Intelligently providing user-specific transportation-related information

• US 8,233,919 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: HNTB Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Haag, Stephen, LeBrilla, Carlos J., Rush, Marc, Rolfes, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/616,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 4554141-4143, 701/414, 701/419, 340/995.13, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for distributing transportation alerts to computing devices in accordance with factors, such as device-specific and location-specific factors. In embodiments of the present invention, travel alerts, including public alerts associated with certain areas, are formatted or held prior to delivery, based on safety concerns, legal requirements, device settings, or other considerations.

Claims

1. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of distributing traffic information, the method comprising:

receiving traffic information at a server, wherein the traffic information indicates an event that is capable of affecting traffic at a certain location, and wherein the traffic information is authorized by a transportation authority for distribution;

determining that, based on its location, a first mobile device is a candidate to receive an alert that is based on the traffic information wherein said first mobile device includes an application;

creating said alert, wherein said alert includes a tag;

distributing the alert to the first mobile device, such that the tag is interpreted by said application so that said alert is capable of being presented in an audio format by the first mobile device.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the traffic-event information includes data from a traffic management center, wherein the traffic management center is an application that can broadcast data using a radio signal.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein determining the first mobile device is a candidate includes obtaining position information associated with the first mobile device.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein determining the first mobile device is a candidate includes obtaining route information associated with the first mobile device.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein said alert is capable of being read out loud.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein determining that a first mobile device is a candidate to receive an alert is also based on accessing a remote data source.

7. The media of claim 6, wherein a permission to access the remote data source has been input into an application and associated with the first mobile device.

8. The media of claim 1, further comprising determining that the first mobile device is capable of delivering the alert as an audio alert.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein the first mobile device is capable of delivering the alert as an audio alert based on a wireless connection with an audio-enabled device.

10. The media of claim 8, wherein the first mobile device is capable of delivering the alert as an audio alert by automatically converting the alert from a text format to an audio format.

11. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of delivering a transportation-related alert, the method comprising:

receiving a transportation alert at a computing device in a first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle is in a first location and the transportation alert applies to the first location, and wherein said alert includes a tag;

determining that the computing device is moving beyond a predetermined threshold speed level; and

based on said computing device'"'"'s moving beyond said threshold speed level and based on said tag, presenting an option to receive the transportation alert as an audible alert via said computing device.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein the transportation alert is authorized by a transportation authority, and wherein the transportation alert is approved for distribution by an official entity.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the transportation alert is associated with a tag that indicates the transportation alert is authorized, wherein the tag comprises metadata and wherein the tag has been reserved for use by the transportation authority.

14. The media of claim 12, wherein the transportation authority has been credentialed through a verification process.

15. The media of claim 11, wherein presenting the transportation alert as an audible alert includes directing a conversion of textual information to sound.

16. The media of claim 11, wherein presenting the transportation alert as an audible alert includes automatically emanating an audible alert such that a user of said computing device is not required to make a selection before presentation of the alert.

17. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of configuring a traffic-related notification, the method comprising:

receiving information intended for distribution to a vehicle that is associated with a first alert-presentation device, wherein said first alert-presentation device includes an application that is associated with a social networking site;

receiving status information that describes a current status of said alert-presentation device;

generating a traffic alert based on said status information, wherein said traffic alert includes a tag; and

communicating said traffic alert to said first alert-presentation device, which is adapted to facilitate presenting said traffic alert, wherein said tag is interpreted by said application so that said traffic alert can be presented orally.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein said status information includes a speed indication that includes a current speed that said alert-presentation device is moving, and wherein generating said traffic alert includes configuring said traffic alert for audible delivery.

19. The media of claim 17, further comprising receiving user-profile data associated with said first alert-presentation device, wherein said user-profile data includes device-specific information.

20. The media of claim 19, wherein generating said traffic alert further includes generating said alert based on said device-specific information that is associated with said alert-presentation device, wherein said device-specific information includes a model of a said alert-presentation device.