Methods And Systems For Reporting Automotive Traffic Conditions In Response To User-Specific Requests

Abstract

The method and system described herein provides an interface for accessing a database containing information pertaining to traffic conditions. Using the interface, a driver can receive traffic conditions potentially affecting the driver's particular commute, just prior to the time at which the driver chooses between one or more routes for the commute. Several embodiments are disclosed in accordance with the present invention by which the driver can easily receive timely traffic information from the interface via the driver's wireless communications device, such as a wireless telephone.

1 . A traffic reporting system comprising:
 a subscriber database for maintaining subscriber account information including subscriber identification information;   a traffic information database for receiving updates of traffic information and storing the received information; and   a traffic information interface for providing traffic information from the traffic information database,   wherein the system identifies a subscriber in response to subscriber identification information in the subscriber database, wherein if a user is identified as a subscriber, the system provides traffic information to the subscriber.   
   
   
       2 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the traffic information interface is operated by a human intermediary who receives requests for traffic information spoken by subscribers over a wireless network. 
   
   
       3 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the traffic information interface provides traffic information based upon requests provided through responses to automated prompts by a subscriber using a wireless telephone. 
   
   
       4 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 3 , wherein the subscriber pre-configures the traffic information interface by providing a list of one or more streets or routes that are of interest to the subscriber. 
   
   
       5 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the traffic information interface automatically transmits short text messages to particular subscribers based upon either the time or the geographical location of each subscriber. 
   
   
       6 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 5 , wherein subscribers pre-configure the traffic information interface by providing a list of one or more streets or routes that are of interest to the respective subscribers. 
   
   
       7 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 6 , wherein subscribers pre-configure the traffic information interface by additionally including one or more times to receive traffic information. 
   
   
       8 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 5 , wherein the traffic information interface provides information to subscribers based upon the respective subscribers' geographical location information as determined by GPS receivers. 
   
   
       9 . The traffic reporting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the traffic information database receives updates of traffic information from at least one of road sensors, traffic cameras, traffic reports, and telephone callers. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program product for providing traffic information from a traffic database to a subscriber over a wireless network, the computer program product comprising:
 a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:   receiving a communication from a user;   determining whether the user is a subscriber,   
     wherein if the user is a subscriber, the method further comprises
 determining the subscriber's present and intended destination locations to request traffic information, and 
 calculating a route to travel between the locations, based upon traffic information stored in a traffic database, and 
 
     wherein if the user is not a subscriber, the method further comprises playing an automated message and disconnecting the communication. 
   
   
       11 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 10 , wherein the present and intended destination location is provided by the subscriber in response to an automated voice prompt. 
   
   
       12 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 11 , wherein the present and intended destination location is received by speech recognition. 
   
   
       13 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 10 , wherein the route is calculated by performing:
 determining potential routes between the present and intended destination locations;   selecting a predetermined number of the most geographically direct routes;   generating street-by-street directions for each selected route;   calculating the time required to travel each street within each route; and   comparing the total times to travel each route.   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 10 , further comprising instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating:
 retrieving a code name indicating the name of the route; and   reporting the code name to the subscriber.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 10 , wherein the subscriber pre-configures a subscriber database by performing:
 entering a wireless directory telephone number;   entering a starting and destination location;   identifying at least two routes to travel between the locations; and   identifying a code name for each route.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 15 , further comprising instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating:
 identifying a name or code for the trip between the starting and destination location, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database for a plurality of trips between different starting and destination locations.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 16 , wherein the subscriber identifies the trip in response to the automated prompts to receive an indication of the route from the plurality of routes entered into the subscriber database and corresponding to the particular trip, based upon current traffic information. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber identifies the trip by depressing one or more keys on the subscriber's wireless telephone corresponding to the code for the trip. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product for providing traffic information according to  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber identifies the trip by speaking the name of the trip corresponding to the trip name stored in the subscriber database, and wherein the name of the trip is recognized by speech recognition.