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

• US 8,600,641 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• 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): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/738,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/117, 701/119, 701/29.2, 701/29.3, 455/404.2, 455/418, 340/466, 340/539.13, 340/905, 340/995.13, 370/252, 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 method for execution by a computing system comprising one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving, by the computing system 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 location information and speed information corresponding to the device;

determining, by the computing system, based on the received location information and speed information, that an average speed of one or more of the plurality of devices along a portion of a road is below a speed limit of the portion of the road;

determining, by the computing system, that a particular device is routed to pass through the portion of the road; and

transmitting, from the computing system to the particular device, an indication that congestion may be ahead, wherein the particular device is configured to produce an alert that congestion may be ahead in response to receiving the indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is below the speed limit of the portion of the road comprises determining that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is less than the speed limit of the portion of the road minus a predetermined offset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined offset is based on the speed limit of the portion of the road.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an alternate route for the particular device, wherein the alternate route for the particular device avoids the portion of the road.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting, from the computing system to the particular device, an indication of the alternate route.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by the computing system, the speed limit of the portion of the road from memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises one or more of an audio alert and a visual alert.

8. A system comprising:

a communication mechanism configured to communicate via a network; and

one or more memories having instructions embodied thereon that are executable by one or more computing devices in the system, wherein the instructions comprise;

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

instructions to determine, based on the received location information and speed information, that an average speed of one or more of the plurality of devices along a portion of a road is below a speed limit of the portion of the road,

instructions to determine that a particular device is routed to pass through the portion of the road, and

instructions to transmit, to the particular device, an indication that congestion may be ahead, wherein the particular device is configured to produce an alert that congestion may be ahead in response to receiving the indication.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions to determine that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is below the speed limit of the portion of the road comprise instructions to determine that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is less than the speed limit of the portion of the road minus a predetermined offset.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined offset is based on the speed limit of the portion of the road.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine an alternate route for the particular device, wherein the alternate route for the particular device avoids the portion of the road.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to transmit, to the particular device, an indication of the alternate route.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage device having instructions embodied thereon for execution by a computing system, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive, by the computing system 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 location information and speed information corresponding to the device;

instructions to determine, by the computing system, based on the received location information and speed information, that an average speed of one or more of the plurality of devices along a portion of a road is below a speed limit of the portion of the road;

instructions to determine, by the computing system, that a particular device is routed to pass through the portion of the road; and

instructions to transmit, from the computing system to the particular device, an indication that congestion may be ahead, wherein the particular device is configured to produce an alert that congestion may be ahead in response to receiving the indication.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the instructions to determine that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is below the speed limit of the portion of the road comprise instructions to determine that the average speed of the one or more of the plurality of devices along the portion of the road is less than the speed limit of the portion of the road minus a predetermined offset.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined offset is based on the speed limit of the portion of the road.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine an alternate route for the particular device, wherein the alternate route for the particular device avoids the portion of the road.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to transmit, from the computing system to the particular device, an indication of the alternate route.