Abstract:
A system includes a processor configured to receive information relating to a vehicle location. The processor is also configured to determine one or more filters, based on the received information, for filtering out a plurality of non-specified locations from varied location types. Further, the processor is configured to apply filters for each varied location type to select a plurality of non-specified locations. The processor is also configured to calculate an estimated time of arrival (ETA), for each of the selected locations, and deliver the selected locations and the calculated ETAs to a vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The illustrative embodiments generally relate to a method and apparatus for automatic estimated time of arrival calculation and provision. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For a long time, motorists traveling along a highway would have to rely on radio reporting to keep them apprised of potential traffic jams. Often the information would come too late, and suddenly a fast-moving highway would slow to almost a dead stop, due to an accident or other traffic-creating situation. 
         [0003]    In the interest of aiding drivers, many cities now post digital signs, along the motorways, that indicate estimated traveling times to key off-ramps, other highways and cities of interest. For example, a driver traveling from Northville, Mich. to Detroit, Mich. may see a sign along I-96 that says “estimated time to downtown—85 minutes.” If that driver were familiar with the area, then they would know that this means there is at least one significant traffic issue along I-96, because that drive should typically take 30-40 minutes. 
         [0004]    Using this information, the driver can attempt to find another route downtown, abort a journey, stop for food (in an attempt to let the traffic clear) or otherwise make their journey more efficient. In the absence of the information, the driver was likely to simply end up another member of the traffic jam, increasing the backup and wasting significant time. 
         [0005]    Traffic information is also available to GPS navigation providers, and certain GPS&#39;s will provide a driver with traffic information along a current route to a known destination. This information can be used by the driver in deciding whether or not to route around a particular situation. 
         [0006]    U.S. Application publication 2011/0238289 generally relates to a navigation device and computer implemented method for predicting the destination of a trip, the method being executed by a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: determining starting parameters, the starting parameters comprising at least the starting point, starting time and date of the trip, executing a destination prediction algorithm, the destination prediction algorithm taking the starting parameters as input and predicting a destination, wherein the destination prediction algorithm is generated by using information of a trip history; determining, upon arrival at the predicted or another destination, the actual destination. 
         [0007]    U.S. Application publication 2004/0117113 generally relates to a method for updating route data stored in a vehicle navigation device, particularly an off-board vehicle navigation device, the route data being updated in response to the occurrence of at least one predetermined event. The method includes transmitting route query data to at least one center when at least one predetermined, traffic-flow-induced event occurs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In a first illustrative example, a system includes a processor configured to receive information relating to a vehicle location. The processor is also configured to determine one or more filters, based on the received information, for filtering out a plurality of non-specified locations from varied location types. Further, the processor is configured to apply filters for each varied location type to select a plurality of non-specified locations. The processor is also configured to calculate an estimated time of arrival (ETA), for each of the selected locations, and deliver the selected locations and the calculated ETAs to a vehicle. 
         [0009]    In a second illustrative embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving information relating to a vehicle location. The method also includes determining one or more filters, based on the received information, for filtering out a plurality of non-specified locations from varied location types. The method further includes applying filters for each varied location type to select a plurality of non-specified locations. The method additionally includes calculating an estimated time of arrival (ETA), for each of the selected locations, and delivering the selected locations and the calculated ETAs to a vehicle. 
         [0010]    In a third illustrative embodiment, a system includes a processor configured to receive a traffic update for traffic between a vehicle location and multiple stored locations. The processor is also configured to calculate updated estimated times of arrival (ETA) for the locations based on the traffic update. The processor is additionally configured to calculate a change to stored ETAs for the locations based on vehicle movement. The processor is further configured to compare differences between the updated ETAs and the changed stored ETAs to alert a driver of updated ETAs for any differences beyond a predefined threshold. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative vehicle computing system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative example of an ETA data presentation process; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative example of an ETA point assembly and information gathering process; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A-4C  show illustrative examples of ETA point determination processes; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative example of an ETA updating process. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example block topology for a vehicle based computing system  1  (VCS) for a vehicle  31 . An example of such a vehicle-based computing system  1  is the SYNC system manufactured by THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. A vehicle enabled with a vehicle-based computing system may contain a visual front end interface  4  located in the vehicle. The user may also be able to interact with the interface if it is provided, for example, with a touch sensitive screen. In another illustrative embodiment, the interaction occurs through, button presses, audible speech and speech synthesis. 
         [0018]    In the illustrative embodiment 1 shown in  FIG. 1 , a processor  3  controls at least some portion of the operation of the vehicle-based computing system. Provided within the vehicle, the processor allows onboard processing of commands and routines. Further, the processor is connected to both non-persistent  5  and persistent storage  7 . In this illustrative embodiment, the non-persistent storage is random access memory (RAM) and the persistent storage is a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory. 
         [0019]    The processor is also provided with a number of different inputs allowing the user to interface with the processor. In this illustrative embodiment, a microphone  29 , an auxiliary input  25  (for input  33 ), a USB input  23 , a GPS input  24  and a BLUETOOTH input  15  are all provided. An input selector  51  is also provided, to allow a user to swap between various inputs. Input to both the microphone and the auxiliary connector is converted from analog to digital by a converter  27  before being passed to the processor. Although not shown, numerous of the vehicle components and auxiliary components in communication with the VCS may use a vehicle network (such as, but not limited to, a CAN bus) to pass data to and from the VCS (or components thereof). 
         [0020]    Outputs to the system can include, but are not limited to, a visual display  4  and a speaker  13  or stereo system output. The speaker is connected to an amplifier  11  and receives its signal from the processor  3  through a digital-to-analog converter  9 . Output can also be made to a remote BLUETOOTH device such as PND  54  or a USB device such as vehicle navigation device  60  along the bi-directional data streams shown at  19  and  21  respectively. 
         [0021]    In one illustrative embodiment, the system  1  uses the BLUETOOTH transceiver  15  to communicate  17  with a user&#39;s nomadic device  53  (e.g., cell phone, smart phone, PDA, or any other device having wireless remote network connectivity). The nomadic device can then be used to communicate  59  with a network  61  outside the vehicle  31  through, for example, communication  55  with a cellular tower  57 . In some embodiments, tower  57  may be a WiFi access point. 
         [0022]    Exemplary communication between the nomadic device and the BLUETOOTH transceiver is represented by signal  14 . 
         [0023]    Pairing a nomadic device  53  and the BLUETOOTH transceiver  15  can be instructed through a button  52  or similar input. Accordingly, the CPU is instructed that the onboard BLUETOOTH transceiver will be paired with a BLUETOOTH transceiver in a nomadic device. 
         [0024]    Data may be communicated between CPU  3  and network  61  utilizing, for example, a data-plan, data over voice, or DTMF tones associated with nomadic device  53 . Alternatively, it may be desirable to include an onboard modem  63  having antenna  18  in order to communicate  16  data between CPU  3  and network  61  over the voice band. The nomadic device  53  can then be used to communicate  59  with a network  61  outside the vehicle  31  through, for example, communication  55  with a cellular tower  57 . In some embodiments, the modem  63  may establish communication  20  with the tower  57  for communicating with network  61 . As a non-limiting example, modem  63  may be a USB cellular modem and communication  20  may be cellular communication. 
         [0025]    In one illustrative embodiment, the processor is provided with an operating system including an API to communicate with modem application software. The modem application software may access an embedded module or firmware on the BLUETOOTH transceiver to complete wireless communication with a remote BLUETOOTH transceiver (such as that found in a nomadic device). Bluetooth is a subset of the IEEE 802 PAN (personal area network) protocols. IEEE 802 LAN (local area network) protocols include WiFi and have considerable cross-functionality with IEEE 802 PAN. Both are suitable for wireless communication within a vehicle. Another communication means that can be used in this realm is free-space optical communication (such as IrDA) and non-standardized consumer IR protocols. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, nomadic device  53  includes a modem for voice band or broadband data communication. In the data-over-voice embodiment, a technique known as frequency division multiplexing may be implemented when the owner of the nomadic device can talk over the device while data is being transferred. At other times, when the owner is not using the device, the data transfer can use the whole bandwidth (300 Hz to 3.4 kHz in one example). While frequency division multiplexing may be common for analog cellular communication between the vehicle and the internet, and is still used, it has been largely replaced by hybrids of with Code Domian Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Domain Multiple Access (TDMA), Space-Domian Multiple Access (SDMA) for digital cellular communication. These are all ITU IMT-2000 (3G) compliant standards and offer data rates up to 2 mbs for stationary or walking users and 385 kbs for users in a moving vehicle. 3G standards are now being replaced by IMT-Advanced (4G) which offers 100 mbs for users in a vehicle and 1 gbs for stationary users. If the user has a data-plan associated with the nomadic device, it is possible that the data-plan allows for broad-band transmission and the system could use a much wider bandwidth (speeding up data transfer). In still another embodiment, nomadic device  53  is replaced with a cellular communication device (not shown) that is installed to vehicle  31 . In yet another embodiment, the ND  53  may be a wireless local area network (LAN) device capable of communication over, for example (and without limitation), an 802.11g network (i.e., WiFi) or a WiMax network. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, incoming data can be passed through the nomadic device via a data-over-voice or data-plan, through the onboard BLUETOOTH transceiver and into the vehicle&#39;s internal processor  3 . In the case of certain temporary data, for example, the data can be stored on the HDD or other storage media  7  until such time as the data is no longer needed. 
         [0028]    Additional sources that may interface with the vehicle include a personal navigation device  54 , having, for example, a USB connection  56  and/or an antenna  58 , a vehicle navigation device  60  having a USB  62  or other connection, an onboard GPS device  24 , or remote navigation system (not shown) having connectivity to network  61 . USB is one of a class of serial networking protocols. IEEE 1394 (firewire), EIA (Electronics Industry Association) serial protocols, IEEE 1284 (Centronics Port), S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) and USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) form the backbone of the device-device serial standards. Most of the protocols can be implemented for either electrical or optical communication. 
         [0029]    Further, the CPU could be in communication with a variety of other auxiliary devices  65 . These devices can be connected through a wireless  67  or wired  69  connection. Auxiliary device  65  may include, but are not limited to, personal media players, wireless health devices, portable computers, and the like. 
         [0030]    Also, or alternatively, the CPU could be connected to a vehicle based wireless router  73 , using for example a WiFi  71  transceiver. This could allow the CPU to connect to remote networks in range of the local router  73 . 
         [0031]    In addition to having exemplary processes executed by a vehicle computing system located in a vehicle, in certain embodiments, the exemplary processes may be executed by a computing system in communication with a vehicle computing system. Such a system may include, but is not limited to, a wireless device (e.g., and without limitation, a mobile phone) or a remote computing system (e.g., and without limitation, a server) connected through the wireless device. Collectively, such systems may be referred to as vehicle associated computing systems (VACS). In certain embodiments particular components of the VACS may perform particular portions of a process depending on the particular implementation of the system. By way of example and not limitation, if a process has a step of sending or receiving information with a paired wireless device, then it is likely that the wireless device is not performing the process, since the wireless device would not “send and receive” information with itself. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand when it is inappropriate to apply a particular VACS to a given solution. In all solutions, it is contemplated that at least the vehicle computing system (VCS) located within the vehicle itself is capable of performing the exemplary processes. 
         [0032]    As has been the case for a while, when a driver inputs a destination into a navigation device, the device can offer the driver an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for the input destination. This offering can even include traffic and other predicted delays, and is quite useful for determining an arrival time at a specific location. 
         [0033]    On the other hand, there may be times when a driver would like to know information about a non-destination, or may otherwise find such information to be of use. For example, if a driver were headed south on I-75 from Detroit, Mich., and were notified that it was 30 minutes to I-275 (about halfway to Toledo) and two hours to Toledo, the driver would know that there was a traffic jam somewhere between the I-275 interchange and Toledo. This could help the driver route around an issue, or may cause the driver to abort a planned trip altogether, or take the trip at a different time. Even if an eventual destination is unknown, if a vehicle is headed south on I-75 from Detroit, the above information may be of some use to a driver, as the information refers to both a major interchange and city along that route in that direction. 
         [0034]    The illustrative embodiments contemplate presenting ETAs when a destination is unknown, utilizing a variety of factors to present the most likely useful ETAs along a perceived route (e.g. factoring in heading, current location, current road, past behavior, etc.). 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative example of an ETA data presentation process. This is provided as a vehicle-side example, although many steps of this process could be run remote from the vehicle as well. In this illustrative example, the process detects a vehicle startup. Although the process is provided at the inception of a trip in this example, the process could also be provided at any point along a journey. 
         [0036]    Once vehicle startup is detected, the process obtains a vehicle heading and GPS coordinates  203 . Although not discussed in great detail in this example, known predictive algorithms can be used to predict one or more likely vehicle destinations, even if a destination is not entered. Although, as will be shown by the illustrative examples, a specific destination is not necessary for implementation of the illustrative embodiments. In some cases, ETAs for possible stops, which can be “guessed” based on factors that may vary from driver to driver, can be shown to aid drivers in making traveling decisions. 
         [0037]    The heading and GPS coordinates are transmitted  205  to a remote server for processing. If there is sufficient information for the server to present one or more presumably useful ETAs, then the process will responsively receive some number of ETAs  207  from the server. If there is not yet sufficient information, the process may gather additional data. 
         [0038]    For example, if a vehicle was started at a place where the driver worked, the process may know that a vehicle start-up between 3 pm and 6 pm, at that location, typically meant a trip in the direction of, if not directly to, a driver&#39;s home. In such a case, the mere starting location and time of day may be sufficient to give the ETA presentation engine enough data to begin projecting potentially useful ETAs. 
         [0039]    On the other hand, if the vehicle is in a totally unknown location, at 2 pm on a Tuesday, then the ETA prediction/presentation engine may need additional data before it puts out a list of ETAs. Accordingly, in such an instance, for example, the process may wait until a major road or highway is encountered and determine the direction of travel on that road, before presenting information. Then again, if the vehicle is typically driven no more than five miles from a home location, any location within five miles of home may be sufficient, in such a case, to project ETAs to, for example, home, favorite restaurants, favorite stores, etc. 
         [0040]    Since the “usefulness factors” may vary from person to person, it may be beneficial to have a driver profile provided to the ETA presentation engine. This is discussed in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    Once one or more ETAs has been received, the process can code the ETAs  211 , by, for example, category, color, etc. For example, without limitation, in one embodiment, personal ETAs (known possible stops) are one color, street/highway intersections are a second color, and cities/POIs are a third color (or third and fourth). In another example, the color coding may be based on predicted likelihood of usefulness. While not necessary, coding the ETAs in some manner may assist the driver in more quickly identifying information of interest. 
         [0042]    The coded ETAs could also be compared against known driver preferences  213 . For example, if a driver was less interested in predictions of cross-road ETAs, and more interested in personal and city ETAs, then the system could sort  215  the ETAs and even ignore the cross-road ETAs if so requested. If no driver preferences exist, or once the ETAs are sorted based on preferences, then the process can display one or more ETAs  217 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative example of an ETA point assembly and information gathering process. In this example, this process is done server-side, although it could be done vehicle-side or on a portable device, assuming sufficient capability was present. In this example, the process first receives any initial data from the vehicle  301  (e.g., without limitation, starting location, heading, vehicle/driver data, etc.). 
         [0044]    The process then checks a driver profile  303 , in this example, to determine what information may be needed to provide useful ETAs for this particular driver. In some cases a driver profile is stored remotely from the vehicle, and in other cases it may be transmitted with some initial data. In other cases, even if a driver profile isn&#39;t present, vehicle data can provide useful information. For example, without limitation, if a low-fuel signal were part of the received data, the system could display projected ETAs to local refueling points. 
         [0045]    In this illustrative example, based on the information received, the process checks to see if there are any points of interest  305  that can be identified as being of possible interest to the driver. If so, these points are added to a list of possible ETA locations  307  and the process moves on. Similarly, the process determines if there are appropriate exits/interchanges/intersections  309  and cities  313 , and respectively adds any of either that may be of interest to the lists  311 ,  315 . 
         [0046]    Although the examples above are limited to POIs, interchanges/exits and cities, any reasonable location type designation may be used. In this illustrative example, if the list is still empty after this process  317 , then the process loops and requests additional data  321 . In this manner, the process will continue to gather data about a trip until sufficient data is obtained to add at least one presumably useful ETA to a list. 
         [0047]    Once the list has at least one ETA location, the process calculates the ETA(s) for the location(s)  319  and transmits the list to the vehicle  323 . In this example, the process then loops and continues gathering information, so that other useful ETAs can be presented as they are discovered/become relevant. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 4A-4C  show illustrative examples of ETA point determination processes. In  FIG. 4A , more depth is shown with respect to the POI selection criteria. Again, this is just an example of one possible way of selecting POIs, but the example helps show how different factors may be considered for different criteria. 
         [0049]    In this illustrative example, the POI selection process accesses a driver profile  401  to see at what sort of POIs the driver commonly stops. These POIs can include personally save POIs as well as features designated by the system as POIs. In this example, the goal is to show the driver the closes POIs, but other criteria can be used. Accordingly, a first range around a current location is examined  403 . In some embodiments, the range may also be directional based on heading, in other examples it may be radial or have other suitable range-type characteristics. 
         [0050]    If there are any POI(S) meeting any known criteria for this driver/trip/vehicle  405 , the process will add the POIs to the list  407 . Then, in this example, the process continues to check if a range limit has been reached  409 . Another cap, for example, might be a maximum or minimum number of POIs. If the range limit has not been reached, the process increases the range and looks for POIs again. 
         [0051]    It&#39;s also possible that the “usefulness” of the POIs could depend on proximity or even on other ETA information. For example, using the Detroit to Toledo instance, if a driver always stops at “touristy” locations, the driver might be made aware that the world&#39;s biggest tire is in Allen Park, Mich., with an ETA of fifteen minutes. But, if the driver was more than fifteen minutes away (or a certain distance away), the process may not present this information. In a third iteration, even if the driver was sufficiently far away that the information would not commonly be presented, if the ETA to Toledo were three hours (instead of the regular hour), then such information may again become of interest, as the driver may wish to take a longer than usual detail to see a touristy item, while waiting, for example, for traffic to clear. 
         [0052]    In such a manner, it can be seen that varied ETAs can be situationally and personally derived for varied drivers, to the extent that their presentation may even depend on other ETAs. Any suitable factors may be presented for use with the ETAs. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4B  shows an illustrative example of a selection process for varied exits/interchanges along a route. In this example, the process first checks if the user is on a “main” road  421 . For example, if the user is in the middle of a neighborhood, all of the intersections will likely be simple neighborhood streets, and the user may not want to be inundated with a list of 30-60 second ETAs for all proximate intersections. On the other hand, if the user is on a main surface road or highway, the process may examine a first upcoming intersection/exit  423 . 
         [0054]    In this example, the process moves in a generally heading based direction when examining interchanges, although radial or other examination may be possible. If the first intersection meets criteria for selection  425  (e.g., without limitation, major intersection, commonly used road, etc.), then the process may add the intersection to a list  427 . 
         [0055]    In this example, provided as a varied way of “stopping” a search, the process stops looking for intersections when a range limit is reached  429  and there is at least one exit listed  431 . If there is not at least one cross-road (herein, the words, exit, interchange, cross-road, intersection and like words are all used interchangeably to designate a point where two different roads connect, regardless of road type), the process will continue to expand the range  433  and examine next exits  435  until one is found. In this manner, the driver can be made aware of at least one upcoming exit of interest. The criteria may also shift as the range increases. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4C  shows an illustrative example of a city selection process. Oftentimes, cities do not lie directly along a current route, but are proximate enough to the route that travel times to the cities are useful measurements of how traffic may be flowing. On the other hand, this information is more useful to a driver if the city and a common travel time is known. Accordingly, unless around a driver&#39;s immediate place of work or life, many city travel times may be unknown, as many, many small cities may lie along a route. Larger city travel times, however, may be known regardless of proximity (within reason) to a driver&#39;s home/work. 
         [0057]    For example, a driver in Northville, Mich., may know that it takes approximately 30-40 minutes to reach Detroit, Mich., approximately 10 minutes to reach Novi, Mich., and may have absolutely no idea how long it takes to reach Ferndale, Mich. (a smaller city than Detroit, approximately 20 miles from Northville). Accordingly, to such a driver, information about smaller cities in close proximity, regardless (to some extent) of size and information about larger cities near a route may both be useful. In this illustrative example, based on driver information or preferences, a search pattern may be established  441 . For example, in the Detroit→Toledo example, the process may recognize that this driver has driven this route fifty times in the last year. Accordingly, it is reasonable to “guess” that the driver probably knows at least a few major cities along the route. So it&#39;s possible that the process sets a “smaller” city criteria of 50,000 people within 3 miles of the route. Similarly, the process may set a “larger” city criteria of 200,000 people within 40 miles of the route. 
         [0058]    Under such criteria, any city having 50,000 people and being within 3 miles of a “guessed” route to Toledo (based in this case on heading and current road/location) would be identified for ETA provision purposes. Similarly, any city of 200,000 within 40 miles of the route may be identified. The process could also search radially for one or more of the criteria. For example, cities of 50,000 could be identified for routes in a 90 degree arc centered about a current heading, whereas larger cities could be identified for routes in a 270 degree arc or even a full circle. These are illustrative examples only, but show how differing criteria for differing city types could be applied. 
         [0059]    In this example, following the establishment of criteria, the process may apply the criteria to a map  443 . In this example, if any cities are identified as meeting the criteria  445  then they may be added to a list  447 . Similarly, if there are any driver-mandated cities (e.g., without limitation, always add “West Bloomfield, Mich.” if within 30 miles of West Bloomfield, Mich.)  449 , these cities can be added to the list  451 . 
         [0060]    Again, in this example, the process continues with an expanded range/pattern  455  as long as there are no cities on the list  453 . In this example, once at least one city has been added, the process ends, but of course this could be adjusted as required, as with all of the termination and search criteria herein. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , these and other searches can provide locations for which ETAs can be provided, dynamically, based on drivers and varied situations. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative example of an ETA updating process. In this illustrative example, one or more ETAs may have already been provided to a driver. If an ETA drastically changes beyond a threshold amount (e.g., traffic develops), the process will update the ETA so that the driver is quickly aware of the situation. Similarly, even if an ETA had not been previously presented to the driver, it may be presented if there is a sudden traffic situation which would make the ETA less than a commonly predicted amount. 
         [0063]    In this example, traffic data is received  501  and a list of saved ETA points is examined  503 . The saved ETA points correspond to points identified by the system as ETAs of possible use to the driver, in this example. Vehicle data is then also received in this example  505 , because the vehicle is often in motion and previously calculated ETA times will change even if there is no traffic (i.e., the vehicle is moving towards/away from a location). 
         [0064]    Accordingly, the process then calculates a “proper” new ETA  507 . This is the ETA that corresponds to the “correct” ETA for a location, i.e., how much the ETA should have changed based on changes in a vehicle&#39;s location, known speed limits/speeds of travel, previous known traffic patterns, etc. The process can then, taking the new traffic pattern (or other delay or clearing thereof) into account, calculate a new actual ETA  509 . 
         [0065]    The difference between the two ETAs can then be examined  511 , and if it is above a threshold  513  then an ETA change alert can be sent to the vehicle  515 . Typically, a change above a threshold will indicate that traffic or other delay conditions have appeared or cleared, and so it may be appropriate to notify the driver of the condition change. 
         [0066]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.