Real-Time Traffic Information and Navigation

Abstract

Consumer demand for accurate, reliable, and up-to-date traffic information has prompted TomTom to develop a new system for using multiple traffic information sources and integrating them with in-car navigation. This new system, called high-definition traffic, has been introduced in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Switzerland and is planned for introduction in other European countries in 2009. The goal is to provide drivers with accurate door-to-door travel time, delay time, estimated arrival time, and seamless cross-border information services integrated into personal navigation devices: thus route choice can be made based on real-time traffic information and adjusted continually on the basis of changing traffic conditions. The traffic information provided to drivers is based on four sources: data from global system for mobile communications networks, data from users of TomTom navigation devices (real-time Global Positioning System data), third-party data such as government traffic control centers, and historic information collected from navigation devices. The information is provided to drivers by connected navigation devices, which include subscriber identity module cards and allow for two-way data transmission. These connected devices incorporate traffic information into route calculations to provide drivers with real-time travel and delay times. The combination of more accurate and complete traffic information with connected in-car systems provides drivers with the capability of making informed decisions about departure times and routes as well as whether to make a trip by car.