Method and system for providing traffic alerts

• US 8,717,193 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Velusamy, Umashankar
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US13/215,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate 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 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A method is provided for warning mobile users of traffic conditions. One or more sensor messages are monitored from a plurality of mobile devices transported by a plurality of vehicles. A traffic condition is determined based on the one or more sensor messages. Location of the traffic condition is also determined based on position information of one or more of the plurality of mobile devices. The mobile devices that are within a predetermined proximity to the location of the traffic condition are selected. An alert message is generated in response to the traffic condition. The selected mobile devices are notified with the alert message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring for one or more sensor messages from a plurality of mobile devices transported by a plurality of vehicles;

determining a traffic condition based on the one or more sensor messages;

determining a location of the traffic condition based on position information of one or more of the plurality of mobile devices;

selecting mobile devices based on a comparison of a predetermined proximity and a proximity of each of the plurality of mobile devices to the location of the traffic condition;

generating an alert message in response to the traffic condition; and

notifying the selected mobile devices with the alert message.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

collecting environmental data for use in the determination of the traffic condition.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the mobile devices includes a plurality of sensors configured to output travel data that includes speed information, direction information, timing information, or a combination thereof, the one or more sensor messages specifying the travel data.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

determining a driving pattern based on the travel data and the environmental data; and

determining that the driving pattern is correlated to a predetermined abnormal pattern.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving vehicle sensor information from one or more of the vehicles indicating a deployment of an airbag, wherein the traffic condition is determined based further on the vehicle sensor information.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a control message to control one or more of the vehicles in response to the determined traffic condition, wherein the control message provides instructions to turn-off an engine, control a steering, control a braking, or a combination thereof.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the traffic condition is performed at one of the mobile devices, further comprising:

establishing a communication link with one or more of the selected mobile devices to receive the sensor messages and to forward the alert message.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

monitor for one or more sensor messages from a plurality of mobile devices transported by a plurality of vehicles,

determine a traffic condition based on the one or more sensor messages,

determine a location of the traffic condition based on position information of one or more of the plurality of mobile devices,

select mobile devices based on a comparison of a predetermined proximity and a proximity of each of the plurality of mobile devices to the location of the traffic condition,

generate an alert message in response to the traffic condition, and

notify the selected mobile devices with the alert message.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

collect environmental data for use in the determination of the traffic condition.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the mobile devices includes a plurality of sensors configured to output travel data that includes speed information, direction information, timing information, or a combination thereof, the one or more sensor messages specifying the travel data.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a driving pattern based on the travel data and the environmental data; and

determine that the driving pattern is correlated to a predetermined abnormal pattern.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive vehicle sensor information from one or more of the vehicles, wherein the traffic condition is determined based further on the vehicle sensor information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a control message to control one or more of the vehicles in response to the determined traffic condition.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the determination of the traffic condition is performed at one of the mobile devices, and the apparatus is further caused to:

establish a communication link with one or more of the selected mobile devices to receive the sensor messages and to forward the alert message.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors within a mobile device transported by a vehicle;

collecting environmental data related to a location of the mobile device;

determining a location of a traffic condition based on the one or more sensor signals and the environmental data;

generating an alert message in response to the traffic condition; and

establishing a communication session with another mobile device based on a comparison of a predetermined proximity and a proximity of the another mobile device to the location of the traffic condition to transmit the alert message.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sensors are configured to output travel data that includes speed information, direction information, timing information, or a combination thereof, the one or more sensor messages specifying the travel data.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

determining a driving pattern based on the travel data and the environmental data; and

determining that the driving pattern is correlated to a predetermined abnormal pattern.

18. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving vehicle sensor information from the vehicle, wherein the traffic condition is determined based further on the vehicle sensor information.

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors within a mobile device transported by a vehicle,

collect environmental data related to a location of the mobile device,

determine a location of a traffic condition based on the one or more sensor signals and the environmental data,

generate an alert message in response to the traffic condition, and

establish a communication session with another mobile device based on a comparison of a predetermined proximity and a proximity of the another mobile device to the location of the traffic condition to transmit the alert message.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the sensors are configured to output travel data that includes speed information, direction information, timing information, or a combination thereof, the one or more sensor messages specifying the travel data.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a driving pattern based on the travel data and the environmental data; and

determine that the driving pattern is correlated to a predetermined abnormal pattern.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive vehicle sensor information from the vehicle, wherein the traffic condition is determined based further on the vehicle sensor information.