Method and apparatus for providing traffic information associated with map requests

• US 7,580,792 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US11/261,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 340/995.1
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the 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 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling users who request a map of a specified route to invoke a data session to see images of the key markers and a video session to see live views of key points along the route are disclosed. If traffic appears congested, the subscriber can request an alternative route from the network along with image and video sessions to verify the traffic conditions of the alternative route.

Claims

1. A method for providing traffic information in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for forwarding a first recommended route; and

providing said first recommended route to said subscriber, where said recommended route comprises at least one of;

a key marker or a key point along said first recommended route, wherein said providing further comprises;

sending a current image of a location corresponding to said key marker to said subscriber, if said key marker is activated by said subscriber;

or

sending a current video of a location corresponding to said key point to said subscriber, if said key point is activated by said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request by a Session Controller; and

establishing said application session between a Map and Traffic Application Server and said subscriber by said Session Controller.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said providing comprises:

receiving a source location and a destination location from said subscriber; and

determining said recommended route that traverses between said source location and said destination location, where said recommended route comprises at least one of;

said key marker or said key point.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said recommended route is determined by said Map and Traffic Application Server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said key marker or said key point corresponds to at least one of:

an intersection of roads, a landmark, a bridge, a tunnel, a freeway entry ramp, a freeway exit ramp, a toll plaza, or a border crossing.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from said subscriber for an alternative route.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said application session is displayed in an independent display frame on a video display device currently used by said subscriber.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing traffic information in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for forwarding a first recommended route; and

providing said first recommended route to said subscriber, where said recommended route comprises at least one of;

a key marker or a key point along said first recommended route, wherein said providing further comprises;

sending a current image of a location corresponding to said key marker to said subscriber, if said key marker is activated by said subscriber;

or

sending a current video of a location corresponding to said key point to said subscriber, if said key point is activated by said subscriber.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said communication network is a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request by a Session Controller; and

establishing said application session between a Map and Traffic Application Server and said subscriber by said Session Controller.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said providing comprises:

receiving a source location and a destination location from said subscriber; and

determining said recommended route that traverses between said source location and said destination location, where said recommended route comprises at least one of;

said key marker or said key point.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said recommended route is determined by said Map and Traffic Application Server.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said key marker or said key point corresponds to at least one of:

an intersection of roads, a landmark, a bridge, a tunnel, a freeway entry ramp, a freeway exit ramp, a toll plaza, or a border crossing.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request from said subscriber for an alternative route.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said application session is displayed in an independent display frame on a video display device currently used by said subscriber.

17. An apparatus for providing traffic information in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for forwarding a first recommended route; and

means for providing said first recommended route to said subscriber, where said recommended route comprises at least one of;

a key marker or a key point along said first recommended route, wherein said means for providing sends a current image of a location corresponding to said key marker to said subscriber, if said key marker is activated by said subscriber, or sends a current video of a location corresponding to said key point to said subscriber, if said key point is activated by said subscriber.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said communication network is a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.