Method and system for providing travel time information

• US 7,522,995 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Inventors: Nortrup, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/052,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23- 26, 701200-202, 701/208, 701/211, 701117-119, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/991, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.13, 342/357.1, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• 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 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 : Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 : where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 : where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 : to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Location technologies are combined with other information systems to provide augmented information for individuals such as a traveler in an automobile.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

gathering travel time information pertaining to a route based on a plurality of cell phone locations measured through cell phone tower triangulation, wherein the travel time information is associated with at least one parameter relating to the travel time;

estimating a typical travel time of the route based at least in part on the gathered travel time information;

storing the typical travel time in a database;

receiving a navigation request from a user; and

presenting the route in response to the user request, wherein the presentation includes retrieving the typical travel time from the database and presenting the typical travel time of the route.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the travel time is a predicted travel time.

3. method of claim 1 wherein the travel time is an actual travel time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter is a time of day corresponding to the travel time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter is day of a week corresponding to the travel time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter is a weather condition corresponding to the travel time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter is a road condition relating to the travel time.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation request is received through an in-vehicle navigation system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation request is received through a cell phone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation request is received through a webservice.

11. A method, comprising:

gathering travel time information pertaining to a route based on a plurality of cell phone locations measured through cell phone tower triangulation, wherein the travel time information is associated with at least one parameter relating to the travel time;

estimating a typical travel time of the route based at least in part on the gathered travel time information;

storing the typical travel time in a database;

receiving a navigation request from a user; and

selecting the route in response to the user request, wherein the selection is at least in part based on the typical travel time of the route.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the travel the time is a predicted travel time.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the travel time is an actual travel time.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter is a time of day corresponding to the travel time.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter is day of a week corresponding to the travel time.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter is a weather condition corresponding to the travel time.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter is a road condition relating to the travel time.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the navigation request is received through an in-vehicle navigation system.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the navigation request is received through a cell phone.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the navigation request is received through a webservice.