System for managing traffic patterns using cellular telephones

• US 20050003802A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Joseph
• Original Assignee: Joseph Joseph
• Inventors: Joseph, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and a method configured for managing traffic. The traffic management system includes cellular telephones and a plurality of base stations. The cellular telephones define volume on a roadway and the traffic management system provides directions, traffic advisories, and traffic redirecting when traffic jams are detected along the navigation pathway using the cellular telephone system. Directions are communicated to the cellular telephone user by aural, tactile, and visual signals. The system can simply be a cellular telephone system or include additional peripheral devices such as a computer, headphone, visual display, and sound system. The user is able to redefine the desired destination or navigation pathway while en route by knowing traffic volume from cell phone use. A processing system is coupled to at least one of the base stations and provides service support including the tracking of historical data and developing the navigation pathway for the user. The method includes providing a traffic management system having a plurality of base stations connected to at least one processing station and a plurality of cellular telephone users, the traffic management system being suitable for identifying traffic congestion based on monitoring cellular telephone traffic. The processing station defines a navigation pathway and provides ongoing directional instructions regarding the pathway and any ensuing congestion.

Claims

1. A system for providing traffic information for planning a trip comprising:

a traffic system including cellular telephones, a base station and a processing station configured for receiving cellular telephone emissions, the processing station being in communication with the base station, the processing station being configured for receiving data input from cellular telephones to the base stations, the base station using the data input to define the amount of cell phones on a roadway and, therefore, the volume of traffic on a roadway.

2. The system providing for traffic information of claim 1, wherein the data input is sent to the base station by the cellular telephones and defines the amount of cell phones located in vehicles on a roadway.

3. The system for providing traffic information of claim 2, wherein defining the navigation pathway includes defining a date and a time of departure from a geographic location.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the data input includes route information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone users are positioned in a vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing station defines a navigation pathway package suitable for transfer to a computer system positioned in the vehicle suitable for at least storing and displaying map and navigation information, the computer system in the vehicle being integrated with the at lease one cellular telephone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cellular telephone user is not in a vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the locating of the at least one cellular telephone is determined using the navigation pathway defined by the at least one cellular telephone user, the emissions of the at least one cellular telephone, and one base station.

9. A management system using cellular telephones comprising:

a traffic management system including at least one cellular telephone defining data input; and

a plurality of base stations, the base stations being connected with at least one processing station and the cellular telephone user, the processing station being configured for receiving the data input from the cellular telephone user and defining a navigation pathway for the cellular telephone user at least partially based on the data input from the cellular telephone user and cellular telephone traffic monitored by the base stations.

10. The system claim 9, wherein the data input is sent to one of the plurality of base stations by the least one cellular telephone user and defines at least a geographic location of a point of destination, a time of arrival, and a date of arrival.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein defining the navigation pathway includes defining a date and a time of departure from a geographic location.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data input includes route information.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the cellular telephone user is positioned in a vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing station defines a navigation pathway package suitable for transfer to a computer system positioned in the vehicle configured for at least storing and displaying navigation package information including maps, the computer system being integrated with the cellular telephone.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the traffic management system provides corrective directions when a turn along the navigation pathway was missed by the at least one cellular telephone user.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the locating of the cellular telephone is determined using the navigation pathway defined by the at least on cellular telephone user, the emissions of the at least one cellular telephone, and one base station.

17. A method using cellular telephones for managing traffic comprising:

providing a traffic management system including a plurality of base stations connected to at least one processing station and a plurality of cellular telephone users, the traffic management system being suitable for identifying traffic congestion based on monitoring cellular telephone traffic;

sending data input from the cellular telephone users to the at least one processing station;

developing navigation pathways in the processing station based at least partially on the data input from the cellular telephone users;

inputting data from the cellular telephone users along the navigation pathway to the base stations, the information being suitable for the at least one processing station to track the position of the cellular telephone user on the navigation pathway using a single base; and

providing data output from the at least one processing station to the cellular telephone users including providing notice of ensuing key navigation points along the navigation pathway to the cellular telephone users along the navigation pathway station and redirecting the cellular telephone user on the navigation pathway in relation to the traffic congestion detected by the plurality of base stations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing data from the at least one processing station includes providing navigation pathway information recorded on a medium suitable for use in a vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing data from the at least one processing station includes providing navigation pathway information including Global Positioning System information to the cellular telephone user, the navigation pathway information including maps in a form suitable for use on video display in a vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing includes a satellite system configured for communicating between the cellular telephone and the at least one of processing station.