Real-time traffic condition measurement using network transmission data

• US 9,400,190 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Inventors: Nortrup, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/740,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/412, 705/14.63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• 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: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 : Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• 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 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 : where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 : where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 : to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for identifying a first location, at time one, of a plurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles, identifying a second location, at time two, for each of the plurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate the cell phone within each of the plurality of automobiles, calculating a vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the first and second locations already identified, and creating a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. The computer program product may repeat this process in real-time to calculate a real-time traffic condition measure that may be a traffic density measure the computer program product may use to predict a travel time.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process, comprising:

a. receiving a destination and a desired time of arrival at the destination from a user;

b. receiving vehicle traffic information for a calculated route predicted to be traveled by the user to the destination,

c. wherein the vehicle traffic information is calculated based on a plurality of cell phone locations, each of the plurality of cell phone locations selected based on a proximity of the cell phone to the calculated route, wherein each of the plurality of cell phone locations is determined following confirmation of a user setting that permits communication of a location of the user to a requestor of the location; and

d. communicating an alert to the user, based on the vehicle traffic information, indicating the user should proceed to the destination for an on-time arrival at the destination.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the proximity of the cell phones is measured via a cell tower triangulation process.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the proximity of the cell phones is determined via GPS.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the proximity of the cell phones is determined by a combination of cell tower triangulation and GPS.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising receiving additional traffic information while the user is en route and communicating additional information to the user concerning an arrival time at the destination.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising presenting to the user information concerning route performance.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the vehicle traffic information is from past trips by the user to the destination;

and further comprising receiving a desired time to begin travel and communicating before travel begins an alert to the user concerning the calculated route or alternate route suggestions.

8. A computer implemented process, comprising:

a. receiving a destination and a desired time of arrival at the destination from a user;

b. receiving vehicle traffic information for a calculated route predicted to be traveled by the user to the destination,

c. wherein the vehicle traffic information is calculated based on a plurality of cell phone locations, each of the plurality of cell phone locations selected based on a proximity of the cell phone to the calculated route, wherein each of the plurality of cell phone locations is determined following confirmation of a user setting that permits communication of a location of the user to a requestor of the location; and

d. estimating a travel time for the user based on the calculated route and the user'"'"'s travel habits.

9. The process of claim 8, further comprising alerting the user to presently proceed to the destination for an on-time arrival at the destination based on the vehicle traffic information and the user'"'"'s travel habits.

10. The process of claim 8, where a basis for cell phones selected for vehicle traffic information also includes a calculated speed of the cell phones in proximity to the calculated route.

11. The process of claim 10, further comprising sending an alert to the user via a traffic tracking system based on slower calculated speeds of the cell phones in proximity to the calculated route.

12. The process of claim 10, further comprising sending an alert to the user when traffic slows based on slower calculated speeds of the cell phones in proximity to the calculated route.

13. The process of claim 10, further comprising re-estimating the travel time based on updated information concerning the calculated speed of the cell phones in proximity to the calculated route.

14. A computer implemented process, comprising:

a. receiving a destination and a desired time of arrival at the destination from a user;

b. receiving vehicle traffic information for a plurality of routes predicted to be traveled by the user to the destination,

c. wherein the vehicle traffic information for the plurality of routes is calculated based on a plurality of cell phone locations, each of the plurality of cell phone locations selected based on a proximity of the cell phone to one of the plurality of routes, wherein each of the plurality of cell phone locations is determined following confirmation of a user setting that permits communication of a location of the user to a requestor of the location; and

d. recommending one of the plurality of routes to the user based on the calculation of the vehicle traffic information for the plurality of routes.

15. The process of claim 14, further comprising estimating a travel time for each of the plurality of routes the user based on the vehicle traffic information.

16. The process of claim 14, further comprising connecting with a route information service before the step of receiving the destination and the desired time of arrival.

17. The process of claim 14, further comprising saving the destination and the desired time of arrival at the destination for recurring use.

18. The process of claim 14, further comprising recommending a start time for the user.

19. The process of claim 14, further comprising estimating a travel time and recommending a start time for the user.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the step of estimating is based partly on the user'"'"'s travel habits.