EP1022704A1 - A traffic information system for a vehicle - Google Patents

A traffic information system for a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1022704A1
EP1022704A1 EP00300396A EP00300396A EP1022704A1 EP 1022704 A1 EP1022704 A1 EP 1022704A1 EP 00300396 A EP00300396 A EP 00300396A EP 00300396 A EP00300396 A EP 00300396A EP 1022704 A1 EP1022704 A1 EP 1022704A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
traffic information
transmitter
broadcast
local
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00300396A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Graeme Peter Flynn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Publication of EP1022704A1 publication Critical patent/EP1022704A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/091—Traffic information broadcasting
    • G08G1/093—Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output

Definitions

  • This invention relates to traffic information systems for vehicles and in particular to a system in which traffic information is provided selectively.
  • Such broadcasts include a location identifier which can be used to enable an in-vehicle system to determine whether the information is relevant to the vehicle's current position and thereby to determine whether or not to broadcast the information to the vehicle user.
  • GPS geopositional satellite systems
  • cellphone triangulation methods of determining the vehicle position so as to achieve the necessary filtering.
  • EP 0412286 an arrangement is provided which superimposes a co-ordinate system over an area and filters RDS information by determining the vehicle's position using triangulation based on the propagation delay of signals from local transceivers. Further filtering is also available using programme identification codes. It is a disadvantage of this system that, in order to perform useful filtering of the traffic information, it is necessary to provide complex means for determining the position of the vehicle.
  • the invention provides a traffic information system for a vehicle, the system comprising a controller arranged in use to receive a traffic information broadcast signal and to filter traffic information from the broadcast signal such that information relevant to an at least approximate position of the vehicle is made available to a user, characterised in that the controller is arranged in use to receive at least one local signal which includes an identity code identifying an associated local signal transmitter and is arranged to determine said at least approximate position from said identity code.
  • the system of this invention uses codes which identify one or more local transmitters as the means for determining the position of the vehicle.
  • This aspect of the invention is advantageous because it does not require complex means, such as a GPS or triangulation, for determining an at least approximate position of the vehicle. Filtering of traffic information is therefore simpler and can be provided on a wider range of vehicles than can be achieved if complex and/or expensive means of positional determination are used.
  • Said at least approximate position may be determined using a look-up table which relates said identity code to the location of its associated local transmitter.
  • the controller may be arranged to determine said at least approximate position of the vehicle by determining which one or more local transmitters are within a predetermined range of said vehicle.
  • Said at least one local transmitter may comprise a short range transmitter and the frequency of transmission of a said local signal may be in the region of 433.92 MHz.
  • the traffic information broadcast may comprise at least one of a radio data system broadcast (RDS) and a traffic management channel (TMC) broadcast.
  • RDS radio data system broadcast
  • TMC traffic management channel
  • a vehicle 10 comprises a receiver 12 which is arranged in use to receive traffic information broadcasts from a radio data system RDS and/or a traffic management channel TMC broadcast system.
  • the vehicle 10 further comprises a second receiver 14 which is arranged in use to receive signals from short range transmitters which transmit local information on, for example, 433.92 MHz.
  • Both receivers 12, 14 supply the signals they receive to a controller 16 which is associated with a memory unit 18.
  • the controller 16 is arranged to selectively broadcast traffic information (RDS-TMC) to a user of the vehicle 10 through at least one of a speaker 20 and a visual display unit 22.
  • RDS-TMC traffic information
  • the local transmitters A, B have a limited range within which their signals can be received.
  • One example of such transmitter technology is the "Traffic Master" system, although any local signal which can be received from a road and which has a short range and which includes an identity code would be suitable.
  • the identity codes of each transmitter A, B are programmed into a look-up table held in the memory 18.
  • the vehicle 10 When the vehicle 10 travels along a road 24 which passes through the range of the first transmitter A, the vehicle 10 receives signals from that transmitter A but is out of range of the other transmitter B which covers a different area such as an alternative road 26.
  • the controller 16 When the controller 16 receives a local signal from the first transmitter A through the receiver 14, it uses the identity code of the transmitter A to derive from the look-up table held in the memory 18 the approximate locality of the vehicle 10, i.e. by monitoring which one or more of the local transmitters A, B can be received.
  • the controller 16 uses this information about the vehicle's approximate location to filter the RDS-TMC traffic information broadcasts received through the receiver 12, so as to broadcast to the user through the speaker 20 and/or display unit 22 only information which is relevant to the vehicle's location.
  • the user is provided with filtered traffic information broadcasts using location techniques which provide a significant cost saving over some known systems, such as those which use GPS for location.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
  • Position Fixing By Use Of Radio Waves (AREA)
  • Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)

Abstract

A traffic information system for a vehicle 10 is disclosed in which the vehicle 10 receives traffic information broadcasts from RDS-TMC and filters this information so that traffic information relevant to the position of the vehicle 10 is made available to a user. The controller 16 is arranged to determine the identity of a local transmitter A, B from an identity code included in its signals and then to determine the vehicle location using a look-up table in a memory 18 which relates the identity codes to the location of the transmitters A, B.

Description

  • This invention relates to traffic information systems for vehicles and in particular to a system in which traffic information is provided selectively.
  • It is known to provide traffic information broadcasts for vehicles using, for example, radio data system RDS and/or traffic management channel TMC technology. Such broadcasts include a location identifier which can be used to enable an in-vehicle system to determine whether the information is relevant to the vehicle's current position and thereby to determine whether or not to broadcast the information to the vehicle user.
  • Some such systems, however, need to determine the position of the vehicle so as to decide what information is relevant. It is possible to use geopositional satellite systems (GPS) or cellphone triangulation as methods of determining the vehicle position so as to achieve the necessary filtering. These solutions tend to be expensive as they require extra equipment, such as a GPS or a 'phone, in order to work and are therefore often only found on vehicles high up in a manufacture's model range.
  • In EP 0412286 an arrangement is provided which superimposes a co-ordinate system over an area and filters RDS information by determining the vehicle's position using triangulation based on the propagation delay of signals from local transceivers. Further filtering is also available using programme identification codes. It is a disadvantage of this system that, in order to perform useful filtering of the traffic information, it is necessary to provide complex means for determining the position of the vehicle.
  • It is an object of this invention to provide an improved traffic information system.
  • Accordingly, the invention provides a traffic information system for a vehicle, the system comprising a controller arranged in use to receive a traffic information broadcast signal and to filter traffic information from the broadcast signal such that information relevant to an at least approximate position of the vehicle is made available to a user, characterised in that the controller is arranged in use to receive at least one local signal which includes an identity code identifying an associated local signal transmitter and is arranged to determine said at least approximate position from said identity code.
  • It can thus be seen that the system of this invention uses codes which identify one or more local transmitters as the means for determining the position of the vehicle. This aspect of the invention is advantageous because it does not require complex means, such as a GPS or triangulation, for determining an at least approximate position of the vehicle. Filtering of traffic information is therefore simpler and can be provided on a wider range of vehicles than can be achieved if complex and/or expensive means of positional determination are used.
  • Said at least approximate position may be determined using a look-up table which relates said identity code to the location of its associated local transmitter.
  • The controller may be arranged to determine said at least approximate position of the vehicle by determining which one or more local transmitters are within a predetermined range of said vehicle.
  • Said at least one local transmitter may comprise a short range transmitter and the frequency of transmission of a said local signal may be in the region of 433.92 MHz.
  • The traffic information broadcast may comprise at least one of a radio data system broadcast (RDS) and a traffic management channel (TMC) broadcast.
  • The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle including a traffic information system according to the invention; and
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the vehicle of Figure 1 in use.
  • Referring to the figures, a vehicle 10 comprises a receiver 12 which is arranged in use to receive traffic information broadcasts from a radio data system RDS and/or a traffic management channel TMC broadcast system.
  • The vehicle 10 further comprises a second receiver 14 which is arranged in use to receive signals from short range transmitters which transmit local information on, for example, 433.92 MHz.
  • Both receivers 12, 14 supply the signals they receive to a controller 16 which is associated with a memory unit 18. The controller 16 is arranged to selectively broadcast traffic information (RDS-TMC) to a user of the vehicle 10 through at least one of a speaker 20 and a visual display unit 22.
  • The local transmitters A, B have a limited range within which their signals can be received. One example of such transmitter technology is the "Traffic Master" system, although any local signal which can be received from a road and which has a short range and which includes an identity code would be suitable. The identity codes of each transmitter A, B are programmed into a look-up table held in the memory 18.
  • When the vehicle 10 travels along a road 24 which passes through the range of the first transmitter A, the vehicle 10 receives signals from that transmitter A but is out of range of the other transmitter B which covers a different area such as an alternative road 26.
  • When the controller 16 receives a local signal from the first transmitter A through the receiver 14, it uses the identity code of the transmitter A to derive from the look-up table held in the memory 18 the approximate locality of the vehicle 10, i.e. by monitoring which one or more of the local transmitters A, B can be received.
  • The controller 16 uses this information about the vehicle's approximate location to filter the RDS-TMC traffic information broadcasts received through the receiver 12, so as to broadcast to the user through the speaker 20 and/or display unit 22 only information which is relevant to the vehicle's location.
  • In this manner the user is provided with filtered traffic information broadcasts using location techniques which provide a significant cost saving over some known systems, such as those which use GPS for location.

Claims (6)

  1. A traffic information system for a vehicle (10), the system comprising a controller (16) arranged in use to receive a traffic information broadcast signal (RDS-TMC) and to filter traffic information from the broadcast signal such that information relevant to an at least approximate position of the vehicle (10) is made available to a user, characterised in that the controller (16) is arranged in use to receive at least one local signal which includes an identity code identifying an associated local signal transmitter (A, B) and is arranged to determine said at least approximate position from said identity code.
  2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said at least approximate position is determined using a look-up table which relates said identity code to the location of its associated local transmitter (A, B).
  3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the controller (16) is arranged to determine said at least approximate position of the vehicle (10) by determining which one or more local transmitters (A, B) are within a predetermined range of said vehicle (10).
  4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one local transmitter (A, B) comprises a short range transmitter.
  5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the frequency of transmission of a said local signal is in the region of 433.92 MHz.
  6. A system according to any preceding claim, the traffic information broadcast comprising at least one of a radio data system broadcast (RDS) and a traffic management channel (TMC) broadcast.
EP00300396A 1999-01-22 2000-01-20 A traffic information system for a vehicle Withdrawn EP1022704A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9901295 1999-01-22
GB9901295A GB2346244A (en) 1999-01-22 1999-01-22 Traffic information system for a vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1022704A1 true EP1022704A1 (en) 2000-07-26

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EP00300396A Withdrawn EP1022704A1 (en) 1999-01-22 2000-01-20 A traffic information system for a vehicle

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EP (1) EP1022704A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2346244A (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1276087A1 (en) * 2001-07-12 2003-01-15 Hans Ludwig Wagner Method and apparatus for wireless data communication of traffic information, in particular between stationary or virtually stationary units and moving vehicles
EP1296305A1 (en) * 2001-09-25 2003-03-26 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Apparatus and system for inter-vehicle communication
US6943702B2 (en) * 2002-03-22 2005-09-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Broadcasting system and its broadcasting transmission apparatus and reception terminal apparatus
WO2006048714A1 (en) * 2004-11-01 2006-05-11 Nokia Corporation Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing user-access to broadcast content in combination with short-range communication content
EP1975900A2 (en) * 2007-03-27 2008-10-01 Continental Automotive GmbH Method and device to send and verify messages with a unique code or a message verification value
FR2934731A1 (en) * 2008-07-30 2010-02-05 Alexandre Lavergne Motorized locomotion unit i.e. automobile, displacement detecting method for e.g. service station, involves triggering audio/video signaling via man-machine interface with color diode, signifying geographical proximity of point of interest
US9208682B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2015-12-08 Here Global B.V. Lane level congestion splitting
US9230436B2 (en) 2013-11-06 2016-01-05 Here Global B.V. Dynamic location referencing segment aggregation
US9489838B2 (en) 2014-03-11 2016-11-08 Here Global B.V. Probabilistic road system reporting
US9697731B2 (en) 2014-01-20 2017-07-04 Here Global B.V. Precision traffic indication

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2353872B (en) * 1999-08-28 2004-02-04 Roke Manor Research vehicle speed warning apparatus

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0058596A1 (en) * 1981-02-06 1982-08-25 Jean Pierre Voisin Selective transmission system for traffic information
GB2120047A (en) * 1982-04-28 1983-11-23 British Broadcasting Corp Radio receivers and broadcasting network
EP0502312A2 (en) * 1991-03-06 1992-09-09 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method of determining the position of a mobile radio receiver
US5539395A (en) * 1993-11-01 1996-07-23 Motorola, Inc. Location dependent information receiving device and method
EP0762679A1 (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-03-12 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and means for determining the location of a broadcast receiver
EP0866433A1 (en) * 1997-02-19 1998-09-23 MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft Device for the retransmission to at least one terminal of traffic information sent by a centre or a collection unit
GB2326314A (en) * 1997-04-24 1998-12-16 Nec Corp Selective information receiving apparatus

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4792803A (en) * 1987-06-08 1988-12-20 Madnick Peter A Traffic monitoring and reporting system
DE3914104A1 (en) * 1989-04-28 1990-11-15 Bosch Gmbh Robert BROADCAST RECEIVER, ESPECIALLY VEHICLE RECEIVER
DE3926180A1 (en) * 1989-08-08 1991-02-14 Bosch Gmbh Robert METHOD FOR DRIVING ROUTE-SELECTIVE PLAYBACK DIGITALLY CODED TRAFFIC MESSAGES TRANSMITTED FROM A TRANSMITTER TO A VEHICLE RECEIVER AND VEHICLE RECEIVER
JP2797946B2 (en) * 1993-12-30 1998-09-17 ソニー株式会社 Information display device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0058596A1 (en) * 1981-02-06 1982-08-25 Jean Pierre Voisin Selective transmission system for traffic information
GB2120047A (en) * 1982-04-28 1983-11-23 British Broadcasting Corp Radio receivers and broadcasting network
EP0502312A2 (en) * 1991-03-06 1992-09-09 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method of determining the position of a mobile radio receiver
US5539395A (en) * 1993-11-01 1996-07-23 Motorola, Inc. Location dependent information receiving device and method
EP0762679A1 (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-03-12 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and means for determining the location of a broadcast receiver
EP0866433A1 (en) * 1997-02-19 1998-09-23 MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft Device for the retransmission to at least one terminal of traffic information sent by a centre or a collection unit
GB2326314A (en) * 1997-04-24 1998-12-16 Nec Corp Selective information receiving apparatus

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1276087A1 (en) * 2001-07-12 2003-01-15 Hans Ludwig Wagner Method and apparatus for wireless data communication of traffic information, in particular between stationary or virtually stationary units and moving vehicles
EP1296305A1 (en) * 2001-09-25 2003-03-26 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Apparatus and system for inter-vehicle communication
US6943702B2 (en) * 2002-03-22 2005-09-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Broadcasting system and its broadcasting transmission apparatus and reception terminal apparatus
US7536151B2 (en) 2004-11-01 2009-05-19 Nokia Corporation Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing user-access to broadcast content in combination with short-range communication content
WO2006048714A1 (en) * 2004-11-01 2006-05-11 Nokia Corporation Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing user-access to broadcast content in combination with short-range communication content
EP1975900A3 (en) * 2007-03-27 2009-11-25 Continental Automotive GmbH Method and device to send and verify messages with a unique code or a message verification value
EP1975900A2 (en) * 2007-03-27 2008-10-01 Continental Automotive GmbH Method and device to send and verify messages with a unique code or a message verification value
FR2934731A1 (en) * 2008-07-30 2010-02-05 Alexandre Lavergne Motorized locomotion unit i.e. automobile, displacement detecting method for e.g. service station, involves triggering audio/video signaling via man-machine interface with color diode, signifying geographical proximity of point of interest
US9230436B2 (en) 2013-11-06 2016-01-05 Here Global B.V. Dynamic location referencing segment aggregation
US9697731B2 (en) 2014-01-20 2017-07-04 Here Global B.V. Precision traffic indication
US10068469B2 (en) 2014-01-20 2018-09-04 Here Global B.V. Precision traffic indication
US9489838B2 (en) 2014-03-11 2016-11-08 Here Global B.V. Probabilistic road system reporting
US9208682B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2015-12-08 Here Global B.V. Lane level congestion splitting
US9558657B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-01-31 Here Global B.V. Lane level congestion splitting

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9901295D0 (en) 1999-03-10
GB2346244A (en) 2000-08-02

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