System and method for traffic condition detection

• US 7,925,423 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarter, Jamie C., Bradford, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/897,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-119, 701/213, 701/300, 701/301, 340/435, 340/439, 340/539.13, 340901-904, 340/933, 340/991, 340/995.13, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system and method for detecting traffic conditions. Communications are performed wirelessly with a traffic detector. A determination is made whether a vehicle is approaching a traffic condition within safe parameters. A driver is alerted of the traffic condition in response to determining the vehicle is not approaching the traffic condition within the safe parameters.

Claims

1. A method for detecting traffic conditions, the method comprising:

communicating wirelessly with a traffic detector;

determining safe parameters for approaching a traffic condition associated with the traffic detector, the safe parameters include driving conditions, vehicle characteristics, and a user profile associated with a driver of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle is approaching the traffic condition within the safe parameters, wherein the vehicle characteristics are enabled to be determined utilizing a global positioning system and wireless triangulation; and

alerting the driver of the traffic condition in response to determining the vehicle is not approaching the traffic condition within the safe parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication comprises:

searching for one or more traffic detectors;

detecting the traffic detector; and

establishing a wireless link with the traffic detector.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the safe parameters are safety boundaries automatically calculated utilizing the driving conditions, the vehicle characteristics, and the user profile, wherein the wireless link is any of a WiFi connection and a WiMAX connection.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic condition is enabled to be a stationary condition and a moving condition, and wherein the traffic condition is any of an intersection, traffic accident, school zone, construction zone, and train crossing.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining an identity of the driver for associating the user profile with the driver from a plurality of profiles, wherein the user profile is set by an administrator for a young driver or an inexperienced driver.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting a signal as the traffic detector in response to detecting the traffic condition or discovering a new traffic condition.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alerting comprises:

sounding an auditory alert to the driver.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the auditory alert is a message explaining the traffic condition to the driver, and wherein the auditory alert is communicated to one or more wireless devices within the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communicating, determining, and alerting are performed by a global positioning system (GPS) or a GPS-enabled wireless communication device.

10. A GPS-enabled wireless device for traffic condition detection comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a traffic detector, the traffic detector indicates a traffic condition;

traffic logic configured to determine whether a vehicle in which the GPS-enabled wireless device is located is approaching the traffic condition within safe parameters, the safe parameters include driving conditions, vehicle characteristics, and a user profile associated with a driver of the vehicle;

a user interface configured to alert a driver of the traffic condition in response to determining the vehicle is not approaching the traffic condition within the safe parameters.

11. The GPS-enabled wireless device according to claim 10, wherein the GPS-enabled wireless device is enabled to utilize wireless triangulation and global positioning satellites to determine global positioning information.

12. The GPS-enabled wireless device according to claim 10, wherein a memory stores user preferences for allowing the user to receive information and alerts.

13. The GPS-enabled wireless device according to claim 10, wherein the user profile is determined in response to the user entering the vehicle.

14. The GPS-enabled wireless device according to claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver broadcasts a signal as a traffic detector in response to an accident or user activation.

15. The GPS-enabled wireless device according to claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver receives data through a cellular communications protocol.

16. A GPS device comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions configured to respond to traffic conditions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more traffic detectors regarding the traffic conditions, receive global positioning information, determine whether a vehicle is approaching a traffic condition within safe parameters in response to the global positioning information, wherein the safe parameters include driving conditions, vehicle characteristics, and a user profile associated with a driver of the vehicle, and alerts the driver of the traffic condition in response to determining the vehicle is not approaching the traffic condition within the safe parameters.

17. The GPS device according to claim 16, wherein the GPS device is any of a vehicle-mounted device, a portable GPS device, and a GPS-enabled wireless telephone, and wherein the GPS device is enabled to utilize global positioning information and wireless triangulation.

18. The GPS device according to claim 16, wherein the communication occurs between the transceiver and the one or more traffic detectors using a high-speed data link.

19. The GPS device according to claim 16, wherein the safe parameters are determined based on speed, direction, drivers abilities, environmental factors, and vehicle condition.

20. The GPS device according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are broadcast as a signal from the one or more traffic detectors for warning other GPS devices of the traffic condition.