Abstract: A system to alert drivers approaching a traffic intersection controlled by a traffic signal light. The system may alert about an impending change in the state of the signal from green to red, to allow them to plan ahead and stop the vehicle safely. The system can be used to slow down and stop an autonomous vehicle (driven by a robot) safely at an intersection. It can also be used to implement “active” or “intelligent” stop signs that warn the driver if the vehicle does not slow down when it has crossed the safe stopping distance at an intersection. It may be used as a virtual hazard warning system to warn motorists of temporary hazards or bottlenecks on the roadway; or as an aid for visually impaired drivers (drivers with color blindness, partially or fully blind drivers).

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a plurality of lights linearly arranged substantially around an interior perimeter of the vehicle. A controller is controllably coupled to the plurality of lights, such that the controller is operable to control the plurality of lights. A hazard detection system is communicatively coupled to the controller.

Abstract: This invention is an electronic device powered by your vehicle's adaptor or other outside power source, to detect the presence of traffic cameras or radars associated with traffic cameras.

Abstract: A road side data exchange net and method thereof is provided. The road side data exchange net includes a plurality of road side data exchange devices set on neighboring roads separately. The road side data exchange device includes a positioning system for receiving satellite data regularly, a calculator for calculating a calibration value of the satellite data to generate an analyzed result data, and a database for storing the analyzed result data. Further, each of the road side data exchange devices broadcasts the analyzed result data from its database to all of neighboring road side data exchange devices to provide the analyzed result data to an electronic device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of this invention encompass a method that includes receiving information packets transmitted from a plurality of vehicles, each information packet including at least a location of a vehicle that transmits the information packet; analyzing the plurality of information packets to infer a presence of a transportation hazard at a particular location and a type of transportation hazard as being one of a static or a dynamic transportation hazard; and transmitting warning information descriptive of the particular location and the type of transportation hazard for reception at least by vehicles likely to encounter the transportation hazard.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an information display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle. At least one camera is mounted at the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The information display screen is operable to display video images derived from image data captured by the at least one camera and the information display screen is operable to display other information. A capacitive touch sensor is actuatable by the driver of the vehicle, and the information display screen is operable to display at least the other information responsive to actuation by the driver of the vehicle of the capacitive touch sensor.

Abstract: This specification relates to an information providing method and an apparatus thereof, capable of providing information based on a user profile according to a travel state and/or a current location of a vehicle. The method includes detecting a travel state of a vehicle, detecting a current location of the vehicle; acquiring a user profile associated with the vehicle, and providing information related to the travel state of the vehicle, the current location and the user profile.

Abstract: Disclosed is a trailer for traffic monitoring that comprises means which enable the wheels to be raised and lowered as well as at least one system for detecting and documenting red light and/or speed infringements arranged in such a way that it can be integrated into the body of the trailer.

Abstract: Upon detecting a request for traffic information or abnormal motion, a mobile electronic device can generate and transmit a first signal to a remote traffic-information generator, the first signal identifying a location and motion of the device. The remote traffic-information generator can aggregate this type of data across devices and estimate traffic information, assuming that traffic is normal along roads not associated with first signals. The remote traffic-information generator can transmit a second signal with estimated traffic information back to the device. The conditioned transmission can allow real-time traffic information to be efficiently estimated while conserving devices' power usage and the remote traffic-information generator's processing and storage resources.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for causing navigation notifications tailored for a helmet to be presented in the helmet. A determination may be made, such as by a processor, that a helmet is being worn by a user while a navigation event is occurring. A set of navigation notifications associated with the navigation event may be determined, where the set of navigation notifications is tailored for presentation in the helmet, and the set of navigation notifications may be presented in the helmet. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method to capture a plurality of images and store the captured images. The system has multiple camera systems capable of transmitting image data. At least one camera system is equipped with an apparatus for determining location coordinates such as GPS. A computer system monitors location coordinates, retrieves image data from the camera systems, and stores the image data into a file. A contiguous array of location coordinates is entered and the computer system locates camera systems within the contiguous array of location coordinates; retrieves image data from the located camera systems; and files the image data taken from each of the camera systems to obtain a file of image data. The system provides the ability to serially interleave frames or video captured from multiple sources.

Abstract: Provided is a communication device mounted in a vehicle or disposed at the roadside, which can adaptively and efficiently manage positional information relating to directly communicable surrounding in-vehicle communication devices and surrounding roadside communication devices and can stably transmit information to a specified communication destination even when the positional relationship between vehicles frequently changes.

Abstract: A vehicle wrong-way travel detection device includes a map information storage unit where map information is stored, a decision-making point setting unit that sets, based upon the map information stored in the map information storage unit, the connecting point located ahead along a subject vehicle traveling direction as a decision-making point, a wrong-way travel decision-making area setting unit that sets wrong-way travel decision-making areas for at least one of a plurality of roads connected to the decision-making point, and a wrong-way travel decision-making unit that makes a decision, based upon the direction of traffic flow set for a unidirectional traffic road connected to the decision-making point and the subject vehicle traveling direction, as to whether or not the subject vehicle is traveling against the flow of traffic on the unidirectional traffic road.

Abstract: A control method for a road toll system using vehicle-based on-board units, recording vehicles, control vehicles, cellular mobile communication networks, and switching servers, comprising: registering a recording vehicle identifier and a mobile communication network cell identifier in the switching server; selecting a cell identifier in a control vehicle and transmitting the same with a control vehicle identifier to the switching server; associating the control vehicle identifier with the recording vehicle identifier for which a cell identifier that is identical to the selected cell identifier is registered; detecting a traffic or toll violation by means of the recording vehicle and transmitting a violation data record to the switching server, determining the assigned control vehicle identifier; transmitting the violation data record to the control vehicle identified by the determined identifier; and processing the violation data record in the control vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detection and notification of potential road conditions are disclosed herein. One such method can include the acts of receiving a first set of data associated with the location on the road surface from a first vehicle and identifying a first subset of the first set of data. The first subset can be associated with the potential road condition. The method can also include the acts of calculating a probability associated with the potential road condition based at least in part on the first subset, determining whether the probability exceeds a threshold, and notifying at least one vehicle of the potential road condition when the probability exceeds the threshold upon the at least one vehicle approaching the location.

Abstract: The techniques described herein provide mechanism that allows a Vehicular Communication Systems (VCSs) server, e.g., a cluster server, or other network attached device to group or cluster a set of vehicles into a multicast group according to common mobility characteristics shared by the set of vehicles. For example, the set of vehicles may be in close proximity to each other and are traveling on the same road, or share a common destination. Information pertinent to the cluster, can be broadcast to the multicast group in lieu of traditional individual unicast messages that would typically be sent to each vehicle.

Abstract: A method of operating navigation system having location based services and temporal management comprising selecting a temporal component including a time of interest in a client, a server, or a combination thereof; filtering navigation and location based information with the temporal component by the client, the server, or a combination thereof, for forming time of interest relevant information; and communicating the time of interest relevant information between the client and the server for display by the client.

Abstract: A vehicle speed advisor system that provides an indication of the local speed limit to the driver in order to warn the driver when the local speed limit has been exceeded. The system detects the actual GPS position and obtains the allowed local speed limit of that position in a USB or flash memory, which is then displayed using a speed limit indicator in the scale of the speedometer of the instrument cluster in one mode of operation when the speed limit has not been reached, or in a second mode of operation when the speed limit has been reached or surpassed. The driver does not have to look at the street to see the allowed driving speed because the instrument cluster always provides an indication of the local speed limit.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of monitoring vehicles is provided, the method including: generating a debris report of an incident relating to vehicle-induced roadway debris, the debris report generated by a reporting vehicle; in a monitored vehicle distinct from the reporting vehicle, updating an incident record for the monitored vehicle based on the debris report and determining, based on the updated incident record, whether the monitored vehicle is associated with the incident or in a vicinity of the incident; and initiating a safety action to be performed on the monitored vehicle in response to a determination that the monitored vehicle is associated with the incident or in the vicinity of the incident.

Abstract: A vehicle intersection warning method is provided. The method comprises exchanging host vehicle information and remote vehicle information between a host vehicle and a remote vehicle, determining a presence of a road intersection based on at least one of the host vehicle information and the remote vehicle information. determining, by operation of a processor, whether a possibility of contact between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle exists proximate the intersection based on the exchanged host vehicle information and remote vehicle information, and evaluating an operating condition of a brake of the host vehicle while the possibility of contact exists to determine a type of warning to provide to the host vehicle.

Abstract: A method of determining a status of a vehicle on a roadway, in one example, includes monitoring a then-current vehicle speed by an in-vehicle processor, and during the monitoring, determining that the speed has exceeded a pre-established threshold speed. When the speed exceeds the threshold speed, an algorithm is triggered. Upon triggering the algorithm, a sub-routine is initiated that determines if the vehicle is caught in a traffic jam. Also disclosed herein is a method and system for communicating the vehicle status determination to an outside entity.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes travel condition detection devices configured to detect conditions around a vehicle and performs travel control of the vehicle according to the conditions around the vehicle by controlling a plurality of actuators according to information detected by the travel condition detection devices. The vehicle control device has a plurality of the travel condition detection devices. A control amount of at least one of the actuators, from among the plurality of actuators, is restricted according to reliability of a plurality of pieces of the information detected by the plurality of travel condition detection devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a warning system for advising of dangerous situations in an aggressive setting. The warning system for advising of dangerous situations in an aggressive setting comprises at least one radiofrequency beacon (3-9) and at least one radiofrequency badge (11-17). The beacon comprises a means (3, 5) for emitting a magnetic field wave. The badge comprises a means (13, 15) for receiving the magnetic field wave radiated by the beacon. The badge comprises a means (17) for emitting a wave at very high frequency, activated by the means (13, 15) for receiving the magnetic field wave radiated by the beacon and the beacon comprises a means (7, 9) for receiving the very high frequency wave emitted by the badge, said means (7, 9) for receiving the very high frequency wave activating a warning facility for advising of dangerous situations.

Abstract: A method and to a device are provided for outputting information in a motor vehicle, in which as a function of an event visual and/or acoustic information is output to a driver of the motor vehicle. In order to achieve an improved choice of the suitable timing of the outputting of the information it is provided that the time between registering of the event and outputting of the information is set as a function of the orientation of the driver's head.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting the location of a vehicle in an electronic toll collection system employing a wide area communication protocol. The vehicle includes a transponder that sends reports regarding the position of the vehicle and the time at which the position was determined. The system includes a vehicle position predictor for estimating the future position of the vehicle within a roadway based on two or more reports of past positions and the times at which they were recorded. Speed data or other data impacting likely future position may also be reported and factored into the estimate. The estimate of future position may be used in connection with triggering enforcement measures, timing a toll transaction, integrating wide area toll communications into a legacy toll transaction system, or for other applications.

Abstract: A system for intelligent transport communication includes at least one transmitter, and at least one in-vehicle mobile receiver for use within a mobile road vehicle. The transmitter broadcasts, by wireless communication, dedicated data for each of a plurality of heading directions of the mobile road vehicle, on a corresponding plurality of multiplexed channels. The receiver receives the dedicated data on one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle. A multiple-redundant vehicle heading direction identification system for use within the mobile road vehicle includes a GPS direction identification system, a multiple digital compass system that identifies a heading direction of the mobile road vehicle based on input from multiple digital compasses, and a central processing unit that selects the heading direction produced by the GPS direction identification system only when an output of the GPS direction identification system is healthy.

Abstract: A first leader vehicle system and method for forming a first group including the first leader vehicle system is disclosed. The first leader vehicle system comprises a requesting module, a determination module and an aggregation module. The requesting module identifies a second leader vehicle system within a transmission range. The second leader vehicle system is in a second group. The requesting module chooses a first merging direction and receives a second merging direction chosen by the second leader vehicle system. The determination module determines that the first merging direction matches the second merging direction. The aggregation module aggregates probe vehicle data from the second leader vehicle system based at least in part on the determination that the first merging direction matches the second merging direction so that the first leader vehicle system merges with the second leader vehicle system to form the first group.

Abstract: A method of managing an aircraft in flight may include electronically monitoring for a presence of a threat object along a flight path of the aircraft and at a destination airport of the aircraft, and electronically generating an alert when the presence of the threat object is detected. The alert may include information enabling air traffic control (ATC), flight dispatch, and a pilot of the aircraft to make a collaborative flight path correction decision that may prevent the aircraft from being affected by the threat object.

Abstract: A method is provided for warning mobile users of traffic conditions. One or more sensor messages are monitored from a plurality of mobile devices transported by a plurality of vehicles. A traffic condition is determined based on the one or more sensor messages. Location of the traffic condition is also determined based on position information of one or more of the plurality of mobile devices. The mobile devices that are within a predetermined proximity to the location of the traffic condition are selected. An alert message is generated in response to the traffic condition. The selected mobile devices are notified with the alert message.

Abstract: A device may obtain information associated with a traffic light. The traffic light may control a flow of traffic associated with a first location. The device may obtain travel information associated with a mobile device and determine, based on the travel information, that the mobile device is located at a second location, that is different from the first location, and is traveling toward the first location. The device may determine a projected status of the traffic light based on the information associated with the traffic light and the travel information. The projected status of the traffic light indicating a status of the traffic light at a time the mobile device is projected to arrive at the first location. The device may transmit information identifying the projected status to the mobile device.

Abstract: The disclosed system includes a first unit including at least one sensor. The first unit senses driving situations (characteristics) of a vehicle through the at least one sensor. Furthermore a second unit is configured to receive location-based information about the vehicle, and a control unit which includes an operation statistic unit calculates an acceptable range to be output by the first unit on a particular type of road based on the information detected by the sensing unit and the information received by the location second unit. The control unit also includes an abnormal driving determination unit which compares values sensed by the first unit with values calculated by the operation statistic unit to determine whether or not the vehicle is being driven in an abnormal state.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method to utilize road markers to control vehicle speeds. The road markers may be commanded to emit a light for a pre-determined period of time. Further, the road markers may be controlled such that they are commanded to emit the light based upon a timing sequence associated with a desired speed so that the road markers emit light in a strobe pattern. In this way, if a vehicle is traveling at the desired speed, then the strobe pattern appears static to a driver of the vehicle. Additionally, a message may be transmitted from a traffic authority to increase or decrease the timing sequence of the strobe pattern to increase or decrease the speed to the desired speed.

Abstract: A method to selectively project graphical images upon a transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle based upon a need for enhanced vision includes monitoring informational inputs describing an operational environment for the vehicle, processing the informational inputs to generate display requirements, generating the graphical images to be projected based upon the display requirements, and projecting the graphical images upon the transparent windscreen head up display. Processing of the informational inputs can include determining the need for enhanced vision based upon the informational inputs and generating the display requirements based upon the informational inputs and the need for enhanced vision.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a curved portion of a road where the curvature increases between adjacent curved sections. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where curvature between adjacent curved sections increases. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the location where curvature increases. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a location where the curvature increases.

Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle includes a virtual image display device, a detection device, and a picture control device. The virtual image display device emits predetermined light to permit a windshield or a combiner to reflect the predetermined light towards an eye of a driver. The emitted predetermined light is to display a picture. The virtual image display device displays the picture in a displayed area as a virtual image; the picture appears ahead of the vehicle. The detection device detects a target that is an obstacle or an intersection. The picture control device displays the picture to appear below the target in the displayed area, and then moves the picture to a position corresponding to the target apparently while decreasing at least a width of the picture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler.

Abstract: An ad hoc network may be established between vehicles using a wireless connection. The wireless network may be used for sending and receiving information about road conditions, such as average speed, a location and configuration of a road obstruction, images of an accident scene, and a traffic flow plan. The wireless network may also be used for communicating with emergency response vehicles in order to enable faster and more effective responses to accidents.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating real-time context-aware messages at computing devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes evaluating real-time context-aware data relating to a vehicle, recommending a real-time message based the evaluation of the context-aware data. The recommended message may include one or more of a warning message, an alert message, a reminder message, and an information message. The method may further include facilitating displaying the recommended real-time message at a first display screen at the vehicle or a second display screen of a mobile computing device within a proximity of the vehicle. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision therethrough. A method to dynamically register a graphic onto a driving scene of a vehicle utilizing a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes monitoring roadway conditions, identifying a potential roadway hazard based on the roadway conditions, determining the graphic identifying the potential roadway hazard, dynamically registering a location of the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display corresponding to the driving scene of the vehicle, and displaying the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display.

Abstract: A system and method for providing visual information to a driver of a first vehicle, including: at least one camera or sensor which is not on the first vehicle but which captures image data that includes a view of a road within a vicinity of the first vehicle; a decision unit which receives the image data from the camera or sensor and which identifies information in the image data which a driver of the first vehicle needs to be informed of; and a display unit on the first vehicle which displays information transmitted to the first vehicle in a view that displays information determined to be missing in the vehicle's current line of sight, so that the otherwise missing information can be observed by a driver of the first vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing information to a device when the device is within the perimeter fence of an asset, such as a police car. In embodiments, a system determines the size and shape of the perimeter fence of the asset, and the system determines whether the device is within the perimeter fence based upon location information received from the device. The size and shape of the perimeter fence may be calculated based in part on the speed of the asset, the direction of the asset, the asset's route, etc. User interfaces for displaying notifications to a device when the device is within the perimeter fence are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.

Abstract: A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for identifying a driver within a vehicle using short range wireless communication in order to ticket or alert the driver in response to a traffic infraction by the driver. In exemplary embodiments, a short range wireless communication device registers drivers of vehicles at a certain location. The registration captures a unique identifier for each driver at the location from the driver's wireless communication device. When a vehicle commits a traffic infraction, the unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity and address of the driver. The driver may then be sent a notification of the infraction as well as payment options directly to the wireless communication device of the driver. In some embodiments, a smart vehicle acts as a proxy to capture the unique identifier from the driver's wireless communication device and communicates with the short range wireless communication device.

Abstract: A visible light communication apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The visible light communication apparatus for the vehicle includes a vehicle optical receiver for receiving a visible light signal including a tunnel light node ID, a front passing vehicle node ID, and tunnel environment data, from a tunnel light and converting the visible light signal to an electric signal; and a vehicular visible light emitting diode unit arranged to face the optical receiver for converting vehicle speed and location information calculated by counting tunnel light node IDs received over a certain time, to a visible light signal and sending the visible light signal to the tunnel light. Using the vehicular visible light communication apparatus and the tunnel light having the visible light communication function, an efficient vehicular communication system can be built in the tunnel.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products for implementing condition alert services are provided. A method includes receiving information elements from a source that identify a condition, aggregating the information elements from the source with information elements from other sources that identify the same condition, and creating a composite file that includes the aggregated information elements representing each of the sources. The method also includes generating a condition alert from the composite file and transmitting the condition alert to a recipient communications device.

Abstract: A digital electronic display connected to a traffic signal and a method of controlling the digital electronic display are provided. The digital electronic display includes a communication unit configured to receive content including content segments and metadata, a display screen, and a processor. The processor is configured to monitor the traffic signal to determine when, and the duration during which, a red light and a green light of the traffic signal is illuminated, present a content segment on the display screen corresponding to the red light based on the metadata and substantially for the entire duration when the red light is illuminated, and control the display screen to operate in a low-power state substantially for the entire duration when the green light is illuminated.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling inter-vehicle distance. The system includes a front sensor, a side and rear sensor, an inter-vehicle distance controlling unit, and a steering controlling unit. The front sensor obtains information relating to a preceding vehicle. The side and rear sensor obtains information relating to vehicles in right and left lanes. The inter-vehicle distance controlling unit determines an avoidance direction for a lane change from data detected by the side and rear sensor when it is determined from data detected by the front sensor that a front end collision is unavoidable through just brake input. The steering controlling unit receives information relating to the avoidance direction determined by the inter-vehicle distance controlling unit and applies a steering force to a steering device to guide a driver to a lane in the determined avoidance direction.

Abstract: A method and onboard unit for radio communication between a radio beacon and an onboard unit with a transceiver as part of a road toll system, wherein the radio beacon has a limited radio coverage area and the onboard unit has two operating modes, i.e. a first energy-consuming working mode and a second energy-saving resting mode, and can be changed from the resting mode to the working mode by a signal received from the radio beacon.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to traffic control systems that electronically disseminate locally relevant information to street traffic. Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for supplying a network connection from a traffic controller system in a traffic controller cabinet to an electronic display. Various embodiments include TCC systems, methods, and mediums that control a traffic signal using traffic control circuitry, display selected display content on an electronic display, basing the selection on several factors, including information regarding the controlled traffic signal. The various embodiments also communicate with the network that is coupled to the traffic control circuitry, all while protecting the electronic display from environmental factors.