Non real time traffic system for a navigator

• US 7,890,261 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/842,062
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/23, 701/210, 701/214, 701/213, 701/201, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.19, 340/995.23, 342/357.01, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.08
• US Class Current: 701/214
• 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 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A system for improving the operation of a GPS based navigator. Statistical and/or time of day information is used to select the best route between a current location and a desired location. The statistical information may take into account anomalies, and a user can select the amount of risk they which take. The system can be updated with more updated information. In addition, the selection of the desired location can be carried out by downloading information from a PDA.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a system which monitors information from a GPS device, and allows connection to said GPS device to obtain uploads of information based on said GPS device, and determines statistical information based on said uploads, where said statistical information comprises a percentage of anomalies in information about progress through certain routes.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said system also provides said statistical information to said GPS device as mapping information for said GPS device.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said system also stores real time information about situses of events which occur at specific times, where said event would be expected to cause high traffic at said specific times of days when the special event is occurring, but not at other similar times of day on days when the special event is not occurring, where information about said events is provided to said GPS device.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said system also stores coupon codes and provides said coupon codes to said GPS device based on said uploads of information, where those coupon codes are specific to a point of interest requested by a user.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said uploads of information include monitored information obtained from said GPS device based on movement on a roadway by said GPS device.

6. A system, comprising:

a memory, storing map information, and storing information indicative of situses of real time special events which occur only at specific times and which would be expected to cause high traffic at said specific times of days when the special event is occurring, but not at other similar times of day on days when the special event is not occurring;

a user interface, allowing entry of a destination for navigation; and

a processor, computing a path to said destination based on said map information and data indicative of said real time special events stored in said memory, where said processor determines whether a current time matches to one of said specific times, and computes said path taking into account a high traffic near said situs of events only at one of said times.

7. A system, comprising:

a navigator device which determines its current position;

a storage unit that stores information indicative of positions from said navigator device;

an update part, that sends information indicative of said stored information indicative of positions, and receives information about actions of other users in areas near said current positions;

a user interface, controlling entry of a destination for navigation; and

a processor, computing a path to said destination based on said information about actions of other users in areas near said current positions, received from said update part.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said update part communicates with a remote server to send information indicative of said stored information indicative of positions to said remote server, and to receives information about actions of other users in areas near said current positions from said remote server.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein said information indicative of situses of real time special events which occur only at specific times and which would be expected to cause high traffic at said specific times of days when the special event is occurring, but not at other similar times of day on days when the special event is not occurring, and said processor determines whether a current time matches to one of said specific times, and computes said path taking into account a high traffic near said situs of events.

10. A system, comprising:

a navigator device which determines its current position;

a storage unit that stores information indicative of positions from said navigator device;

an update part, that send information indicative of said stored information indicative of positions, and receives information indicative of said current positions;

wherein said information from said update part represents information that is specific to said current position and where said information from said update part has an expiration;

a user interface, controlling entry of a destination for navigation; and

a processor, computing a path to said destination based on said information about actions of other users in areas near said current positions, received from said update part.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said information is a coupon.

12. A system, comprising:

a navigator device which determines its current position;

an update part, that receives information, wherein at least part of said information includes an expiration;

a user interface, controlling entry of a destination for navigation; and

a processor, computing a path to said destination based on said information from said update part.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said information is usable only until a date and/or time indicated by said expiration.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein said information includes a coupon that is based on said current position.

15. A system as in claim 12, wherein said information includes information about actions of other users in areas near said current positions.

16. A system as in claim 12, wherein said information includes information about an special event that occurs only over a specific time period and which would be expected to cause high traffic at said specific time period but not at other similar times of day on days when the special event is not occurring, and where said processor determines whether a current time matches to said time period, and said processor computes said path taking into account a high traffic near said situs of events.