Method and apparatus for providing shortest elapsed time route and tracking information to users

Claim 1

A method for determining and communicating shortest elapsed time route information to users, comprising the steps of: individually monitoring instant rates of vehicular travel on multiple route segments interconnecting various possible origins and destinations, such monitoring to include the use of sensing means, differential video imaging means wherein a fixed video camera measures rates of travel, Global Positioning System means for measuring movements of a moving vehicle, loop detectors and tag reading devices for reading the passage of tag-bearing vehicles; transferring the monitored instant rates of travel for the multiple route segments to a processor based on the tag readings, the Global Positioning System readings and the loop detector readings which identify the vehicle at more than one location from which said instant rates of vehicular travel are calculated; receiving information of desired origin and destination in said processor from at least one user, including vehicle type and number of passengers, such that shortest time route calculation would include all route segments and lanes for which the vehicle has permission to travel; calculating the route segment or combination of route segments based on the monitored instant rates of travel to provide a shortest elapsed time route between each origin-destination combination; and transmitting information of the shortest elapsed time routes for the origin-destination combination to the respective user.

Claim 2

A method for determining and communicating shortest elapsed time route information to users, comprising the steps of: individually monitoring instant rates of vehicular travel on multiple route segments interconnecting various possible origins and destinations, such monitoring to include the use of sensing means, differential video imaging means wherein a fixed video camera measures rates of travel, Global Positioning System means for measuring movements of a moving vehicle, loop detectors and tag reading devices for reading the passage of tag-bearing vehicles; transferring the monitored instant rates of travel for the multiple route segments to a processor based on the tag readings, the Global Positioning System readings and the loop detector readings which identify the vehicle at more than one location from which said instant rates of vehicular travel are calculated; receiving information of desired origin and destination in said processor from at least one user, including vehicle type and number of passengers, such that shortest time route calculation would include all route segments and lanes for which the vehicle has permission to travel; calculating the route segment or combination of route segments based on the monitored instant rates of travel to provide a shortest elapsed time route between each origin-destination combination; and transmitting information of the shortest elapsed time routes for the origin-destination combination to the respective user.