US6574548B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for providing traffic information
Assignee: TRAFFIC INFORMATION LLC
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Filing: 2002-08-13
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2022-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A system for providing traffic information to a plurality of mobile users connected to a network. The system comprises a plurality of traffic monitors, each comprising at least a traffic detector and a transmitter, the traffic detector generating a signal in response to vehicular traffic and the transmitter transmitting the signal. A receiver receives the signals from the traffic monitors. A computer system is connected to the receiver and is further connected to the network. The computer system in response to a request signal received from one of the users transmits in response thereto information representative of the signals transmitted by the traffic monitoring units. Alternative systems for gathering traffic information are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce W. DeKock
- 👤 Kevin L. Russell
- 👤 Richard J Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:00
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/0104; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G08G1/02; G08G1/042; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096716; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096741; G08G1/096758; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096775; G08G1/096783; H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/23406; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/44004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing traffic information to a plurality of mobile users connected to a network, comprising: (a) a plurality of traffic monitors, each said traffic monitor comprising at least a detector and a transmitter, said detector providing a signal including data representative of vehicular movement and said transmitter transmitting said signals; (b) a receiver that receives said signals transmitted by said traffic monitors; and (c) a computer system interconnected with said receiver and said network; (d) a mobile user station connected to a global positioning system receiver, a display, and a communicating device; and (e) said computer system, in response to a request for traffic information from one of said mobile user stations, providing in response thereto to said one of said mobile user stations traffic information representative of said signals transmitted by said traffic monitors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for providing traffic information to a plurality of mobile users connected to a network, comprising: (a) a plurality of traffic monitors, each said traffic monitor comprising at least a detector and a transmitter, said detector providing a signal including data representative of vehicular movement and said transmitter transmitting said signals; (b) a receiver that receives said signals transmitted by said traffic monitors; and (c) a computer system interconnected with said receiver and said network; (d) a mobile user station connected to a global positioning system receiver, a display, and a communicating device; and (e) said computer system, in response to a request for traffic information from one of said mobile user stations, providing in response thereto to said one of said mobile user stations traffic information representative of said signals transmitted by said traffic monitors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said traffic information transmitted by said computer system is displayed graphically on said display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said traffic information is displayed together with a video image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said traffic information is displayed with a text message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said computer system has a map database, and said computer system, in response to said request for information, transmits map information representative of a portion of said map database, and said map information representative of said map database is displayed graphically together with said traffic information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said traffic detector detects vehicular speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said transmitters transmits directly to said receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said transmitters transmits to another traffic monitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said traffic monitors includes a video camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said detector is a video camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said user provides latitude and longitude information to said computer system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system selects said traffic information to provide to said mobile user station based on a signal received from said global positioning system receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said computer system maintains a traffic information database containing data representative of traffic at a plurality of locations and updates said traffic information database in response to signals received from said mobile user station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said mobile user station displays both the location of said mobile user station and traffic information graphically on said display.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said mobile user station has an input mechanism to select a mode in which traffic information is shown on said display.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for providing traffic information to a plurality of mobile users connected to a network, comprising: (a) a plurality of vehicles, each said vehicle comprising at least a mobile user station, a global positioning system receiver and a transmitter, said mobile user station providing a signal including data representative of a location of said mobile user station and at least one of a speed of said vehicle and an identification code of said mobile user station and said transmitter transmitting said signal; (b) a receiver that receives said signals transmitted by said user stations; and (c) a computer system interconnected with said receiver and said network, said computer system, in response to a request for information from one of said mobile user stations, providing in response thereto to said one of said mobile user stations information representative of said signals transmitted by said mobile user stations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for providing traffic information to a plurality of mobile users connected to a network, comprising: (a) a plurality of vehicles, each said vehicle comprising at least a mobile user station, a global positioning system receiver and a transmitter, said mobile user station providing a signal including data representative of a location of said mobile user station and at least one of a speed of said vehicle and an identification code of said mobile user station and said transmitter transmitting said signal; (b) a receiver that receives said signals transmitted by said user stations; and (c) a computer system interconnected with said receiver and said network, said computer system, in response to a request for information from one of said mobile user stations, providing in response thereto to said one of said mobile user stations information representative of said signals transmitted by said mobile user stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said vehicle further comprises a display and said information transmitted by said computer system is displayed graphically on said display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said computer system has a map database, and said computer system, in response to said request for information, transmits information representative of a portion of said map database, and said information representative of said map database is displayed graphically.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the location of said one of said mobile user stations is displayed graphically on said display together with said traffic information provided by said computer system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said location of said vehicle is shown at a point on said display regardless of movement of said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said displayed location of said vehicle depends on said location of said vehicle, so that the displayed location changes as the vehicle's location changes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said mobile user station has an input mechanism to select different modes of displaying traffic information on said display.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said computer system maintains a traffic information database containing information representative of traffic at a plurality of locations and updates said traffic information database in response to signals received from stationary traffic monitors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said computer system screens data provided by said mobile user stations to determine before updating said traffic information database.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6466862B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |