EP2210247A1

EP2210247A1 - Prognosis system for predicting driving times, vehicle-assisted route planning system, traffic information system and method

Info

Publication number: EP2210247A1
Application number: EP08804659A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dieter Kolb
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2007-10-19
Filing date: 2008-09-24
Publication date: 2010-07-28
Also published as: WO2009053197A1; DE102007050154A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a traffic information system (S) comprising a central prognosis system (10) for predicting driving times, and at least one vehicle-assisted route planning system (20), wherein the prognosis system (10) is in contact or can establish contact with each route planning system (20) for transmitting current and predicted driving times via a respective communication path (K2, K3).

Description

description

Prediction system for predicting driving time, vehicle-based route planning system, traffic information system and method

The invention relates to a forecasting system for predicting driving times and a vehicle-based route planning system according to claim 1 or 3, a traffic information system according to claim 6 and an associated traffic information method according to claim 9.

Motorists with navigation systems are guided through these systems to their destination. If there is a congestion on their route, then it is often too late for a large-scale evasion via an alternative route. Even if the drivers are informed about the traffic jam or traffic message channel (TMC). It would be better, therefore, if they were warned in good time that a traffic jam is likely to occur at a certain point in a certain amount of time. Then motorists could react in time and choose other routes.

Navigation systems use electronic map material. In it, the road network is divided into a large number of segments. For each segment S ₁ , the average time τ (S ₁ ) for driving through the segment under normal conditions, that is without congestion, indicated. From these values the estimated travel time to the destination is determined.

Let Si, ..., S _{n be} a connected sequence of segments describing a path from the current position to the destination, then

the normal driving time from the current position to the destination. Let s'i, ..., s ' _{m be} a different sequence of segments to the same destination, then on this route the normal travel time t' to the destination is given by

In the case of several alternative routes, a navigation system selects the route whose normal driving time is minimal, provided that the navigation system is to choose the fastest and not the shortest route.

Sensors on major roads capture the current traffic situation. Traffic centers recognize congestion and other traffic disruptions, and broadcasters transmit information on traffic obstructions to the navigation systems via TMC. Information such as 'congestion' or 'stagnant traffic' can be converted by a navigation system into an average expected travel time extension on the affected segment. With this relatively rough data, the route can then be recalculated and the driver is optionally redirected to an alternative route.

Recently, INRIX has been offering congestion forecasts on the highways in the US (http://www.inrix.com). This information can be retrieved from a mobile phone and is then displayed in a map on the mobile phone display. The presentation has three levels (green, yellow, red) and reflects the expected situation in 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. The data are based on historical traffic data collected over a period of two years. From this it can be seen, for example, that on a certain highway section on Monday morning at 08:00 o'clock typically a jam is to be expected, while on Tuesday at the same time normally slow-moving traffic prevails there. The evaluation of these on US highways limited information and their implementation in possibly another route must be made by the motorist himself.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic information system and method that is simple in construction and inexpensive, and that allows a quick and reliable prediction of future travel times.

This object is first achieved by a forecasting system for predicting driving times, having an interface for detecting current driving times on respective road segments of an electronic road map, with a driving time forecasting unit that is capable of calculating a future driving time based on the current driving times taking into account historical traffic records Traffic situations and / or information about events is designed, and with an interface for output of such predicted as well as current travel times.

The present invention assumes that by evaluating traffic records as in the case of INRIX, by pattern comparisons of traffic situations and by information about upcoming events, for example a football match in a large arena, traffic congestions on a route segment at a particular time point are predicted can be. For pattern comparisons, information such as' if there is currently a travel time extension of x seconds in one segment and an increment of y seconds in another segment, then a travel time extension of z seconds is expected in n minutes in a third segment '.

The output data for the forecast thereby form the current travel times on each individual road segment, which are recorded, for example, by vehicles in traffic and transmitted via a wireless interface to a central station, as in the case of FCD (floating car data). Based on this basis, future travel times in individual segments can be easily and quickly predicted and made available for further processing.

An advantageous development of the forecasting system relates to the said interfaces for detecting the current travel times and for outputting the predicted travel times or forwarding the current travel times, which are preferably designed as a common radio interface.

The above object is also achieved by a vehicle-based route planning system having an interface for detecting current and predicted travel times on respective road segments of an electronic road map, with an input unit for detecting a desired travel route, with a travel time determination unit that calculates a total travel time thereon Travel route is formed, wherein the total travel time results from a sum of respective individual driving times, which are predicted at the time of entry of the vehicle in a relevant segment of the route, and with an interface for representing calculated total travel times.

The current and the predicted driving times, for example, in 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes are regularly transmitted to all vehicles in a suitable manner for all segments, for example by the TPEG-format broadcasting stations via DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). , and evaluated in the route planning system.

The route planning system does not now calculate the current route by using the normal travel time per segment traveled, but it takes into account the predicted transit time for the time at which the vehicle arrives at the respective segment. Let to be the current time and τ (S ₁ , x) the travel time through segment S ₁ at time x, x ≥ to. Then the travel time t to be ^expected results on the route Si,..., S _n

wherein the time t _k , at which the vehicle enters the segment s _{k +} i, is calculated by

Advantageous developments of the route planning system are given in the subclaims 4 and 5.

Thereafter, it is provided in an advantageous embodiment that the travel time determination unit is designed for temporal interpolation between predicted travel times. If the traffic center transmits the predicted transit time for a segment only for widely separated discrete times, the route planning system can thus determine the predicted value for the time actually required. This significantly increases the accuracy of the forecast.

The route planning system according to the invention is preferably embodied integrally with a navigation system whose usually existing planning functions are expanded by a corresponding prognosis possibility. Starting from the always current location then, for example, an alternatively shortest and / or fastest route to a

Target can be predicted, which can also be limited to certain types of route (highway, country road, etc.). This makes it very flexible to use the forecasting option.

The present object is additionally achieved by a traffic information system comprising a forecasting system according to the invention. System and at least one vehicle-based route planning system according to the invention, wherein the forecasting system is in communication with each route planning system for communicating current and predicted travel times via a respective communication link.

An essential point of the traffic information system consists in the distribution of functions, in which the forecasting system initially provides basic data, ie current and predicted driving times, which are only used in the route planning system for a concrete route forecast. The centralization of data processing in the forecasting system thus relieves the individual route planning systems, whose computing power, memory, etc. only needs to meet the requirements of the forecast.

Advantageous developments of the traffic information system are given in the subclaims 7 and 8.

Thereafter, in an advantageous embodiment of the traffic information system, it is provided that at least one of the route planning systems has an interface for transmitting current travel times to the prognosis system. Such a survey method allows a particularly accurate picture of the current traffic situation. Since these data are used as output data for a respective prognosis, their significance increases.

Conversely, a particularly large-scale supply of the route planning systems is achieved with basic data via a radio transmitter, which is integrated in the communication path between the forecasting system and the route planning systems and which is designed to transmit travel times to the route planning systems. It can be based on the already introduced DAB method, the TPEG format of navigation systems in vehicles can be evaluated. In addition to the large-scale data supply, the interface of the forecasting system is also easier to design. The present object is further achieved by a traffic information method in which current travel times on respective road segments of an electronic road map and future travel times based on the current travel times and by using historical traffic records, comparable traffic situations and / or information on events calculated and current and such Predicted travel times are spent.

The method is characterized by its simple implementation with the advantages already described above. For example, the following program calculates, in pseudocode, the travel time t on a route with the segments

Si, ..., S _n '.

tθ = current time; t = 0; for i from 1 to n do t = t + segment travel time (s [i], tθ + t);

After each loop step n, t is the travel time until leaving the respective segment, at the end therefore the travel time for the entire route from segment 1 to segment n.

Advantageous developments of the traffic information method are given in the subclaims 10 to 13.

Thereafter, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the current and predicted travel times and a desired travel route are detected, and an overall travel time on this travel route is calculated from a sum of respective individual travel times predicted at the time of entry into a relevant segment of the route , and the thus calculated total travel time is output. It will no longer be just the current Rule calculated using the normal travel time per segment traveled, but the predicted transit time for the time when the vehicle arrives at each segment. The actual travel time to a desired destination can thus be predicted much better.

It is preferred in this case if the future travel times are calculated at times which have a greater temporal distance from each other as time progresses. This can be done in steps of 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes, for example. On the one hand, this allows a very accurate forecast for the near future. On the other hand, there are already values for the future ahead. However, the computational power of the forecasting system is focused on the near future, which is even less vulnerable to unexpected events such as accidents or the like.

In principle, the transmission of the current and predicted travel times from the forecasting system to the route planning systems is particularly efficient if this is done in

Time points occur, for example, in which there are significant changes in these values in individual segments. However, a particularly reliable data supply is guaranteed if the current and predicted times are transmitted at regular intervals. For example, these are then quickly applied to a route planning system that has just been switched on.

The automatic evaluation of a prognosis is preferably achieved when a plurality of alternative travel routes to a destination are detected, the respective total travel time is calculated and the route with the shortest total travel time is output. The driver is thus relieved of this task and can concentrate on the traffic itself.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. explained in more detail. The same or equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a traffic information system according to the invention, with a central forecasting system, a vehicle-based route planning system and a radio transmitter, and

Figure 2 shows the schematic structure of the route planning system of Figure 1 with its essential functions.

1 shows a traffic information system S according to the invention, with a central forecasting system 10, a vehicle-based route planning system 20 and a broadcasting station 30. The forecasting system 10 can be located, for example, in a traffic control center and has an interface 11 for recording current travel times Ta of vehicles F on individual road segments. The travel times Ta are transmitted here by way of example by the route planning system 20 via communication link K1 according to the FDC method. However, any other type of detection may also be provided, for example by monitoring sensors or cameras on the traffic routes, by recording police reports, etc. The current travel times Ta form the basis for determining future travel times Tp at a driving time forecasting unit

12. At this unit 12, the future travel times Tp are calculated on individual segments, historical traffic data D, rules R from comparable traffic situations and information V relating to events being included in the calculation. The current and the predicted travel times Ta, Tp are then transmitted via an interface 13 via communication link K2 to the radio transmitter 30, which in turn transmits these data via a communication link K3 to the route planning systems 20. The interposition of the transmitter 30 allows for a large-scale supply of basic data, ie the current and predicted travel times Ta, Tp. At least one route planning system In this way, these data are available for carrying out a concrete total travel time forecast.

FIG. 2 shows the schematic structure of the route planning system 20 of FIG. 1 with its essential functions. The current and the predicted travel times are thereby recorded via an interface 21 and transferred to a travel time determination unit 22, at which a specific total travel time to a destination is calculated and displayed via an interface 23. The destination can also be specified via this interface 23.

The travel time determination unit 22 takes into account the predicted transit time for the time at which the vehicle F actually arrives at the respective segment. The total travel time then results as the sum of the predicted individual travel times to the destination.

For example, the invention provides drivers with early information about developing traffic jams and can react to them in good time. If many drivers dodge the forecasted traffic jam, the traffic jam may no longer arise or be smaller. On the other hand, motorists also learn in this way that a current traffic jam on their route will have dissolved until they have reached this point. There is no reason for them to resort to an alternative route. In total, the journey time to its destination with regard to existing traffic connections is optimized for each individual driver. The existing transport infrastructure is better utilized.

Claims

claims

A forecasting system (10) for predicting driving times, having an interface (11) for detecting current driving times on respective road segments of an electronic vehicle

A road map, comprising a driving time prediction unit (12) configured to calculate a future driving time based on the current driving times taking into account historical traffic records, comparable traffic situations and / or event information, and an interface (13) for outputting such forecasted traffic from current driving times.

2. prognosis system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the interfaces (11, 13) is designed as a common radio interface.

3. A vehicle-based route planning system (20), having an interface (21) for detecting current and predicted travel times on respective road segments of an electronic road map, with an input unit for detecting a desired travel route, with a travel time determination unit (22), which Calculating a total travel time is formed on this route, wherein the total travel time results from a sum of respective individual driving times, which are predicted at the entry time of the vehicle in a relevant segment of the route, and with an interface (23) for representing thus calculated total travel times ,

4. route planning system (20) according to claim 3, wherein the travel time determination unit (22) is designed for temporal interpolation between predicted driving times.

5. Route planning system (20) according to claim 3 or 4, which is formed integrally with a navigation system.

A traffic information system (S) comprising a forecasting system (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 and at least one vehicle-based route planning system (20) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the forecasting system (10) communicates with each route planning system (20) current or predicted travel times over a respective communication link (K2, K3) is in communication or can connect.

7. traffic information system (S) according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the route planning systems (20) has an interface (24) for transmitting current travel times to the forecasting system (10).

8. Traffic information system (S) according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a radio transmitter (30) in the communication path (K2, K3) between the forecasting system (10) and the route planning systems (20) involved and for transmitting travel times to the Route planning systems (20) is formed.

9. Traffic information method in which current travel times are recorded on respective road segments of an electronic road map and future travel times based on the current travel times and by using historical traffic records, comparable traffic situations and / or information on events calculated and spent the current and so predicted travel times ,

10. The traffic information method according to claim 9, wherein the current and predicted travel times and a desired travel route are detected, and a total travel time on this travel route is calculated from a sum of respective individual travel times predicted at the entry time into a respective segment of the route , and the thus calculated total travel time is output.

11. Traffic information method according to claim 9 or 10, in which the future travel times are calculated at points in time which have a greater temporal distance from each other as time progresses.

12. Traffic information method according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the current and predicted driving times are transmitted at regular intervals.

The traffic information method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a plurality of alternative travel routes to a destination are detected, the respective total travel time is calculated, and the route having the shortest total travel time is output.