Receiving traffic update information and reroute information in a mobile vehicle

• US 20040010366A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Videtich, Matt C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,062,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• 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: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for receiving traffic update information and reroute information from a telematics service call center in a mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle monitors a satellite broadcast signal for the traffic update information. The traffic update information is extracted. The mobile vehicle determines whether the traffic update information is relevant to its current route. If the traffic update information is deemed relevant, an alert is signaled.

Claims

1. A method for receiving traffic update information and reroute information from a telematics service call center in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

monitoring a satellite broadcast signal for the traffic update information;

extracting the traffic update information;

determining whether the traffic update information is on a route; and

sending an alert signal based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert signal comprises a reroute request query.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic update information is delivered on a subcarrier band of the satellite broadcast signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic update information is broadcast in a multiplexed encoding scheme based upon location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the multiplexed encoding scheme uses TDMA.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

monitoring for a response to the route request query;

transmitting a route update request to the telematics service call center based on an affirmative response to the route request query; and

receiving reroute information from the telematics service call center.

7. A method for determining relevant traffic update information to broadcast in a mobile vehicle communication system via a satellite broadcast system, comprising:

receiving traffic update information at a telematics service call center;

comparing the traffic update information to a list of routes currently engaged by at least one mobile vehicle in the mobile vehicle communication system; and

transmitting the traffic update information to a satellite radio uplink facility based upon the comparison.

8. A computer usable medium including a program for receiving traffic update information and reroute information from a telematics service call center in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer program code to monitor a satellite broadcast signal for the traffic update information;

computer program code to extract the traffic update information;

computer program code to determine whether the traffic update information is on the route; and

computer program code to send an alert signal based on the determination.

9. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein the alert signal comprises a reroute request query.

10. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein the traffic update information is delivered on a subcarrier band of the satellite broadcast signal.

11. The computer usable medium of claim 8 wherein the traffic update information is broadcast in a multiplexed encoding scheme based upon location.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 11 wherein the multiplexed encoding scheme uses TDMA.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 9 further comprising:

computer program code to monitor for a response to the route request query;

computer program code to transmit a route update request to the telematics service call center based on an affirmative response to the route request query; and

computer program code to receive reroute information from the telematics service call center.

14. A computer usable medium including a program for determining relevant traffic update information to broadcast in a mobile vehicle communication system via a satellite broadcast system, comprising:

computer program code to receive traffic update information at a telematics service call center;

computer program code to compare the traffic update information to a list of routes currently engaged by mobile vehicles in the mobile vehicle communication system; and

computer program code to transmit the traffic update information to a satellite radio uplink facility based upon the comparison.

15. A system of receiving traffic update information and reroute information from a telematics service call center in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for monitoring a satellite broadcast signal for the traffic update information;

means for extracting the traffic update information;

means for determining whether the traffic update information is on the route; and

means for sending an alert signal based on the determination.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for monitoring for a response to the route request query;

means for transmitting a route update request to the telematics service call center based on an affirmative response to the route request query; and

means for receiving reroute information from the telematics service call center.

17. A system for determining relevant traffic update information to broadcast in a mobile vehicle communication system via a satellite broadcast system, comprising:

means for receiving traffic update information at a telematics service call center;

means for comparing the traffic update information to a list of routes currently engaged by mobile vehicles in the mobile vehicle communication system; and

means for transmitting the traffic update information to a satellite radio uplink facility based upon the comparison.