Telephone accessible information system

We claim:

1. An information system for providing traffic information to subscribers by way of telephone and mobile phone communication systems regarding predesignated commuter routes identified by route designation codes where access to the information system is obtained using subscriber access codes

comprising, a central data file source for identifying subscribers and for identifying predesignated commuter routes by route designation code , a control terminal means

for creating updated traffic information messages, means for transmitting updated traffic information messages from said control terminal means to said central data file source, a telephone system interface means for connecting the information system to the telephone and mobile phone communication systems, at least one node means for receiving telephone transmissions from said interface means, said at least one node means including computer means and analog communication means, said analog communication means being capable of receiving signals from said telephone system interface means and transmitting information to said computer means, siad computer means identifying the subscriber access codes, communication network means disposed between said node means and said central data file source so that information may be transmitted from said central data file source to said computer means of said node means, said computer means and said analog communication means being selectively operable to transmit vocal and digital communication to the subscriber in response to receiving route designation codes which are identified by said computer means and said node means terminating communication in response to the completed transmission of information therefrom to the subscriber.

2. The information system of claim 1 in which said central data file source includes subscriber call back file means for identifying previous subscriber access codes and route designation codes and for comparing updated traffic information messages transmitted from said control terminal means to determine if traffic information changes are reflected relative to such route designation codes, said central data file source communicating the traffic information changes to said computer means, said node means having redial circuit means for contacting a subscriber in response to commands from said central data file source whereby the traffic information changes from said central data file source are transmitted to the subscriber by way of said node means.

3. The information system of claim 2 including route timing file means interconnected with said central data file source for determining whether a subscriber should be contacted dependent upon the amount of time which has lapsed from a subscriber's access concerning the route designation codes.

4. The information system of claim 3 in which said control terminal means includes a voice communication means for receiving voice transmitted messages from an operator.

5. The information system of claim 3 including a plurality of node means that are connected between said telephone system interface means and said central data file source.

6. The information system of claim 5 in which each of said computer means of each of said node means terminates inquiries received through said telephone system interface means in response to receiving erroneous subscriber access codes.

7. The method of providing traffic status along predesignated commuter routings wherein the commuter routings are given route designation codes and wherein a commuter subscriber may access an information system having a control facility by use of a subscriber access code transmitted by way of telephone equipment comprising the steps of:

(a) Compiling information and retaining such information in computer means with regard to traffic conditions along predesignated commuter routings;

(b) Continuously updating information regarding conditions along commuter routings and supplying such information to said computer means;

(c) Permitting access of the subscriber to the information from the computer means by way of verification of a subscriber access code entered through use of the telephone equipment;

(d) Permitting the subscriber to request specific information with regard to specific commuter routings by entering in the route designation codes through the use of the telephone equipment;

(e) Transmission of information through the telephone equipment regarding specific commuter routings to the subscriber from the information system;

(f) Retaining subscriber coded account number and specific commuter routing inquiries for future access;

(g) Releasing the subscriber from the information system.

8. The method of claim 7 in which said transmission of information from the information system is a voice communicated transmission.

9. The method of claim 7 in which said transmission of information from the information system is a digital transmission.

10. The method of claim 7 including the additional steps of:

(h) Continually processing incoming updated file information into the computer means with regard to changes in conditions along the predesignated commuter routings;

(i) Retrieving information regarding subscriber inquiries having specific commuter routings which are affected by change in conditions;

(j) Initiating a communication link with the subscriber and conveying updated file information.

11. The method of transmitting information regarding traveled routes within a geographic area from an information system to telephone subscribers by way of telephone or mobile phone communication links wherein the subscribers are identified by access codes for access to the information system comprising the steps of:

(a) Dividing the geographic area into a plurality of

predesignated traveled routes and other areas and predesignating each of said predesignated traveled routes with a unique route designation code;

(b) Collecting traffic information with respect to each each of the predesignated traveled routes and storing such information in computer files which are accessible by the communication links;

(c) Continuously updating the information in the computer files with respect to each of the predesignated traveled routes;

(d) Screening incoming subscriber inquiries to determine proper subscriber access codes;

(e) Acceptance of subscriber inquiry and initiation of subscriber input request for information regarding at least one predesignated traveled route by processing subscriber transmission of route designation code by the communication links;

(f) Automatic transmission of information regarding predesignated traveled routes queried by subscribers from the computer files to the subscribers through the communication links;

(g) Retaining subscriber access numbers and predesignated traveled route inquiries for a predetermined time;

(h) Reviewing computer files for information to determine change of status in a subscriber commuter route inquiry;

(i) Forwarding updated information to a subscriber by way of the communication links if a change in status occurs within said predetermined time concerning a previously queried predesignated traveled route.

12. The method of claim 11 including the additional step of designating the other areas which are not designated by route designation code with a predesignated identification for which information will be collected, accessed and disseminated in the same manner as said predesignated traveled routes.

13. An information system for providing traffic information to subscribers by way of telephone and mobile phone communication systems where access to the information system is obtained using DTMF signal access codes and predesignated route information designation codes comprising, a central data file source for identifying signal access codes and for identifying predesignated route information designation codes, a control terminal means for creating updated traffic information messages, means for transmitting updated traffic information messages from said control terminal means to said central data file source, a telephone system interface means for connecting the information system to the telephone and mobile phone communication systems, at least one node means for receiving telephone transmissions from said interface means, said at least one node means including computer means and voice communication means, said voice communication means being capable of receiving DTMF signals from said telephone system interface means and transmitting information to said computer means, said computer means identifying the access codes, local area network means disposed between said node means and said central data file source for transmitting information from said central data file source to said computer means of said node means, said voice communication means being selectively operable to transmit vocal communication to a subscriber in response to receiving route information designation codes which are identified by said computer means, and said node means terminating communication with said telephone system interface means in response to the completed transmission of information to a subscriber.

14. An information system for providing traffic information to subscribers by way of telephone and mobile phone communication systems regarding predesignated commuter routes identified by route designation codes where access to the information system is obtained using signal access codes comprising, at least one node means having a computer file means and a communication means, said computer file means identifying access codes and predesignated commuter routes by route designation codes, a control terminal means, said control terminal means including means for creating updated traffic information messages, means for transmitting updated traffic information messages from said control terminal means to said computer means, a telephone system interface means for connecting said node means to the telephone and mobile phone communication systems so that said node means receives telephone transmissions from said interface means, communication means being capable of receiving signals from said telephone system interface means and transmitting information to said computer means, said communication means being selectively operable to transmit analog messages to a subscriber and said computer means being selectively operable to transmit digital messages to a subscriber in response to receiving route designation codes which are identified by said computer means, and said node means terminating communication from said information system in response to the completed transmission of information therefrom to the subscriber.

15. The information system of claim 14 including a central data file source for identifying previous subscriber access codes and route designation codes, means for connecting said central data file source to said control terminal means so as to receive updated traffic information messages transmitted from said control terminal means to determine if changes are reflected relative to predetermined commuter routes having route designation codes, network means for communicating updated traffic information messages to said computer means, said communication means having redial capabilities for contacting a subscriber in response to commands from said computer means and thereafter transmitting updated traffic information messages from said computer means to the subscriber.

16. The method of providing traffic status along predesignated commuter routings wherein the commuter routings are given designation codes and wherein a subscriber to the system may access an information system by use of a coded account number transmitted by way of a telephone or mobile telephone system and wherein information from the information system may be transmitted to a subscriber's alpha numeric pager comprising the steps of:

(a) Compiling information and retaining such information in a computer source with regard to traffic conditions along all predesignated commuter routings;

(b) Continuously updating information regarding conditions along commuter routings and supplying such information to the computer source;

(c) Permitting access of a subscriber to the information from the computer source by way of verification of a coded account number transmitted by a telephone or mobile telephone system;

(d) Permitting the subscriber to request specific information with regard to predesignated commuter routings by entering in the designation codes through the use of the telephone or mobile telephone system;

(e) Digital transmission of information regarding requested specific commuter routings to the subscriber to the subscriber's alpha numeric pager;

(f) Retaining subscriber coded account number and specific commuter routing inquiries for future access;

(g) Releasing the subscriber from the information system.

17. The method of claim 16 including the additional steps of:

(h) Continually processing incoming updated file information into the computer source with regard to changes in conditions along the predesignated commuter routings;

(i) Retrieving information regarding subscriber inquiries having specific commuter routings which are affected by change in status;

(j) Initiating a communication link with the subscriber's alpha numeric pager and conveying updated file information.

18. The method of providing traffic status along predesignated commuter routings to subscribers wherein the commuter routings are given designated codes and wherein a subscriber may access an information system having a central computer source and at least one remote node including computer and message transmitting and receiving unit by use of access codes transmitted by way of mobile or other telephones comprising the steps of:

(a) Compiling information and retaining such information in a central computer source with regard to traffic conditions along predesignated commuter routings;

(b) Continuously updating information regarding conditions along the predesignated commuter routings and supplying such information to the central computer source;

(c) Permitting access of a subscriber to the information from the central computer sources by way of verification of an access code received by the computer and message transmitting and recieving unit from signals received from a telephone;

(d) Permitting the subscriber to request specific information with regard to specific commuter routings by entering in designated codes through the use of the telephone;

(e) Transmitting requested specific information with regard to commuter routings entered by the subscriber from the central computer source to the computer and message transmitting and receiving unit;

(f) Voice or digital transmission from the computer and message transmitting and receiving unit of information regarding specific commuter routings to the subscriber;

(g) Retaining subscriber coded account number and specific commuter routing inquiries for future access;

(h) Releasing the subscriber from the information system.

19. The method of claim 18 including the additional steps of:

(h) Continually processing incoming updated file information into the central computer source with regard to changes in conditions along the predesignated commuter routings;

(i) Retrieving information regarding previously entered subscriber requests for specific commuter routings which are affected by change in status;

(j) Initiating communication link from the computer and message transmitting and receiving unit with the subscriber and conveying updated file information.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally directed to telephone and computer accessible information systems for providing subscribers with continuously updated information regarding a variety of subjects or topics of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to a traffic information system for advising travelers of conditions along vehicular routings in metropolitan areas and more specifically to a traffic information system which may optionally transmit information directly to subscribers by way of telephone, mobile telephone, computers and personalized pagers. The system is designed to enable subscribers to immediately obtain specific and updated information utilizing analog or digital communication equipment or combinations of equipment. The system is further designed to continuously monitor various conditions such as the conditions along various vehicular routings and automatically initiates call-back information to a subscriber's telephone, computer or digital pager in the event any significant changes in conditions have developed. In alternative embodiments, information such as airline, train and bus schedule information, stock market activities, news reports, specific directions and related travel information may be made available to a subscriber. Further, once a subscriber has accessed the system, update or response information may be selectively transmitted to a subscriber's personal computer, telephone and/or alpha numeric pager.

2. History of the Related Art

One of the major and evergoing problems in metropolitan areas is the overcrowding of streets and highways due to increased commuter traffic. Anyone whose has ever lived, worked or traveled through a major urban area during the primary commuting or rush hours has experienced the frustration and exhaustion of bumper-to-bumper stop and go traffic conditions. A single mishap or accident along a major arterial road or highway can create hours of delays in commuter travel time and may effect thousands of motorists.

The problems associated with commuting in major city areas not only causes immense emotional and physical frustration for those immediately affected by the long delays but also takes its toll in increasing the potential risk of additional accidents and/or injuries. Further, such delays increase automobile emissions which adversely effect the quality of air and the environment. Some psychologists have said that the daily stress of commuting can lead to reduced work productivity, strained family relationships, and heart disease. Such delays also account for losses in business revenues due to reduced employee work time, missed appointments and the like.

In an effort to alleviate the commuter traffic problem, cities and local governments have begun spending large revenues to build or expand mass transit systems including expanded bus and commuter rail services. Unfortunately, most transit systems cannot and have not been totally effective in alleviating the traffic problem associated with traveling along urban area highways during peak use hours. In more recent efforts to monitor highway traffic conditions, city, state and local governments have begun utilizing video surveillance systems, electronic traffic detection devices as well as increased traffic reporters and spotters both along highways and in the air. Using continuously updated traffic information, local authorities are attempting to respond more quickly to exigent conditions which can cause major traffic back-ups such as accidents, breakdowns or faulty traffic control including stoplights or ramp control lights along major arterials.

Government monitoring and control of traffic conditions are helpful but not preventive of large traffic tie-ups. During peak travel hours, if traffic flow is interrupted for only a period of minutes, the resultant back-ups can create gridlock and cause hours of commuter delays in travel time. Realizing that commuters and not just government agencies are in need of local traffic information, commercial businesses have been created to provide such information to local television and radio broadcast systems. Such commercial businesses not only monitor information received from local governments, police, fire and rescue sources but also receive direct reports from individuals who travel the various commuter routings during peak or rush hours. The broadcasters barter the information which has been assembled and make it available to their listeners.

Because traffic information is one of the foremost concerns of many radio and television audiences, some stations further supplement information received from both commercial and government sources with their own traffic spotters both on the ground and in the air. Air traffic services enable broadcasters to receive and transmit reports of existing traffic conditions by low flying aircraft who can reach the scene of a traffic problem very quickly and without being delayed by local vehicular traffic. Unfortunately, an aircraft can only be in one area at a given time and in most metropolitan areas, it may take up to an hour or more to fly a complete circuit around the city. Also, aircraft reports are only possible when weather conditions permit aircraft to be in service.

The primary shortcoming of the presently utilized metropolitan traffic information systems is that they are not responsive to the traveler. The systems are necessarily limited to making generalized information available. Such information may be specific to certain groups of commuters using a common route or arterial in a given hour but are not effective in providing commuters on differing routes continuously updated information regarding the travel conditions to be expected along their routes or alternative routings. All too often, commuters await information by way of a chosen broadcast system relevant to their route, only to find that the reports are too late and they are already caught in time-delaying back-ups, or because conditions have changed moments after a traffic spotter or aircraft reporter has passed a given area, they are led to believe that their route is open and traffic moving smoothly only to find that they are now just one vehicle in an arterial parking lot.

Information systems have been proposed that will make traffic information directly available to specific vehicles. Some of these systems utilize central processing stations which transmit information to vehicles at given areas or locations. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,506 to Turco, a routing computer system is disclosed wherein a vehicle operator may utilize an onboard computer system to access data concerning routings between two points. The computer provides a visual read-out of directions to travel from one point to another. The system also includes circuitry which will provide or indicate alternative routings in the event a preferred route becomes blocked or tied-up. Unfortunately, such a system requires the use of a vehicle mounted computer having keyboard and video display equipment which are not only not practical but are not cost effective for individual commuters. Further, such systems are only designed to provide alternative route information in the event a back-up is encountered. There is no provision for updating or monitoring existing traffic conditions in order to provide information to avoid a particular route. In essence, the system is an electronic mapping data base which provides route designations between points but not present traffic conditions.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,970 to Tomkewitsch, another traffic routing and information system is disclosed. In this system, stationary routing status transmission poles are used to monitor traffic flow and to transmit information concerning traffic conditions to passing vehicles. The system requires that passing vehicles to be equipped with equipment capable of transmitting travel time information between the fixed pole locations in a given vicinity. Such information is then utilized to evaluate traffic flow. Information from the fixed poles is transmitted to a central computer which then assembles the information and commands the fixed poles to transmit pertinent information regarding conditions ahead to vehicles approaching such fixed transmission poles. Again, such a system is not practical or cost effective. The expenses of providing fixed transmission poles along major arterials would be prohibitive. In addition, commuters will not have access to information being transmitted until they approach within transmitting range of fixed locations. Thus, a commuter will not be advised in advance of a given location of the traffic conditions further along the commuter routing.

As a result of the ever increasing traffic slow-downs and tie-ups which effect business travelers and commuters, many individuals and businesses have begun or increased the use of mobile telephone services to allow their business people to conduct business when caught in time-consuming delays along commuter routes. Although mobile phones and phone services have not provided the commuter with ways to avoid traffic delays, such services do permit savings in business time and revenues and also make it possible for necessary information or decision making to transpire regardless of travel delays to and from a place of business.

Some additional examples of vehicle guide and control systems which are proposed for automatically routing vehicles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,289 to French and 4,009,375 to White et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to analog and digital information communication systems for providing subscribers with continuously updated information regarding a variety of subjects or topics of interest by way of telephone, personal computer and/or personal paging equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to a traffic information system which is initially accessible to subscribers by Touch-Tone or dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) capable telephones or digitally, via modem. Each geographic or metropolitan area which is served by the system will be represented on a specially designed map which will illustrate major thoroughfares and a unique color coded grid system to represent roads that are not major thoroughfares. Using location coordinates and the codes used to designate major roads, a subscriber will select a desired route. These coordinates and codes will be represented to the system by way of a DTMF capable phone or digitally by way of a computer/modem link. Information from the system may be selectively transmitted by existing telephone and mobile telephone networks for receipt by subscriber's telephones or personal computers or by way of FM subcarrier modulation or existing commercial paging signal transmission networks for receipt by a subscriber's personal alpha numeric pager.

This system includes a central operations or control facility wherein information is received, interpreted and disseminated to subscribers of the service offered by the system. In supplying information in accordance with the preferred embodiment, local traffic information will be received from a variety of sources including existing government and commercial traffic watch services, police, fire and rescue reports and advisories, local radio and television broadcasts including on the spot or eye witness reports, fixed wing aircraft and helicopter airwatch services and the like.

All information being received at the operations control facility will be interpreted by coordinators to determine if such information alters the status along any of the predetermined routing areas. If any change has occurred which will effect traffic flow from a normally anticipated flow for a given area and, if the coordinator determines that a file update is necessary, the information will be immediately placed within the system to be accessed by or transmitted to subscribers.

The system includes a plurality of command nodes or communication channels which interface directly with telephone and/or mobile phone services and/or computers. Each node or channel will include a processing computer and a multi-line voice communication system which are interconnected to the system's central data file or fixed computer source which will retain information regarding subscriber information to thereby control either the acceptance or the transmission of incoming or outgoing information.

At the operations control center, the traffic information is filed and stored in multi-line voice communication systems which not only record messages relevant to selected routings but will dissiminate such information through the multi-line voice communication systems associated with each of the nodes or channels of the system. In the event of a change in a given routing, operators at the operational terminal will voice transmit such activity to the multi-line voice communication system which will in turn feed such information to the fixed or central data computer file source. From there, information is made available to the voice communication systems associated with each of the incoming channels or nodes. Upon the receipt of an incoming subscriber phone call, the voice communication system (VCS) will provide current information by way of audio transmission or digital transmission of traffic conditions at a predesignated area to subscribers whose identity has been properly assured by the computer network. Depending upon the service level desired by a given subscriber, the VCS of the system will automatic redial and transmit routing information to subscribers regarding changes in status along selected routings as determined by the central data computer file source. Subscribers to the system will have the option to request receipt of initial reports or update reports in either analog (telephone/voice) form or in digital (modem or pager) form.

The fixed, dedicated central data file computer or source will regulate which information is to be made available to a given subscriber. In a first level of service, subscribers may access information regarding one or more given routes which are identified by predesignated numbers which are coded into the computer through the subscriber's DTMF capable telephone or digitally by computer. Once the system has insured that the subscriber has identified themselves through an appropriate account, the system allows entry of a preselected number of route groupings. A voice or digital transmission is then allowed to be relayed from the VCS of the node or channel thereby alerting the subscriber to the conditions along the designated routes.

In a second level of service, the traffic information and status along the designated routings which have been requested by the subscriber are continuously monitored over a predetermined period of time with updates being automatically transmitted to the subscriber to alert the subscriber of changes in conditions along preselected routings. Transmission of updated information may be by way of telephone (voice) communication or digitally to a personal computer or pager. Transmissions to telephone and personal computers will be by way of existing telephone and mobile telephone systems while transmissions to pagers may be accomplished either over existing commercial paging systems or by way of FM subcarrier transmissions. An additional level of service would allow alternative routings to be selected with traffic conditions being reported for such alternative routings.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide information for travelers in metropolitan areas which permits them to directly access and receive information regarding specific route designations which are identified by coded numbers which may be entered into the system by DTMF capable telephones or by digital means via modem and computer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a traffic information service to commuters in metropolitan areas which permits commuters to obtain information regarding various travel routings directly by telephone, mobile car phone, computer or alpha numeric pagers so that the commuter will known the status of a given route and at the exact time which the commuter desires to travel such route.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide traffic information regarding specific routings directly to a subscribed wherein the subscriber will not only have immediate access to existing traffic conditions but wherein the service will automatically watch the conditions along the preselected routings and reestablish contact with the subscriber and inform the subscriber of any changes along such traffic routings so that the subscriber can take appropriate steps to avoid areas of congestion. Such a service enables the subscriber to automatically have access to the most up-to-the-minute information by the operations control computer system.

It is another object of the present invention to make traffic information directly accessible to subscribers in their own automobiles by way of mobile car telephones so that the subscriber may obtain updated information regarding traffic conditions without having to purchase additional radio, computer or other monitoring equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information system which can transmit reports and information to a subscriber's digital pager in either voice, LCD display or print modes.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a relatively low cost service for travelers in urban areas wherein commuters, for a fixed fee, can obtain access to the most current up-to-the-minute information regarding traffic conditions along a given or preselected route over which the subscriber wishes to travel and which system has the capability of allowing the subscriber to select alternative routings and receive alternative information concerning such routings so that a decision can be made to either alter a normally traveled route in favor of a secondary route or delay departure time until the routing is clear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a traffic information service which is accessible by subscribers wherein information is made readily available over telephone lines, mobile telephone systems, computer systems, pagers or other communications systems directly to the subscriber with the service being capable of updating information, redialing or contacting the subscriber and providing the subscriber with changes in information regarding preselected routes by utilizing existing phone, mobile phone, computer and pager communications systems.

Another object of the present invention is to permit subscribers to access continuously updated information by way of DTMF capable telephones, including mobile telephones, regarding numerous subject matters including travel industry schedules and related activities, travel routing information, news and stock reports and other areas which may be of interest and wherein reports may be received by telephone, personal computer or digital pager.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sequence of subscriber entry into the system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing flow of information within the system as it is interfaced to a standard telephone or mobile telephone service facility showing an alternate or back-up system in dotted line.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the units necessary to establish a digital communications link in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention to a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of digital communications transmission links which may be utilized with the present invention to conventional paging devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With continued reference to the drawings, the invention will be described as it directly relates to commuter accessible traffic status service (TSS), however, other information which may be of interest to a subscriber S may be continuously monitored, updated and made readily available upon coded demand. The commuter accessible traffic statu