System and method for disseminating traffic information

• US 6,587,780 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trovato, Karen I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/829,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/202, 701/208, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 340/901, 340/905, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• 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 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

Automatic personal advisories relating to traffic conditions are provided at pre-specified times via avenues of communication specified by the users. Use is made of a map database to generate routes and various types of advisories. Traffic conditions may be evaluated by comparing current speed data against nominal speed data.

Claims

1. A method for disseminating traffic information to users, comprising the steps of:

maintaining at least one database comprising;

a plurality of trip description structures;

information regarding conditions of travel associated with at least one of the trip description structures in view of current information;

respective trip data corresponding to at least one trip for each of a plurality of users, the trip data being communicated by the plurality of users and including, for each user;

at least one geographic identification,

at least one critical time selected from the group consisting of a start time for the at least one trip, an arrival time for the at least one trip, a desired start time for the at least one trip, and a day of the week when the at least one trip is to be undertaken, and

at least one communication specification selected by that user,

processing the trip data, at a predetermined time relative to the critical time and responsive to the conditions of travel, to identify at least one situation relating to the trip data; and

contacting at least one user at a second time relative to the critical time, responsive to the situation and in accordance with the communication specification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting a user further comprises communicating at least one user-specified advisory type via at least one user-specified avenue of communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying an alternate or preferred route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying information about a delay.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the trip data further comprises identification of appropriate ones of the trip description structures; and

processing the trip data comprises checking the appropriate ones of the trip description structures against the conditions of travel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing comprises comparing current speed with nominal speed, for appropriate ones of the trip description structures.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out using at least one data processing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the critical time is stored as a range of times.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the trip data includes more than one critical time and a respective communication specification for each critical time.

10. A data processing device comprising:

at least one memory for embodying at least one database in a form readable by the data processing device, the database comprising;

a plurality of trip description structures;

information regarding conditions of travel associated with at least one of the trip description structures in view of current information;

respective trip data corresponding to at least one trip for each of a plurality of users, the trip data being communicated by the plurality of users and including, for each user;

at least one geographic identification,

at least one critical time selected from the group consisting of a start time for the at least one trip, an arrival time for the at least one trip, a desired start time for the at least one trip, and a day of the week when the at least one trip is to be undertaken, and

at least one communication specification selected by that user,

at least one processor adapted to perform the following operations

processing the trip data, at a predetermined time relative to the critical time and responsive to the conditions of travel, to identify at least one situation relating to the trip data; and

causing at least one user to be contacted at a second time relative to the critical time, responsive to the situation and in accordance with the communication specification;

at least one communications portal for effecting contact with users and receiving the information regarding the conditions of travel.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein contact with the user further comprises communicating at least one user-specified advisory type via at least one user-specified avenue of communication.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying an alternate or preferred route.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying information about a delay.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein

the trip data further comprises identification of appropriate ones of the trip description structures; and

processing the trip data comprises checking the appropriate ones of the trip description structures against the conditions of travel.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the processing includes comparing current speed with nominal speed, for appropriate ones of the trip description structures.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the critical time is stored as a range of times.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the trip data includes more than one critical time and a respective communication specification for each critical time.

18. A medium, readable by a data processing device and embodying code for carrying out operations, the operations comprising:

maintaining at least one database comprising;

a plurality of trip description structures;

information regarding conditions of travel associated with at least one of the trip description structures in view of current information;

respective trip data corresponding to at least one trip for each of a plurality of users, the trip data being communicated by the plurality of users and including, for each user;

at least one geographic identification,

at least one critical time selected from the group consisting of a start time for the at least one trip, an arrival time for the at least one trip, a desired start time for the at least one trip, and a day of the week when the at least one trip is to be undertaken, and

at least one communication specification selected by that user,

processing the trip data, at a predetermined time relative to the critical time and responsive to the conditions of travel, to identify at least one situation relating to the trip data; and

contacting at least one user at a second time relative to the critical time, responsive to the situation and in accordance with the communication specification.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein contacting a user further comprises communicating at least one user-specified advisory type via at least one user-specified avenue of communication.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying an alternate or preferred route.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein communication of the situation includes specifying information about a delay.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein

the trip data further comprises identification of appropriate ones of the trip description structures; and

processing the trip data comprises checking the appropriate ones of the trip description structures against the conditions of travel.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein the information relating to conditions of travel is derived from comparing current speed with nominal speed, for appropriate ones of the trip description structures.

24. The medium of claim 18, wherein the critical time is stored as a range of times.

25. The medium of claim 18, wherein the trip data includes more than one critical time and a respective communication specification for each critical time.