Method and system for using traffic flow data to navigate a vehicle to a destination

1. A method for using an onboard computer system for navigating a vehicle to a destination point, comprising:

setting a traffic flow data availability level in said onboard computer system;

said onboard computer system calculating a first route from a vehicle starting point to the destination point;

said onboard computer system receiving first traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the first route, wherein said traffic flow data availability level identifies at least a minimum quantity of said traffic flow sensors that are transmitting traffic flow data;

said onboard computer system determining whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

said onboard computer system enabling a flow-based route guidance for the first route if the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the first traffic flow data to calculate a first estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the first route; and

said onboard computer system utilizing a first alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the first traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level.

2. A method for using an onboard computer system for navigating a vehicle to a destination point, comprising:

setting a traffic flow data availability level in said onboard computer system;

said onboard computer system calculating a first route from a vehicle starting point to the destination point;

said onboard computer system receiving first traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the first route;

said onboard computer system determining whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

said onboard computer system enabling a flow-based route guidance for the first route if the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the first traffic flow data to calculate a first estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the first route; and

said onboard computer system utilizing a first alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the first traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level;

wherein setting the traffic flow data availability level comprises setting the traffic flow data availability level to traffic flow data being received from a majority of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein setting the traffic flow data availability level comprises setting the availability level to approximately 75% availability of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level comprises determining whether at least approximately 75% of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route are available to provide traffic flow measurements.

5. A method for using an onboard computer system for navigating a vehicle to a destination point, comprising:

setting a traffic flow data availability level in said onboard computer system;

said onboard computer system calculating a first route from a vehicle starting point to the destination point;

said onboard computer system receiving first traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the first route;

said onboard computer system determining whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

said onboard computer system enabling a flow-based route guidance for the first route if the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the first traffic flow data to calculate a first estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the first route; and

said onboard computer system utilizing a first alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the first traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level;

wherein setting the traffic flow data availability level comprises setting the traffic flow data availability level to traffic flow data being received from about 50% to about 90% availability of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein utilizing the first alternative route guidance comprises using one or more default flow values in calculating the first estimated time of arrival.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein utilizing the first alternative route guidance comprises using traffic incident data in calculating the first estimated time of arrival.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

said onboard computer system calculating a second route from the vehicle starting point to the destination point;

said onboard computer system receiving second traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the second route;

said onboard computer system determining whether the second traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

said onboard computer system enabling the flow-based route guidance for second route if the second traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the second traffic flow data to calculate a second estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the second route; and

said onboard computer system utilizing a second alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the second traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

displaying the first and second routes on a vehicle display device; and

graying out those routes having traffic flow data that do not meet the traffic flow data availability level.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

said onboard computer comparing the first and second routes; and

said onboard computer ranking the first and second routes based on the first and second estimated times of arrival, respectively, a higher ranking is assigned to one of the first and second routes having an earlier estimated time of arrival at the destination point.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein utilizing the second alternative route guidance comprises using one or more default flow values in calculating the second estimated time of arrival.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein utilizing the second alternative route guidance comprises using traffic incident data in calculating the second estimated time of arrival.

13. A system for navigating a vehicle to a destination point, comprising:

an onboard vehicle computer programmed to:

set a traffic flow data availability level;

calculate a first route from a vehicle starting point to the destination point;

receive first traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the first route, wherein said traffic flow data availability level identifies at least a minimum percentage of said traffic flow sensors that are transmitting traffic flow data;

determine whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

enable a flow-based route guidance for the first route if the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the first traffic flow data to calculate a first estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the first route; and

utilize a first alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the first traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level; and

a vehicle display device operatively coupled to the vehicle computer for displaying map and routing information for a user.

14. A system for navigating a vehicle to a destination point, comprising:

an onboard vehicle computer programmed to:

set a traffic flow data availability level;

calculate a first route from a vehicle starting point to the destination point;

receive first traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the first route;

determine whether the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

enable a flow-based route guidance for the first route if the first traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the first traffic flow data to calculate a first estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the first route; and

utilize a first alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the first traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level; and

a vehicle display device operatively coupled to the vehicle computer for displaying map and routing information for a user;

wherein the traffic flow data availability level comprises traffic flow data being received from a majority of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the majority comprises approximately 75% of the traffic flow sensors placed along the first route.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein first alternative route guidance comprises using one or more default flow values in calculating the first estimated time of arrival.

17. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first alternative route guidance comprises using traffic incident data in calculating the first estimated time of arrival.

18. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the onboard vehicle computer is further programmed to:

calculate a second route from the vehicle starting point to the destination point;

receive second traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along the second route;

determine whether the second traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level;

enable the flow-based route guidance for the second route if the second traffic flow data meets the traffic flow data availability level, the flow-based route guidance comprising utilizing the second traffic flow data to calculate a second estimated time of arrival at the destination point along the second route; and

utilize a second alternative route guidance to navigate the vehicle if the second traffic flow data does not meet the traffic flow data availability level.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the onboard vehicle computer is further programmed to:

display the first and second routes on the vehicle display device; and

gray out those routes having traffic flow data that do not meet the traffic flow data availability level.

20. The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the onboard vehicle computer is further programmed to:

compare the first and second routes; and

rank the first and second routes based on the first and second estimated times of arrival, respectively, a higher ranking is assigned to one of the first and second routes having an earlier estimated time of arrival at the destination point.

21. The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein second alternative route guidance comprises using one or more default flow values in calculating the second estimated time of arrival.

22. The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the second alternative route guidance comprises using traffic incident data in calculating the second estimated time of arrival.