System and method for improved traffic flow reporting using satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) and vehicle communications, navigation and tracking system
First Claim
1. A method of providing traffic flow information comprising:
- storing, at a vehicle, at least one data table comprising location data that corresponds to different segments of roadways over which traffic flow is monitored;
receiving, at a vehicle, a digital audio broadcast (DAB) signal comprising multiplexed audio programming channels and at least one data channel for providing traffic flow information, the traffic flow information comprising traffic data relating to a reported speed range for vehicles traveling on respective ones of the segments of roadways;
determining, at the vehicle, its current position data;
determining, at the vehicle, if its current position data is within one of the segments by comparing its current position data with the location data in the data table;
determining, at the vehicle, its current vehicle speed;
if the vehicle is determined to be traveling within one of the segments, then determining if its current vehicle speed is within the reported speed range for that segment;
generating, at the vehicle, a message reporting its current vehicle speed for transmission to a traffic flow information hub when its current vehicle speed is not within the reported speed range for that segment; and
controlling the vehicle to not send a message reporting its current vehicle speed when its current vehicle speed is within the reported speed range for that segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for traffic flow reporting are provided. An satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) system receives traffic flow information for segments of roads with service coverage at a vehicle. A vehicle communications, navigation and tracking (VCNT) service system compares present Global Positioning System (GPS) position of the vehicle with the traffic flow information received from the SDARS system. If the present GPS position is within a segment, the VCNT service system compares present vehicle speed with a received traffic flow speed range. If vehicle speed is outside a received traffic flow speed range, the VCNT service system generates a message with present location and speed. An automated traffic flow aggregation system receives the message transmissions and applies location-specific filters based on number of messages received before forwarding a flow speed revision message to an SDARS broadcast station for broadcasting the traffic information to subscribers. RDS-formatted (e.g., ALERT-C) location codes can be stored at the vehicle and used in the SDARS broadcast of traffic flow information to refer to segments.
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of providing traffic flow information comprising:
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storing, at a vehicle, at least one data table comprising location data that corresponds to different segments of roadways over which traffic flow is monitored; receiving, at a vehicle, a digital audio broadcast (DAB) signal comprising multiplexed audio programming channels and at least one data channel for providing traffic flow information, the traffic flow information comprising traffic data relating to a reported speed range for vehicles traveling on respective ones of the segments of roadways; determining, at the vehicle, its current position data; determining, at the vehicle, if its current position data is within one of the segments by comparing its current position data with the location data in the data table; determining, at the vehicle, its current vehicle speed; if the vehicle is determined to be traveling within one of the segments, then determining if its current vehicle speed is within the reported speed range for that segment; generating, at the vehicle, a message reporting its current vehicle speed for transmission to a traffic flow information hub when its current vehicle speed is not within the reported speed range for that segment; and controlling the vehicle to not send a message reporting its current vehicle speed when its current vehicle speed is within the reported speed range for that segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A traffic flow reporting system, comprising:
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a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) system for transmitting a digital audio broadcast (DAB) signal comprising multiplexed audio programming channels and at least one data channel for providing traffic flow information, the traffic flow information comprising traffic data relating to a reported speed range for vehicles traveling on respective ones of the segments of roadways; a plurality of vehicles, each of the plurality of vehicles comprising an SDARS receiving unit, and a vehicle communications, navigation and tracking (VCNT) services unit configured to store a data structure comprising location data that corresponds to different segments of roadways over which traffic flow is monitored compare a present Global Positioning System (GPS) position of the vehicle with the traffic flow information received from the SDARS unit, if the present GPS position is within one of the segments, compare a current vehicle speed with a corresponding received traffic flow speed range reported in the traffic flow information, and if the vehicle speed is outside the received traffic flow speed range, generate a message with one of the location data for the segment and the present GPS position of the vehicle and current vehicle speed; and an automated traffic flow aggregation system for receiving transmissions of messages from the plurality of vehicles and applying location-specific filters based on a number of messages received before forwarding a flow speed revision message to the SDARS system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification