System and method for determining a vehicle traffic route

• US 7,848,876 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Giuli, Thomas, Simonds, Craig, Prasad, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/688,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/201, 701/213, 701/209, 340/995.16, 340/995.23, 340/995.28, 455/456.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

Coordinate based vehicle navigation services are provided using text based traffic route information and associated coordinate data received from an off-vehicle source. Traffic route information indicative of a traffic route from an initial location to a destination may be received. The traffic route information may lack geographic coordinate data defining the traffic route. A way-point along the traffic route may be determined based on the traffic route information. Way-point information defining the way-point along the traffic route may be sent to an off-vehicle information provider. The way-point information may lack geographic coordinate data defining the way-point. Way-point geographic coordinate information defining the way-point may be received and the traffic route information may be associated with the way-point geographic coordinate information.

Claims

1. A method for determining a traffic route for a vehicle comprising:

receiving initial location information defining an initial location of the vehicle;

receiving input defining a destination for the vehicle;

sending information, to an off-vehicle information provider, defining the initial location of the vehicle and destination for the vehicle;

receiving traffic route information including at least one text message indicative of a traffic route from the initial location to the destination, the traffic route information lacking geographic coordinate data defining the traffic route;

determining a way-point along the traffic route based on the traffic route information by parsing words of the at least one text message;

sending way-point information, to an off-vehicle information provider, defining the way-point along the traffic route, the way-point information lacking geographic coordinate data defining the way-point;

receiving way-point geographic coordinate information defining the way-point;

associating the traffic route information with the way-point geographic coordinate information;

determining a distance between a current location of the vehicle and the way-point; and

informing a user of the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the way-point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a distance between a current location of the vehicle and the way-point includes determining the current location of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a distance between a current location of the vehicle and the way-point includes determining geographic coordinate data of the current location of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information defining the initial location of the vehicle and the destination for the vehicle is sent via short message service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the way-point information defining the way-point along the traffic route is sent via short message service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the way-point geographic coordinate information comprises global positioning system data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an initial location of the vehicle includes receiving geographic coordinate data of the initial location of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the geographic coordinate data of the initial location of the vehicle comprises global positioning data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a way-point along the traffic route based on the traffic route information includes determining where two roads along the traffic route intersect.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an initial location of the vehicle.

11. A system for determining a traffic route for a vehicle comprising:

a location module configured to determine an initial location of the vehicle;

a processing module configured to

receive input defining a destination for the vehicle,

send information defining the initial location of the vehicle and destination for the vehicle,

receive traffic route information including at least one text message indicative of a traffic route from the initial location to the destination, the traffic route information lacking geographic coordinate data defining the traffic route,

determine a way-point along the traffic route based on the traffic route information by parsing words of the at least one text message,

send way-point information defining the way-point along the traffic route, the way-point information lacking geographic coordinate data defining the way-point,

receive way-point geographic coordinate information defining the way-point,

associate the traffic route information with the way-point coordinate information, and

determine a distance between a current location of the vehicle and the way-point; and

an interface module configured to inform a user of the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the way-point.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the location module is further configured to determine a current location of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the location module is further configured to determine geographic coordinate data of the current location of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the processing module includes a cell phone configured to transmit the information defining the current location of the vehicle and the destination for the vehicle via short message service.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the processing module includes a cell phone configured to transmit the way-point information defining the way-point along the traffic route via short message service.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the way-point coordinate information comprises global positioning system data.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the location module is further configured to determine geographic coordinate data of the initial location of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the geographic coordinate data of the initial location of the vehicle comprises global positioning data.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the processing module is further configured to determine where two roads along the traffic route intersect.