the vehicular mounted display for displaying the traffic signal display;

a receiver at the traffic signal for receiving vehicular messages; and

means, responsive to the reception of vehicle messages, for changing the traffic signal pattern.

4. A method in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of.

receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal having a directional component;

and

displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

decoding the traffic message; and

determining an appropriate display for the traffic message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the traffic signal is a signal light.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the traffic signal is a speed limit sign.

28. The method of claim 4, wherein the traffic signal is proximate to the vehicle, and is a sign or means for directing a traffic behavior of drivers of vehicles which are at least in part visible to drivers of the vehicles.

29. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a traffic signal type of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a state of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

7. A method in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle, wherein the traffic message includes an indication of a state of the traffic signal.

8. A method in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle, wherein the traffic signal is a stop sign.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the traffic message is an indication of a presence of the stop sign.

11. A method in a vehicular computing platform for displaying traffic messages from a traffic signal in a vehicle, the method comprising the vehicular computing platform implemented steps of:

receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal;

determining an appropriate presentation for the traffic message; and

responsive to determining an appropriate display for the traffic message, presenting the traffic message, according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal, within the vehicle using the appropriate presentation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the appropriate presentation is on a display within the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the appropriate presentation is an audio presentation.

31. The method of claim 11, wherein the traffic signal is proximate to the vehicle, and is a sign or means for directing a traffic behavior of drivers of vehicles which are at least in part visible to drivers of the vehicles, and the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a traffic signal type of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

32. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a state of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

14. A data processing system in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

displaying means for displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle;

wherein the traffic signal conveys driving rules to drivers.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising:

decoding means for decoding the traffic message; and

determining means for determining an appropriate display for the traffic message.

16. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the traffic signal is a signal light.

20. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the traffic signal is a speed limit sign.

33. The method of claim 14, wherein the traffic signal is proximate to the vehicle, and is a sign or means for directing a traffic behavior of drivers of vehicles which are at least in part visible to drivers of the vehicles, and the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a traffic signal type of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

34. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining step determines the appropriate traffic signal display according to a state of the traffic signal proximate to the vehicle.

17. A data processing system in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

displaying means for displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle, wherein the traffic message includes an indication of a state of the traffic signal.

18. A data processing system in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

displaying means for displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle, wherein the traffic signal is a stop sign.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the traffic message is an indication of a presence of the stop sign.

21. A data processing system in a vehicular computing platform for displaying traffic messages from a traffic signal in a vehicle, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal;

determining means for determining an appropriate presentation, the presentation includes elements determined according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal, for the traffic message; and

responsive to determining an appropriate display for the traffic message, presenting means for presenting the traffic message within the vehicle using the appropriate presentation;

wherein the traffic signal conveys driving rules to drivers.

22. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein the appropriate presentation is on a display within the vehicle.

23. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein the appropriate presentation is an audio presentation.

24. A computer program product in a computer readable medium in a vehicle for displaying traffic signal information, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal; and

second instructions for displaying the traffic message on a display within the vehicle;

wherein the traffic signal conveys driving rules to drivers.

25. A computer program product in a computer readable medium in a vehicular computing platform for displaying traffic messages from a traffic signal in a vehicle, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a traffic message from a traffic signal;

second instructions for determining an appropriate presentation for the traffic message, the presentation includes elements determined according to the location and direction of the vehicle relative to the traffic signal; and

third instructions, responsive to determining an appropriate display for the traffic message, for presenting the traffic message within the vehicle using the appropriate presentation;

wherein the traffic signal conveys driving rules to drivers.