Decentralized vehicular traffic status system

Claim 2

A mobile traffic unit for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, comprising: a position determining device; a transmitter for sending a transmitted message; a receiver for receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; a display unit presenting traffic status information; a processor in communication with said position determining device, said transmitter, said receiver, and said display unit, said processor programmed to execute a process including receiving said received message, repeating said received message, transmitting said transmitted message, reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, and displaying traffic status information, said position determining device, said transmitter, said receiver, said display unit, and said processor located in a vehicle; and a control unit communicating with said processor, said processor programmed to execute a process for customizing attributes of said traffic status information.

Claim 3

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date.

Claim 4

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a repeat count, a unique originator identifier, a packet sequential identifier, a time, and a date.

Claim 5

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location and a vehicle speed, said vehicle speed capped at a speed limit for said vehicle location.

Claim 6

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said receiver receives said received message from a base station, said received message containing a traffic notice.

Claim 7

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to execute a process for storing said received message in a database.

Claim 8

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said position determining device includes a global positioning system receiver.

Claim 9

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of receiving said received message includes determining whether said received message has already been received, storing said received message, and communicating with said process for repeating said received message.

Claim 10

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of repeating said received message includes determining if said received message is stale, determining if a repetition count exceeds a maximum packet repetition count, generating a random number and a local traffic RF density, and comparing the results to determine if said received message is to be repeated.

Claim 11

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of transmitting said transmitted message includes determining if there is a clear channel and sending said transmitted message to said transmitter.

Claim 12

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes constructing a message containing said vehicle data and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 13

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes acquiring said vehicle data, determining a road from a position determining device, determining whether a location and a time are sufficiently different from a previous location and a previous time to generate said vehicle message, generating said vehicle message to be transmitted, and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 14

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes generating said traffic status information to be displayed and communicating said traffic status information to said display unit.

Claim 15

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes building a map image, scanning a database, classifying and accumulating traffic data, and generating said traffic status information as a composite map image.

Claim 16

The mobile traffic unit of claim 1 further including a switch for disabling said mobile traffic unit, thereby providing privacy protection for a vehicle driver.

Claim 17

A mobile traffic unit for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, comprising: a global positioning system receiver; a transmitter for sending a transmitted message; a receiver for receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; a display unit presenting traffic status information; and a processor in communication with said global positioning system receiver, said transmitter, said receiver, and said display unit, said processor programmed to execute a process including receiving said received message, repeating said received message, transmitting said transmitted message, reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date, and displaying traffic status information by building a map image, scanning a database, classifying and accumulating traffic data, and generating said traffic status information as a composite map image, said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message including acquiring said vehicle data, determining a road from a position determining device, determining whether a location and a time are sufficiently different from a previous location and a previous time to generate said vehicle message, generating said vehicle message to be transmitted, and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 18

A mobile traffic unit for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, comprising: a global positioning system receiver; a transmitter for sending a transmitted message; a receiver for receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; a display unit presenting traffic status information; and a processor in communication with said global positioning system receiver, said transmitter, said receiver, and said display unit, said processor programmed to execute a process including receiving said received message, repeating said received message, transmitting said transmitted message, reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date, and displaying traffic status information by building a map image, scanning a database, classifying and accumulating traffic data, and generating said traffic status information as a composite map image, said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message including acquiring said vehicle data, determining a road from a position determining device, determining whether a location and a time are sufficiently different from a previous location and a previous time to generate said vehicle message, generating said vehicle message to be transmitted, and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 19

The mobile traffic unit of claim 16 wherein said process of receiving said received message includes determining whether said received message has already been received, storing said received message, and communicating with said process for repeating said received message.

Claim 20

The mobile traffic unit of claim 16 wherein said process of repeating said received message includes determining if said received message is stale, determining if a repetition count exceeds a maximum packet repetition count, generating a random number and a local traffic RF density, and comparing the results to determine if said received message is to be repeated.

Claim 21

The mobile traffic unit of claim 16 wherein said process of transmitting said transmitted message includes determining if there is a clear channel and sending said transmitted message to said transmitter.

Claim 22

The mobile traffic unit of claim 16 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes constructing a message containing said vehicle data and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 23

A mobile traffic unit for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, comprising: a means for acquiring vehicle data; a means for transmitting said vehicle data; a means for receiving a received message from a plurality of other vehicles; a means for repeating said received message from said plurality of other vehicles; a means for displaying traffic status information; and a means for disabling said mobile traffic unit.

Claim 24

A mobile traffic unit for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, comprising: a means for acquiring vehicle data; a means for transmitting said vehicle data; a means for receiving a received message from a plurality of other vehicles; a means for repeating said received message from said plurality of other vehicles; a means for displaying traffic status information; and a means for disabling said mobile traffic unit.

Claim 25

The mobile traffic unit of claim 21 further including a means for preventing self-incrimination.

Claim 26

At least one processor programmed to execute a process for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, the process comprising: receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; repeating said received message; transmitting a transmitted message; reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, said vehicle message including a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a repeat count, a uniclue originator identifier, a packet sequential identifier, a time, and a date; and displaying traffic status information.

Claim 27

At least one processor programmed to execute a process for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, the process comprising: receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; repeating said received message; transmitting a transmitted message; reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, said vehicle message including a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a repeat count, a uniclue originator identifier, a packet sequential identifier, a time, and a date; and displaying traffic status information.

Claim 28

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date.

Claim 29

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle speed and a vehicle location, said vehicle speed limited to a speed limit for said vehicle location.

Claim 30

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of receiving said received message includes determining whether said received message has already been received, storing said received message, and communicating with said process for repeating said received message.

Claim 31

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of repeating said received message includes determining if said received message is stale, determining if a repetition count exceeds a maximum packet repetition count, generating a random number and a local traffic RF density, and comparing the results to determine if said received message is to be repeated.

Claim 32

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of transmitting said transmitted message includes determining if there is a clear channel and sending said transmitted message to said transmitter.

Claim 33

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes constructing a message containing said vehicle data and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 34

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes acquiring vehicle data, determining a road from a position determining device, determining whether a location and a time are sufficiently different from a previous location and a previous time to generate said vehicle message, generating said vehicle message to be transmitted, and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 35

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes generating said traffic status information to be displayed and communicating said traffic status information to said display unit.

Claim 36

The at least one processor of claim 23 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes building a map image, scanning a database, classifying and accumulating traffic data, and generating said traffic status information as a composite map image.

Claim 37

A computer readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, said method comprising: receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; repeating said received message; transmitting a transmitted message; reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, said vehicle message including a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a repeat count, a unique originator identifier, a packet sequential identifier, a time, and a date; and displaying traffic status information.

Claim 38

A computer readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status, said method comprising: receiving a received message containing a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date; repeating said received message; transmitting a transmitted message; reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, said vehicle message including a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a repeat count, a unique originator identifier, a packet sequential identifier, a time, and a date; and displaying traffic status information.

Claim 39

The method of claim 33 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location, a vehicle speed, a vehicle direction, a vehicle type, a time, and a date.

Claim 40

The method of claim 33 wherein said vehicle message includes a vehicle location and a vehicle speed, said vehicle speed limited to a speed limit for said vehicle location.

Claim 41

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of receiving said received message includes determining whether said received message has already been received, storing said received message, and communicating with said process for repeating said received message.

Claim 42

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of repeating said received message includes determining if said received message is stale, determining if a repetition count exceeds a maximum packet repetition count, generating a random number and a local traffic RF density, and comparing the results to determine if said received message is to be repeated.

Claim 43

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of transmitting said transmitted message includes determining if there is a clear channel and sending said transmitted message to said transmitter.

Claim 44

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes constructing a message containing said vehicle data and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 45

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message includes acquiring vehicle data, determining a road from a position determining device, determining whether a location and a time are sufficiently different from a previous location and a previous time to generate said vehicle message, generating said vehicle message to be transmitted, and communicating with said process for transmitting said transmitted message wherein said transmitted message is said vehicle message.

Claim 46

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes generating said traffic status information to be displayed and communicating said traffic status information to said display unit.

Claim 47

The method of claim 33 wherein said process of displaying said traffic status information includes building a map image, scanning a database, classifying and accumulating traffic data, and generating said traffic status information as a composite map image.