Patent ID: 6385531
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G01C,G08G

Abstract:
A computer system disposable on a vehicle, comprising:(a) one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters configured to receive and transmit traffic condition information; (b) a system location receiver configured to determine a position of the system; and (c) a signal processing unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the one or more traffic information receivers and transmitters and the system location receiver, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to: (i) determine a first position and a second position of the system along a road segment; (ii) determine an elapsed time between the first and second positions of the computer system; (iii) determine whether the elapsed time indicates a congested traffic condition along the road segment by comparing the elapsed time with a stored time value for the road segment; and (iv) selectively broadcast traffic condition information for one or more road segments via the one or more traffic information transmitters.