Patent ID: 8350722

Claim:
A computer-based method of alerting occupants of a motor vehicle at a current location of their proximity to a region, the region having a known location and an extent, and being characterized by a known environmental condition whose nature and severity are known, the environmental condition being capable of inducing at least discomfort in an occupant of the vehicle, the method comprising: identifying the current location of the vehicle; comparing the current vehicle location with the known location and extent of the region with the known environmental condition; determining whether the current location of the vehicle lies within a pre-selected distance of the region with the known environmental condition; predicting, based on knowledge of current vehicle speed and route, and knowledge of the location and extent of the region, any potential for exposure of the vehicle occupants to the environmental condition; and, if such potential exposure is predicted, alerting the vehicle occupants of their proximity to the environmental condition and of their predicted potential exposure to the known environmental condition; then, estimating an expected duration of any potential exposure of the vehicle occupants to the known environmental condition; and providing a visual display to the occupants of the vehicle of the nature and severity of the environmental condition and the estimate of the potential exposure duration.