System and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices

• US 9,143,900 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wormald, Christopher R., Loberto, Arcangelo, Reddy, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US14/326,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• 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 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A system and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices is provided. The system obtains device data from a plurality of mobile devices within a similar area, gathered using, e.g., a GPS system. According to the speed that the mobile devices are travelling and the location of the similar area, traffic events can be identified and other mobile devices notified to provide dynamic updates as traffic situations change. Follow up notifications can be provided to update the user regarding the progress of traffic congestion, detours can be suggested, and various alerts provided. The mobile device may be connected to or part of a vehicle and leverage the notification system to provide different types of alerts and to notify users using various mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining location based notifications, the method comprising:

detecting an event at a mobile device located in a vehicle;

determining location and speed data at the mobile device in response to detecting the event;

sending the location and speed data to a notification system remote to the mobile device to enable the notification system to generate traffic notifications for the mobile device and at least one other mobile device;

receiving a traffic notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other mobile device, the traffic notification including a detour; and

receiving an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification, the updated traffic notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from the at least one other mobile device, the updated traffic notification received prior to an execution of the detour and indicative of avoiding the detour.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises an input detected by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input comprises selection of a menu option.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically turning on a location determining application on the mobile device, to obtain the location data for the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending fuel level data for a vehicle communicable with the mobile device to the notification system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fuel level data is obtained via a short range connection between an in-vehicle system and the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification comprises an indication of at least one refueling station associated with at least one criterion provided to the notification system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a route associated with the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises information associated with traffic congestion in a zone associated with the location data for the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is within the traffic congestion.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for obtaining location based notifications, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

detecting an event at a mobile device located in a vehicle;

determining location and speed data at the mobile device in response to detecting the event;

sending the location and speed data to a notification system remote to the mobile device to enable the notification system to generate traffic notifications for the mobile device and at least one other mobile device;

receiving a traffic notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other mobile device the traffic notification indicative of a detour; and

receiving an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification, the updated traffic notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from the at least one other mobile device, the updated traffic notification received prior to an execution of the detour and indicative of avoiding the detour.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the event comprises an input detected by the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the input comprises selection of a menu option.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising automatically turning on a location determining application on the mobile device, to obtain the location data for the mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for sending fuel level data for a vehicle communicable with the mobile device to the notification system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the fuel level data is obtained via a short range connection between an in-vehicle system and the mobile device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the notification comprises an indication of at least one refueling station associated with at least one criterion provided to the notification system.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a route.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the notification comprises information associated with traffic congestion in a zone associated with the location data for the mobile device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is within the traffic congestion.

21. A mobile device comprising a processor, a communication interface, and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for operating said processor to:

detect an event at a mobile device located in a vehicle;

determine location and speed data at the mobile device in response to detecting the event;

send the location and speed data to a notification system remote to the mobile device to enable the notification system to generate traffic notifications for the mobile device and at least one other mobile device;

receive a traffic notification from the notification system, the notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from at least one other mobile device, the traffic notification indicative of a detour; and

receive an updated traffic notification regarding a change in the traffic notification, the updated traffic notification having been determined using the location and speed data sent by the mobile device and location and speed data obtained by the notification system from the at least one other mobile device, the updated traffic notification received prior to an execution of the detour and indicative of avoiding the detour.