EP0939945B1 - Traffic data selection and filtering method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of selecting and filtering traffic data in a mobile radiotelephone-assisted traffic data service. According to the invention, the traffic data are collected and prepared in a traffic-editing section of a central office and, depending on the extent of information desired, the user can select different retrieval modes as desired via a suitable mobile radiotelephone terminal and thus retrieve different traffic data from the central office. The information content of the traffic data retrieved is prepared by the central office specifically for the particular user, taking account of the location of the user at any given moment and/or the indication of a destination, and by specific filtering.

Description

The invention relates to a method for selection and Filtering traffic information, preferably for Application in a mobile radio Traffic information service.

The basis is a mobile radio-based one Traffic information service such as in the GSM mobile network D1 in the context of computerized traffic telematics services should or will be realized. In addition to the well-known Cellular services, such as voice and data transmission, should Traffic information can also be called up via the mobile network be from a corresponding terminal, the for example according to the industry standard "IntraGSM" is equipped, can be received and displayed.

US-A-4,812,843 relates to a traffic information system, where the participant is on the phone, mobile phone or Computer can query traffic information. The Traffic information is sorted by streets or Areas held in a central office, the Participants by selecting the desired street or Query the relevant traffic information can. However, the participant cannot make the assignment certain streets to a street or the size and Select the location of the areas. These are fixed and can be queried via an assigned identifier. The Traffic information system does not take into account the Location or the direction of travel of a mobile participant. It there is no automatic adjustment of the Traffic information at the location and direction of travel of the Participant.

DE-C1-41 05 584 discloses a traffic information system, the information being transmitted over a radio telephone network he follows. Here, the traffic information in one Service center collected and edited, the user this via a suitable mobile terminal from the Service center can retrieve. Run in the headquarters various traffic information on as well Information about the location of the participants, so that under Taking into account the user's location Traffic information can be prepared user-specifically can.

DE-A1-43 21 437 relates to a method for Traffic regulation and to determine more targeted Traffic information on board motor vehicles. In doing so the journey information entered in vehicles with over Radio captured traffic information and other data processed and destination-specific Traffic information created. The evaluation of the trip data and traffic information takes place autonomously in the vehicle, where the information about traffic obstacles, Construction sites, road maps etc. via memory cards or CD-ROMs must be read. The disadvantage here is that these storage media need to be updated constantly receive reliable and up-to-date traffic information.

EP-A-715 285 describes a method for reducing a to be transferred from the vehicles of a vehicle fleet Amounts of data known. Through control-technical specifications the amount of data can determine the time of the data to be transferred be kept low.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for Selection and filtering of traffic information propose by which the user individually prepared and only relevant information for him be transmitted.

This task is solved by the technical teaching of Claim 1.

An essential feature of the invention is that the user Choice of several traffic information modes receives so that it is the most interesting or direct for him can call up traffic information concerning him. In addition, depending on the selected information mode, the Traffic data are filtered in such a way that from a variety of traffic information only reach the user who are important to him.

1. lokale Verkehrsinformationen (lok)

2. regionale Verkehrsinformationen (reg)

3. zielgerichtete Verkehrsinformationen (vek)

The traffic information service provides the user with three modes, which he can select as required:

1. Local traffic information (Lok)

2. regional traffic information (reg)

3. Targeted traffic information (vek)

Selecting modes 1 and 2 requests information from the immediate vicinity of the user's location. With the selection "local" or "regional" the user defines the relative size of the area over which he wants to receive traffic information as well as priorities / focal points when selecting information.
The third mode allows the user to query targeted traffic information, ie tailored to his direction of travel or his destination. For this purpose, the user selects a destination by means of a module “TARGET INQUIRY” under communication with the service center. As part of the destination request, the coordinates of the destination are to be transmitted to the terminal. The user can save the selected destination in his digital "address book" in the terminal. Telephone prefixes or postcode regions (numbers 1 + 2 of the postcode) can also be entered as the destination. Based on the current location and the destination, an individual reference range for the traffic information is determined in the headquarters. The relevant traffic information is transmitted from the head office to the vehicle via a GSM mobile network.

The information is displayed as text on the display of the prepared terminal. With a scroll function, the user can select the individual traffic information (data records). In addition, the user has an "automatic mode", in which the message about the closest fault (s) in the direction of travel appears on the display.
The user can activate a voice output in the query menu for traffic information or in the basic configuration menu. If this function is active, the relevant traffic information is also recorded in voice form on a voice mailbox and can thus be called up by the user. The voice mailbox automatically informs the user of the presence of new messages. The user then initiates the query of the mailbox.

The traffic information is collected and processed in the traffic department of the service center. The available information (data records) are sorted and made available according to a geographical grid (partial areas) in order to enable a quick and easy query.
The data records contain information on the type, priority and direction vector of the fault, as well as geographical information on the fault.

The reference area of the traffic information is determined by the current position (coordinates) START-POSITION and the mode selected by the user - local info (VImod = lok), regional info (VImod = reg) or targeted information (VImod = vek). For the "Targeted Info" mode, a target address TARGET POSITION is also required, which is either determined by the service center by determining in which radio cell of the mobile radio system the user is, or is determined by a GPS location system that is integrated in the terminal or vehicle and transmits the exact position data to the service center.
The size of the reference area to be assigned, ie the number of sub-areas (grid squares) about which traffic information is to be provided, depends on the density of the (long-distance) road segments in the area of the START-POSITION.
The selected information is transmitted in data form to the vehicle-side terminal.
Option: If voice output is activated, the traffic information is converted into voice form and transferred to a voice mailbox.

An implementation example follows.
A grid (e.g. 10 km x 10 km) is shown on the digital map. A traffic density parameter (PVD = 0-4) is assigned to each individual grid square. PVD = 0 means highest traffic density, PVD = 4 lowest traffic density. The size of the reference area is calculated with PVD, whereby the reference areas are larger in rural areas than in urban areas.
The traffic density parameter PVD can be assigned as follows: PVD scope of application 0 (Reserve) 1 Conurbations 2 Cities and peripheral areas of metropolitan areas 3rd other regions 4th (Reserve)

In addition, conversion parameters can be used for the grid squares for directional vectors to be given geographical Special features when filtering the information later to take into account (see below).

• Referenznummer
• Meldungsinhalt (Code oder Text)
• Position der Meldung, als Punkt oder als geometrische Figur
• ggf. Richtungsvektor der Meldung
• Priorität der Meldung
  • Warnmeldungen (Unfall, Falschfahrerwarnung etc.)
  • Entwarnmeldung
  • Meldungen über Verkehrsstörungen (Ist)
  • Meldungen über Prognosen der nächsten Stunden
• Relevanz für Verkehr
  • lokale Bedeutung (z.B. Nebenstraße)
  • regionale Bedeutung (z.B. Ausfallstraße)
  • überregionale Bedeutung (z.B. Autobahn)
    als Parameter für eine Filterung der Informationen eines Bezugsbereichs.
• Art der Quelle
  • amtlich (Landesmeldestelle etc.)
  • eigene Erhebung
  • Prognose

The traffic information is stored as data records in the database of the traffic department.
This record contains:

• Reference number
• Message content (code or text)
• Position of the message, as a point or as a geometric figure
• if applicable, direction vector of the message
• Priority of the message
  • Warning messages (accident, wrong-way driver warning, etc.)
  • All-clear
  • Traffic incident reports (actual)
  • Reports about forecasts for the next few hours
• Relevance for traffic
  • local meaning (e.g. side street)
  • regional importance (eg arterial road)
  • national importance (eg motorway)
    as parameters for filtering the information of a reference area.
• Source type
  • official (state registration office etc.)
  • own survey
  • forecast

The data records are each assigned to one or possibly several (at large-scale disturbances) assigned to grid squares.

The basis for the selection of information consists of all available actual information and forecast data for the Period of the next few hours. This information is the assigned affected grid squares in a database. Basically, information can be found in all detail zones (Highways to urban area) are processed there Filtering functions are defined and thus the danger there is no "showering with information".

In the following the invention is based on only one Execution path illustrating drawings explained in more detail. Here go from the drawings and their description further features and advantages essential to the invention.

Figur 1:

Beispiel für die Menüstruktur der endgeräteseitigen Anwendung des Verkehrsdienstes;

Figur 2:

Beispiel für eine mögliche Hardware-Realisation des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;

Figur 3A Figur 3B:

Ablaufdiagramm einer fahrzeugseitigen Verkehrsdienstabfrage;

Figur 4:

Beispiel für die Bestimmung des Bezugsbereichs der Informationen im Modus "lokal" und "regional";

Figur 5:

Beispiel einer Filterung der Information im Modus "lokal" und "regional"

Figur 6:

Beispiel für die Bestimmung des Bezugsbereichs der Informationen im Modus "vek";

Figur 7:

Beispiel einer Filterung der Information im Modus "vek".

Show it:

Figure 1:

Example of the menu structure of the terminal-side application of the traffic service;

Figure 2:

Example of a possible hardware implementation of the method according to the invention;

Figure 3A Figure 3B:

Flowchart of a vehicle-side traffic service query;

Figure 4:

Example of determining the reference range of the information in "local" and "regional"mode;

Figure 5:

Example of filtering information in "local" and "regional" mode

Figure 6:

Example of determining the reference range of information in the "vek"mode;

Figure 7:

Example of filtering information in "vek" mode.

Figure 1 shows an example of the menu structure of the Terminal-side application u. A. to query the Traffic information service. The main menu offers an option "V-Info" the selection of the traffic service. You get into that Submenu "V-Info" and can switch between three area modes, according to local, regional or targeted Select traffic information. Will be the most targeted Information selected, the "Destination" selection menu must desired destination can be entered. This can be done by Specification of the target coordinates, a corresponding one Telephone number or the postcode of the destination. The traffic information is available as text or on request output as voice information.

Figure 2 shows the application environment of the traffic information service. In a service center, in which the user-specific database is located and which is responsible for billing the services used (billing), a traffic editorial office is provided according to the invention, in which the traffic information from a wide variety of sources accumulates, is processed and processed. The traffic data are linked to a digital map and individual geographic "grid squares" are assigned to this map. Via a user module "V-Info", the traffic data can be queried by the road user via the GSM mobile radio network. The query and the exchange of information is controlled by a communication server, which establishes the connection between the telecommunications system at the headquarters and the GSM system or the vehicle.
If the user desires a voice output, the traffic information is spoken to the voice mailbox by means of a speech generator, and can then be called up / listened to by the user via his terminal.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a flow diagram of a vehicle-side traffic service query. The user will via his end device with the help of a menu navigation through the Traffic information query directed. The flow chart is self-explanatory and gives detailed insights into the Menu structure and its links as a supplement to the rough Overview in Figure 1.

mit "lokal" (lok) erhält er Informationen aus dem unmittelbaren Umfeld (kleiner Radius)

mit "regional" (reg) erhält er Informationen aus dem weiterem Umfeld (großer Radius)

mit "zielgerichtet" (vek) hat er die Möglichkeit ein Ziel vorzugeben. Der Zielort wird mit dem MODUL "ZIELANFRAGE" ausgewählt und die Koordinaten des Zielortes sind im Endgerät verfügbar.

Er erhält nun Informationen aus einem "weiterem Umfeld", mit einem in Zielrichtung verschobenen Mittelpunkt.As already explained, the user has the choice between three modes after calling up the traffic information menu (cf. FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B). He can call up information from around his whereabouts:

with "local" (lok) he receives information from the immediate environment (small radius)

with "regional" (reg) he receives information from the wider environment (large radius)

with "targeted" (vek) he has the possibility to set a goal. The destination is selected with the "DESTINATION INQUIRY" MODULE and the coordinates of the destination are available in the end device.

He now receives information from a "wider environment" with a shifted focus.

The exact size of the environment or reference area should not be fixed. Instead, the relative Terms "local" and "regional" used. In the main office becomes the exact size of the reference area to be queried calculated.

This procedure is used to determine the reference range more comfortable and effective than a fixed km specification designed. So it is possible to change the size of the reference range to adapt to the traffic density of the lounge area: in rural area is the one with "local" Scanned area larger than in metropolitan areas.

STARTPOSITION (Koordinaten des momentanen Aufenthaltsortes des Benutzers)

ZIELPOSITION, nur bei VImod=vek (Koordinaten wurden mit MODUL "ZIELANFRAGE" ermittelt

Ausgewählten VI-Modus (VImod=?; lok, reg, vek)

Ausgewählten Audio-Modus (info_audio=?; on, off)

The traffic information request received at the headquarters includes:

START POSITION (coordinates of the current location of the user)

TARGET POSITION, only with VImod = vek (coordinates were determined with MODULE "TARGET REQUEST"

Selected VI mode (VImod = ?; lok, reg, vek)

Selected audio mode (info_audio = ?; on, off)

The determination of the reference range for the query mode "Local" and "regional" are explained with reference to FIG. 4.

The starting square (grid map) and the associated traffic density parameter PVD are determined from the START POSITION. The query mode (VImod) determines on the vehicle side (by the user) whether information from the immediate environment (= local) or from the wider environment (= regional) should be queried. To calculate the reference area, the parameter VImod is converted into numbers: lok = 1 and reg = 2. The parameter PVD of the grid square also influences the size of the reference area in order to take the traffic density into account when determining the size of the reference area.
The size of the reference area is calculated as follows: Vol_VI reference = PVD + VImod

Example:

Traffic information with the regional selection is requested (VImod = reg = 2). The STARTING POSITION is in a metropolitan area (PVD = 1).
The size of the reference area is therefore Vol_VIBezug = PVD + VImod = 3. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the reference area is 5 × 5 grid squares. With a grid dimension of, for example, 10 km, this would mean a radius of approx. 25 km around the starting point (location of the user).

Traffic information with the selection is requested locally (VImod = lok = 1). The STARTING POSITION is in a rural area (PVD = 3).
The size of the reference area is accordingly Vol_VIBezug = PVD + VImod = 4. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the reference area is 7 x 7 grid squares. With a grid dimension of 10 km, for example, this would mean a radius of approx. 35 km around the starting point (location of the user).
It can be seen that the reference areas not only merge locally and regionally, but can also overlap.

The determination of the reference range for the query mode "vek" is explained with reference to FIG. 6.
The start square (grid map) and the associated PVD are determined from the START POSITION. With the additional transferring TARGET POSITION, a direction vector is generated. To calculate the reference area, the parameter VImod is converted into a number: vek = 2. The parameter PVD of the grid square also influences the size of the reference area in order to take the traffic density into account when determining the size of the reference area.

The size of the reference area is calculated as follows: Vol_VI reference = PVD + VImod

The reference area is not symmetrical around the starting grid square, but shifted towards the TARGET POSITION placed.

Example:

Traffic information with the selection "targeted" is requested (VImod = vek = 2). The STARTING POSITION is in an urban area (PVD = 2). The TARGET POSITION is southeast of the start position.
The size of the reference area is therefore Vol_VIBezug = PVD + VImod = 4. From FIG. 6 it can be seen that the reference area is 7 x 7 grid squares. With a grid of e.g. 10 km, this would mean an area with a radius of approx. 35 km. The center of the reference area is offset from the starting grid square by two grid units in a south-easterly direction.

The information of the reference area is based on redundancy checked. Using the reference numbers assigned to each one Traffic information record have been assigned, the system Exclude multiple answers.

Above it was shown how the relevant reference areas be determined. The determined reference ranges consist of individual grid squares. These grid squares current traffic information from the traffic department assigned.

In the following, it is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 how the traffic information taking into account the Direction vectors are further filtered. With that be guaranteed that the user if possible only the Receives information that is relevant to him and for example, no information for the opposite direction are determined. Even when filtering data distinguished between the modes local / regional and the targeted mode vek.

In the modes "local" and "regional" is not a basic one Direction vector specified and therefore can only be according to the "Centrifugal direction", i.e. it will primarily takes traffic information into account, the Direction vector seen from the position of the vehicle point outwards. So are in the starting grid square Consider information with all direction vectors. In the surrounding grid squares of the reference area the centrifugal directions, based on the starting grid square, used to filter the information (see Fig. 5). This filtering is limited to one Range of about 90 ° left and right of the centrifugal Direction vectors, i.e. a total of 180 °, so tolerances included by geographically determined road courses can be.

In addition, it should be possible to provide information according to the Filter relevance for local / regional traffic can. This filter function is only important if if through a high penetration of the mobile Traffic data collection a lot of information about There are secondary routes (option for a later one Realization level).

In the targeted mode "vek" is due to the known Destination that corresponds to a specific destination grid square corresponds to a basic direction vector, which can be filtered. In the starting grid square are Consider information with all direction vectors. In the surrounding grid squares of the reference area the superordinate direction vector, based on the target grid square, used to filter the information (cf. Fig. 7). This filtering is limited to one area of approx. 90 ° left and right of the direction vector, i.e. a total of about 180 °, so tolerances due to geographical conditional, roughly from the theoretical direction of travel deviating road courses can be included.

Due to geographical features, such as bridges or central access roads, it can happen that individual Road courses against the higher direction of travel for the selection of information may be relevant. Are these known geographical peculiarities, so can corresponding grid squares Transformation parameters can be assigned. This For example, conversion parameters can cause Information with the direction vector "north" for the Grid square xy are always output and therefore not can be filtered out.

The filtered information of the reference area is output as data records. In addition to the content of the message (form of output: text or code), each data record also contains the position of the respective fault in order to enable the position-dependent and direction-dependent display of the information in the vehicle's end device (automatic mode). The position can be a point or a geometric figure.
The output message (TINFO_response) is generated from the data records and transferred to the communication server together with the subscriber identity (T-ID).

If after generation of the output message (TINFO_response), new important ones within a defined period Messages for the reference area should arrive passed on to the user.

If in the traffic information request received Parameter info_audio = on is set and messages (after the Filtering) for the reference range, these are in implemented a voice message. As a rule, on Speech generator used with a standard vocabulary. In In special cases, the text of information can also be provided by one Operator can be spoken to.

Claims (18)

1. Method for the selection and filtering of traffic data in a mobile radio supported traffic information service, wherein, in a traffic information editing facility of a service centre, traffic data are collected, processed taking into account a user's present location, and passed on to the user via the mobile radio network at the user's request, characterized in that the user is able, depending on the extent of the traffic data he requires, to select various optional inquiry modes via a suitable mobile radio terminal and thereby to retrieve traffic data with various information contents from the service centre, the information content of the traffic data retrieved being processed by the service centre in a user-specific manner to take account of the selected inquiry mode, present location and/or stated destination, and by selective filtering.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the service centre has at its disposal a digital road map divided into geographical zones, e.g. grid squares, the traffic data processed by the traffic information editing facility being assigned to the appropriate zones.
3. Method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the service centre makes an approximate determination of the user's location by identifying the radio cell in which the user is presently situated.
4. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user's location is determined by means of a GPS integrated in the terminal or in a vehicle, and the GPS data are transmitted to the service centre.
5. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ascertained location of the user is assigned to an appropriate zone of the digital map.
6. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a local inquiry mode, in which the user obtains local traffic data relative to his location, is provided.
7. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a regional inquiry mode, in which the user obtains regional traffic data relative to his location, is provided.
8. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the user inputs the journey destination, specifying co-ordinates, a telephone number, or the post code of the destination, and these data are then transmitted to the service centre and assigned to an appropriate zone of the digital map.
9. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a destination-orientated inquiry mode is provided, in which the user obtains traffic data appertaining to the projected route based on his location and destination.
10. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that filtering of the traffic data is performed on the basis of directional vectors determined from the projected or known direction of travel.
11. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the local and regional inquiry modes all directional vectors radiating from the vehicle's location are taken into account for the filtering of the traffic data.
12. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that in the destination-orientated inquiry mode the directional vector pointing from the present location to the destination is primarily taken into account for filtering.
13. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the filtering of traffic data is performed by only taking account of traffic data on one or more individual classes of road (e.g. regional highways, national highways, motorways, etc.) in accordance with the inquiry mode selected.
14. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a traffic density parameter (PVD) is assigned to each zone of the digital map.
15. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a traffic information reference range (Vol_VIBezug) is defined which is derived as follows from the selected inquiry mode (VImod) and a traffic density parameter (PVD) assigned to the individual zone in which the vehicle is located: Vol_VIBezug = PVD + VImod.
16. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the traffic information reference range defines the area around the user's location on which the traffic data are to be provided.
17. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a text readout of the traffic data is output in the user terminal.
18. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a voice readout of the traffic data is output in the user terminal.

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