MTO COMPASS - Information Service Provider Functionality
Subsystem Description
This subsystem collects, processes, stores, and disseminates transportation information to system operators and the traveling public. The subsystem can play several different roles in an integrated ITS. In one role, the ISP provides a data collection, fusing, and repackaging function, collecting information from transportation system operators and redistributing this information to other system operators in the region and other ISPs. In this information redistribution role, the ISP provides a bridge between the various transportation systems that produce the information and the other ISPs and their subscribers that use the information. The second role of an ISP is focused on delivery of traveller information to subscribers and the public at large. Information provided includes basic advisories, traffic and road conditions, transit schedule information, business directory information, ridematching information, parking information and weather information. The subsystem also provides the capability to provide specific directions to travellers by receiving origin and destination requests from travellers, generating route plans, and returning the calculated plans to the users. In addition to general route planning for travellers, the ISP also supports specialized route planning for vehicle fleets. In this third role, the ISP function may be dedicated to, or even embedded within, the dispatch system. Reservation services are also provided in advanced implementations. The information is provided to the traveller through the Personal Information Access Subsystem, Remote Traveller Support Subsystem, and the Vehicle Subsystem through available communications links. Both basic one-way (broadcast) and personalized two-way information provision are supported. The ISP is most commonly implemented as an Internet web site, but it represents any traveller information distribution service including systems that broadcast digital transportation data (e.g., satellite radio networks) and systems that support distribution through dedicated short range communications networks. The ISP accomplishes these roles using constantly evolving technologies like the Internet (World Wide Web pages), direct broadcast communications (email alerts, pagers, satellite radio network data broadcasts), communications through dedicated short range communications networks, etc.