DE19604084A1 - Method and device for determining dynamic traffic information - Google Patents

Abstract

Described are a method and system for the determination of dynamic traffic information or traffic events. Relevant data from vehicle-mounted terminals are recorded automatically, by remote interrogation or manually and transmitted directly, together with a location identifier, via a wide-coverage mobile-telephone network, e.g. GSM, to other mobile-telephone subscribers and/or a higher level exchange. In the exchange, the incoming data are processed and fed to selected terminals and/or third parties. In addition, the results of interrogation, e.g. braking behaviour, can be pre-defined by a traffic-control centre and transmitted by radio broadcast or mobile telephone to the terminals of road users in a geographically limited area who can then "observe" the flow of traffic directly and immediately report incoming interrogation results by mobile telephone back to the exchange.

Description

Traffic data acquisition and traffic regulation are due to the growing traffic has become indispensable.

The current dynamic traffic is usually used formations z. B. by

• - fixed attachments on roads, such as induction loops, Cameras, emergency telephones;
• - Traffic counter or traffic detector;
• - Mobile traffic reporting units, such as the police, roads service, helicopter;
• - Weather data collection systems

and a variety of information sources not mentioned here procured.

The disadvantage of the previous traffic data acquisition is the high Effort in personnel and material, the associated high Costs, as well as the sometimes very long "response times" Events like accidents, traffic jams or weather-related traffic impairments. Due to the enormous effort is an area comprehensive traffic data acquisition based on the roadside Sensors almost impossible, so that he always focuses must be set.

Furthermore, such a decentralized traffic prepares Data collection problems when it comes to centralizing the data to record, process and to third parties (police, roads service, road users).

The object of the present invention is therefore a method and a device for determining dynamic traffic formations propose what disadvantages mentioned above avoids and with moderate effort a comprehensive Er  recording of traffic data essentially directly from the Vehicle allowed out.

This task is solved by the technical teaching of Pa Claims 1 and 16.

For dynamic individual and collective information services current and historical traffic flow information like driven speed, current traffic volume, Braking and acceleration behavior, traffic jam reports, accident messages, weather events, etc. on road sections does. The same information is the basis for the qua litative and quantitative expansion planning of the transport network. This information can be obtained from the mobile network via mobile witnesses win. To find the information a specific place To be able to assign, it is also necessary to to provide vehicles with a device for self-location hen.

It is of particular interest through skillful z. B. vehicle-side and central-side detection algorithms this current traffic flow data, supplemented by historical Values to predict and in their traffic congestion Predict impact. In this way, ver Traffic information updated very quickly, d. H. recognized or be deleted again.

With this concept of "dynamic traffic flow information ", based on the basic telematics modules Mobile network, satellite-based location or Navigation system, the latest Ver Traffic flow information obtained from all roads can be queried specifically.

The traffic flow data collected by vehicle terminals the according to an application of the invention to a regionally responsible service center transmitted. With this  Procedures can be both traffic counts and speed safety determinations can be determined. Through this "mobile ver sweeping data generation "the expenses are clearly cost cheaper than conventional methods with fixed installations in or on the lanes.

In particular, long-term recording of route-related and / or event-related traffic data perform and from this a historical traffic data create bank on which for forecasts or for targeted Control of traffic data collection can be used can.

The control of traffic data acquisition on the vehicle side by reaching virtual detection places take place, d. H. after the start of the journey, only after Er the traffic data process is sufficient for one data entry point acquisition started. The following route-related entries Processes are also about reaching acquisition control points. If a registration office based on to pass due to a previous route right, not reached within a given period of time the end of the trip or the Ver leave the detection area (e.g. side streets) accepted, and the acquisition process ends.

According to another application, especially in Connection with accidents or traffic jams is provided, e.g. B. from going from an accident vehicle, a warning to all driving give witnesses that are near the scene of the accident or move towards the scene of the accident. Because of the high Travel speeds on federal highways (BAB) are becoming For this purpose, the position information of the accident location plus histo Travel position data to determine the direction of travel using the fastest way of communication to the Hand over cellular network.

The data is then stored directly in the radio cell concerned or the neighboring radio cells to all accessible  Transfer cellular subscribers without preprocessing. However only those mobile subscribers who are in Move towards the scene of the accident, about the existing danger below judges.

This is useful for individual road users the last section of the route covered in addition to its current position as a historical "position tail "preferably stored on the vehicle side and this z. B. in the event of a traffic jam accident as "Wegbe to the location of the accident / storage location " The letter can then be sent to a corresponding warning message for other road users are appended. The warning message is therefore not only specified according to the position at which the event occurred, but also according to the direction of travel or route.

The accident data are also advantageously sent to the permanent service center that carries out a review data plausibility check. After review will then send a confirmation to the relevant cellular part distributed or canceled the accident report. All that assumes that the respective cell phone subscribers have a Corresponding, suitable for receiving these messages Device.

It makes sense to use the remote query of the traffic-relevant At to carry out tributes at least partially route references. In this context in particular, you can fall back on historical data from a traffic flow perspective controversial areas or nodes of the transport network be watched over. For this purpose vehicles are operated by the service center selected for detection, the selection preferably based on based on historical traffic data. The Erfas Solution of the data is defined in and / or between virtual len detection areas performed, which are fixed  are or depending on z. B. from the occurrence of an event it can be varied dynamically like a traffic jam.

Next is at least partially an event-related standard provided the z. B. by direct order of Service center to the vehicles or also automatically can and is carried out as widely as possible. A The vehicles are only reported back to the head office when one or more predefined events are actually turned on kick are like B. Wiper actuation as a hint on the onset of rain or braking. This feedback to the service center, supplemented with the location and time The central office arranges for the occurrence of the event Overview of the general traffic situation in Er area of coverage.

For reasons of topicality or urgency, the Communication between the mobile subscriber and the mobile network a storage-expandable information container of the Signa lization channel can be used. Such information scontainer is then in the relevant network node for mobile communications network (e.g. the BSC of the GSM networks) and - via Broadcast functions in the relevant radio cells.

The use of a traffic channel that is connected to a traffic might not be immediately available, is so with dispensable.

In the following, the innovation is based on a simple egg NEN execution path illustrating drawing explained. Here go from the drawing and its description re essential features and advantages of the innovation forth.

It shows:

Fig. 1 example of functional units of the central registration point

Fig. 2 and 3 application example of the traffic data collection

Fig. 4 communication flow of a direct traffic warning message

FIGS. 5 and 6 dynamic variation of the detection areas if necessary.

For dynamic traffic flow detection are preferred the following basic system functions are required:

• 1. Introducing the application software into standardized End devices.
• 2. Definition of the route sections to be recorded by the Road and / or service operator (client).
• 3. Implementation of these route sections in geographical Description (satellite location coordinates).
• 4. Definition of those to be recorded on this route section Attributes like
• - Confirmation of passage on this Route section for the purpose of traffic counting,
• - time data, actual transit time or Speed to determine traffic disabilities and to build historical Traffic databases,
• - Other relevant, existing on the vehicle Attributes (brake lights, ABS info, rear fog lights, Windshield wipers, temperature sensors).
• 5. Transfer of the defined requirements from the Service center to the terminal.
• 6. Functions of the end device:
• - Determine that this section of the route actually was passed through  
• - Determination of time data to determine the actual transit time or determination of the Speed,
• - Determination of other relevant attributes that are available on the vehicle side (brake lights, ABS Info, rear fog lamp wiper, Temperature sensor).
• 7. Transfer of traffic flow information from the terminal to Service center.
• 8. Evaluation of traffic flow information in Service centers and preparation for distribution to other end devices and / or third parties.

The end devices consist of satellite-based navigation system, cellular communication functions and a module for the application function including the few required Operating functions.

The application software and operating data can be accessed via a Chip card, separate mechanical interfaces or by mobile radio interfaces introduced into the vehicle-side terminal will.

The necessary configuration parameters for recording the dy Named traffic information or traffic events are also sent by chip card (e.g. by post) mechanical interfaces, via individual point-to-point or distribution communication set in the terminal.

The dynamic data for the geographic description of the Section of the route on which traffic-relevant events occur are able to raise

• - via a separate interface on the end device,
• - by a chip card,
• - through a procedure via mobile data communication and / or through
• - Data distribution services in mobile communications

are also transmitted from the control center to the terminal.

In the example according to FIG. 2, the application recognizes whether the vehicle 13 , which is located on a traffic route 12 , has passed through a defined detection area S1 and determines the transit time to the detection area S2. If we substantially exceed the specified transit time, the section of the route defined by the detection areas S1, S2 and the actual transit time is described as "floating car data" and optionally with additional vehicle-side additional information such as, for. B. operating status of brake lights, rear fog lights, windshield wipers, ABS etc. co dated and transmitted by mobile radio to the detection center 20 (see Fig. 1).

Based on this assignment, the vehicles the vehicle speeds determined Assigned road sections.

The same is just a simple counting of the vehicles or the Er know of traffic flows that a certain one by capturing areas S3, S4 through defined route section ren, possible. Braking and acceleration behavior of the driver are recorded as event-related information and transmitted to the head office with position and time data.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 show, the location of the detection ranges S1, S2 initially fixed. However, it can be varied dynamically to S1 ', S2' when a traffic-relevant event (traffic jam area 14 ) occurs and can be adapted to the new traffic situation so that the best possible data collection is guaranteed.

If event 14 occurs, the terminal recognizes this by the vehicle behavior (braking) of the vehicle in the affected detection areas (S1, S2 or S1 ', S2') and a message is sent to the control center 20 via mobile radio. When the vehicle comes to a complete standstill, it can indicate an impact or an accident. Braking the vehicle hard on the freeway often means that traffic jams begin. Slow travel gives an indication of heavy traffic etc. This message is coupled with the information about where the event occurred (e.g. intersection 17 ) and the position of the reporting vehicle (e.g. route intersection 18 - intersection 17 ).

The information given to the control center 20 would accordingly z. B. read; Event 14 occurred at intersection 17 after covering the route intersection 18 - intersection 17 . The Zen trale 20 can now output to all vehicles the information that event 14 (traffic jam) will occur when crossing the route section crossing 18- crossing 17 . As a possible alternative, the route intersection 18 - intersection 19 is named. If the alternative route is removed from the vehicle, feedback is sent to the control center 20 . From the feedback from the vehicles, the control center 20 can recognize whether the diversion recommendation is accepted. The received data are processed by the application function in the control center 20 and the route data in a dynamic database 7 are assigned to a digital road map. In addition, this z. B. be warned of the impending end of the traffic jam just before the traffic jam (warning: danger of collision).

Through plausibility checks 8 when determining the deviations (historical data, average data or data from other participants located on this route section are used), increased transit times caused by parking, breakdowns, etc. are to be suppressed. In addition, traffic information reported back to the road user can be precisely geographically or logically, e.g. B. with the indication of the street name.

In addition to the dynamic post-processing of Ver Traffic flow information becomes all traffic flow information  collected and edited in a historical traffic data bank set.

Especially in the event of an accident or traffic jam, it is important to get one immediately To give traffic warning to all road users who stay near the accident or traffic jam, or the moving towards the event.

Fig. 4 explains, based on the steps ae, a possible communication sequence for such a direct traffic warning message.

• a) The terminal of the accident vehicle 13 sends a message (location coordinates and other available data on the direction of travel, etc.) to its immediately responsible transmitting and receiving station (base station BTS) of the mobile radio network.
• b) The higher-level network node 15 of the mobile radio network (for example the BSC of the GSM networks) evaluates the message and immediately sends out a warning message to other mobile radio subscribers (vehicles 13 a, 13 b, 13 c) of the origin and After bar radio cells z. B. in broadcasting.
• c) The higher-level network node sends the message in parallel to the responsible service center 20 (service center), z. B. via DatexP line. The service center checks the message.
• d) The service center sends a confirmation or stor nation note to the network node (BSC).
• e) The network node (BSC) causes the confirmation to be sent note in the original and the Neighboring cells.

To evaluate the warning messages, the receivers 13 a, 13 b, 13 c must be equipped with a corresponding terminal device according to the invention. The accident data taken as an example, e.g. B. accident position, are compared with your own vehicle position. If a relevance (approach to the accident site) is recognized, this is communicated via a human-machine interface. This can be done visually and / or acoustically (eg "accident after 2.5 kilometers"). The distance information is updated using the on-board satellite-based navigation system. The confirmation or cancellation of the traffic report by the service center 20 is accordingly acoustically / visually displayed.

The data is transmitted, for example, via a Signaling channel of the GSM available throughout Europe Cellular network.

Required basic functions of the end device:

The traffic telematics terminals preferably consist of fol Functional units:

• 1. Self-location using the known GPS procedures and improved algorithms.
• 2. Functions of the application software
• - automatic operation,
• - reception of basic data
• - determine the passage by predetermined Route section
• - determine the current transit time between two Positions or speed
• - Detection of set events (brakes, Accelerate)
• - Plausibility check or preparation of the optional Additional information (ABS lights, wipers)
• - Generation of the traffic flow report
• - Generation of optional additional information (light,  ABS, wipers)
• - Generation of the point in time
• - Communication management for automatic operation of the GSM terminal
• 3. GSM communication
• - Interface for cellular data transmission and optional Short messages (SMS, MO and MT) and distribution messages (SMS OB)
• - optionally expandable to telephony (voice)
• 4. Human-machine interface (operator terminal), only Basic elements are required.
• (5.) Optional Upgrade to an emergency terminal and / or to a fully functional dynamic route guidance system

Central functions

In the head office 20 there is a digital road map of the detection area in the granularity of the road classes (BAB, federal roads, district roads, city and community roads) as well as with system-specific attributes of the individual route sections (such as average transit time, parking spaces, etc.).

Fig. 1 explains the functions that the control center 20 should take over before preferably. The control center 20 takes over the communication management for the incoming dynamic traffic flow information of the various terminal devices (EG, 1 , 2 , 3 ), which are each equipped with or without a digital road map. In the control center 20 can also the data existing, conventional detection systems such. B. of induction loops 4 , shrink. Communication with the terminals (EG) takes place, for example, via a GSM network, e.g. B. the D1 network. The information received is recognized in a special len communication server 5 , processed for further processing in a service server 6 and stored and assigned to 7 route sections in a database. Since we performed the check for plausibility 8 and a comparison by means of the roadside infrastructure systems 4 won traffic information. The data flow to the terminals is bidirectional, so that the network server 9 can return current, processed data directly to individual or all assigned terminals. There are also interfaces 10 , 11 to third parties, be they public or private, via which the data can be passed on.

Based on the knowledge of the historical traffic data and the current traffic situation, the service center 20 dynamically controls the route sections to be recorded and the attributes to be recorded such as speed, reporting threshold, traffic count, etc. It specifically issues registration orders to vehicles of selected regions, which it selects on the basis of the historical traffic data . The data reported by vehicles are processed and processed and made available in a suitable form to cell phone subscribers or third parties.

Claims (18)

1. Procedure for determining dynamic traffic information tion by means of mobile radio, one in a vehicle of the Mo terminal device provided a vehicle carries out self-location and other traffic-relevant attractions bute can be recorded automatically, remotely or manually, characterized, that the data obtained via a mobile Telecommunications network directly to other mobile subscribers and / or forwarded to a service center in which further processes the data and also histori cal traffic data are recorded and processed. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized, that in the service center a plausibility check of the he collected data and, if necessary, a confirmation message of the correct data or a cancellation notification to selected Cellular subscriber takes place. 3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized, that the remote query is at least partially route-related follows, with stationary and / or dynamically variable recording areas are defined in and / or between those the capture takes place. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized, that at least partially an event-related standard solution is performed, with feedback to the service  Headquarters only after one or more predefi events. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized, that the acquisition of traffic-relevant attributes by remote the service center asked selected vehicles, the selection preferably based on historical traffic data is based. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized, that the service center prepared data and for a Ver traffic management query-relevant events and information to the end devices of one or more mobile subscribers and / or third parties. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized, that a temporary storage of attributes from to sections of individual road users follows. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized, that data communication, between mobile subscribers and Mobile network and vice versa, on a signaling channel he follows. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized, that the traffic relevant attributes at least position and Include vehicle speed and time data.   10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized, that further vehicle-side attributes such as the function of the brake lights, ABS, fog lights, wipers, braking, acceleration and directional behavior, following traffic recommendations and weather data will. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized, that the service center additionally from other traffic data using existing data. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized thereby that the recorded traffic data in the center with a digital saved road map to be covered. 13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized, that software and operating data for the operation of the terminal via chip card, separate mechanical interfaces or by Cellular interfaces are provided. 14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized, that the headquarters optimize the registration process and traffic flow control through data distribution communication allowed with the terminals. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized, that collections of Cellular subscribers to control and determine dy Named traffic information can be used.   16. Device for performing the method according to claims 1-15, characterized in that in addition to the presence of a mobile radio network, at least the following system components are present:

• a) inside the vehicle
• - Satellite-based positioning unit
• - Cellular communication unit
• - Unit for automatic and / or manual recording of vehicle-side and traffic-relevant attributes
• - Human-machine interface
• b) external to the vehicle
• - Service center.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized, that an automatic route guidance device is provided. 18. Device according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized, that an emergency call device is provided.