System and method for the acquisition of automobile traffic data through wireless networks

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein determining traffic patterns further comprises determining whether each mobile communication device is moving.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein determining traffic patterns further comprises obtaining location data from a global positioning satellite system.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 , wherein the means for determining traffic patterns further comprises means for determining whether each mobile communication device is moving.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 , wherein the means for determining traffic patterns further comprises means for obtaining location data from a global positioning satellite system.

Claim 9

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform: determining traffic conditions on roadways using a plurality of mobile communication devices comprising, obtaining traffic data from each mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the traffic data includes a relative signal strength value; locating each mobile communication device; calculating a velocity of each mobile communication device by receiving the traffic data from each mobile communication device at a first time interval and at a second time interval; providing the traffic data to a web server; and analyzing the traffic data to determine the traffic conditions comprising, receiving a relative signal strength values at the web server from each mobile communication device; mapping with the web server, a geographic location of each mobile communication device to a street map using a database of cell locations; and counting a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 10

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform: determining traffic conditions on roadways using a plurality of mobile communication devices comprising, obtaining traffic data from each mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the traffic data includes a relative signal strength value; locating each mobile communication device; calculating a velocity of each mobile communication device by receiving the traffic data from each mobile communication device at a first time interval and at a second time interval; providing the traffic data to a web server; and analyzing the traffic data to determine the traffic conditions comprising, receiving a relative signal strength values at the web server from each mobile communication device; mapping with the web server, a geographic location of each mobile communication device to a street map using a database of cell locations; and counting a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 11

The computer-readable medium of claim 7 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer for detaining traffic conditions, cause said computer to further perform: determining whether each mobile communication device is moving.

Claim 12

The computer-readable medium of claim 7 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer for determining traffic conditions, cause said computer to further perform: sending raw traffic data from each mobile communication devices to a traffic server.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the request further comprises: receiving a markup language document, wherein the document contains instructions; and executing the instructions by a Web browser running on the device.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the traffic data further comprises: generating a markup language document by a browser running on the device; and transmitting the document to the web server, wherein the document contains the traffic data.

Claim 17

A mobile communication device, comprising: means for receiving a request from a web server for traffic data; and means for providing the traffic server the traffic data, wherein the traffic data includes relative signal strength values, location data, and quality of signal data, and wherein the web server locates the mobile communication device, calculates a velocity of the mobile communication device at a first time interval and a second time interval, maps a geographic location of the mobile device to a street map using a database of cell locations, and counts a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 18

A mobile communication device, comprising: means for receiving a request from a web server for traffic data; and means for providing the traffic server the traffic data, wherein the traffic data includes relative signal strength values, location data, and quality of signal data, and wherein the web server locates the mobile communication device, calculates a velocity of the mobile communication device at a first time interval and a second time interval, maps a geographic location of the mobile device to a street map using a database of cell locations, and counts a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 19

The device of claim 13 wherein the means for receiving the request further comprises: means for receiving a markup language document, wherein the document contains instructions; and means for executing the instructions by a Web browser running on the device.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 , wherein the means for providing the traffic data further comprises: means for generating a markup language document by a browser running on the device; and means for transmitting the document to the web server, wherein the document contains the traffic data.

Claim 21

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform: receiving a request from a web server for traffic data; and providing the web server the traffic data, wherein the traffic data includes relative signal strength values, location data, and quality of signal data, and wherein the web server locates the mobile communication device, calculates a velocity of the mobile communication device at a first time interval and a second time interval, maps a geographic location of the mobile device to a street map using a database of cell locations, and counts a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 22

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform: receiving a request from a web server for traffic data; and providing the web server the traffic data, wherein the traffic data includes relative signal strength values, location data, and quality of signal data, and wherein the web server locates the mobile communication device, calculates a velocity of the mobile communication device at a first time interval and a second time interval, maps a geographic location of the mobile device to a street map using a database of cell locations, and counts a number of mobile communication devices passing a point during a certain time period.

Claim 23

The computer-readable medium of claim 16 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer for receiving a request, cause said computer to further perform: receiving a markup language document, wherein the document contains instructions; and executing the instructions by a Web browser running on the device.

Claim 24

The computer-readable medium of claim 16 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer for providing traffic data, cause said computer to further perform: generating a markup language document by a browser running on the device; and transmitting the document to the web server, wherein the document contains the traffic data.