System for collecting, analyzing, and transmitting information relevant to transportation networks

• US 8,799,461 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Herz, Frederick S. M., Lemaire, Pierre, Lemaire, Jean H., Labys, Walter Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Chao, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepperd, Eric W
• Application Number:
  US13/429,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20130059607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-205, 709223-224, 709/227, 701/1, 701/400, 701408-412, 701420-424, 701/451, 701/454, 701482-485, 701/489, 701532-533
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• 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: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1025 Dynamic adaptation of the criteria on which the server selection is based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 : Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

When individual persons or vehicles move through a transportation network, they are likely to be both actively and passively creating information that reflects their location and current behavior. In this patent, we propose a system that makes complete use of this information. First, through a broad web of sensors, our system collects and stores the full range of information generated by travelers. Next, through the use of previously-stored data and active computational analysis, our system deduces the identity of individual travelers. Finally, using advanced data-mining technology, our system selects useful information and transmits it back to the individual, as well as to third-party users; in short, it forms the backbone for a variety of useful location-related end-user applications.

Claims

1. A method of communicating electronically, comprising:

acquiring, at a server, location information for a plurality of mobile communicants;

identifying, by the server, a particular mobile communicant of the plurality of mobile communicants;

acquiring, by the server, sensor data from a vehicle associated with said particular mobile communicant;

accessing, by the server, a personal profile for said particular mobile communicant from a plurality of personal profiles associated with the vehicle based on the sensor data, each of the personal profiles corresponding to a different user; and

delivering, by the server, digital content to said particular mobile communicant, the digital content for delivery being determined based upon preferences identified in said personal profile and the location information.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the digital content is further determined based on predicted information needs of said particular mobile communicant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is obtained from the particular mobile communicant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of:

a speed of the vehicle, a setting of a radio, and a setting of a seat.

5. A system for communicating content to a mobile user using a communications network, the system comprising:

one or more network servers on the communications network operative to;

acquire location information corresponding to the mobile user;

acquire sensor data from a vehicle associated with the mobile user;

access a personal profile for said mobile user from a plurality of personal profiles associated with the vehicle based on the sensor data, each of the personal profiles corresponding to a different user;

determine content to deliver to the mobile user based upon preferences identified in said personal profile and the location information; and

communicate the determined content to the mobile user.