Method of selecting a traffic pattern for use by a navigation system

• US 8,666,645 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Saunders, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US13/332,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control

Abstract

A method for selecting a traffic pattern for use by a navigation system is disclosed. When unusual traffic conditions exist, a message is sent to the navigation system. The message includes a code that identifies a traffic pattern. The navigation system uses the code to select a traffic pattern to use when calculating a route or to provide other navigation system functions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for using a transmitted traffic pattern code, comprising:

accessing a first code from memory based on a current time, wherein the first code identifies a first traffic pattern;

providing navigation system functions according to the first traffic pattern from the first code;

receiving a message from a broadcast, wherein the message includes a second code identifying a second traffic pattern, a period of validity, and a location of a section of a road network;

during the period of validity, using the traffic pattern identified by the second code to perform navigation system functions associated with traveling in the section of the road network; and

reverting to the first code for the location of the section of the road network after the period of validity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system functions include route calculation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system functions include calculating a travel time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system functions include map display depicting traffic conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation system functions include map display depicting traffic conditions.

6. A computer-implemented method for performing route calculation, comprising:

accessing a first traffic pattern based on a day and a time;

calculating a route to a destination using the first traffic pattern as a cost;

receiving a broadcast from a wireless traffic broadcast system, wherein the broadcast includes a message including a traffic pattern code;

selecting, for a period of validity, a second traffic pattern based on the traffic pattern code in response to receipt of the message;

calculating a route to the destination using the second traffic pattern as the cost during the period of validity; and

calculating a route to the destination using the first traffic pattern as a cost after the period of validity elapses.

7. A computer-implemented method for selecting a traffic pattern for broadcast, comprising:

receiving information regarding abnormal traffic conditions for a location, wherein the abnormal traffic conditions are traffic conditions that differ from a traffic pattern associated with the location;

identifying a traffic pattern not associated with the location that approximates the abnormal traffic conditions, wherein the traffic pattern not associated with the location is associated with a code;

assigning a period of validity for the code for the traffic pattern not associated with the location; and

broadcasting a message over a radio data systems traffic message channel, wherein the message includes the period of validity and the code associated with the traffic pattern not associated with the location, wherein the traffic pattern not associated with the location replaces the traffic pattern associated with the location in a navigation system during the period of validity.