Patent ID: 7343242

Claim:
Method for providing traffic status information as part of a traffic status detection by a traffic status detection device provided in a motor vehicle, for ascertaining the traffic situation, including detecting traffic congestion, the method comprising the acts of: detecting a traffic status repeatedly by the traffic status detection device, detecting a change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device, generating a data record describing the change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device, which comprises a program-controlled computer, and transmitting the data record by the traffic status detection device to a receiver that receives the data record via Short Message Service, wherein the data record indicates whether a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “congested traffic” to the traffic status of “driving freely” or a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “driving freely” to the traffic status of “congested traffic” has been detected by the traffic status detection device provided in the motor vehicle.