System for controlling speed of a vehicle

• US 7,783,406 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reagan Inventions L.L.C. (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/233,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/117, 701/119, 701/201, 701/202, 701/210, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/423, 455/423.3, 455/426.1, 455/440, 455/440.1, 455/441, 455/453, 455/450, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/457, 455/550.1, 455/517, 340/466, 340/539.13, 340/905, 340/995.13, 370/252, 342/357.07, 705/41
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/185 connected to the speedometer display, e.g. by sensors or switches responsive to the position of the indicator needle arrangement of pointers in automobile speedometers for indicating predetermined speeds by the detection of the position of the indicator needle G01P1/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• 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 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00

Abstract

A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The device, system and method further provide for communicating a subject vehicle'"'"'s speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.

Claims

1. A system for processing location information comprising:

at least one device comprising;

a locational information module for determining location information and speed of the at least one device; and

a transmission module for transmitting the location information and speed of the at least one device to a server;

the server including a database for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route, the server being adapted to access at least one map based on the transmitted location information and to determine if the speed of the at least one device is within the speed limit; and

a communications network for coupling the at least one device to the server, wherein the server receives location information and speed of a plurality of devices and to determine an average speed of the plurality of devices for the location, and wherein the server determines a density of the plurality of devices for the location, wherein if the density is less than a predetermined density and if the average speed is less than the speed limit of the location less the predetermined offset, the server will generate a weather alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server transmits the alert to at least one of the plurality of devices.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the server transmits to the at least one of the plurality of devices an alternate route.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the server transmits the received location information and speed to a predetermined computing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein if the speed of the at least one device is above the speed limit, the server transmits an alert to a predetermined computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein if the server determines the average speed for the plurality of devices is zero, the server will generate a traffic accident alert.