Device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle using a positional information device

• US 8,386,145 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Clayco Research Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/770,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/117, 701/119, 701/29.1, 701/29.2, 701/29.3, 701/201, 701/202, 701/210, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/423, 455/423.3, 455/426.1, 455/440, 455/440.1, 455/441, 455/453, 455/450, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/457, 455/550.1, 455/517, 340/466, 340/539.13, 340/905, 340/995.13, 370/252, 342/357, 705/41
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/185 connected to the speedometer display, e.g. by sensors or switches responsive to the position of the indicator needle arrangement of pointers in automobile speedometers for indicating predetermined speeds by the detection of the position of the indicator needle G01P1/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00

Abstract

A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The system and method can be for communicating a subject vehicle'"'"'s speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a communication mechanism configured to receive, via a network, location information and speed information about a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is configured to determine the location information and speed information corresponding to the device; and

one or more computing devices configured to;

determine a density of one or more of the plurality of devices in a particular location,

determine an average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location, and

generate an alert based on the density of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location and the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:

determine that the density is less than a predetermined density; and

determine that the average speed is less than a predetermined average speed;

wherein the alert comprises a weather alert and wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to generate the alert in response to determining that the density is less than the predetermined density and that the average speed is less than the predetermined average speed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:

determine that the density is greater than a predetermined density; and

determine that the average speed is less than a predetermined average speed;

wherein the alert comprises a traffic alert and wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to generate the alert in response to determining that the density is greater than the predetermined density and that the average speed is less than the predetermined average speed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication mechanism is further configured to transmit the alert to one or more of the plurality of devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more computing devices are further configured to;

identify a route associated with one of the plurality of devices, and

determine an alternate route based on the location information and speed information about the plurality of devices; and

the communication mechanism is further configured to transmit an indication of the alternate route to the one of the plurality of devices.

6. A method for use by one or more computing devices comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by the one or more computing devices via a network, location information and speed information about a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is configured to determine the location information and speed information corresponding to the device;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a density of one or more of the plurality of devices in a particular location;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, an average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location; and

generating, by the one or more computing devices, an alert based on the density of one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location and the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the density is less than a predetermined density; and

determining that the average speed is less than a predetermined average speed;

wherein the alert is weather alert and wherein generating the alert comprises generating the alert in response to determining that the density is less than the predetermined density and that the average speed is less than the predetermined average speed.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the density is greater than a predetermined density; and

determining that the average speed is less than a predetermined average speed;

wherein the alert is a traffic alert and wherein generating the alert comprises generating the alert in response to determining that the density is greater than the predetermined density and that the average speed is less than the predetermined average speed.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting the alert to one or more of the plurality of devices via the network.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying a route associated with one of the plurality of devices;

determining an alternate route based on the location information and speed information about the plurality of devices; and

transmitting an indication of the alternate route to the one of the plurality of devices.

11. A system comprising:

a communication mechanism configured to receive, from a plurality of devices via a network, location information and speed information about a plurality of vehicles, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is associated with one of the plurality of vehicles and wherein each device is configured to determine the location information and the speed information corresponding to the one of the plurality of vehicles;

a storage device configured to store the location information and the speed information about the plurality of vehicles; and

one or more computing devices configured to;

determine an average vehicle speed for a particular route,

determine that the average vehicle speed varies from a speed limit for the particular route by at least a predetermined amount,

determine an average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in a particular location, and

generate an alert based on a density of one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location and the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location;

wherein the system is configured to send the alert to an entity that is configured to broadcast the alert.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the entity is a radio station configured to broadcast the alert via a radio channel.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the entity is a local news station.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the entity is configured to broadcast the alert to at least one vehicle that is not one of the plurality of vehicles.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more computing devices are further configured to;

identify a route associated with one of the plurality of vehicles, and

determine an alternate route based on the location information and the speed information about the plurality of vehicles; and

the communication mechanism is further configured to transmit an indication of the alternate route to the one of the plurality of vehicles.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices from a plurality of devices via a network, location information and speed information about a plurality of vehicles, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is associated with one of the plurality of vehicles and wherein each device is configured to determine the location information and the speed information corresponding to the one of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the one or more computing devices comprise at least one processor;

storing, by the one or more computing devices, the location information and the speed information about the plurality of vehicles;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, an average vehicle speed for a particular route;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, that the average vehicle speed varies from a speed limit for the particular route by at least a predetermined amount;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, an average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in a particular location;

generating, by the one or more computing devices, an alert based on a density of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location and the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices in the particular location; and

sending the one or more computing devices, the alert to an entity that is configured to broadcast the alert.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the entity is a radio station configured to broadcast the alert via a radio channel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the entity is a local news station.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the entity is configured to broadcast the alert to at least one vehicle that is not one of the plurality of vehicles.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

identifying a route associated with the one of the plurality of vehicles;

determining an alternate route based on the location information and the speed information about the plurality of vehicles; and

transmitting an indication of the alternate route to the one of the plurality of vehicles.