US20150177018A1 - Touch screen based interaction with traffic data - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a service to goods and/or service providers and consumers in the traditional context of a “first-come, first-served queue” or “class based” queue. A provider presents a listing of one or offerings to consumers to solicit bids for a good or service associated with the offering. After receiving an acceptable bid from a user, the provider provides feedback regarding the bid that indicates the ranking of the user with respect to other bidders in the bidding process. Based on the feedback, the user may submit a modified bid. Following confirmation of a bid by a user, a winning bid is determined and the user is notified.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/860,700 filed Aug. 20, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/398,120 filed Mar. 4, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Existing broadcast presentations generally include a variety of maps, images, and animations that display current or forecasted conditions for reference by a presenter (i.e., news reporter) during a broadcast presentation such as a traffic or weather report. The broadcast presentation is often produced prior to a scheduled broadcast for presentation by a traffic or weather reporter in a fixed arrangement (much like a slide show) with a prerehearsed script. Although the presenter has the ability to control the speed and manner in which the broadcast presentation is presented to a viewing audience, the content in the maps and images remains fixed. That is, the content presented during the broadcast presentation is not in real-time and is outdated. The reporting of outdated information (e.g., traffic or weather information) may have a drastic effect on a viewing audience who may rely on the reported information to make decisions about such things as travel or logistics.
• Another shortcoming of existing broadcast technology is the lack of interaction with the content of the virtual broadcast presentation. Since the presentation contains pre-determined content, a presenter is unable to directly interact with or manipulate the maps and images of the presentation. The presenter cannot, for example, retrieve real-time conditions or other information associated with the maps or images of the presentation.
• As such, there is a need in the art for touch screen based interaction with traffic data and other related data.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY CLAIMED INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention allow a presenter to interact with traffic data and other related data in real-time using a touch screen or other suitable display.
• In a first claimed embodiment, a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data is claimed. Through the method, a virtual broadcast presentation is generated based on traffic data received from one or more information sources. A signal based on user interaction with a touch screen is generated and received. User interaction may include the selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal generated by the touch screen is then processed and the virtual broadcast presentation is updated in response to the processed signal.
• In a second claimed embodiment, a system for touch screen based interaction with traffic data is claimed. The system includes at least a communications module and a presentation rendering module, each module stored in memory and executable by a processor. Execution of the communications module by the processor receives a signal generated by the touch screen. The signal may be based on user interaction with the touch screen, wherein the user interaction includes selection of an interactive element included in a virtual broadcast presentation. Execution of the presentation rendering module by the processor generates the virtual broadcast presentation based on traffic data received from one or more information sources, processes the signal generated by the touch screen, and updates the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the processed signal.
• In a third claimed embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is claimed. The storage medium includes a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data. A virtual broadcast presentation is generated based on traffic data received from one or more information sources. A signal based on user interaction with a touch screen is generated and received. User interaction may include the selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal generated by the touch screen is then processed and the virtual broadcast presentation is updated in response to the processed signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an environment for the broadcast of a virtual broadcast presentation that a user may interact with and reference in real-time
• FIG. 2 illustrates the virtual broadcast presentation engine ofFIG. 1.
• FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation displayed on a touch screen.
• FIG. 4 illustrates an interactive element appearing in a virtual broadcast presentation.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the interaction technique of “pinching” used with a virtual broadcast presentation.
• FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation in ‘trip time’ mode.
• FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a traffic camera appearing within a virtual broadcast presentation.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data presented in a virtual broadcast presentation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The present invention provides for the use of a touch screen to interact with traffic information and other related data during a virtual broadcast presentation. The virtual broadcast presentation may include maps, images, graphics, animations, multimedia overlays, and the like, that are rendered in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional manner on a display such as a touch screen. A presenter may refer to the presentation in real-time and may manipulate a view of the virtual broadcast presentation using the touch screen. The presenter may also use the touch screen to select an interactive element included in the broadcast presentation.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an environment for the broadcast of a virtual broadcast presentation that a user may interact with and reference in real-time. Theenvironment100 ofFIG. 1 includes acomputing device110 having a virtualbroadcast presentation engine120. Thecomputing device110 ofFIG. 1 is communicatively coupled toinformation sources130, atouch screen140, and abroadcast system150. WhileFIG. 1 illustrates oneparticular environment100 including certain elements for the broadcast of a virtual presentation, alternative embodiments may be implemented that utilize differing elements than those disclosed inFIG. 1 (or combinations of the same), but that otherwise fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
• Thecomputing device110 and the virtualbroadcast presentation engine120 may generate a composite presentation that includes a virtual broadcast presentation. The virtual broadcast presentation may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The composite presentation may be generated using information obtained in real-time (or near real-time) from theinformation sources130 as described in further detail below. The virtualbroadcast presentation engine120, in particular, is discussed with respect toFIG. 2. Thecomputing device110 may include various components such as one or more of communications interfaces, a processor, memory, storage, and any number of buses providing communication therebetween (not depicted). The processor may execute instructions implemented through computing modules or engines while the memory and storage may both permanently or temporarily store data including the aforementioned modules and engines.
• Theinformation sources130 may be provided by various organizations and in a variety of forms.Information sources130 may include data sources related to traffic data such as traffic flow and as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/302,418, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,287, or weather data such as forecasts.Information sources130 may also include data sources related to newsworthy events or incidents, school closings, election results, and other information that may be featured in a virtual broadcast presentation.Information sources130 may require subscription or authentication for access and may be accessible via Telnet, FTP, or web services protocols. Information may be received frominformation sources130 in real-time or near real-time to allow for generation of an equally real-time or near real-time presentation. That presentation may, in turn, be manipulated in real-time.
• In an embodiment of the present invention utilizing traffic data specific to the San Francisco Bay area,information sources130 may include one or more of the 511.org system (a collaboration of public agencies including the California Highway Patrol, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and CALTRANS), the California Highway Patrol (CHP) World Wide Web server, the PeMS system at the University of California at Berkeley, various public event listings, or a publicly or privately accessible user input mechanism. For weather data, theinformation sources130 may include the National Weather Service among other weather information sources. Other data sources or alternative types of data sources (e.g., non-traffic and non-weather related sources) may be incorporated and utilized in various embodiments of the present invention.
• Touch screen140 may be any multi-touch touch screen known in the art capable of recognizing complex gestures.Touch screen140 may employ any touch screen technology known in the art including but not limited to resistive technology, surface acoustic wave technology, capacitive sensing (e.g., surface capacitance, projected capacitance, mutual capacitance, self capacitance), infrared, force panel technology, optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition, and the like. A presenter may interact withtouch screen140 using any interaction technique known in the art such as touch-drag motions, “pinching,” (e.g., zooming in or out of a web page or photo by touching the user interface and either spreading two fingers apart or bringing two fingers close together), scrolling (e.g. sliding a finger up and down or left and right to scroll through a page), or other user-centered interactive effects (e.g. horizontally sliding sub-section, bookmarks menu, menu bars, and a “back” button).Touch screen140 may include various sensors such as a light sensor for adjusting touch screen brightness.Touch screen140 may also include a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscopic component, and/or magnetometer for sensing orientation oftouch screen140 and/or switching between landscape and portrait modes.Touch screen140 may be a liquid crystal display or any other suitable display.
• Thebroadcast system150 disseminates the composite presentation to viewers. Dissemination may occur via radio waves such as UHF or VHF, cable, satellite, or the World Wide Web. Hardware and software necessary to effectuate a broadcast may be included in thebroadcast system150 and are generally known to those skilled in the broadcasting art.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the virtual broadcast presentation engine ofFIG. 1. The virtualbroadcast presentation engine120 ofFIG. 2 includes acommunications module210, apresentation rendering module220, aselection module230, afeedback module240, and atrip calculation module250. The virtualbroadcast presentation engine120 and its constituent modules may be stored in memory and executed by a processing device to effectuate the functionality corresponding thereto. The virtualbroadcast presentation engine120 may be composed of more or less modules (or combinations of the same) and still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the functionality of theselection module230 and the functionality of thefeedback module240 may be combined into a single module.
• Execution of thecommunications module210 allows for receipt of a signal generated bytouch screen140, which may be based at least partially on a user selection such as the selection by a presenter of an interactive element displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal may additionally be based on—in part or in whole—the actuation of other components included within the virtual broadcast presentation such as various soft keys with different functionalities.
• In addition to the signal generated bytouch screen140, execution of thecommunications module210 may also allow for receipt of dynamic information frominformation sources130. This dynamic information may be used by other modules for generating, manipulating, and interacting with the virtual broadcast presentation.
• Referring again toFIG. 2, execution of thepresentation rendering module220 allows for the generation of a virtual broadcast presentation based on the dynamic information received through execution of thecommunications module210. The dynamic information may include traffic information, weather information, newsworthy events or incidents, election results, school closings, or other information that may be featured in a virtual broadcast presentation.
• Execution of thepresentation rendering module220 may also allow for manipulation of a view of the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the signal received by thecommunications module210 fromtouch screen140. Manipulating the view of the presentation may include one or more of panning across, rotating, tilting, or zooming in/out of the virtual broadcast presentation. Signals corresponding to various motions oftouch screen140 may be assigned to various other manipulations of the virtual broadcast presentation. For example, touchingtouch screen140 with one finger and moving the finger upwards may adjust the view and scroll upwards along the map or presentation. As another example, actuation of a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation may affect zoom speed, whereas actuation of a different soft key may affect zoom direction.
• Execution of theselection module230 allows for selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the received signal. An interactive element may include a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. The interactive element may also represent a traffic alert. For example, if road construction is taking place at a given intersection of two streets, an icon indicative of road construction may be placed in the virtual broadcast presentation at a position that corresponds to that given intersection. Execution of theselection module230 may also select the interactive element when the interactive element is positioned near the center of the virtual broadcast presentation.
• Selecting the interactive element may cause one of a variety of responses from the virtual broadcast presentation. For example, selection of an interactive element may cause additional information related to the interactive element to be displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. In one embodiment, the interactive element may correspond to a traffic camera wherein selection of the interactive element causes a live camera view to appear within the virtual broadcast presentation.
• Execution of thefeedback module240 provides feedback to the presenter to inform the presenter that a given interactive element is selectable. For example, the interactive element may be selectable in certain regions of the virtual broadcast presentation, such as the center. When the interactive element enters or leaves the center of the virtual broadcast presentation, the presenter may be informed via feedback. The feedback may include highlighting of the interactive element. To avoid distracting or otherwise undesirable imagery such as a cursor being included in the virtual broadcast presentation, non-visible feedback may be invoked. Examples of non-visible feedback include a vibration oftouch screen140 or an audible tone.
• Execution of thefeedback module240 also provides feedback to the presenter that a given interactive element has been successfully selected. For example, if the presenter has selected a particular interactive element,feedback module240 may highlight the interactive element, change the color or appearance of the interactive element, or cause the interactive element to blink or flash continually. Such feedback confirms the selection of the interactive element and prevents the presenter from selecting the same interactive element multiple times.
• Execution of thetrip calculation module250 may allow for the determination or calculation of an estimated amount of time (e.g., ‘trip time’) needed to travel from a selected location to another location. For example, the presenter may select a first interactive element displayed in the virtual broadcast presentation wherein the first interactive element corresponds to a starting point or location. The presenter may then select a second interactive element displayed in the presentation that corresponds to a desired end point or destination location. An interactive element or starting/end point may include a particular street, road, landmark or point of interest, highway, neighborhood, town, city, area, region or the like.Trip calculation module250 may calculate the estimated amount of time required to traverse the real world distance from the first selected interactive element to the second interactive element in real-time considering, at least in part, information frominformation sources130. When calculating a trip time,trip calculation module250, for example, may consider the actual distance from the starting point to the end point, as well as various conditions affecting travel, including current weather conditions or traffic conditions such as a recent accident or road closure. In another embodiment,trip calculation module250 may be used to calculate an estimated travel distance between two selected locations. Execution oftrip calculation module250 may occur following the actuation of a ‘mode key’ as discussed further inFIG. 3A below.
• Execution of the virtualbroadcast presentation engine120 may output the virtual broadcast presentation to other components of thecomputing device110 for generation of the composite presentation. Accordingly, thecomputing device110 may output the composite presentation to thebroadcast system150 for dissemination to viewers.
• FIG. 3A illustrates avirtual broadcast presentation300 displayed on atouch screen140. Thepresentation300 ofFIG. 3A includes traffic information. The principles described herein with respect to traffic are equally applicable to embodiments of the present invention that include weather information, newsworthy events or incidents, school closings, election results, or other information that may be featured on a virtual broadcast presentation.Presentation300 may be generated and manipulated by execution of thepresentation rendering module220 in real-time.Presentation300 may include satellite images of a given area with an animated road traffic report. A detailed description of animated road traffic reports may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/302,418, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,287, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
• Satellite images may be manipulated by execution of thepresentation rendering module220 to aid in generating three-dimensional information. For example, two-dimensional satellite images may be processed in the context of other geographical information (e.g., topographical information) to generate a three-dimensional satellite image that reflects information along an x-, y-, and z-axis as illustrated inpresentation300. The textured three-dimensional representation of landscape of a particular urban area aligns with and provides the three-dimensional coordinates for the road ways that may be animated and overlaid on the satellite images.
• Thepresentation300 may also include a variety of markers (310A-310C) to identify or label various locations, landmarks, or points of interest appearing inpresentation300 such as exit ramps, highways, named sections of highways, or city streets. These markers may be readily or universally recognizable, such as a highway marker resembling a California state highway sign with the appropriate highway number.Presentation300 may also include markers or icons corresponding to the location of traffic incidents, road construction, and traffic cameras. Some or all of thesemarkers310C may be interactive elements of thevirtual broadcast presentation300 and show real-time conditions, such as an average traffic speed associated with a particular location. An interactive element may include any marker, icon, label, object, or image appearing inpresentation300 that may be associated with real-time content or data. An interactive element, for example, may include a street, road, bridge, highway, landmark, point of interest, traffic incident or alert, road construction, or traffic camera.
• Apresenter305 may select an interactive element usingtouch screen140.FIG. 4 illustrates an interactive element appearing in avirtual broadcast presentation300 displayed ontouch screen140. In one embodiment, an interactive element410 (i.e., traffic incident) may be marked by a particular icon, image, or symbol (e.g., an arrow pointing to the location of the traffic incident), as shown inFIG. 4. When an interactive element is selected, additional information related to that interactive element may be displayed. In one embodiment, an interactive element marking a traffic incident may be selected resulting in detailed textual information describing the traffic incident being displayed within presentation300 (not shown).
• Returning toFIG. 3A,presentation300 may include images ofvehicles315 appearing along a specific roadway or highway. Avehicle315 may be animated, for example, to show the speed and direction of traffic along a particular highway.Presentation300 may also use color coding to demonstrate real-time traffic conditions. Color coding may help a viewer of thepresentation300 to quickly understand real-time traffic conditions associated with a depicted map or location.Presentation300 may include alegend320 describing various objects or color representations used inpresentation300. A ‘green’ colored section of a road, street, or highway, for example, may represent that real-time traffic is moving at a speed of 50 miles per hour or higher (e.g., normal or optimal conditions). A ‘yellow’ colored highway may represent traffic speeds of 25 miles per hour or higher (e.g., delayed conditions), while a ‘red’ colored highway may represent traffic speeds that are less than 25 miles per hour (e.g., slow or impacted conditions).
• Thepresentation300 may also display one or more soft keys with various functionalities such asorientation key325,tilt key330,rotation key335,synchronization key340, previous and nextpresentation display keys345A-345B, andmode key350.Presenter305 may actuate a soft key to facilitate or enhance the understanding of the content ofpresentation300. For example,presenter305 may usetilt key330 to adjust or modify a view or perspective ofpresentation300 vertically or horizontally. Thepresenter305 may also change the perspective ofpresentation300 by actuatingrotation key335. Changing the perspective ofpresentation300 may alter the orientation of the presentation such that a ‘north’ direction of a map or image is not oriented at the top oftouch screen140. As such,presenter305 may actuate orientation key325 to return the ‘north’ direction to the top oftouch screen140. In one embodiment,presenter305 may touch a soft key with one finger or hand (e.g., tilt key330 or rotation key335) while using the other hand to activate the functionality of the soft key (e.g., move or adjust the touch screen in the desired direction).
• Thepresentation300 may also include asynchronization key340.Presentation300 may be generated based on information received in real-time or near real-time through execution ofcommunications module210.Presenter305 may actuatesynchronization key340 to cause the synchronization of data in real time such thatpresentation300 reflects the most current information and conditions. In one embodiment, synchronization of data may be done automatically. In another embodiment,presenter305 or another user may program or instructcomputing device110 to synchronize data at regular time periods (e.g., every 10 seconds, every minute, every two minutes, etc.).
• Apresenter305 may zoom in or out ofpresentation300 by actuating keys corresponding to a particular view of the presentation, such as a previous key345A and a next key345B. For example, previous key345A may revert to a presentation that offers a zoom out view while next key345B may allow a view that zooms in from the current view. Previous and next keys may, alternatively, be assigned zoom in or zoom out functionality.Presenter305 may actuate a particular key (345A,345B) multiple times to further zoom in or out of the current view. In one embodiment, the previous key345A and next key345B may be used to display or shift to a different image or map withinpresentation300.
• Thepresentation300 may also includemode key350.Presenter305 may operatepresentation300 in different modes such as ‘trip time mode’ or ‘navigation mode.’Presenter305 may switch between various modes by actuatingmode key350.Presenter305 may use navigation mode to viewpresentation300 as described inFIG. 3B below. Trip time mode is discussed in further detail inFIGS. 6A and 6B below.
• FIG. 3B illustrates thevirtual broadcast presentation300 ofFIG. 3A following manipulation bypresenter305.Presenter305 may manipulatepresentation300 in navigation mode to review or illustrate real-time traffic conditions (e.g., average traffic speeds, traffic incidents, etc.) associated with various locations depicted inpresentation300. A view ofpresentation300 may be manipulated to give the effect of ‘flying,’ or scrolling through the three-dimensional virtual representation of the traffic map and images. Aspresenter305 scrolls throughpresentation300, various interactive elements may be highlighted and/or become available for selection.FIG. 3B illustratespresentation300 ofFIG.3A following presenter305touching touch screen140 and scrolling throughpresentation300. As a result, presentation300 (as shown inFIG. 3B) shows a magnified portion of presentation300 (i.e., the intersection ofhighways287 and107) and the associated traffic conditions (e.g., traffic speeds).
• Presenter300 may interact withpresentation300 using other interaction techniques known in the art. For example,FIG. 5 illustrates the interaction technique of “pinching” (e.g., zooming in or out of presentation300) used withvirtual broadcast presentation300 displayed ontouch screen140. As shown inFIG. 5,presenter305 may interact withpresentation300 by touchingtouch screen140 and bringing two fingers closer together (on one hand or with two). Such motion may cause the view associated withpresentation300 to zoom out of the current viewpoint.
• Besides zooming in or out ofpresentation300,presenter305 may also manipulatepresentation300 by panning, tilting, and/or rotating the view. For example, aspresenter305 touchestouch screen140 to scroll throughpresentation300,touch screen140 generates a corresponding signal that is received in conjunction with execution of thecommunications module210. In turn, thepresentation rendering module220 may be executed to move or rotate the presentation300 a corresponding amount aspresenter305 manipulated thetouch screen140. The correspondence of thepresentation300 to manipulation of thetouch screen140 gives thepresenter305 the sensation of directly controlling thepresentation300. Such manipulation of the view may also be used in selecting interactive elements. For example, if a particular interactive element may be selected only when near the center of thepresentation300, the presenter may cause the view to be manipulated such that the particular interactive element is centered and therefore selectable.
• FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation in ‘trip time mode.’Presenter305 may activate trip time mode by actuatingmode key350. Once trip time mode has been activated,presenter305 may select an interactive element corresponding to a first location or starting point by touching the interactive element withinpresentation300 displayed ontouch screen140. As shown inFIG. 6A,presenter305 has selected or designated “83.sup.rd Ave” as a starting point. Following selection of the first location, display355A may appear confirming the selection ofpresenter305.
• Presenter305 may then select another interactive element corresponding to a second location or end point or travel destination by touching a second interactive element withinpresentation300 displayed ontouch screen140. As shown inFIG. 6B,presenter305 has selected or designated “1st Ave” as an end point. Following selection of the second interactive element,trip calculation module250 may calculate the estimated amount of time required to traverse the real world distance from the first selected interactive element (i.e., “83.sup.rd Ave”) to the second interactive element (i.e., “1st Ave”) in real-time considering, at least in part, information frominformation sources130. For example,trip calculation module250 may consider various conditions affecting travel such as weather conditions or traffic conditions such as a recent accident, a road closure, or any other delay. Display355B may then display the estimated trip time (i.e., “28 minutes”), as well as any condition affecting travel such as weather conditions or a traffic delay, withinpresentation300 ontouch screen140. Display355B may also show the route (i.e., highway “25”) associated with the calculated trip time.
• Besides calculating the estimate trip time in real-time,trip time module250 may calculate or forecast the estimated trip time based on a time of day and/or date (i.e., special day or occasion) designated bypresenter305. For example,presenter305 may want to determine the estimated trip time at 9:00 AM (e.g., morning rush hour) or at 8:00 PM (e.g., a later evening hour). As another example,presenter305 may want to determine the estimated trip time when departing at a particular time on the Labor Day holiday or on a date when a sporting event, concert, or other large gathering is scheduled at a venue. In trip time mode,presenter305 may input the desired time of day and/or date and select a starting point and end point for trip time calculation. In another embodiment, trip time mode may also be used to calculate an estimated travel distance between two selected locations (not shown). The calculated estimated travel distance may also be displayed withinpresentation300.
• FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a traffic camera appearing withinvirtual broadcast presentation300 displayed ontouch screen140. In one embodiment, an interactive element appearing inpresentation300 may include a traffic camera (710A,710B).Presenter305 may selecttraffic camera710A by touching thetraffic camera710A withinpresentation300 displayed on touch screen140 (as shown inFIG. 7A). Following selection oftraffic camera710A associated with a particular location, a live video feed720 corresponding to the location of a real-world traffic camera may be displayed within presentation300 (as shown inFIG. 7B).Presenter305 may then uselive video720 feed to view actual traffic conditions associated with the real world location oftraffic camera710A.
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating amethod800 for touch screen interaction with traffic data presented in a virtual broadcast presentation. The steps ofmethod800 may be performed in varying orders. Steps may be added or subtracted from themethod800 and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The steps of the process ofFIG. 8 may be embodied in hardware or software including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a computing device.
• Atstep810, a real-time,virtual broadcast presentation300 is generated. Thepresentation300 may be based on dynamic information and may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Execution of thepresentation rendering module210 may performstep810. The dynamic information may include real-time traffic information or real-time weather information and be received from theinformation sources130 in conjunction with execution of thecommunications module210.
• Atstep820, a signal generated bytouch screen140 may be received. The signal generated bytouch screen140 may be based at least partially on the selection by a presenter of an interactive element displayed withinpresentation300 ontouch screen140. The signal may also be based on the actuation of other components included in thetouch screen140 such as soft keys. Step820 may be performed by execution of thecommunications module210. Receipt of the signal instep820 allows for processing ofpresentation300 atstep830.
• Atstep830,presentation300 is processed in response to the signal received atstep820. Execution of thepresentation rendering module220 may performstep830.Presentation300 may be processed, for example, to allow for real-time manipulation ofpresentation300 and various views thereof such as zooming in and out, scrolling, panning across, tilting, orrotating presentation300.Presentation300 may also be processed based on the actuation of a particular soft key displayed withinpresentation300 ontouch screen140.
• Atstep840,presentation300 is updated in response to the processed signal fromstep830. Execution of thepresentation rendering module220 may performstep840. For example,presentation300 may be updated to show a manipulated viewpoint desired by presenter305 (e.g., rotated or tilted presentation).Presentation300 may also be updated to showpresentation300 in a particular mode such as ‘navigation mode’ or ‘trip time mode.’Presentation300 may also be updated to display information associated with an interactive element selected bypresenter305, such as information regarding a traffic incident, road closure, or average travel speeds.
• Any number of additional and/or optional steps that are not otherwise depicted may be included inmethod800. These steps may include selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation usingtouch screen140 or feedback being provided to the presenter to inform the presenter that an interactive element is selectable.
• It is noteworthy that any hardware platform suitable for performing the processing described herein is suitable for use with the invention. Computer-readable storage media refer to any medium or media that participate in providing instructions to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Such media can take forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile and volatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory, respectively. Common forms of computer-readable storage media include a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), any other optical medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM, or any other memory chip or cartridge.
• Various forms of transmission media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU for execution. A bus may carry data to system RAM, from which a CPU retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by system RAM may optionally be stored on a fixed disk either before or after execution by a CPU.
• The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims (19)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for conducting touch screen based interaction with traffic data, the method comprising:

generating a three-dimensional virtual broadcast presentation displayed on a touch screen including one or more interactive elements and visual representations for the most current traffic conditions, wherein the most current traffic conditions include information about traffic flow and weather, and wherein the virtual broadcast presentation is automatically synchronized with current information regarding road conditions available from a plurality of sources including traffic flow data and weather conditions;

receiving a touch screen signal from a user, the touch screen signal corresponding to user interactions with one or more interactive elements on the touch screen indicative of user interest;

processing the received touch screen signal, wherein each touch screen signal corresponds to executable instructions that manipulates the virtual broadcast presentation;

executing the instructions corresponding to the received touch screen signal thereby manipulating the virtual broadcast presentation, the virtual broadcast presentation updated to reflect the most current traffic conditions inclusive of traffic flow and weather.

2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sources include public agencies.

3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the public agencies include the National Weather Service.

4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sources include information from Internet.

5. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sources include public listings.

6. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sources include data from other users.

7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the one or more instructions executed includes rotating, tilting, zooming in, zooming out a view of the three-dimensional virtual broadcast presentation.

8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the interactive elements are representations of conditions affecting traffic.

9. The method according toclaim 8, wherein the interactive elements represent traffic alerts.

10. The method according toclaim 9, wherein a traffic alert is road construction.

11. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the interactive elements identify various locations, landmarks or points of interest.

12. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the points of interest include exit ramps, highways, and city streets.

13. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the touch screen signal includes selection of one or more interactive elements.

14. The method according toclaim 13, wherein the one or more executed instructions includes displaying information regarding the selected interactive element by the user.

15. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the displayed information includes traffic video from a traffic camera corresponding to a particular area being monitored by the traffic camera.

16. The method according toclaim 15, wherein the displayed information includes detailed information about a traffic incident associated with the interactive element.

17. The method according toclaim 8, wherein the interactive elements are used to represent weather conditions including rain and snow.

18. The method according toclaim 17, wherein the weather conditions may include side effects of the weather conditions including flooded roads, slippery/icy roads and obstructed roads.

19. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the visual representation includes colors and objects that illustrates real-time traffic conditions to the user.

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