Using location data to determine traffic information
First Claim
1. A method of determining current traffic conditions, said method comprising:
- receiving a location of a mobile unit over a data network;
computing an actual velocity of said mobile unit using said location; and
calculating a parameter using said actual velocity and location, said parameter indicating traffic conditions surrounding said mobile unit, wherein said calculating comprises;
receiving a geographic specification from a user;
retrieving speed limit of a road segment located within the boundaries of said geographic specification;
calculating the difference between said speed limit and said actual velocity; and
selecting a traffic level indicator representative of said difference.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for determining and disseminating current traffic information is presented. A traffic data compilation computer linked to a data network collects location data from mobile units, each of which is associated with an identification number. The computer compiles the location data, calculates the velocity of each mobile unit, compares the velocity of each mobile unit against speed limit data stored in a memory, and stores the difference. The traffic data compilation computer determines the traffic condition based on the difference between the velocity of each mobile unit and the speed limit. In addition, traffic data compilation computer may determine the fastest route between point A and point B under the current traffic conditions. Traffic data compilation computer determines the possible routes between point A and point B, retrieves the velocity data from a database, and derives the estimated travel time for each of the possible routes.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of determining current traffic conditions, said method comprising:
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receiving a location of a mobile unit over a data network;
computing an actual velocity of said mobile unit using said location; and
calculating a parameter using said actual velocity and location, said parameter indicating traffic conditions surrounding said mobile unit, wherein said calculating comprises;
receiving a geographic specification from a user;
retrieving speed limit of a road segment located within the boundaries of said geographic specification;
calculating the difference between said speed limit and said actual velocity; and
selecting a traffic level indicator representative of said difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Global Positioning System;
Time Difference of Arrival;
Angle of Arrival; and
ray tracing method.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data network comprises a wireless communication network.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data network comprises:
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a wireless communication network; and
the Internet.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving occurs at a predetermined time interval.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises accessing road data from a database.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises:
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accessing the speed limit of said location; and
calculating the difference between said actual velocity and said speed limit.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to a mobile unit an image representative of said geographic specification, said image superimposed with said traffic level indicator.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein said traffic level indicator comprises an accident indicator marking an accident site.
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10. The method of claim 8, wherein said traffic level indicator represents a speed range at which said mobile unit is traveling.
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11. The method of claim 8, wherein said geographic specification comprises at least one of:
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a route;
a radius; and
a geographic area having objectively definable boundaries.
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12. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing said geographic specification in a database for repeat use.
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13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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calculating an accuracy indicator based on the number of locations received, said accuracy indicator indicating a possible degree of error; and
transmitting said accuracy indicator to a user interface device over said data network.
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14. The method of claim 13, wherein said accuracy indicator comprises a spread between a maximum velocity and a minimum velocity in a road segment.
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15. The method of claim 13, wherein said accuracy indicator comprises standard deviation of said maximum and minimum velocities of a road segment.
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16. The method of claim 13, wherein said data network comprises the Internet.
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17. The method of claim 13, wherein said user interface device comprises a wireless device.
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18. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an alert signal to said mobile unit if said parameter reaches a preselected value.
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19. A device for determining current traffic condition, said device comprising:
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a processing unit;
a database coupled to said processing unit, said database storing results of calculation performed by said processing unit; and
a memory for storing maps, traffic level indicators, and road data coupled to said processing unit, each of said traffic level indicators being calculated based on a difference between a speed limit at a road segment, obtained from said road data, and an average velocity of vehicles at said road segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
speed limit for a road segment;
distance of a road segment;
location of gas stations;
location of toll booths;
an indication of whether said road segment is a one-way street;
an indication of whether there is a carpool lane on said road segment;
location of traffic lights and Stop signs; and
number of lanes on said road segment.
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27. A method of estimating a travel time between a first geographic location and a second geographic location, said method comprising:
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determining a route between said first and second geographic locations;
receiving locations of a plurality of mobile units along said route over a data network;
computing an average velocity of said plurality of mobile units on said route;
providing a traffic level indicator for said route based on said average velocity and a speed limit along said route; and
deriving said travel time using the distances of said route, and said traffic level indicator. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
calculating a reliability of said travel time;
selecting a reliability indicator representative of the result of said calculating; and
incorporating said reliability indicator into said travel time.
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30. The method of claim 27, further comprising creating a warning package if said average velocity is based on fewer than a minimum number of data points.
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31. The method of claim 27, further comprising creating a warning package if said average velocity is based on a location data received more than a predetermined value of time.
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32. A system for providing current traffic conditions, said system comprising:
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a plurality of mobile units each adapted to provide a current location;
a wireless communication network accessible by said mobile units to report the current locations;
a data network linked to said wireless communication network; and
a processing unit linked to said data network to receive said current locations, said processing unit being adapted to compute a traffic level indicator based on an average velocity derived from said current locations of said mobile units. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
a GPS code receiver;
a location data calculator coupled to said GPS code receiver;
a transmitter coupled to said location data calculator and to a data network; and
a port coupled to said location data calculator and to a user interface device.
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34. The system of claim 33, wherein said user interface device comprises at least one of:
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a display unit;
a Personal Digital Assistant; and
a telephone.
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35. The system of claim 32, wherein said wireless communication network is selected from a group consisting of CDPD, GMS, iDEN, AMPS and CDMA.
Specification