Private Traveler Personal Computing Devices - Personal Information Access Functionality

Subsystem Description

The Personal Information Access Subsystem (PIAS) provides the capability for travelers to receive formatted traffic advisories from their homes, place of work, major trip generation sites, personal portable devices, over multiple types of electronic media. These capabilities also provide basic routing information and allow users to select those transportation modes that allow them to avoid congestion, or more advanced capabilities to allow users to specify those transportation parameters that are unique to their individual needs and receive travel information. This subsystem provides travelers with the capability to receive route planning from the infrastructure at fixed locations such as in their homes, their place of work, and at mobile locations using personal portable devices and vehicle-based devices. In addition to end user devices, this subsystem may also represent a device that is used by a merchant or other service provider to receive traveler information and relay important information to their customers. This subsystem also provides the capability to initiate a distress signal and cancel a prior-issued manual request for help.

Functional Area: Personal Autonomous Route Guidance

Personal traveler interface that provides route guidance using a digital map stored locally. Devices include personal computers and personal portable devices such as PDAs and pagers.

Functional Area: Personal Basic Information Reception

Personal traveler interface that provides formatted traffic advisories, transit, event, and other traveler information, as well as broadcast alerts. Devices include personal computers and personal portable devices such as PDAs and pagers.

Functional Area: Personal Interactive Information Reception

Personal traveler interface that provides traffic, transit, yellow pages, event, and trip planning information, and other personalized traveler information services upon request. Devices include personal computers and personal portable devices such as PDAs.

Functional Area: Personal Trip Planning and Route Guidance

Personal traveler interface that coordinates with a traveler information center to provide a trip plan that is tailored to the traveler's preferences. During the trip, the route plan can be modified to account for new information. Devices include desktop computers at home, work, or at major trip generation sites, plus personal portable devices such as PDAs and pagers.