Method and System for Automatically Updating Traffic Incident Data for In-Vehicle Navigation

• US 20090248283A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bicego, James JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• 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: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

Aspects of the invention disclose a method and system for automatically updating traffic incident data for in-vehicle navigation. This includes, but is not limited to, a method and system of notifying one or more traffic providers of a traffic accident when a telematics provider receives an automated accident notification from a vehicle. The notification prompts the traffic provider to investigate the traffic accident immediately using manual techniques (monitoring police scanners, visual confirmation by aircraft, etc.) and accurately updates its traffic information in a more timely manner. In turn, the traffic information received by the telematics unit from traffic provider is more accurate. This allows the telematics unit navigation system to provide accurate navigation directions to the subscriber while driving through traffic congested areas.

Claims

1. A system for automatically updating traffic incident data for use by an in-vehicle navigation system within a telematics unit associated with a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one telematics unit for transmitting at least one first accident notification to a telematics provider'"'"'s telematics data receiving unit responsive to an occurrence of a collision involving the vehicle;

a first telematics receiving unit associated with a telematics provider that receives the first accident notification from the at least one telematics unit;

a first communication network that transmits the at least one first accident notification from the at least one telematics unit to the first telematics receiving unit; and

a first traffic update reporting device that transmits an accident notification from the telematics provider to a traffic information provider.

2. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 1, further comprising:

a traffic report receiving device whereby a traffic information provider can receive at least one second accident notification from the telematics provider; and

a second communication network for transmitting the at least one second accident notification from the telematics provider to the traffic information provider.

3. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second telematics receiving unit whereby the telematics provider can receive traffic report information from the traffic information provider;

a second traffic update reporting device that transmits the traffic report information to one or more telematics units;

a first communication network that transmits the traffic report information to the one or more telematics units;

at least one telematics unit that receives the traffic report information from the second traffic update reporting device;

wherein the at least one telematics unit uses the traffic report information within the in-vehicle navigation system to provide navigation instructions to the vehicle driver.

4. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 1, wherein the first accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent the first accident notification.

5. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 2, wherein a second accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent the first accident notification.

6. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 2, wherein the second accident notification is a message selected from the group consisting of a telephone communication, an e-mail, an instant message, a text message, and an image message.

7. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 1, wherein the first communication network is selected from the group consisting of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, and a WiMAX network.

8. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 1, wherein the second communication network is selected from the group consisting of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), a GSM, a WiFi, a WiMAX network, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a computer network, a voice over IP network, and a public switched telephone network.

9. A method for automatically updating traffic incident data for an in-vehicle navigation system within a telematics unit associated with a vehicle, the system comprising:

receiving at least one first accident notification from a telematics unit installed in a vehicle that is involved in a traffic incident across a first communication network; and

transmitting at least one second accident notification to a traffic information provider across a second communication network.

10. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving updated traffic report data from the traffic information provider across the second communication network;

transmitting the updated traffic report data across the first communication network to one or more telematics units installed in one or more vehicles; and

receiving the updated traffic report data by the one or more telematics units;

wherein the one or more telematics units use the traffic report data within the in-vehicle navigation system to provide navigation instructions to the vehicle driver.

11. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, wherein the first accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent a first accident notification.

12. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, wherein a second accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent a first accident notification.

13. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9 wherein a second accident notification is a message selected from the group consisting of a telephone communication, an e-mail, an instant message, a text message, and an image message.

14. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, wherein a first communication network is selected from the group consisting of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan an area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, and a WiMAX network.

15. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, wherein a second communication network is selected from the group consisting of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, a WiMAX network, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a computer network, a voice over IP network, and a public switched telephone network.

16. A method for automatically updating traffic incident data for in-vehicle navigation system within a telematics unit, the system comprising:

receiving an accident notification from a telematics service provider across a communication network;

confirming the accident received in the accident notification;

updating a traffic report based on the confirmation using manual techniques of the accident received in the accident notification; and

transmitting the traffic report to at least one telematics provider across a communication network.

17. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 16, wherein the accident notification contains GPS information of a vehicle involved in the accident.

18. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 16, wherein a communication network is selected from the group consisting of a wireless wide area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a wireless local area network, a CDMA2000 network, an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, a GSM network, a WiFi network, a WiMAX network, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a computer network, a voice over IP network, and a public switched telephone network.

19. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 16, wherein the manual techniques used to confirm the accident notification is selected from the group of monitoring at least one police scanner, visual confirmation using aircraft and aircraft personnel, and soliciting information from regional transportation departments.

20. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 16, wherein the accident notification is a message selected from the group consisting of a telephone communication, an e-mail, an instant message, a text message, and an image message.