Automatic camera image retrieval based on route traffic and conditions

Abstract

A system for vehicle to another party communications that includes a vehicle personality module adapted to create a vehicle personality and a communications system that utilizes the created vehicle personality for one or more communications instead of a user's profile. The one or more communications are associated with one or more of an identifier and an icon representing the vehicle personality, with this identifier and/or icon sent with at least one communication and displayable to the recipient of the communication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle system to one or more of send and obtain one or more images based on a travel route comprising:
 a navigation subsystem adapted to track and provide route guidance;   an image retrieval module adapted to obtain one or more images from one or more sources along the travel route; and   a display adapted to display one or more of the one or more obtained images.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image retrieval module obtains the one or more images one or more of automatically, based on a user request, and based on a notification of one or more of traffic conditions, weather conditions, an accident and road construction. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image retrieval module is further adapted to obtain video from one or more sources along the travel route based on a comparison of GPS information from the vehicle, the travel route and a location of the one or more sources. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle system further obtains and forwards one or more of images and video to an entity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sources are roadside cameras, other vehicles, a traffic helicopter and a traffic plane. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a centralized entity stores the one or more images from the one or more sources. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image retrieval module obtains the one or more images one or more of automatically for the travel route. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more images are displayed on a user's communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more images are associated with one or more of an audible and visual alert. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle system further obtains and forwards one or more of images and video to an entity, and the entity is a department of transportation or a law enforcement agency. 
     
     
         11 . A method to one or more of send and obtain one or more images based on a travel route comprising:
 tracking and providing route guidance;   obtaining one or more images from one or more sources along the travel route; and   displaying one or more of the one or more obtained images.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein further comprising obtaining the one or more images one or more of automatically, based on a user request, and based on a notification of one or more of traffic conditions, weather conditions, an accident and road construction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising obtaining video from one or more sources along the travel route. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising obtaining and forwarding one or more of images and video to an entity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sources are roadside cameras, other vehicles, a traffic helicopter and a traffic plane. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a centralized entity stores the one or more images from the one or more sources. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the image retrieval module obtains the one or more images one or more of automatically for the travel route. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more images are displayed on a user's communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more images are associated with one or more of an audible and visual alert. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle system further obtains and forwards one or more of images and video to an entity, and the entity is a department of transportation or a law enforcement agency.