Real-time ad hoc traffic alert distribution

• US 6,708,107 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Mehravari, Nader, Impson, Jeremy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/114,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20030187570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 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 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A traffic characterization system and method of use for executing a traffic characterization protocol over an ad hoc communications network. Conventional in-vehicle computers and conventional wireless local area network (LAN) transceivers host the traffic characterization system and the messages generated by the system. As a traffic jam occurs, the mobile units send out traffic characterization data in a sequence activated by the content of the messages and traffic characterization protocol of the present invention. All vehicles participating in the traffic characterization system and approaching the traffic jammed area receive the characterization data and have the opportunity to route around the jam.

Claims

1. A traffic condition alert system comprising

a mobile unit having electronic connection to at least one ad hoc communications network, said mobile unit having a mobile unit status;

a communications system executing on said mobile unit, said communications system enabling a flow of communications messages across said at least one ad hoc communications network;

a mobile unit traffic characterization data system executing on said mobile unit, said mobile unit traffic characterization data system setting said mobile unit status, said mobile unit traffic characterization data system creating, transmitting, and receiving mobile unit traffic characterization data, said flow of communications messages containing said mobile unit traffic characterization data, said mobile unit traffic characterization data having a pre-defined relationship to said mobile unit status;

a mobile unit traffic characterization protocol system executing on said mobile unit, said mobile unit traffic characterization protocol system sequencing execution of said mobile unit traffic characterization data system according to said flow of communications messages and said mobile unit status; and

a report system executing on said mobile unit, said report system monitoring said mobile unit status, said report system preparing an interpretation of said mobile unit status and reporting said interpretation to a user of the traffic condition alert system.

2. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 1 wherein said mobile unit comprises an in-vehicle computer.

3. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 1 wherein said communications system comprises:

a wireless local area network (LAN) transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless signals from said ad hoc network; and

a LAN interface for converting said wireless signals to and from said flow of communications messages.

4. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 1 wherein said ad hoc communications network comprises more than one said mobile unit forming a plurality of said mobile units.

5. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 4 wherein said flow of communications messages comprises:

incoming messages and outgoing messages, wherein said incoming messages and said outgoing messages include

a message header, said header conforming to requirements of an ad hoc network protocol, said ad hoc network protocol enabling transmission of said outgoing communications messages over said ad hoc network to said plurality of mobile units;

a message type, said message type having a pre-defined relationship to said mobile unit traffic characterization data;

mobile unit location data, said mobile unit location data including latitude, longitude, and altitude of said mobile unit, said mobile unit location data gathered by a GPS system;

a counter for controlling a retransmission count for said outgoing communications message; and

a timestamp, said timestamp having a pre-defined relationship to a collection time of said mobile unit location data.

6. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 4 wherein said mobile unit traffic characterization data system further comprises:

a communications message reception system for receiving and unpacking said incoming communications messages from said ad hoc network, said incoming messages containing said mobile unit traffic characterization data;

a signal strength detection system for determining a signal strength of said incoming communications message;

a vehicle monitor for determining a differential speed of said mobile unit, said differential speed having a pre-defined relationship to said mobile unit traffic characterization data;

a message creation system for creating an outgoing communications message, said outgoing communications message including said mobile unit traffic characterization data; and

a timer for scheduling execution of said message creation system for periodically transmitting said mobile unit traffic characterization data.

7. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 1 wherein said mobile unit status is selected from a group consisting of JAMMED and NOT JAMMED.

8. The traffic condition alert system as in claim 1 wherein said mobile unit traffic characterization protocol system further comprises:

a procedure control system for controlling said sequencing; and

a traffic characterization database for retaining mobile unit traffic characterization data.

9. A method for processing traffic condition alerts comprising:

initializing an ad hoc communications network interface, said network interface having electronic connection with a mobile unit, said mobile unit having a vehicle monitor, said vehicle monitor computing traffic characterization data;

initializing a database, said database having electronic connection with said mobile unit, said database containing a mobile unit status, said mobile unit status being related to said traffic characterization data;

listening for incoming mobile unit traffic characterization data messages, said incoming messages arriving from said ad hoc network;

receiving said incoming messages, said incoming messages containing location- and time-tagged mobile unit traffic characterization data;

processing said incoming messages according to a mobile unit traffic characterization protocol;

transmitting outgoing mobile unit traffic characterization data messages periodically over said ad hoc network according to a said mobile unit traffic characterization protocol, said outgoing messages containing said mobile unit status, a location of said mobile unit, and a timestamp;

updating said database according to said location- and time-tagged mobile unit traffic characterization data incoming messages;

transmitting said outgoing messages when said mobile unit status is set;

updating said database when said mobile unit status is set; and

creating a report, said report created on demand, said report created according to said mobile unit status.

10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising:

resetting said mobile unit status setting when a plurality of traffic alert thresholds are met; and

accessing at least one message timer for triggering the step of transmitting outgoing mobile unit traffic characterization data messages periodically.

11. A mobile unit for carrying out the method according to claim 9.

12. A communications network comprising at least one node according to claim 9.

13. Electromagnetic signals traveling over a computer network of mobile units comprising:

said electromagnetic signals carrying information for the practice of the method of claim 9.

14. A computer readable medium containing instructions for the practice of the method of claim 9.

15. A mobile unit for processing traffic characterization data comprising:

an ad hoc communications network interface having electronic connection with the mobile unit, said network interface enabling exchange of incoming and outgoing mobile unit traffic characterization data among mobile units on said network;

a traffic characterization data system for receiving said incoming mobile unit traffic characterization data;

a vehicle monitor for collecting internal mobile unit traffic characterization data;

a mobile unit traffic characterization protocol, said mobile unit traffic characterization protocol setting a mobile unit status, said mobile unit status being a function of said incoming mobile unit traffic characterization data and said internal mobile unit traffic characterization data; and

a report system for creating reports from said mobile unit status.

16. A communications message for exchanging mobile unit traffic characterization data using a mobile unit traffic characterization protocol, said message comprising:

a message header, said message header formatted according to a communications protocol,

a time- and location-tagged mobile unit traffic characterization data field, said mobile unit traffic characterization data field concatenated to said header to form a partial message; and

a counter field for preventing system loops, said counter field concatenated to said partial message to form said communications message, said communications message formatted for electronic transmission on a communications network, said communications network connecting a plurality of mobile units one with another, said plurality of mobile units having a common understanding of said communications protocol.

17. The communications message of claim 16 wherein said mobile unit traffic characterization field further comprises:

a message type selected from a group consisting of JAMMED and NOT JAMMED;

a timestamp, said timestamp having a pre-defined temporal relationship with said mobile unit traffic characterization data;

a latitude, said latitude having a pre-defined latitudinal relationship with said mobile unit traffic characterization data; and

a longitude, said longitude having a pre-defined longitudinal relationship with said mobile unit traffic characterization data.

18. The communications message of claim 16 wherein said communications protocol comprises an ad hoc network routing protocol.

19. The communications message of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of mobile units comprises:

a vehicle;

a computer installed in said vehicle;

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, said GPS system including an antenna and a GPS interface, said GPS interface providing electronic interconnection between said antenna and said computer, said computer receiving said latitude and said longitude from said antenna through said GPS interface; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) system, said LAN system having electronic communication with communications network, said LAN system having electronic communication with said computer, said LAN system having a LAN receiver, said LAN system having a LAN interface, said LAN interface providing electronic interconnection between said LAN receiver and said computer, said computer receiving said communications messages from said LAN receiver through said LAN interface.