Estimation of travel times using bluetooth
First Claim
1. A system to determine a traffic condition from a first vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
- a traffic management system having a processor;
a first communication link at a first roadside location that sends a first inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the first roadside location, the first communication link having a processor that generates a first timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle with an identifier that is valid for a pre-defined period and a communication circuit that transmits the first timestamped signal to the traffic management system, based on an opting in to the system;
a second communication link at a second roadside location that sends an inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the second roadside location, the second communication link having a processor that generates a second timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the second timestamped signal to the traffic management system;
wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines a travel time between the first and the second roadside locations using at least the first timestamped signal and the second timestamped signal; and
a traffic controller provided with Bluetooth capabilities and enabled to pair with the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle enabled to provide traffic information to a display on the first vehicle to display traffic information associated with the travel time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for estimating travel time using at least two remote systems to record the timestamps associated with obtaining identifying information of a wireless Bluetooth enabled, or other WPAN technology, electronic device in a vehicle. A remote system in one embodiment is a Bluetooth enhanced traffic controller. Characteristics of Bluetooth technology, such as a unique address for each Bluetooth capable device are used to detect a vehicle with a Bluetooth device by at least a first and a second remote system. Vehicle identifying data including at least a time stamp is transmitted by the remote systems to a central system. The central system determines a travel time, or an estimated travel delay. Travel time related data is provided by the central system to a display, such as a variable or dynamic message sign.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system to determine a traffic condition from a first vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic management system having a processor; a first communication link at a first roadside location that sends a first inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the first roadside location, the first communication link having a processor that generates a first timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle with an identifier that is valid for a pre-defined period and a communication circuit that transmits the first timestamped signal to the traffic management system, based on an opting in to the system; a second communication link at a second roadside location that sends an inquiry message and that receives information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle when the first vehicle is near the second roadside location, the second communication link having a processor that generates a second timestamped signal by timestamping the received information identifying the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle and a communication circuit that transmits the second timestamped signal to the traffic management system; wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines a travel time between the first and the second roadside locations using at least the first timestamped signal and the second timestamped signal; and a traffic controller provided with Bluetooth capabilities and enabled to pair with the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the first vehicle enabled to provide traffic information to a display on the first vehicle to display traffic information associated with the travel time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system to determine a traffic condition from a vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic management system having a processor; a plurality of communication links, each of the plurality of communication links located at a different roadside location, each of the plurality of communication links including a traffic controller that controls a traffic light and each of the plurality of communication links comprising; a communication circuit in the traffic controller that sends an inquiry message intended for Bluetooth enabled communication devices and receives a communication from the Bluetooth enabled communication device on the vehicle that includes an identity of the Bluetooth enabled communication device, and a processor that generates a timestamped signal by timestamping the communication, wherein the communication circuit transmits the timestamped signal to the traffic management system; wherein the processor in the traffic management system determines a travel time between roadside locations using the timestamped signals received from each of the plurality of communication links, and the communication circuit is enabled to pair with the Bluetooth enabled communication device in the vehicle to provide traffic information to a display on the vehicle to display traffic information based on the travel time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A traffic controller being connected to a traffic light to determine a traffic condition from a vehicle carrying a Bluetooth enabled communicating device, comprising:
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a traffic control unit to control the traffic light; a Bluetooth communication circuit, the Bluetooth communication circuit transmitting a Bluetooth inquiry message, receiving a response signal from the Bluetooth enabled communicating device carried on the vehicle and providing a signal that identifies the Bluetooth enabled communicating device with an identifier that is valid for a pre-defined period of time; a processor that timestamps the signal to form an output signal; a communication device to transmit the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification