GPS-based traffic monitoring system

• US 20070197217A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sehat Sutardja
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Granted Patent: US 8,064,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular phone comprises a cellular phone control module that controls the cellular phone, a global positioning system (GPS) selectively generates vector and location data, and a transmitter. The cellular phone control module selectively wirelessly transmits the vector and location data using the transmitter when at least one of the cellular phone is traveling on a first set of predetermined roads and does not transmit the vector and location data when the cellular phone is traveling on a second set of roads, and the cellular phone is traveling at a first speed that is greater than a predetermined speed.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

a cellular phone control module that controls said cellular phone;

a global positioning system (GPS) that selectively generates vector and location data; and

a transmitter,

wherein said cellular phone control module selectively wirelessly transmits said vector and location data using said transmitter when at least one of;

said cellular phone is traveling on a first set of predetermined roads and does not transmit said vector and location data when said cellular phone is traveling on a second set of roads; and

said cellular phone is traveling at a first speed that is greater than a predetermined speed.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said cellular phone includes a receiver that communicates with said cellular phone control module and that wirelessly receives traffic reports from a remote traffic monitoring system.

3. The cellular phone of claim 2 wherein said traffic reports include traffic speed information for traffic traveling on at least one of said first set of predetermined roads.

4. A traffic monitoring system comprising the cellular phone of claim 1 and further comprising a remote traffic monitoring system that receives said vector and location data and that compares a speed of said cellular phone on a first road to a first threshold and to an average traffic speed on said first road and that selectively triggers contact with said cellular phone.

5. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said cellular phone control module transmits said vector and location data on a periodic basis.

6. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said cellular phone control module monitors changes in direction of said cellular phone and transmits said vector and location data when said cellular phone changes direction greater than a direction change threshold.

7. A traffic monitoring system comprising the cellular phone of claim 1 and further comprising a traffic estimating module that estimates an average traffic level on said road during prior ones of first periodic periods.

8. The traffic monitoring system of claim 7 further comprising a traffic monitoring module that estimates a current traffic level on said road during a first portion of a current one of said first periodic periods based on vector and location information received from at least one of cellular phones and vehicles during said first portion.

9. The traffic monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising a traffic predicting module that predicts traffic levels on said road during a remaining portion of said current one of said first periodic periods based on said average traffic level and said estimated current traffic level during said first portion.

10. The traffic monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined speed is based on a typical speed of at least one of a person one of walking and running.

11. A method for operating a cellular phone comprising:

providing a cellular phone control module that controls said cellular phone;

selectively generating vector and location data using a global positioning system of said cellular phone; and

selectively wirelessly transmitting said vector and location data using said transmitter when at least one of;

said cellular phone is traveling on a first set of predetermined roads and does not transmit said vector and location data when said cellular phone is traveling on a second set of roads; and

said cellular phone is traveling at a first speed that is greater than a predetermined speed.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising wirelessly receiving traffic reports from a remote traffic monitoring system at said cellular phone.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said traffic reports include traffic speed information for traffic traveling on at least one of said first set of predetermined roads.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving said vector and location data at a remote traffic monitoring system;

comparing a speed of said cellular phone on a first road to a first threshold and to an average traffic speed on said first road; and

selectively triggering contact with said cellular phone.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting said vector and location data on a periodic basis.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

monitoring changes in direction of said cellular phone; and

transmitting said vector and location data when said cellular phone changes direction greater than a direction change threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising estimating an average traffic level on said road during prior ones of first periodic periods.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising estimating a current traffic level on said road during a first portion of a current one of said first periodic periods based on vector and location information received from at least one of cellular phones and vehicles during said first portion.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising predicting traffic levels on said road during a remaining portion of said current one of said first periodic periods based on said average traffic level and said estimated current traffic level during said first portion.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined speed is based on a typical speed of at least one of a person one of walking and running.

21. A cellular phone comprising:

cellular phone control means for controlling said cellular phone;

global positioning means for selectively generating vector and location data; and

transmitting means for transmitting data,

wherein said cellular phone control means selectively wirelessly transmits said vector and location data using said transmitting means when at least one of;

said cellular phone is traveling on a first set of predetermined roads and does not transmit said vector and location data when said cellular phone is traveling on a second set of roads; and

said cellular phone is traveling at a first speed that is greater than a predetermined speed.

22. The cellular phone of claim 21 wherein said cellular phone includes receiving means for communicating with said cellular phone control means and for wirelessly receiving traffic reports from a remote traffic monitoring system.

23. The cellular phone of claim 22 wherein said traffic reports include traffic speed information for traffic traveling on at least one of said first set of predetermined roads.

24. A traffic monitoring system comprising the cellular phone of claim 21 and further comprising remote traffic monitoring means for receiving said vector and location data and for comparing a speed of said cellular phone on a first road to a first threshold and to an average traffic speed on said first road and for selectively triggering contact with said cellular phone.

25. The cellular phone of claim 21 wherein said cellular phone control means transmits said vector and location data on a periodic basis.

26. The cellular phone of claim 21 wherein said cellular phone control means monitors changes in direction of said cellular phone and transmits said vector and location data when said cellular phone changes direction greater than a direction change threshold.

27. A traffic monitoring system comprising the cellular phone of claim 21 and further comprising traffic estimating means for estimating an average traffic level on said road during prior ones of first periodic periods.

28. The traffic monitoring system of claim 27 further comprising traffic monitoring means for estimating a current traffic level on said road during a first portion of a current one of said first periodic periods based on vector and location information received from at least one of cellular phones and vehicles during said first portion.

29. The traffic monitoring system of claim 28 further comprising traffic predicting means for predicting traffic levels on said road during a remaining portion of said current one of said first periodic periods based on said average traffic level and said estimated current traffic level during said first portion.

30. The traffic monitoring system of claim 21 wherein said predetermined speed is based on a typical speed of at least one of a person one of walking and running.