Automatic traffic information provision system utilizing facsimile and telephone (now operating in Osaka)

We have completed the construction of a system which automatically provides drivers with information on traffic congestion, traffic accidents, travel time, etc. In this system, traffic information on major ordinary roads and expressways within Osaka Prefecture is divided into 10 categories with an area number assigned to each category and information corresponding to each specified area is provided on a real-time basis by online processing in the form of a map or human voice through the medium of facsimile or telephone, respectively. The traffic information to be provided is updated every 5 minutes. For information provision by facsimile, a maximum of three A4 pages are used with traffic information in the form of text on the first page and in the form of map on the second page; graphic-pattern information manually input to and read from the input fax machine is provided on the third page. For information provision by telephone, information in a written form is first converted into a spoken form and then into sounds by speech synthesis. This paper describes the configuration, functions, and operation of this system and how it is being utilized by drivers