Using location data to determine traffic and route information

• US 6,862,524 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At Road Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Wenbin, Howlett, Julia, Yang, Xinnong, Nagda, Paresh, Fan, Rodric C., Fay, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US10/436,114
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 342/357.13, 342/357.07, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.18, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

System and methods for determining and disseminating current traffic information and/or route information are presented. For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, traffic condition information is collected from mobile units that provide their location or position information. The traffic condition may be determined, for example, based on the difference between the velocity of each mobile unit and the speed limit corresponding to their location. Furthermore, the fastest routes between two locations may be determined and provided based on historical and/or current conditions and provided to a mobile unit. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, route information may be utilized to determine whether a mobile unit (e.g., associated with a vehicle) is allowed or prohibited from traveling along a certain route.

Claims

1. A method of determining a hazardous material transportation violation, the method comprising:

receiving location data from a mobile unit over a data network;

retrieving hazardous material rules based on the location data;

comparing the hazardous material rules with a hazardous material being transported with the mobile unit to determine if the hazardous material rules are violated; and

changing the frequency of receiving location data from the mobile unit depending upon a proximity of the mobile unit to a hazardous material prohibited area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a designated party if the hazardous material rules are violated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route for exiting an area defined by the hazardous material rules; and

providing the route to the mobile unit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining of the route is further based on traffic conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a geographic specification from the mobile unit; and

providing hazardous material rules to the mobile unit for the geographic specification.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the hazardous material rules comprises a map of the geographic specification with the hazardous material rules displayed graphically on the map.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

computing an actual velocity of the mobile unit using the location data; and

calculating a parameter using the actual velocity and the location data, the parameter indicating traffic conditions surrounding the mobile unit, wherein the calculating comprises;

receiving a geographic specification from the mobile unit;

retrieving a speed limit of a road segment located within boundaries of the geographic specification;

calculating a difference between the speed limit and the actual velocity; and

selecting a traffic level indicator representative of the difference.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data is derived with at least one of a global positioning system, a time difference of arrival, an angle of arrival, and a ray tracing method.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data network comprises a wireless communication-network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data network comprises:

a wireless communication network; and

the Internet.

11. A system for determining transportation violations of a hazardous material, the system comprising:

a data processor; and

a database couplable to the data processor, the database adapted to store hazardous material rules corresponding to geographic locations, wherein the data processor is adapted to compare the hazardous material rules to location information provided by mobile devices associated with hazardous materials to determine any violation of the hazardous material rules;

a memory couplable to the data processor, the memory adapted to store maps and data corresponding to each of the mobile devices along with at least one of configuration data for each of the mobile devices, messages, data communications, traffic information, traffic level indicators, and speed limits.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the data corresponding to each of the mobile devices comprises at least one of user information, hazardous material, gas mileage, and travel time.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processor is adapted to communicate to the mobile devices through the Internet and a wireless network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless network employs CDPD, GPRS, AMPS, iDEN, CDMA, 1XRTT, GSM, or IEEE 802.11 standards.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processor is adapted to change an update frequency of the location information provided by each of the mobile devices based upon the corresponding location information and the hazardous material rules.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processor is adapted to provide a violation report for any determined violations.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices each adapted to provide location data through a wireless communication network;

means for receiving the location data through a data network couplable to the wireless communication network and for comparing hazardous material rules for geographic areas with the location data for at least one of the mobile devices which is associated with a hazardous material; and

means for providing driving directions, maps, traffic information, traffic level indicators, and speed limits to each of the mobile devices.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the location data is determined by a GPS receiver coupled to the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication network utilizes CDPD, GPRS, AMPS, iDEN, CDMA, 1XRTT, GSM, or ISEE 802.11.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the data network is the Internet.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the receiving means and the comparing means comprises a server and a memory storing the hazardous material rules.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is adapted to change an update interval for the location data based on the hazardous material rules and the location data.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for alerting one or more designated parties of a violation of the hazardous material rules.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the mobile devices is adapted to change an update interval for the location data based on at least one of the hazardous material rules relative to a location of the mobile device, a velocity of the mobile device, an acceleration of the mobile device, and a direction of the mobile device.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for providing route information to each of the mobile devices based on the hazardous material rules and traffic conditions.

26. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for alerting one or more designated parties when at least one of the mobile devices deviates from a prescribed route.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the hazardous material rules comprise prohibited hazardous materials for the geographic areas.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the hazardous material rules further comprise time and date restrictions.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the providing means is further adapted to provide gas mileage and travel time for each of the mobile devices.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the receiving means is further adapted to receive a geographic specification from at least one of the mobile devices and provide to the mobile device the hazardous material rules for the geographic specification.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the receiving means is further adapted to provide traffic level indicators for the geographic specification.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the receiving means and the comparing means is further adapted to compare weight restriction rules for geographic areas with the location data for at least one of the mobile devices which is associated with a certain weight.

33. A method of determining a hazardous material transportation violation, the method comprising:

determining a location of a mobile device;

retrieving hazardous material rules based on the location;

determining if the hazardous material rules are violated based on the location and a hazardous material being transported with the mobile device;

computing an actual velocity of the mobile device based on the location; and

calculating a parameter using the actual velocity and the location, the parameter indicating traffic conditions surrounding the mobile device, wherein the calculating comprises;

providing a geographic specification to the mobile device;

retrieving a speed limit of a road segment located within boundaries of the geographic specification;

calculating a difference between the speed limit and the actual velocity; and

selecting a traffic level indicator representative of the difference.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising notifying a designated party if the hazardous material rules are violated.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising changing a frequency of the determining of the location depending upon a proximity of the mobile device to a hazardous material prohibited area based upon the hazardous material rules.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining a route for exiting an area defined by the hazardous material rules; and

displaying the route as a map by the mobile device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the determining of the route is further based on traffic conditions.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

providing by a user of the mobile device a geographic specification; and

displaying hazardous material rules by the mobile device for the geographic specification.