The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2005
Salil Banerjee, Reston, VA (US);
Sid Chaudhuri, East Brunswick, NJ (US);
Howard Alan Seid, Ashburn, VA (US);
Salil Banerjee, Reston, VA (US);
Sid Chaudhuri, East Brunswick, NJ (US);
Howard Alan Seid, Ashburn, VA (US);
Nextel Communications Inc., Reston, VA (US);
Abstract
A system and method is provided to allow users to receive and transmit real-time traffic flow information. A service provider can utilize information gathering infrastructure to receive, store, and transmit the real-time traffic data to groups or individual users. An information-generating subscriber can provide information required to determine road traffic conditions using a cellular telephone. A system of incentives is provided to overcome the reluctance of users to transmit their individual traffic data to the service provider by assigning some amount of positive points for data transmission to a central network. Users who choose only to receive data are assigned some amount of negative points. Points are converted during the billing process to fees for using the system, whereby users who both transmit and receive data ultimately pay less for utilizing the system than users who choose only to receive data.