Method and system for automatically updating traffic incident data for in-vehicle navigation

• US 8,155,865 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bicego, James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US12/059,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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:

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

the telematics data receiving unit associated with the telematics provider that receives the accident notification from the telematics unit wherein the telematics unit transmits the accident notification to a traffic information provider and in response said telematics provider receives an updated traffic report back from the traffic information provider.

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

a traffic report receiving device whereby the traffic information provider receives a second accident notification from the telematics 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 receives traffic report information from the traffic information provider; and

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; and

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 accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent the accident notification.

5. The system for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 2, wherein the second accident notification contains GPS information of the telematics equipped vehicle that sent the second 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 accident notification is sent via a communication network 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 accident notification is sent from the telematics provider to the traffic information provider via a communication network 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 a telematics provider an accident notification from a telematics unit installed in a vehicle that is involved in a traffic incident across a first communication network;

transmitting the accident notification from the telematics provider to a traffic information provider across a second communication network, whereupon the traffic information provider prepares an updated traffic report reflecting the incident and returns the updated traffic report via the second communication network to the telematics provider.

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

transmitting the updated traffic report data from the telematics provider across the first communication network to the telematics unit installed in the vehicle

wherein the telematics unit uses 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 the accident notification.

12. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9 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.

13. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, wherein the 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.

14. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 9, 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 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.

15. 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, the accident notification identifying an accident occurring with respect to a vehicle;

confirming the accident identified in the accident notification using a manual technique;

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

transmitting the traffic report to the telematics provider for retransmission to a telematics unit of a vehicle.

16. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 15, wherein the accident notification contains GPS information of the location of the vehicle involved in the accident.

17. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 15, wherein the 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.

18. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 15, wherein the manual technique used to confirm the accident notification is selected from the group of monitoring at least one police scanner, visual confirmation using an aircraft and an aircraft personnel, and soliciting information from a regional transportation department.

19. The method for automatically updating traffic incident data according to claim 15, 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.