System for providing traffic information

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.

1 . A navigation system comprising:
 (a) a housing enclosing a processor, a memory, a power supply, a speaker, a graphical display;   (b) said graphical display displaying a multi-lane road having traffic flow in a first direction;   (c) said graphical display displaying a multi-line road having traffic flow in a second direction opposite to said first direction;   (d) a first graphical indication on one of said lanes indicating a first speed of vehicles in said one of said lanes;   (e) a second graphical indication on one of said lanes indicating a second speed of vehicles in said one of said lanes;   (f) a third graphical indication on one of said lanes indicating a third speed of vehicles in said one of said lanes;   (g) wherein said first speed is indicated by a color red;   (h) wherein said second speed is indicated by a color yellow;   (i) wherein said third speed is indicated by a green color.