Method, system, and article of manufacture for providing notification of traffic conditions

摘要

A web-based traffic notification service permits end users to select travel routes and automatically receive notification of routes having the fastest travel times. The service can be provided by a website configured to display an interface that allows users to create accounts for storing personal travel information. The travel information includes origin, destination, way point, and departure time data for trips selected by the user. For each trip, alternative routes are designated. At or near the selected departure time of a trip, travel times for the alternative routes are computed using real-time traffic data. The user is then automatically notified of the route having the fastest travel time using an email or voice message. The service can be configured so that the user is notified only when the travel time of a user-defined preferred route is longer than a secondary alternative route. In addition, the user can request via voice telephony or a web-enabled device an immediate update of the best route if departure time is the present time. The service can also deliver to users merchant information and enroute notification of traffic incidents causing unexpected delays.