Patent US6385531B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6385531B2
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Distributed system and method for detecting traffic patterns
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-05-11
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Granted: 2002-05-07
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Expires: 2021-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A computer system for determining traffic patterns and congestion and using the determined traffic patterns and congestion to determine an appropriate route using a global positioning system and related route map calculator. A vehicle is provided with an onboard computer system adapted to determine travel time of a vehicle in a road segment and calculate a route based on this information. In addition, this information can be distributed to or otherwise shared with other vehicles and similar information can be received from other vehicles to provide a distributed network for generating and sharing experienced traffic patterns. The information can also be used to predict traffic patterns as well.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary Lee Bates
- 👤 Paul Reuben Day
- 👤 Jeffrey Michael Ryan
- 👤 John Matthew Santosuosso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/3453; G01C21/3492; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096716; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096758; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096791
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A computer system disposable on a vehicle, comprising: (a) one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters configured to receive and transmit traffic condition information; (b) a system location receiver configured to determine a position of the system; and (c) a signal processing unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters and the system location receiver, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to: (i) determine a first position and a second position of the system along a road segment; (ii) determine an elapsed time between the first and second positions of the computer system; (iii) determine whether the elapsed time indicates a congested traffic condition along the road segment by comparing the elapsed time with a stored time value for the road segment; and (iv) selectively broadcast traffic condition information for one or more road segments via the one or more traffic information transmitters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer system disposable on a vehicle, comprising: (a) one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters configured to receive and transmit traffic condition information; (b) a system location receiver configured to determine a position of the system; and (c) a signal processing unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters and the system location receiver, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to: (i) determine a first position and a second position of the system along a road segment; (ii) determine an elapsed time between the first and second positions of the computer system; (iii) determine whether the elapsed time indicates a congested traffic condition along the road segment by comparing the elapsed time with a stored time value for the road segment; and (iv) selectively broadcast traffic condition information for one or more road segments via the one or more traffic information transmitters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to store information about congested traffic conditions along a plurality of road segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more traffic information receivers are further configured to receive information about road segments from one or more remote computer systems.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to transmit information about the road segment to one or more remote computer systems via the one or more traffic information transmitters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to store the traffic condition information in a database and determine a route using the information stored in the database.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is configured to selectively broadcast traffic condition information indicating a congested traffic condition for one or more road segments when confirmation information has been received from a remote source indicating that the remote source has detected the congested traffic condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processing unit is further configured to determine at least the rate of travel of a vehicle having the computer system disposed thereon and compare the determined rate of travel to an acceptable travel rate to determine if the rate of travel is acceptable; wherein the signal processing unit is configured to broadcast the traffic condition information via the one or more traffic information transmitters if the rate of travel is not acceptable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the signal processing unit is coupled to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine a position of the computer system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for processing traffic pattern information in a computer system disposed on a first vehicle, comprising: determining a first position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a first time; determining a second position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a second time; determining an elapsed time by comparing the first time and the second time; determining whether a congested traffic condition exists for the road segment according to the elapsed time; and determining if congested traffic condition information should be broadcast when the congested traffic condition exists.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for processing traffic pattern information in a computer system disposed on a first vehicle, comprising: determining a first position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a first time; determining a second position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a second time; determining an elapsed time by comparing the first time and the second time; determining whether a congested traffic condition exists for the road segment according to the elapsed time; and determining if congested traffic condition information should be broadcast when the congested traffic condition exists.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the traffic condition comprises comparing the elapsed time to a threshold time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the threshold time is based on a speed limit and a length for the road segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein determining if the congested traffic condition information should be broadcast, comprises: (i) for each record in the history data structure, determining an arrival time indicating when the road segment could be reached from a current location; then (ii) determining for each record if the arrival time is in a time slot for the record; and (iii) confirming that the records have been verified.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving second hand traffic condition information from a second vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising calculating a route using the second hand traffic condition information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the traffic condition information is broadcast if confirmation information has been received from at least one second vehicle indicating that the second vehicle has experience the congested traffic condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs the steps comprising: determining a first position for a first vehicle in a road segment at a first time; determining a second position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a second time; determining an elapsed time by comparing the first time and the second time; and determining whether a congested traffic condition exists for the road segment according to the elapsed time; and determining whether congested traffic condition information should be broadcast when the congested traffic condition exists.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs the steps comprising: determining a first position for a first vehicle in a road segment at a first time; determining a second position for the first vehicle in a road segment at a second time; determining an elapsed time by comparing the first time and the second time; and determining whether a congested traffic condition exists for the road segment according to the elapsed time; and determining whether congested traffic condition information should be broadcast when the congested traffic condition exists.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 16 , wherein the determining the first and second positions is accomplished using a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 16 , wherein determining whether the congested traffic condition exist comprises comparing the elapsed time to a threshold time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 18 , wherein the threshold time is based on a speed limit and a length for the road segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 16 , wherein the traffic condition information is broadcast if confirmation information has been received from a remote source indicating that the remote source has detected the congested traffic condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 16 , further comprising, prior to determining whether congested traffic condition information should be broadcast: if the congested traffic condition exists, storing the congested traffic condition information in a history data structure as a first hand history information record; receiving second hand congested traffic condition information from one or more remote sources; and storing the second hand congested traffic condition information in the history data structure as a second hand history information record.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein determining whether to broadcast the congested traffic condition information, comprises: (i) for each record in the history data structure, determining an arrival time indicating when the road segment could be reached from a current location; then (ii) determining for each record if the arrival time is in a time slot for the record; and (iii) confirming that the records have been verified.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 21 , further comprising: if the congested traffic condition exists, storing the congested traffic condition information in a first data structure as first hand history information; moving the history information from the first data structure to a second data structure when a threshold condition exists; and determining whether to broadcast the information contained in the second data structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 23 , wherein the threshold condition exists if a time expiration event has occurred.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 21 , further comprising receiving second hand traffic condition information from a second vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 25 , further comprising calculating a route using the second hand traffic condition information.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for processing traffic pattern information in a computer system disposed on a first vehicle, comprising: determining that a congested traffic condition exists in a road segment; and determining whether confirmation information has been received from at least one second vehicle indicating that the second vehicle has experienced the congested traffic condition; and if the confirmation information has been received, broadcasting the congested traffic condition information.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for processing traffic pattern information in a computer system disposed on a first vehicle, comprising: determining that a congested traffic condition exists in a road segment; and determining whether confirmation information has been received from at least one second vehicle indicating that the second vehicle has experienced the congested traffic condition; and if the confirmation information has been received, broadcasting the congested traffic condition information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein determining that the congested traffic condition exists in a road segment comprises comparing a time to travel through the road segment to a threshold time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the threshold time is based on a speed limit and a length for the road segment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-05-06 | 2005-11-05 | 2006-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-06 | 2009-11-05 | 2010-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-06 | 2013-11-05 | 2014-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |