Crowd Sourced Traffic, LLC v. Waze, Inc.
Filing
1
COMPLAINT against Waze, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3310886.), filed by Crowd Sourced Traffic, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ni, Hao)
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u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
US 7,440,842 Bl
Sheet 4 of 12
82
78
FIG. 5
FIG. 4
Length of Smallest Map
~ 1 mile
D
2miles
FIG.7A
5 miles
88
Length of Largest Map
D
l:8J
90
FIG.7B
20 miles
FIG.7C
~
50 miles
o
10 miles
Return to Map Display
FIG. 7
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
Sheet 5 of 12
US 7,440,842 Bl
~OWER 00.---1 00
1
DISPLAY
"INITIALIZING"
MESSAGE
102
INITIALIZE ~ 104
SYSTEM
110
DISPLAY
ERROR
MESSAGE
YES
124
122
DISPLAY
"WAITING"
MESSAGE
1--tI
CALL
TRAFFIC
DATA CLIENT
\ YES
NO
______ 1__________________________________________ FIG.7A
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
Sheet 6 of 12
US 7,440,842 Bl
128
WRITE NEW
LOCATION DATA
;
134
POSITION
ARROW
NO
138
154
FIG.7B
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_- _ --- _--- - ----..
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Sheet 7 of 12
Oct. 21, 2008
...
..
--
- -- --- ------
ACCEPT
KEYBOARD
INPUT
DISPLAY
MENU
158
CHANGE
VOLUME
162
MOVE
CURSOR
YES
178
SEARCH
DATABASE
182
DISPLAY
ERROR
MESSAGE
166 ------\
RECORD
YES ENTRY;
UPDATE
DISPLAY
112
?
NO
YES
UPDATE AND
DISPLAY
MAP
FIG.7C
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
US 7,440,842 Bl
Sheet 8 of 12
FIG.8A
FIG.10A
FIG.8S
FIG. 108
FIG. 8
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FIG. 9
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
US 7,440,842 Bl
Sheet 9 of 12
INCREMENI
NUMBER
OF ENTRIES
196
GO TO
POINTER
ADD DISTANCE
MOVED TO
TOTAL DISTANCE
198
READ
LOCATION
206-
CALCULATE
DISTANCE
MOVED
GO TO
NEXT ENTRY
200
227
204
-202
NO
TRANSMIT
TRAFFIC
DATA
208
CALCULATE
AVERAGE SPEED
FROM TOTAL
DISTANCE
READ
LOCA1\ON
212
228
FIG.8A
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
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Sheet 10 of 12
213
222
CALL PEER
VEHICLE If..-----<
215
)
TRANSMIT
PASSWORD
RECEIVE
TRAFFIC DATA
225
YES
217
216
TRANSMIT
LOCATION AND
AVERAGE SPEED
RECEiVE
TRAFFIC DATA
WRITE TRAFFIC
DATA
2'8
TO TRAFFIC
219
DATABASE
221
RETURN CODE
TO NAVIGATION
PROGRAM
220
FIG.8B
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Oct. 21, 2008
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Sheet 11 of 12
254
RECEIVE LOCATION,
AVERAGE SPEED
268 ~
WRITE AVERAGE
SPEED TO TRAFFIC
DATABASE
270 ____
READ TRAFFIC DATA
FROM TRAFFIC
DATABASE
278
GOTO FIRST
RECORD
INITIALIZE
VARIABLES
GO TO
NEXT TIME
280
282
272~
TRANSMIT
TRAFFIC DATA
FIG. 10A
u.s. Patent
Oct. 21, 2008
184
YES
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Sheet 12 of 12
274
286
~
ERASE
TIME, SPEED
END CALL
SET AVERAGE SPEED
EQUAL TO ACCUM
DIVIDED BY COUNT
292
COMPARE AVERAGE
SPEED WITH
NORMAL SPEED
294
WRITE AVERAGE
SPEED AND COLOR
CODE TO DATABASE
ADO SPEED
TO ACCUM,
ADD 1
TO COUNT
296
300
GOTONEXT
RECORD
NO
YES
FIG. 10B
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SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING,
PROCESSING, RECEIVING, AND
DISPLAYING TRAFFIC INFORMATION
U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2001/0029425 describes a system
providing vehicle guidance by a central traffic unit maintaining a perpetually updated database of travel times for all
sections of roads. Mobile guidance units within the vehicles
include mobile cell phone handset units located in mounting
receptacles and connnunicatively linked to the central traffic
unit computer server. To detect a bottleneck situation as it
arises, and to estimate travel times for a section of road, the
central traffic unit maintains a list of vehicles that have
recently exited that section. If the times those vehicles have
spent in the section differ substantially from a regular travel
time stored in a database, the central traffic unit uses statistical
tools for forecasting a future travel time along the section.
In response to a request from a driver for a route update
from his present position to a desired destination, connnunicated via mobile phone to the central traffic unit, the central
traffic unit calculates the desired fastest route by utilizing
both the regular travel times along segments of the roads and
predicted current travel times calculated using infonnation
collected from the vehicles. The fastest route is then connnunicated to the guidance unit for display on a computer screen.
The mobile guidance units within the vehicles passively
collect traffic infonnation as they travel. A circuit card within
the mobile guidance unit causes the mobile cell phone handset unit to transmit real time position data via a mobile telephone transmission protocol. A client of the guidance system
may enter a navigation query via a network service through a
voice processor in the central traffic unit. The mobile guidance unit in a vehicle can be used to transmit a request in a PC
Internet/WAP software application, with the request being
transmitted through a teleconnnunications network to an
Internet/WAP server. The navigation directions are returned
by TCPIIP protocol in terms of digital map and text/voice
driving instructions. Other potential users and trip planners
access the an on-line guidance system through Internet
browsers, receiving a description of a shortest path solution
between starting and destination points.
U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2001/0056325 describes a client
navigation system in an automobile that establishes a wireless
connection to a navigation server on a computer network,
such as the Internet, requesting a route by uploading start and
stop specifications. The server calculates an optimal route
based on real-time data available on a network and transmits
route infonnation to the client navigation system, which
interprets the route, interfaces with a local mapping database,
and reconstructs the optimal route.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,544 describes a method and apparatus
for the transfer of traffic infonnation among vehicles and for
assisting the navigation of the vehicles. The traffic infonnation is routinely and automatically transmitted between
vehicles passing on a highway. The apparatus includes sensors to detect the direction and displacement of the vehicle, a
microcomputer to recognize the position of the vehicle by
referring the detected direction and displacement to a digitized map; a receiver to receive the passing vehicle's traffic
information to be process by the microcomputer; a transmitter to transmit traffic infonnation to the passing vehicle; and
a navigation unit in the microcomputer to generate navigation
information. The traffic infonnation transferred among
vehicles includes traffic information generated in the vehicles
themselves and traffic infonnation received from other
vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to connnunicating traffic infonnation between a number of vehicles and a server computer, to
storing and processing the information within the server computer system, and to providing for the display of the traffic
information on a display screen within each of the vehicles.
2. Summary of the Background Art
A number of vehicles are equipped with car navigation
systems using GPS (Global Positioning Systems) systems to
derive the location of the vehicle from signals transmitted by
satellites. A car navigation system also includes a display
screen and a database providing map data used within the
system to generate maps of roads within the region in which
the vehicle is operating. The position data and the map data
are used together to derive the position of the vehicle on a
road, which is then displayed, along with surrounding roads,
on the display screen. The map data is generally provided to
the system in the fonn of read-only data recorded on one or
more compact disks.
The patent literature includes a number of patents describing methods for adding traffic data to the information displayed by a car navigation system on a real time basis. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,056 describes a traffic infonnation system including a number of vehicles in radio connnunication with a center. In one embodiment of the system, the
presence or absence of a traffic jam is detennined within the
center based on only infonnation automatically transmitted to
the center from apparatus on the vehicles. A car navigation
system on each of the vehicles performs as a position sensor,
giving the position of the vehicle. Each of the vehicles is
connected to the center through a radio network including a
number of repeaters located throughout a region. The information transmitted to the center includes at least a vehicle
identifier, time data, and position data. An infonnation processor in the on-board apparatus in each vehicle transmits this
information at least twice at suitable time intervals. Using
data transmitted from a number of vehicles, the center calculates an average vehicle speed for each block forming a portion of a road within a region supervised by the center and
determines that a traffic jam has occurred within the block if
the average vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value.
The number of vehicles within the block may also be considered in this detennination, and the average vehicle speed may
be additionally used to detennine the severity of a traffic jam
in a block. Infonnation identifying the traffic jam and its
location is transmitted from the center to vehicles, to be
displayed at corresponding locations on the displayed maps.
Other versions of the traffic infonnation system of U.S. Pat.
No. 5,699,056 include the use of instrumentation on the
vehicles to determine road and weather conditions and to
measure the shapes of other vehicles, so that information that
is more extensive is transmitted to the center and returned to
the vehicles. What is needed is a traffic infonnation system
providing connnunications among a very large number of
vehicles within a large region and a center without a need to
build a specialized radio network including a large number of
repeaters to cover the distances involved. Additionally, what
is needed is a connnunication system operating in an efficient
manner so that thousands of vehicles can connnunicate with
a center without jannning the associated radio frequencies.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
65
It is a first objective of the invention to provide a system for
receiving average traffic speed data for various road seg-
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ments, within a computer system in a vehicle, and for displaying this average traffic speed data on a roadmap display
on the computer system.
It is another objective of the invention to transmit traffic
data from a computer system within a vehicle to a server
system over a network and to receive average traffic data
values from the server system over the network while minimizing usage of the network.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a traffic
information system using peer-to-peer communications
between vehicles when a vehicle cannot contact a server
system.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a system is
provided for communicating and processing traffic infonnation among a number of vehicles and a base station. Within
the base station, the system includes a traffic infonnation
server and a first database storing traffic data. The traffic
information server includes a processor programmed to
receive traffic data from a vehicle within the plurality of
vehicles, to store the traffic data received from the vehicle
within the first database, to calculate average data values from
traffic data stored within the first database, and to transmit a
portion of the average data values to a vehicle within the
plurality of vehicles. The system also includes a communication network connecting each of the vehicles with the traffic
information server.
Within each of the vehicles, the system includes first and
second transceivers, a location sensor, a second database, and
a traffic information computer. The first transceiver is for
connecting with the communication network to transmit the
traffic data and to receive the portion of average data values.
The location sensor detennines a geographic location of the
vehicle. The second database stores average data values. The
second transceiver is for transmitting the average data values
to another vehicle and for receiving the average data values
from another vehicle within the number of vehicles. The
traffic information computer includes a microprocessor programmed to detennine the traffic data from geographic location data received from the location sensor, to transmit the
traffic data detennined from data received from the location
sensor over the communication network to the traffic information server, to receive the average data values over the
communication network from the traffic information server,
and to transmit and receive the traffic data values from
another vehicle within the plurality of vehicles through the
second transceiver.
According to another aspect of the invention, a traffic information computer system is provided. The traffic infonnation
computer system includes data storage, a display screen, a
first transceiver, and a processor. The data storage stores a
mapping database holding data for generating roadmaps and
a traffic database storing average speed data for road segments. The processor is programmed to generate roadmaps
from data held within the mapping database, to display the
roadmaps on the display screen, to receive average speed data
for road segments through the first transceiver, to store the
average speed data for road segments received through the
first transceiver to the traffic database, and to display portions
of the average speed data for road segments stored within the
traffic database in locations corresponding to the road segments on the display screen.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a traffic
information server system is provided. The server system
includes a server computer and a database. The server computer has an interface for communicating over a network and
includes a processor. The database, which is accessed by a
server computer, storing traffic data including average data
values. The processor within the server computer is programmed to receive a call from a client system, to receive the
traffic data from the client system in response to receiving the
call, to transmit a portion of the average data values to the
client system in response to receiving the traffic data before
the call from the client system is terminated, to store the traffic
data received from the client system within the database, and
to calculate the average data values from the traffic data stored
within the database.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traffic information system in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a traffic information computer
built in accordance with the invention for operation within the
traffic infonnation system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the traffic information computer of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view of a large area as displayed on the traffic
information computer of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a pictographic view of a geographic region in
which a vehicle within the traffic data system of FIG. 1 is
traveling;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of menu data displayed on the
screen of the traffic information computer of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a process occurring within the
traffic infonnation computer of FIG. 2 during execution of a
navigation program, including an upper portion indicated as
FIG. 7A, a central portion indicated as FIG. 7B, and a lower
portion indicated as FIG. 7C;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a process occurring within the
traffic infonnation computer of FIG. 2 during execution of a
traffic data client subroutine, including an upper portion indicated as FIG. 8A and a lower portion indicated as FIG. 8B;
FIG. 9 is a pictographic view of a data structure in a database accessed by a traffic data server within the traffic information system of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of processes occurring within the
traffic data server within the traffic infonnation system of
FIG. 1, including an upper portion indicated as FIG. lOA and
a lower portion indicated as FIG. lOB.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a traffic information system in
accordance with the invention. During operation of the system, a vehicle 10, equipped with a traffic infonnation computer 12, receives data on its geographical position from a
number ofGPS satellites 14. For accurate results, radio signals from three such satellites 14 are used. The traffic information client 12 is also provided with cellular telephone
communications through a number of conventional cellular
towers 16 to the public switched telephone network 18, and
then through the Internet 20 to a traffic information server 22.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the traffic information computer 12, which includes a microprocessor 24 connected to a
read-only memory 26, a random access memory 28, and a bus
30. Various elements are connected to the bus 30 to receive
and provide electrical signals. These elements include a display adapter 32 driving a display screen 34, a sound adapter
35 driving a speaker 36, a drive unit 37 reading a storage
medium 38, data and instruction storage 40, controls 42 forming part of a user interface. These elements also include a GPS
interface 44 connected to the GPS receiver 46 receiving radio
signals from the GPS satellites 14 (shown in FIG. 1), and a
communications adapter 48 driving a cellular transceiver 50
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to transmit infonnation to, and to receive infonnation from, a
cellular telephone network through cellular towers 16 (also
shown in FIG. 1). Data and instruction storage 40 is, for
example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory including
instruction storage storing a navigation subroutine 52 and a
traffic data client subroutine 54, and data storage storing a
mapping database 56 and a traffic database 58. Preferably, the
data and instruction storage 40 additionally includes a configuration data structure 59 storing settings controlling operation of the computer 12. These settings may be stored as
default values during the initial loading of program infonnation or as updated values supplied by actions of the user.
During operation of the traffic infonnation computer 12,
instructions and data are loaded from storage 40 into RAM 28
for execution of the instructions within the microprocessor
24. The microprocessor 24 also executes program instructions stored in ROM 26. Instructions and data may be loaded
into storage 40 from a computer readable medium 38 through
the drive unit 37. For example, the medium 38 may be a
compact disk, while the drive unit 37 is a device for reading
such a medium. Alternatively or additionally, instructions and
data may be loaded into storage 40 through cellular telephone
transmissions through the cellular transceiver 50 and the
communications adapter.
In accordance with a preferred version of the invention, the
traffic infonnation computer 12 is additionally provided with
a capability for communicating with a second traffic information computer 60 in a second vehicle 61 on a direct, peerto-peer basis, without the use of cellular towers 16 or the
traffic server 22. To this end, a peer-to-peer radio transceiver
62 is connected to the bus 30 through a peer-to-peer adapter
63. For example, the peer-to-peer radio transceiver 60b may
transmit and receive data on one of the frequencies described
in the IEEE 802.11 specifications. Peer-to-peer communications can be used to obtain traffic data from another vehicle
60a having the traffic data stored in its traffic infonnation 60
in the event that communication cannot be established with a
cellular tower 16.
While the use of cellular communications and of the Internet 20, it is understood that other systems, such as the wireless
application protocol (WAP) and the Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM) may alternately be used to
establish a wireless network for vehicles 10 communicating
with the server 22.
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the traffic infonnation computer 12 within the automobile 10, fonning a part of the traffic
information system 10 shown in FIG. 1. In particular FIG. 3
shows various elements of the user interface of the traffic
information computer 12, including the display screen 34 and
controls 42, extending from a front cover 64 as buttons to be
depressed. Operation of the computer system 12 is started and
ended by pushing the power button 65, which toggles
between "on" and "off' conditions.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the navigation subroutine 52 operates as a conventional car navigation program, using data
obtained through the GPS receiver 46 to determine the location of the vehicle 10, and additionally using map data from
the mapping database 56 to generate a road display pattern 66,
on the display screen 34, of roads in an area surrounding the
location of the vehicle 10. The navigation program additionally causes an arrow 67, representing the vehicle 10 and the
direction in which it is facing, to be displayed on one of the
roads in the road display 62 at a location corresponding to the
location of the vehicle 10, as detennined through the GPS
receiver 46. The direction in which the vehicle lOis facing is
determined form the output of the GPS receiver 46, from a
magnetic compass reading, or, alternately by comparing two
or more locations to detennine a direction of motion.
In accordance with the present invention, the traffic data
client subroutine 54 uses the communication adapter 48 and
the cellular transceiver 50 to communicate with the traffic
data server 22. The vehicle 10 acts as a probe vehicle for the
traffic data server 22, with the data client subroutine 54 additionally reporting data indicating the average speed of the
vehicle 10 over a section of road along which the vehicle 10
is moving. The traffic data server 22 receives and stores this
speed data received from the vehicle 10 and from a number of
other vehicles. The traffic data client subroutine 54 also
requests data to be provided by the traffic data server 22
regarding the average speed at which vehicles are traveling on
roadways in the vicinity of the vehicle 10. After receiving
such data from the traffic data server 22, the traffic data client
subroutine 54 writes the speed data to the traffic database 58.
Further in accordance with the invention, each road within
a number of roads in a geographic region for which the traffic
data server 22 provides information is divided into a number
of segments. For example, such a geographic region may be a
city, a metropolitan area, a state or province, or a country.
Traffic data is reported to the traffic data server 22 according
to vehicle movements in each of these segments and is stored
by the server 22 in data locations corresponding to these
segments.
The navigation subroutine 52 reads data from the traffic
database 58 and causes the data to be displayed on the display
screen 34 in a number of data boxes 68, 69 at locations on the
road display pattern 62 corresponding to the segments of
roads for which data is being displayed. If the average vehicle
data speed is detennined to be significantly different in the
two directions of travel along the road segment, two values
are shown in a split data box 68. If the average vehicle data
speed is determined not to be significantly different in the two
directions of travel, a single value may be shown in a singlevalue data box 69. For example, a difference ofless than five
miles per hour may not be considered significant. In any case,
the data boxes 68, 69 may be modified to include pointers 70
indicating a direction of travel corresponding to the adjacent
displayed value of average vehicle speed. The vehicle speeds
are preferably displayed in miles per hour or in kilometers per
hour.
Preferably, the data boxes 68, 69 are colored to indicate a
relationship between the average speed of traffic and a nonnal
traffic speed, which may be calculated using the speed limit of
the particular road segment, modified by delays associated
with traffic lights under light traffic or normal traffic conditions. For example, if the traffic is flowing at 80 percent or
more of the nonnal speed, the associated data box 68, 69 is
displayed with a green background. If the traffic is flowing
between 50 and 80 percent of the normal speed, the associated
data box 68, 69 is displayed with a yellow background. If the
traffic is flowing at less than 50 percent of the normal speed,
the associated data box 68, 69 is displayed with a red background. A split data box may have display different colors on
its two sides.
According to a preferred version of the invention, the display screen 34 displays two or more levels of detail, with FIG.
3 being exemplary of the highest level of detail, showing
every public road or every commonly traveled road in a relatively small area. FIG. 4 is a displayed view of a much larger
area, such as a region including several towns, with traffic
data being given only for major highways. The user is able to
move between these kinds of views or among several levels of
detail, by using the zoom buttons 72, 73. The upward pointing
zoom button increases magnification, driving the system
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toward a more detailed display, while the downward pointing
zoom button 73 decreases magnification, driving the system
toward displaying a larger area. FIG. 4 also shows a variation
in the display of average speed data, with the direction of
travel associated with an average speed being indicated by the
relative position of the data boxes 74, without the use of
pointers 70, as shown in FIG. 3. With this method, the speed
of traffic going in the direction of the driver is shown in the
right side of the data box, while the speed of traffic going
opposite the direction of the driver is shown in the left side of
the data box. In areas where people conventionally drive on
the left side of the road, these directions may be reversed, with
the speed of traffic going in the direction of the driver being
shown in the left side of the data box. This method is preferably continued across the map, with an assumption being
implied that the driver will not turn around or double back.
On either type of display, the location of the vehicle 10 and
its direction of orientation is indicated by an arrow 67, which
moves along the displayed map with motion of the vehicle.
The view shown by the map also moves, at least in a mauner
sufficient to keep the arrow 67 visible within the display, and
preferably in a manner keeping the arrow near a fixed location, such as the center of the display. The navigation control
76 is also used to change the display of the map. For example,
if the upper edge of the navigation control 76 is depressed, the
displayed map is moved downward, showing more roads and
traffic conditions above, or to the north of, the presently
displayed area.
For example, the navigation control 76 is implemented
using a plastic disk extending above four switches, located at
positions corresponding to the cardinal points of the compass
(north, south, east, and west). If the disk is depressed in an
intermediate position, two of the switches are operated. For
example, it the disk is depressed in a northwest position, the
switches corresponding to the north and west positions are
both operated, so that the map is moved to show more roads
and traffic conditions toward the northwest.
FIG. 5 is a pictographic view of the geographic region in
which the vehicle lOis traveling. When the display is showing
the greatest level of detail, as in the example of FIG. 3, only a
small region 78 is displayed on the screen 34. When the
display is showing the greatest area, as in the example of FIG.
4, a must larger region 80 is displayed. Preferably, the traffic
database 58 (shown in FIG. 2) holds detailed traffic data (i.e.
average speed data) for the roads within an intermediate
region 82 that is significantly larger than the region 78 currently being displayed. This allows the region being displayed
to be changed in response to movement of the vehicle 10 and
additionally in response to use of the navigation control 76,
with new traffic data being rapidly displayed. Preferably, the
traffic database 58 also holds traffic data for the major roads,
as shown in FIG. 4, for the much larger region 80, so that such
data can be rapidly displayed for this region in response to the
use of one of the zoom controls 72. Traffic data for major
roads may in fact be stored for several adjacent larger regions.
On the other hand, the mapping database 56 preferably stores
detailed mapping data for a region much larger than the
intermediate region 82, and perhaps even large than the region
80.
Preferably, the traffic data computer 12 has an ability to
display data in several forms, including the highly detailed
view described above in reference to FI G. 3 and the wide area
view described above in reference to FIG. 4. For example,
data may be displayed in several intermediate views, covering
a smaller area than the wide area view of FIG. 4 and having
less detail than the highly detailed view of FIG. 3. Traffic data
may alternately be displayed in a list form, having a number
of roads listed with their average speeds in each direction. A
display control 84 is provided in the form of a button that can
be depressed to cause the computer 12 to step through the
various available display modes.
The traffic data computer 12 preferably uses a menu-driven
process to change settings determining how the system is
operated, with data describing the settings being stored in the
configuration data structure 59. Access to the menu-driven
process is achieved by depressing the menu button 86.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of menu data displayed on the
screen 34 in response to depressing the menu button 86. This
data includes a number of checkboxes 88 that may be selected
by the user with the controls 42. For example, the user moves
a curser 90 displayed as an arrow upward and downward
among the various check boxes 88 by repeatedly depressing
the zoom buttons 72. When he reaches a selection he wishes
to make, he depresses the enter button 90, causing a marking
to appear in the checkbox selected as marking in other checkboxes conflicting with this selection are cleared. As such
changes are made, the selections are stored by writing data to
the configuration data structure 59 (shown in FIG. 2). When
the user is finished using the menu, he depresses the exit
button 92 to return the system to a map display.
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to one
version of the invention, the traffic data computer 12 additionally includes a feature providing for locating an address
supplied by the user on the maps that can be displayed on the
screen 34 and for plotting a route along the displayed roadways between the present location of the vehicle 10 and the
location of the supplied address. To use this feature to find an
address, the user depresses the find button 94 and then types
the desired address on the keyboard 96. When he has finished
entering the address, he presses the enter button 90. The
system then shows a map including the address supplied, with
the location of the address highlighted or otherwise indicated
with an icon. To use this feature to determine a route, the user
depresses the route button 97 before entering the address on
the keyboard 96. The system then shows a map with a route
selected by the system highlighted. The user may use the
zoom, navigate, and DISP controls to examine the surroundings of the selected location entered using the keyboard 96 or
the route between his present location and this selected location.
The traffic data computer may also include a feature providing audio capabilities. For example, if the user is driving
the vehicle 10 along a route chosen by the system, an audio
message provided through the sound adapter 35 and the
speaker 36 may give an audio indication, using synthesized
speech, when he is approaching a point in which he has to tum
to stay on the route. The system may also provide an audio i
in which the traffic data indication that the vehicle 10 is
approaching an area in which traffic data indicates there is
slow moving traffic. If this feature is provided, a volume
control button 98 is used to determine the volume of the audio
messages. For example, the volume control button 98 is
repeatedly depressed to step through six levels of increasing
audio volume, with an additional depression of the button 98
returning to the lowest level to repeat the process.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of processes occurring within the
traffic information computer 12 in accordance with the invention under control of the navigation program 52. FIG. 7 is
divided into an upper section, indicated as FIG. 7A, a middle
section, indicated as FIG. 7B, and a lower section, indicated
as FIG. 7C.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, after the computer 12 is
turned on in step 100 by depressing the power switch 61, an
initializing message, saying, for example, "Please wait," is
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displayed in step 102, as the computer system initializes in
step 104, loading programs needed for operation. When this
process is completed, the present location and direction of the
vehicle 10 is detennined from the output of the GPS receiver
48 through the GPS interface 44. From this point, the system
enters a subroutine to display a map of an area including the
location of the vehicle. First, in step 108, a detennination is
made of whether the data is available within the mapping
database 56. If this data is not available, an error message is
displayed in step 110, while the system waits to detennine
whether a user input has occurred in step 112. For example,
the user may decide that he is outside the region for which he
has data, and that he will tum the system off until he returns to
such a region. Thus, if the power switch 61 is depressed, as
determined in step 114, the system proceeds in step 116 to
close files that have been opened before turning the power off
in step 118. Other actions may be taken by the user, such as
using the zoom button 73 to choose a display with less detail
or loading a removable medium 38 to provide more traffic
data. Thus, if the user perfonns an input other than the depression of the power switch 61, as determined in step 114, the
system returns to step 108 to determine if the map data is
available.
If it is detennined in step 108 that the map data needed is
available, the system proceeds to step 120 to detennine
whether traffic data for the map to be displayed is available
within the traffic database 58. The traffic database 58 may
include a field indicating when each traffic data value has
been recorded, with the process of determining whether traffic data is available including a detennination of whether the
data has been written recently enough that it should be considered timely. If it is detennined in step 120 that the needed
traffic data is not available, the system displays a "waiting"
message in step 122, indicating that it is waiting to receive
traffic data. The navigation program 52 then calls the traffic
data client 54 in step 124 to obtain the necessary traffic data.
Ina manner to be described in detail in reference to FIG. 8, the
traffic data client 54 obtains the data from the traffic data
server 22, writes the new data to the traffic database 58, and
returns a code to the navigation program 52. When this code
has been returned, as determined in step 126, the system
returns to step 120 to detennine if the required traffic data is
now available.
After it is detennined in step 120 that the traffic data needed
for display on the map is available, the system displays the
map in step 128 Then, the system enters a loop in which it is
determined whether an event that may cause a change in the
map being displayed. The first such event is the movement of
the vehicle 10. To detenninethe position of the vehicle 10, the
output of the GPS receiver 46 is examined in step 130 through
the GPS interface 44 whenever it is determined in step 132
that a time has arrived to check the vehicle location. Then, in
step 134, data describing the new location is written to a
location data structure 136 within RAM memory 28. Then, in
step 138, a detennination is made of whether the movement of
the vehicle 10 has been sufficient to require the display of a
new map. If a new map is needed, the system returns to step
108 to determine if the data to generate the new map is
available. If a new map is not needed, the arrow representing
the position of the vehicle is repositioned on the map in step
140. In general, this arrow is displayed on one of the roadways
shown in the map, at a location detennined by the location
data, with the arrow being moved along the roadway until it
has moved far enough to cause the display of a new map. The
arrow may be maintained near the center of the displayed
map, or most of the displayed map may be provided to show
roadways toward which the vehicle is heading.
The traffic data client 54 obtains new traffic data on a
periodic basis, refreshing the traffic data stored within the
traffic database 56. When this occurs, the traffic data client 54
returns a code to the navigation program 52 indicating that the
data has been refreshed. When it is detennined in step 142 that
this has occurred, new traffic data is written to the displayed
map in step 144.
The user may also change information displayed on the
screen 34 by operating one of the controls 42. If it is determined in step 146 that the user has operated one of the controls, the system proceeds to step 148, in which a further
determination is made of whether one of the controls selecting a new map has been operated. For example, the depression
of the zoom buttons 72, 73, the DISP button 84 results in the
selection of a new map to be displayed, as determined in step
148, causing the system to return to step 108 to detennine
whether map data is available for the new map.
If a control is actuated without selecting a new map, the
system proceeds to step 150, in which it is determined
whether the power switch has been depressed. If it has, the
open files are closed in step 152, and the power is shut off in
step 154.
If it is detennined in step 150 that the power switch 61 was
not depressed, the system proceeds to step 156, in which it is
determined whether the menu button 86 has been depressed.
If it has, the menu is displayed in step 158, with the system
entering a loop to respond to the depression of another control
button. Then, if a cursor control button, such as one of the
zoom buttons 72, 73, is depressed, as detennined in step 160,
the cursor is moved on the screen, in step 162, in the direction
of movement associated with the button that is depressed.
When it is determined in step 164 that the enter button has
been depressed, data corresponding to the entry is recorded in
the configuration data 59, with the menu display being
updated by the placement of a marking in the checkbox 88
that has been selected, and with markings being removed
from any conflicting checkboxes. When it is detennined in
step 168 that the exit button 92 has been depressed, the system
proceeds to step 170, in which it is detennined whether a new
map is needed due to the changes that have been made. If it is,
the system returns to step 108 to detennine whether map data
is available for the new map. Otherwise, the map previously
displayed is updated and displayed again in step 172.
If it is determined in step 156 that the menu button has not
been depressed, the system proceeds to step 173, in which a
determination is made of whether the volume button 98 has
been depressed. If it has, a volume level adjustment for subsequent audio messages is changed in step 174, being
increased, for example, in incremental levels among six volume levels and then returned to the lowest volume level.
If it is detennined in step 171 that the menu button 86 has
not been depressed, it is assumed that either the find button 94
or the route button 97 has been depressed, so the system
proceeds to step 175 to accept input from the keyboard 96
until a determination is made in step 176 that the enter button
90 has been depressed. Then, in step 178, the mapping database 56 is searched to find the location having an address
entered by the user with the keyboard 96. If this location is not
found, as determined in step 180, an error message is displayed in step 182, with the system returning to step 184 to
wait for another operator action. For example, the user may
correct his keyboard input to begin another search operation.
If the location of the address provided by the user as an input
in step 175 is found, the system proceeds to display a map
including a highlighted route between the user's present location and the location of the address provided in step 175, if the
route button has been depressed. Alternately, if the find button
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has been depressed, the system proceeds to display a map in
which the location of the address provided in step 175 is
highlighted or identified by an icon. If this process requires a
new map, the system returns to step 108 to determine if the
map data is available for the new map. Otherwise, the new
information is added to the presently-displayed map in step
172.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing operation of the traffic data
control computer 10 under control of the traffic data client
subroutine 54, which preferably executes within the microprocessor 24 in a multitasking environment, along with the
navigation program 52. FIG. 8 comprises an upper section,
indicated as FIG. 8A, and a lower section, indicated as FIG.
8B. The traffic data client subroutine 54 starts in step 190,
which occurs during system initialization in step 104 (shown
in FIG. 7). The traffic data client subroutine 54 is ended as
files are closed in steps 116, 152 (also shown in FIG. 7).
Referring to FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, after starting in step 190, the
traffic data client subroutine 54 updates traffic data stored
within the traffic database 58 on a periodic basis, according to
a data update time as determined in step 192. Otherwise, this
subroutine 54 waits for a call from the navigation program 52,
as determined in step 194, and for a peer-to-peer call from
another vehicle, as determined in step 195. A call from the
navigation program 52 is issued in step 124, as explained
above in reference to FIG. 7, in response to a determination
that the traffic data needed to display a map is not present
within the traffic database 58.
In response to either a determination in step 192 that the
data check time has arrived, or in response to a call from the
navigation program, as determined in step 194, the client
subroutine 54 proceeds to determine an average speed at
which the vehicle 10 has traveled since the last contact
between the system and the traffic data server 22 (shown in
FIG. 1). To do this, the client subroutine 54 examines data
stored within the location data structure 136. This data comprises a list oflocations periodically written to this data structure 136 by the navigation program 52 in step 134, as
explained above in reference to FIG. 7. Since this data is
written on a periodic basis, the time between sequentially
adjacent location entries is known, and an average speed can
be calculated from the distance traveled between such entries,
or among a plurality of such entries. The data entry occurring
before the last contact with the traffic data server 22 is identified by a pointer stored within the location data structure
136.
Thus, the process of determining an average speed is begun
in step 196 by going to the data entry identified by the pointer.
Next, in step 198, the location stored within this data entry is
read. Then, in step 200, the client subroutine 54 goes to the
next entry in the location data structure 136. Each time the
client subroutine 54 goes to a new entry beyond the entry
located by the pointer, a determination is made in step 202 of
whether the end of the list in the location data structure 136
has been found. If it has not, a new location identified in the
entry is read in step 204. Then, in step 206, the distance moved
between the location identified in the most recently read entry
and the location read in the previously read entry is calculated. For example, this distance moved may be calculated as
the straight-line distance between the two locations. Next, in
step 208, the distance moved is added to a total distance,
which reflects the distance traveled since the last contact
between the client subroutine 54 and the traffic server 22.
Next, in step 210, a number of entries, indicating the number
oflocation distances moved that have been added to form the
total distance is incremented. Then, the client subroutine 54
returns to step 200 to go to the next entry.
In response to a determination in step 202 that the end of
the list within the location data structure 136 has been
reached, the average speed is calculated in step 212, with the
total distance calculated by multiple summations in step 208
being divided by the time, as evidenced by the number of
entries determined in step 210. Preferably a constant is further
applied, with consideration of the time between the periodic
determination of locations, so that the average speed is
expressed in a convenient unit, such as miles per hour or
kilometers per hour.
If the vehicle 10 has remained motionless, an average
speed of zero is reported, based on an assumption that the
vehicle 10 has been sitting in a traffic jam. However, in the
first communication with the traffic data server 22, which is
needed to obtain initial traffic information, which occurs with
only one entry listed in the location data structure 136 a code
indicating that an average speed could not be determined will
be communicated.
Next, in step 213, the client subroutine 54 calls the traffic
data server 22, using the communications adapter 48 and the
cellular transceiver 50. If a counection is successfully established, as then determined in step 214, a password identifying
the traffic data computer 12 is transmitted to the traffic data
server 22 in step 215. Then, in step 216, the vehicle location
described in the last entry of the location data structure 136
and the average speed calculated in step 212 is transmitted.
Next, in step 217, traffic data information associated with the
location transmitted in step 216 is received from the traffic
data server 22. After this data has been received, the call is
ended in step 218. Then, in step 219, the traffic data received
in step 217 is written to the traffic database 58. Next, in step
220, the client subroutine 54 returns a code to the navigation
program 52. This code is used, as previously described in
reference to FIG. 7, to indicate that data called for has been
returned in step 126, or that data for updating maps is available in step 142. Then, in step 221, the traffic data client
subroutine 54 resets data used in calculations, with the total
distance and the number of entries being set to zero, and with
the pointer being moved to the end of the list in the location
data structure 136. Finally, the client subroutine 54 returns to
step 192 to wait for the next data check time or the next call
from the navigation program or from a peer vehicle.
If it is determined in step 214 that a connection has not been
made with the server system 22, the traffic data client subroutine 54 attempts to call a peer vehicle 61 in step 222, using the
peer-to-peer transceiver 62, driven through the peer-to-peer
adapter circuit 63. If the attempt to establish contact with a
peer vehicle 61 is successful, as determined in step 223, the
traffic data client subroutine 54 receives traffic data from the
peer vehicle computer 60 in step 224. When this process is
complete, the client subroutine 54 ends the call in step 225
and proceeds to step 219 to write the new information to the
traffic database 58. The client subroutine 54 then returns a
code to the navigation program in step 220, resets parameters
in step 221, and returns to step 192.
If the traffic data client subroutine 54 fails to establish a
connection with a peer vehicle 61, as indicated in step 223, a
further determination is made in step 226 of whether the
process of attempting to make a connection has been timed
out.
If it has not, the client subroutine 54 returns to step 213 to
make another attempt to call the traffic data server 22, followed, if necessary, by another attempt to call a peer vehicle
61. When the process times out, as defined as reaching a
predetermined time or, alternately, as having made a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts, the client subroutine 54 proceeds from step 226 to step 192.
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If a the traffic data client subroutine 54 receives a call from
a peer vehicle 61, as determined in step 195, the client subroutine 54 transmits the data stored within its traffic database
58 to the peer vehicle 61 in step 227 and the ends the call in
step 228.
Thus, the capability to establish peer-to-peer communications is used as a back-up traffic data source in the event that
communications cannot be established with the traffic data
server 22. For example, such a failure can occur while traveling in a location too far from the nearest cellular tower 16 or
in a location where too many cellular devices are already
using the nearest cellular tower 16.
Nevertheless, peer-to-peer communication is understood
to be an optional feature of the traffic data computer 12. If the
system is not equipped with this feature, the client subroutine
54 makes repeated attempts to contact the traffic data server
22 when such attempts are required until a time-out condition
is reached, and the client subroutine 54 returns to step 192
when it is determined in step 194 that a call from the navigation program 52 has not been received.
FIG. 9 is a pictographic view of a data structure 230 within
a traffic database 232 accessed by the traffic data server 22
(shown in FIG. 1). The data structure 230 includes a record
234 for each direction of travel on each of the road segments
for which traffic data is collected. Each of the records 234
includes a number of fields 236 with a name indicated in the
upper line 238 of FIG. 9. The first field 238 includes an
alphanumeric code representing the particular road segment
for which data is listed within the entry 234. The second field
240 includes a number representing the calculated average
speed of vehicles reporting their movement along this road
segment. The third field 242 includes a number representing
a normal speed for the road segment. The fourth field 244
includes an alphanumeric code representing a color that will
be displayed as described above in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4
to indicate a relationship between the average speed of
vehicles and the normal speed of vehicles. The remaining
fields include time fields 246 storing numbers indicating the
times at which reports are received from individual vehicles
10 and speed fields 248 storing the speeds reported by the
vehicles 10 at the time indicated by within the adjacent time
fields 246.
As traffic data clients 54 call the traffic data server 22 to
provide and receive traffic information, the time fields 246
and associated speed fields 248 of various records 234 are
filled with data. Fields that are not filled retain null values.
When a record includes one or more null fields, new time and
speed data are written to null fields. If there are no null fields,
such data is preferably written over the oldest data stored
within the record. On a periodic basis, data within the data
structure 30 is refreshed by calculating a new average speed,
to be written in the average speed field 240 of each record 234,
with the average speed being calculated as the average of the
data in the speed fields 248 associated with times, recorded in
the associated time fields 246, that indicate a time for relevance of the data has not expired. If this time has expired, the
time and speed data is overwritten or erased to leave fields
having null values. The traffic database further includes a
means for relating various of the records 234 with one
another, so that, when a client calling from a vehicle 10
transmits his location, detailed traffic data for an area surrounding his location can be returned to him, along with data
for main roads in a larger region. Such a means may be
provided through another table identifying records as being
related to one another or by organizing the table 230 into
sections, with one section including records 234 for main
roads, having data to be returned to all calling vehicles, and
with other sections including detailed records to be returned
only to vehicles calling from a location within or adjacent to
each of the sections.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing processes occurring within
the traffic data server 22 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 includes an upper
section, indicated as FIG. lOA, and a lower section, indicated
as FIG. lOB. After starting in step 250, the server system
enters a loop in which a determination is made in step 252 of
whether a call has been received from a client, and further in
which a determination is made in step 254 of whether a time
has been reached for periodically refreshing the data stored in
the traffic database 232
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, the traffic data server 22
provides data for a number of clients executing in traffic data
computers 12 within vehicles 10 in the manner described in
detail above. According to a preferred version of the invention, the traffic data server 22 additionally provides data for a
number of clients executing within personal computers 256
connected to the Internet 20 in a conventional manner, such as
by means of the public switched telephone network 18. Each
of these personal computers 256 executes programs generally
as described above to obtain traffic data from the traffic data
server 22 and to display the data as described particularly in
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Various of the keys of the standard
keyboard 258 of the personal computer 256, such as the
function keys FI-F12 are assigned the functions described
above in reference to FIG. 3. While the personal computer
256 does not transmit its location and speed, it can be used to
describe a location for which traffic data is needed, and can
move along maps using the keys assigned the zoom and
navigate key functions.
Additionally in accordance with a version of the invention,
the various client systems each have a password, which is
stored in a client database 260. The use of a password, which
can be automatically presented by the client, restricts access,
for example, to individuals paying fees to cover the cost of
operation.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when a determination is made
in step 252 that a call has been received from a client, a
password presented by the client is checked in step 262. If the
password is not correctly given, the system terminates the call
and returns to step 254 to continue waiting for a time to
refresh data or for another call from a client. Ifit is determined
in step 262 that the password is correct, a determination is
made in step 264 of whether the call is from a vehicle 10 or
from a personal computer 256. For example, this determination may be based on a different series of passwords being
assigned to personal computers 256 and traffic data clients 54
within vehicles 10. If the call is from a vehicle, location and
average speed data is received in step 266. Then, in step 268,
the time and average speed transmitted by the traffic data
client 54 within the vehicle 10 is recorded in the client database 260 within a record 234 corresponding to the location
also transmitted by the traffic data client 54. If there are null
values among the time and speed fields 246, 248 within this
record, the data is written over a pair of such null values.
Otherwise, the time and speed data is preferably written over
the oldest time and speed data within the record 234.
Then, in step 270, traffic data from records associated with
the record 234 corresponding to the location of the vehicle 10
is read from the traffic database 232. Preferably, this traffic
data includes average speed data from field 240 and a color
code from field 242 for each road segment in an area surrounding the location of the vehicle 10, together with such
data for segments of main roads within a larger area. Next, in
step 272, the data read in step 270 is returned to the calling
traffic data client 54 placing the call. Finally, in step 274, the
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the invention arises from the fact that peer-to-peer communicall is tenninated, with the traffic data server returning to step
cations with another vehicle 61 are used when communica252 to wait for another call from a client or for the time to
tions cannot be achieved with the traffic data server 22. Yet
refresh data.
If it is detennined in step 264 that the call is from a personal
another advantage arises from the fact that the number of
cellular telephone calls between each vehicle 10 and the
computer 256 instead of from a vehicle 10, the server proceeds to step 276 to receive location data from the personal
traffic data server 22 is minimized, first by accumulating the
computer 256. Such data reflects an input from the user indiresults of a number of location measurements before placing
cating the location around which he wishes to receive traffic
such a call, and second because data is transmitted in both
direction between the vehicle 10 and the traffic data server 22.
data. This traffic data is then read from the traffic database in
step 270 and transmitted to the personal computer in step 272, 10
While the invention has been shown in its preferred fonns
with the call being tenninated in step 274.
or embodiments with some degree of particularity, it is underThe process of refreshing the data within the traffic datastood that such descriptions have been given only by way of
example and that many changes can be made without departbase 232 includes the elimination of data that is too old to be
considered relevant in detennining present traffic conditions
ing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described in
and recalculating the average speed for each record 234 in the 15 the appended claims.
table 230. Thus, if it is determined in step 254 that the time to
What is claimed is:
refresh data has arrived, the system goes to the first record 234
1. A traffic infonnation computer system comprising:
in step 278. Then, in step 280, variables used in the calculaa data storage database for obtaining data from users and
tion of an average speed are initialized. Then, in step 282, the
holding said data for generating roadmaps and a traffic
server system goes to the time field 246 in which the next time 20
database storing average speed data for road segments;
is entered. Time fields 246 having null values are skipped in
a display screen;
this process. Next, in step 284, a determination is made of
a first transceiver;
whether a predetermined time limit has expired since data
a microprocessor programmed to generate roadmaps from
was written in this record to this time field 246. If it has, the
data held within said mapping database, to display said
data within the time field 246 and in the next speed field 248, 25
roadmaps on said display screen, to receive average
which is associated with this time field is erased or overwritspeed data for road segments through said first transten in step 286 to leave a null value. If it is detennined in step
ceiver, to store said average speed data for road segments
284 that the time has not expired, the speed in the next speed
received through said first transceiver to said traffic datafield 248 is added to an accumulating variable, and one is
base, and to display portions of said average speed data
30
added to a counting variable, in step 288.
for road segments stored within said traffic database in
After step 286 or after step 288, a detennination is made in
locations corresponding to said road segments on said
step 290 of whether the time and speed data that has just been
display screen;
considered is at the end of the record. If it is not, the server
a location sensor for determining locations of said comsystem returns to step 280 to perfonn the same process on the
puter system as said computer system is moved along
next time and speed data in the record. After the last time and 35
with a vehicle, wherein said microprocessor is additionspeed data in the record has been considered, as determined in
ally programmed to calculate periodically an average
step 290, the average speed for the record is calculated in step
speed of movement in response to location data provided
292 as the value of the accumulating variable divided by the
by said location sensor at a number of predetermined
value of the counting variable. Then, in step 294, the average
times and to transmit said average speed of movement
speed calculated in step 292 is compared to the nonnal speed 40
over said first transceiver; and
for the road section associated with the record 234, with this
wherein said microprocessor is additionally programmed
nonnal speed being read from the nonnal speed field 242. The
to display an icon on a road segment displayed on said
result of this comparison is used to determine a color code to
display screen in a location corresponding with a locaindicate a comparison of the traffic status of the road segment
tion indicated by an output of said location sensor and in
with nonnal traffic flow conditions for the same road seg- 45
an orientation indicating a direction of travel of said
ment. Then, in step 296, the average speed and color code are
traffic infonnation computer system.
written to the database 232 in the average speed field 240 and
2. The traffic infonnation control system of claim 1,
the color code field 244, respectively.
wherein
Next, a determination is made in step 298 of whether the
said traffic database stores different average speed data for
record that has just been considered is the last record in the 50
opposite directions of travel for certain of said road
data structure within the traffic database 232 If it is not, the
segments,
server goes to the next record in step and returns to step 280
said microprocessor is programmed to display said differto begin the process of refreshing data within the next record.
ent average speed data within adjacent icons in locations
If it is the last record, the process of refreshing data has been
corresponding to said road segments on said display
completed, so the system returns to step 252 to continue 55
screen, and
waiting for a call from a client or for the next time to refresh
said adjacent icons are placed side by side, with an icon on
data.
the right side indicating an average speed in said direcThe processes described above for answering client calls
tion of travel of said traffic information computer.
and for refreshing data may be carried out by separate rou3. The traffic information computer system of claim 1,
tines executing in a multitasking environment within a pro- 60
wherein said microprocessor is additionally programmed to
cessor in the traffic data server 22, or by routines executing in
vary a displayed portion of said roadmaps displayed on said
separate processors or computing systems both having access
display screen in response to movement of said traffic inforto the traffic database 232.
mation computer system.
The invention has an advantage over methods of the prior
4. The traffic information computer system of claim 3,
art in that traffic speed data is transmitted to the traffic data 65
computer 12 and displayed directly on the screen 34 to aid the
additionally comprising controls operable by a user of said
user in determining which road to take. Another advantage of
information computer system, wherein said microprocessor
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is additionally progrannned to vary said displayed portion of
puter is additionally progrannned to determine whether a
said roadmaps displayed on said display screen in response to
connection can be made over said connnunication network
operation of said controls.
with said traffic information server and, in response to a
5. The traffic infonnation computer system of claim 4,
determination that said connection cannot be made over said
wherein
connnunication network, to establish a connection with
said controls include a navigation control and a zoom conanother vehicle in said plurality of vehicles through said
trol,
second transceiver to receive said average data values.
said microprocessor is additionally programmed to vary
11. The traffic information control system of claim 1,
said displayed portion of said roadmaps displayed on
wherein
said display screen to effect movement of said displayed 10
said microprocessor in said traffic information computer is
portion in a direction determined by operation of said
programmed to transmit said traffic data and to receive
navigation control, and to vary said displayed portion
said average data values in a single call to said traffic
between a highly detailed display of a first region to a
information server, and
less detailed display of a region much larger than said
said processor in said traffic infonnation server is profirst region in response to operation of said zoom con- 15
grannned to receive said traffic data from a vehicle in
trol, and
said plurality of vehicles and to transmit said average
said less detailed display shows only main roads and traffic
data values to said vehicle in single call.
data associated with said main roads.
12. The traffic information control system of claim 1,
6. The traffic infonnation computer system of claim 4,
wherein said connnunication network includes:
wherein
20
an Internet connection,
said controls additionally include a keyboard for entering
a public switched telephone network, and
an address, and
a cellular tower connecting said first transceiver to said
said microprocessor is additionally programmed to accept
public switched network.
an input from said keyboard, to determine a location
13. The traffic infonnation control system of claim 1 addicorresponding to an address provided by said input from 25 tionally comprising a personal computer connected to said
said keyboard, and to display an indication of said locatraffic infonnation server over said connnunication network
tion corresponding to said address on a roadmap disto receive said average data values from said traffic infonnaplayed on said display screen.
tion server.
7. The traffic infonnation computer system of claim 6,
14. The traffic information control system of claim 1,
wherein said microprocessor is additionally programmed to 30 wherein
determine a route along roads between said location indicated
said traffic data comprises an average speed of said vehicle,
by said location sensor and said location corresponding to
said processor within said traffic infonnation server is prosaid address, and to display an indication of said route on a
grannned to calculate average data values comprising
roadmap displayed on said display screen.
averages of speeds of a number of vehicles over particuS. The traffic information control system of claim 1, further 35
lar road segments,
comprising at least one additional traffic information comsaid average data values comprise averages of speeds of a
puter system located in at least one other vehicle in order to
number of vehicles over particular segments of road.
exchange said data.
15. The traffic information control system of claim 14,
9. The traffic information control system of claim 1, further
comprising a second database storing average data values, a 40 wherein
said processor within said traffic infonnation server is
second transceiver for transmitting said average data values to
additionally progrannned to calculate values comparing
another vehicle and for receiving said average data values
said averages of speeds of a number of vehicles over
from another vehicle within said plurality of vehicles, and
particular road segments with normal speeds of vehicles
traffic information computer including a microprocessor proover said particular road segments, and
grannned to determine said traffic data from geographic loca- 45
said average data values additionally comprise codes reption data received from said location sensor, to transmit said
resenting said values comparing said averages of speeds
traffic data determined fonn data received from said location
with said nonnal speeds.
sensor over said connnunication network to said traffic infor16. The traffic information control system of claim 1,
mation server, to receive said average data values over said
communication network from said traffic infonnation server, 50 wherein said microprocessor is progrannned to transmit said
average speed of movement and to receive said average speed
and to transmit and receive said traffic data values from
data for road segments in a single call placed over said first
another vehicle within said plurality of vehicles through said
transceiver.
second transceiver.
10. The traffic information control system of claim 1,
wherein said microprocessor in said traffic information com* * * * *
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