EP1012809B1 - Method, system and devices for collecting traffic data - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a system for collecting data concerning traffic on a road network via a telecommunication system, which consists in determining the real positions of the vehicles by a plurality thereof and, in particular, via a mobile radio network (4) in conformity with the GSM standard, by means of short messages (3) transmitted to a traffic data central unit (5) comprising a short message service centre (50) capable of operating special services (51, 52). A special service (51) of the short message service centre (50) processes the received positions and computes the average speeds for predetermined road sections, which are stored in a data bank, in the form of individual time series for the respective corresponding predetermined road sections. Another special service (52) of the short message service centre (50) evaluates the time series of the average speeds for the predetermined road sections, taking into account the traffic jams and supplies to clients corresponding data concerning bottlenecks in the traffic.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for collecting Traffic data from a road network via a communication system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of collection of traffic data from a road network via a cellular network, wherein at least the current positions of a variety of motor vehicles Processing to be transmitted to a traffic data center.

In the prior art, various methods and Systems for collecting traffic data known on sensors based, which are installed at certain primary points in the road network. Traffic data in these procedures and systems are on the primary sites limited and if a better area coverage is desired, the lead necessary installations in many places and especially maintenance of the numerous sensors quickly at high costs.

There are also known solutions that are expensive Avoid installing many sensors and instead traffic data record mobile from vehicles. A traffic information system (Traffic Information System), in which information about traffic jams or accidents caused by a device installed in a vehicle are collected is described in EP 0 720 137 A2. Besides the possibility Information about traffic jams, accidents and weather manually to enter includes the device described therein Automobile navigation system for position determination, a laser radar device to determine the number, speed and shape of Traffic congestion information and Accident information generated. Various are passed through a repeater the vehicle collects information collected from a central office from where it is sent back to vehicles after processing by the head office become.

A traffic monitoring system with reduced Communication requirements (Traffic Monitoring System With Reduced Communications Requirements) is described in WO 95/14292. In this There are calibration vehicles that are equipped with a system Differential GPS (Global Positioning System), while longer Calibration phases along selected routes Average speeds of short time intervals together with the record the corresponding time and position. The recorded Data from all calibration vehicles are stored in the computer Central loaded and processed there statistically around a data baseline To get average speed patterns. Depending on this Based on the data base, exploratory vehicles are used which Transfer speed using a cellular phone, if it is around you predefined value deviates from the data baseline.

WO 96/30884 describes the transmission of position signals from mobile units (Communication of Position Signals from Mobile Units) described which calls are automatically carried out for the transmission in a mobile phone network such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) suggests network

WO 97/29470 describes a method for the detection of Traffic situation data described in which one is in traffic moving vehicle of a sample vehicle fleet continuously the current speed of the vehicle is determined from the determined current speeds in the vehicle determines speed profiles and be compared with reference values, and through the vehicle's key figures, such as the average speed of the vehicle in one Street section, determined, cached and sent to one Traffic situation recording center are transmitted.

DE 196 04 084 A1 describes a method and a device for Determination of dynamic traffic information described in which traffic-relevant data, such as the current speed, of End devices included in the vehicle and together with one Location information directly to others via a mobile telecommunications network Cellular subscribers and / or transmitted to a higher-level service center where they are processed.

In WO 90/05969 a traffic congestion monitoring system described in which permanently installed monitoring units stationary or slow moving traffic units based on the frequency of Infrared radiation pulses from these traffic units, detect and Information about traffic jams at the relevant location to a central office transmit the information to display units in vehicles transmitted. According to WO 90/05969 the head office for everyone Monitoring unit historically the vehicle speeds over the Calendar time saved. According to WO 90/05969 is also on the Screen of a display unit for a highlighted Traffic jam location shows the vehicle speed at this location.

It is the object of this invention a new and improved one Propose a method and system for collecting traffic data, which, in particular, not on sensors permanently installed in the road network is instructed.

According to the present invention, this goal is particularly achieved through the elements of the independent claims. More beneficial Embodiments also go from the dependent claims and the description.

In particular, these objectives are achieved by the invention achieved that the current positions of those in the road network Motor vehicles continuously and directly transmitted to a traffic data center where they are collected and processed to provide traffic data, in particular average speeds for defined Street segments, to save and update in a database, the traffic data center each the transmitted positions corresponding road segments determined, the segment length of is variable in at least certain road segments, the Traffic data center for the specific road segments Average speeds are calculated, and being the Traffic data center from the transmitted positions Traffic information determines which traffic information at least the Average speeds include.

With the present method, the position of one in Road network motor vehicle preferably by means of a Differential Global Positioning System (GPS) determines with which the relevant motor vehicle is equipped. The current ones determined in this way Positions are determined by the motor vehicle using short messages (Short Message Service, SMS) via a mobile network, which is preferably based on the GSM standard works, transmitted to a traffic data center.

The traffic data center preferably comprises a short message Service center which is equipped to provide special services can carry out by means of short messages from participants in the mobile network be commissioned, preferably according to the procedure under is described in another patent EP 0689 368 B1. In this process applications in the service center communicate with applications on a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card using short messages via a Mobile network according to the GSM standard. A software filter for received Short messages allow special services, such as the exchange of files, Instructions and programs between the service center and a SIM Card to execute. It is important to clarify here that for the present Invention is not the SIM card used in EP 0689 368 B1, but that their features, especially the software filter for execution of special services, also in another form known to the person skilled in the art can be realized.

The determined current position is within the short message, after the header of the short message and after a second header that the indicates special service, transmitted. The so in a short message by the Traffic data center positions received by the special Service cached in the Short Message Service Center. In one further step through this service based on position and Average speeds for predefined road segments calculates which in individual time series for the respective corresponding predefined road segments can be saved in a database.

The transmission of the current position of motor vehicles by means of Short messages particularly show the advantages of short ones Transmission times and low transmission costs.

The following is an embodiment of the present invention described using an example. The example of execution is by The following figures are illustrated:

Fig. 1 shows an overview diagram with a section of segmented road network, a motor vehicle, the mobile network, and the traffic data center.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the device for the Motor vehicle, which components for determining and transferring the Position includes.

Fig. 3 shows the structure of a short message for the transmission of certain position.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of a flow chart, the Determination of time series with average speeds of Illustrated street segments.

Fig. 5 shows a possible flow diagram, which the determination of Time series with average speeds of street segments illustrated.

The reference number 1 refers to a section of the road Road network, which, in this example, into the road segments 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d is divided. The length of the road segments can be freely be defined, but is preferably fifty meters to several Kilometre. A variable segment length, for example of the average traffic density is also possible. in the Road segment 10a is a motor vehicle 2, which is in the Moved towards the next road segment 10b in the direction of the arrow. In In this example, the road has two lanes, for example with different ones Direction of travel, on. However, it does not matter to the invention whether it is is a single or multi-lane street or highway.

A device 20 is located within the motor vehicle 2 their components 200, 201, 202, 203, and 204 explained in more detail below become.

Component 200 includes position determining means, in a differential global positioning system, which determines the position with an accuracy of approximately allows one meter.

Components 201 and 202 contain transmission means, which make it possible in a mobile radio network 4 according to the GSM standard to communicate (GSM component 201) and in this GSM network Transfer short messages (SMS component 202).

In a preferred variant, the position of the motor vehicle 2 periodically transmitted to the traffic data center 5. Within this Period is first the position of the motor vehicle 2 using the GPS Component 200 determined. The value of the specific position becomes the SMS component 202 passed where they inserted in the short message 3 (Fig. 3) becomes. The short message 3 is structured so that the field 31 the The standard short message header contains that field 32 contains a contains another second header that the recipient of the special service - in in this case the collection of traffic data - indicates that the field 33 contains the value of the specific position of the motor vehicle 2. The so The short message 3 that has been set up is then sent by the GSM component 201 the same period via the mobile radio network 4 to the traffic data center 5 cleverly.

The traffic data center 5 comprises a short message service Center (SSC) 50 which in addition to the functionality for the treatment of standard short messages the functionality has special Services that are specified in the second header 32 to recognize and the Content of the short messages to the corresponding applications Execution of the corresponding special services - in this case the Application for the collection of traffic data 51 - pass on.

An execution of the method according to the invention is now carried out with With the help of the enclosed Figure 4 described. Determined in a first step 601 the application for the collection of traffic data 51 the reception time and takes the value of field 33 from step 33 during step 602 Motor vehicle 2 transmitted current position.

In step 603 it is checked whether the transmitter in question, in this Case motor vehicle 2, a position has already been received. In case that has not yet received a position value from the transmitter concerned Step 607 continued in which the time determined in step 601, the received position value and the identification of the transmitter is stored. In the event that a position has already been received from the transmitter concerned In step 604, the average vehicle speed of the corresponding motor vehicle from the previous and new time and Position values calculated. In step 605 that of the newly transmitted Position corresponding road segment, in this case 10a, determined. in the Step 606 becomes that in step 601 for that particular road segment certain time and the calculated average vehicle speed saved.

After the time determined in step 601, the received one Position value and the identification of the transmitter are stored in step 607 was checked in step 608 whether for the particular road segment a new average speed is to be calculated. In a This becomes variant by comparing the time determined in step 601 with a periodically incremented target time. In another variant this decision depends on the number of since the last Average calculation for the relevant street segment stored average vehicle speeds. If none If a new calculation is necessary, processing of the received data ends Short message 3 in step 611. Otherwise, in step 609 the Average speed calculated for the relevant street segment (if the variant allows this step without newly saved average vehicle speeds will run for this Case the existing average speed for that one Road segment given as a result). In step 610, the for the Road segment calculated average speed along with the current time in a database as a new value in a time series for the corresponding street segment saved. After that the ends Processing the received short message 3 in step 611.

The procedure for collecting Traffic data proves to be advantageous as that in the database Stored traffic data continuously and directly through the in the Road vehicles located are updated. In addition to non-commercial Passenger cars can also, for example, in particular Public transport vehicles, such as buses, or the through commercial traffic, such as taxis or trucks Equipment with a corresponding device (20) for collecting Traffic data are included.

In one variant, the device 20 also has a clock 203, which when determining the current position of the motor vehicle current time is determined, which is in addition to the position in the short message 3 is transmitted. Correspondingly, in this variant in the first step 601 this transmitted time taken from the short message 3 instead of the Reception time is determined. This variant has the advantage that the Calculation of the average vehicle speed Motor vehicle not through the transmission times of short messages be falsified.

In another variant, the current position of the Motor vehicle, which is determined at the beginning of the period mentioned, within this period after a short predefined period of time, from for example three seconds, determined a second time and in the Send short message 3 to the traffic data center. The certain current positions are in two different, within the short predefined duration of successive short messages with the corresponding, successively determined current positions transfer. In another version of this variant, the successively determined current positions in a common Transfer the short message to the traffic data center. Both Embodiments of this variant have the advantage that the calculation the average vehicle speed of a motor vehicle the application for the collection of traffic data is simplified because the Time difference between the current successively determined in a period Positions of a motor vehicle always exactly the short predefined Duration corresponds.

It would also be possible for the device 20 to have means 204 has to determine the speed of the motor vehicle. In order to could in addition to the current position of the motor vehicle, the current Motor vehicle speed determined and in addition to the current Position in the short message 3 are transferred. This would make the Calculation of the average vehicle speed Motor vehicle through the application for the collection of traffic data 51st superfluous and there would be the following in a corresponding manner Course. The application 51 determines the in a first step 701 Receiving time (or takes the time of the short message if it is from Motor vehicle is determined and transmitted) and in step 702 takes the Short message 3 the current transmitted by motor vehicle 2 Vehicle speed and current position (field 33). In step 705 the street segment corresponding to the newly transmitted position, in this Case 10a, determined. In step 706, this is determined Road segment the time determined in step 701 and the received one Vehicle speed saved. Step 708 checks whether for the certain road segment a new average speed should be calculated. This is done by comparing that in step 701 certain time with a periodically incremented target time or this Decision depends on the number of averages since the last calculation stored for the relevant street segment Vehicle speeds. If no new calculation is necessary, The processing of the received short message 3 ends in step 711. Otherwise, in step 709 the average speed for the road segment concerned (if it is permissible that this Step without newly saved average vehicle speeds in this case the existing one will be executed Average speed for the relevant street segment as Result given). In step 710, that for the road segment calculated average speed together with the current time in a database as a new value in a time series for the corresponding one Street segment saved. After that the processing of the received short message 3 in step 711.

In addition to the application for the collection of traffic data 51 the traffic data center 5 also includes other applications 52 which also perform 3 requested special services by means of short messages. For example, application 52 provides specific ones upon request Traffic information such as information about traffic jams. In this example evaluates the application 52 by the application for the collection of Traffic data 51 created and stored in a database Time series of average speeds of road segments in the With regard to traffic congestion. In this evaluation there is a traffic jam by significantly reducing the average speed in one or more connected street segments. An interested customer, for example in a motor vehicle 2, can for example, traffic jam information from a particular street or an area or for the roads between an exit and an exit Request destination. These special services are created using Short messages 3 via the cellular network 4 to the traffic data center in Ordered, preferably as described above, according to the procedure which is shown, inter alia, in patent EP 0689 368 B1. For the One skilled in the art can easily see that there are various possibilities for this Customers in the motor vehicle 2 means for requesting such special services and means of presenting the resulting information but this is not the subject of this invention.

Although this has not been described in this embodiment it is quite possible to have several traffic data centers, which for example, communicate with each other and with each other Share and exchange traffic data.

In particular, it is also important to emphasize that the Traffic data for the road segments not only on time series from Average speeds need to be limited, but that Rather, other traffic information is determined, transmitted, can be received, processed, saved and distributed. So can for example in field 34 additional information such as street temperature, Air temperature or visibility (determined, for example, by the detection the presence and density of fog) for further use to the Traffic data center are transmitted.

Regarding the determination of the current position of a Motor vehicle 2, it is also particularly important to clarify that this is not executed exclusively using the Global Positioning System (GPS) must be, but that this can also be done with another Position determining means, for example in particular by means of a Terrestrial Positioning System (TPS) can be run.

Claims (10)

1. Method for collecting traffic data from a road network via a mobile radio network (4), the current position of a vehicle being determined by position determining means with which at least certain vehicles on the road network are equipped, the determined positions being communicated by transmission means, with which at least said certain vehicles are equipped, by means of special short messages (3) over said mobile radio network (4) to at least one traffic data centre, said special short messages being distinguished in said at least one traffic data centre (5) from other short messages, and said positions transmitted by a multiplicity of said certain vehicles to said at least one traffic data centre (5) being received and temporarily stored by said at least one traffic data centre (5), characterised

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) determines in each case the road segments corresponding to the transmitted said positions, the segment lengths of at least certain road segments being variable,

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) calculates average speeds for the determined road segments, and

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) ascertains traffic information from the transmitted said positions, which traffic information comprises at least said average speeds.
2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said current positions are determined and transmitted periodically by said certain vehicles (2).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said average speeds are stored in a database as individual time series for each of the corresponding road segments.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in addition to the current position, the current time is determined and transmitted by said certain vehicles (2).
5. System for collecting traffic data from a road network via a mobile radio network (4), comprising a multiplicity of devices (20) for vehicles (2), with which devices (20) for vehicles (2) at least certain vehicles on the road network are equipped, and at least one traffic data centre (5), one of said devices (20) for vehicles (2) comprising in each case at least position determining means (200) for determining the current position of the respective vehicle and transmission means (201, 202) for transmitting said position by means of special short messages (202) over said mobile radio network (4) to said at least one traffic data centre (5), said at least one traffic data centre (5) being connected with said mobile radio network (4) and having access to a database, said at least one traffic data centre (5) having means for receiving and temporarily storing said special short messages (3), and said at least one traffic data centre (5) being set up in such a way that it determines said positions of said at least certain vehicles from the temporarily stored short messages, characterised

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it determines in each case road segments corresponding to the determined said positions, the segment lengths of at least certain road segments being variable,

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it calculates average speeds for the determined road segments, and

   in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it ascertains traffic information from the determined said positions, which traffic information comprises at least said average speeds.
6. System according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said devices (20) for vehicles (2) are equipped in such a way that they determine and transmit said current positions periodically.
7. System according to one of the claims 5 to 6, characterised in that said at least one traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it stores in said database said average speeds as individual time series for each of the corresponding road segments.
8. System according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterised in that said devices (20) for vehicles (2) are equipped in such a way that they determine and transmit the current time in addition to the current position.
9. Traffic data centre (5) for collecting traffic data from a road network via a mobile radio network (4), which traffic data centre (5) is connected with said mobile radio network (4) and has access to a database, which traffic data centre (5) has means for receiving and temporarily storing special short messages (3), which special short messages (3) are transmitted by at least certain vehicles (2) and contain current positions of the respective said at least certain vehicles (2), which traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it determines said positions of said at least certain vehicles (2) from the temporarily stored short messages, characterised

   in that the traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it determines in each case road segments corresponding to the determined said positions, the segment lengths of at least certain road segments being variable,

   in that the traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it calculates average speeds for the determined road segments, and

   in that the traffic data centre (5) is equipped in such a way that it ascertains traffic information from the determined said positions, which traffic information comprises at least said average speeds.
10. Traffic data centre (5) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it is equipped in such a way that it stores in said database said average speeds as individual time series for each of the corresponding road segments.

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