Receiving traffic update information and reroute information in a mobile vehicle

• US 7,174,253 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Videtich, Matt C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/119,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/203, 701/204, 701/205, 701/206, 701207-213, 340990-9952, 3423571-35713
• 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 call center in a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving traffic obstruction information at the telematics call center;

classifying the traffic obstruction information within a broadcast subarea;

transmitting the classified traffic obstruction information from the call center to a satellite broadcast radio uplink facility; and

broadcasting the classified traffic obstruction information to at least one mobile vehicle.

2. A method for receiving traffic update intonation and reroute information from a call center in a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving traffic obstruction information at the telematics call center;

classifing the traffic obstruction information within a broadcast subarea, wherein the classifying the traffic obstruction information comprises encoding the traffic obstruction information using a multiplexing strategy;

transmitting the classified traffic obstruction information from the call center to a satellite radio uplink facility; and

broadcasting the classified traffic obstruction information to at least one mobile vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the multiplexing strategy is time division multiple access.

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

receiving route information from the call center at the mobile vehicle;

contacting the call center upon embarking on travel based on the route information, the contacting including;

receiving broadcast traffic obstruction information via a satellite broadcast radio subcarrier;

determining whether the received broadcast traffic information indicates a traffic obstruction on at least one current route; and

transmitting a reroute information request to the call center using a wireless carrier system; and

receiving reroute information based on the contacting the call center.

5. A method for transmitting reroute information to a mobile vehicle from a call center, the method comprising:

transmitting route information to the mobile vehicle in response to a route request from the mobile vehicle;

receiving, at the call center, broadcast traffic information via a satellite broadcast radio subcarrier;

receiving a query from the mobile vehicle;

determining whether the traffic information is relevant to the route information; and

transmitting reroute information to the mobile vehicle in response to the determining.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein transmitting route information comprises determining at least one current route.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining whether the traffic information is relevant to the route information comprises determining whether the received broadcast traffic information indicates a traffic obstruction on the at least one current route.