Vehicle information system

• US 7,706,967 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Brown, Steven, Knockeart, Ronald P., Jozefowicz, Paul A., Asher, Harry, Rode, Melvin A., Drury, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/057,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-119, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 701/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• 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

A vehicle information system which includes an in-vehicle system 105 and a centralized server system 120. The in-vehicle system communicates with the server system using a wireless communication link 110, such as over a cellular telephone system. A position system, such as a set of GPS satellites 140, provides positioning signals that are used by the in-vehicle systems, and optionally by the centralized server system to increase the accuracy of position estimates. In one version of the system, an operator specifies a destination to an in-vehicle system which validates the destination. The in-vehicle system transmits specification of the destination to a server system 125 at the centralized server. The server system computes a route to the destination and transmits the computed route to the in-vehicle system. The in-vehicle system guides the operator along the route. If the in-vehicle system detects that the vehicle as deviated from the planned route, it re-plans a new route to the destination using an in-vehicle map database.

Claims

1. A method of collecting traffic information comprising;

enabling a plurality of in-vehicle system associated with a corresponding plurality of different vehicles to collect traffic related information;

communicating information from a server computer system with each of the plurality of in-vehicle systems;

collecting traffic related information at each of in-vehicle systems responsive to information and instructions communicated from the server computer system;

communicating the traffic related information to the server computer system; and

selecting a number of in-vehicle systems from which information is obtained responsive to the traffic information communicated to the server computer system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server computer system selects a number of in-vehicle system for collecting traffic related information responsive to current traffic conditions.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle system receives information from the server computer system indicative of expected traffic conditions and the in-vehicle system reports differences between current traffic conditions and the expected traffic conditions.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle system receives information from the server computer system regarding a desired route.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, including the step of comparing a current speed to an expected speed along the desired route.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the desired route is divided into segments and each segment includes an expected speed unique to that segment.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server computer system selects an increased number of in-vehicle systems from which information is obtained responsive to traffic conditions deviating from expected traffic conditions.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server computer system selects a decreased number of in-vehicle systems from which information is obtained responsive to traffic conditions being within an expected range of traffic conditions.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of instructing the in-vehicle system to transmit information indicative of current traffic conditions at a defined interval, wherein the defined interval is based on current traffic conditions.

10. A system for collecting traffic information comprising:

a server computer system including a wireless communications link, the server computer system including a database of route information;

a plurality of in-vehicle systems installed within a corresponding plurality of vehicles, each of the plurality of in-vehicle systems including a communications link for communicating with the server computer system for receiving route information from the server computer system, wherein the in-vehicle system is selectively enabled by the server computer system for collecting data indicative of current traffic conditions, wherein the server computer system selects a number of the in-vehicle systems from which to receives the traffic related information.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the number of the plurality of in-vehicle computer systems from which information is received is increased responsive to traffic related information indicating a deviation from an expected traffic condition.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the wireless communications link includes a link for communicating receives traffic information to the plurality of in-vehicle systems.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the wireless communications link includes a link for communicating traffic information to another system.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the wireless communications link comprises a cellular phone network.