AU699910B2

AU699910B2 - A traffic analysis system

Info

Publication number: AU699910B2
Application number: AU28521/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Cohen
Original assignee: TRAFFIC PRO Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Beonic Corp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-12
Filing date: 1997-07-09
Publication date: 1998-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-09
Also published as: AU2852197A

Description

This invention relates to a traffic analysis system, that is a system which allows the collection and analysis of statistics relating to traffic passing a point or within a region.

Traffic to which the present invention is applicable can occur in a number of situations. It may be motor vehicle traffic in a suburban or country area, it may be pedestrian traffic into a shopping centre or supermarket or it may be items travelling down a production line in a factory.

Whatever the traffic situation it is often desirable to be able to analyse traffic on the basis of traffic past a certain point in a certain time. It is desirable to 1 0 provide as accurate as possible counts of traffic and to analyse he data of those traffic counts to give meaningful results. Such a system may also be used for security purposes such as counting persons who enter and leave a space to determine if everyone has left it at the end of the day.

This invention will generally be discussed in relation to its use in shopping 1 5 centres and supermarkets and by retailers and shopping centre managers to analyse pedestrian flow but the invention is not limited to this application but ~may be directed to any of the types of traffic discussed above or other forms of traffic.

*eo *Management requirements by retailers and shopping centre managers 2 0 regarding the ongoing monitoring and analysis of retail sales and customer numbers is dynamic as technology improves to gather more data more efficiently. Customer service has become an important feature and more competitive, and customer and number analysis has become more popular provided that appropriate accurate data may be collected.

2 5 Counting customers using mechanical means by way of turnstiles is one method of collecting data about customer numbers. These are often thought as intrusive as the customer enters the premises and so electronic sensing by way of infra-red or optical beams across an entrance is a better and more up to date solution for creating the data. A problem with this, however, is that the 3 0 collection of data from such counters is labour intensive as it is necessary to go to each counter and read the number off that counter and if useful time based analysis of such counters is required it may be necessary to read the counters several times in a day.

Such counters, too, may not be set up to discriminate between real counts and spurious counts such as counts which occur when hands or even fingers pass through the infra-red beams.

Such counters may also not discriminate between traffic travelling in different directions.

It is one object of this invention to provide a tool for the monitoring of traffic flows within retail stores and shopping centres or the like determining general 1 0 customer traffic trends analysing customers traffic flows to determine the efforts of their promotions advertising merchandising and other marketing efforts.

It is a further object to provide management the ability to compartmentalise the retail location into smaller regions and compare the data with sales figures •achieved within that region to carefully analyse and focus on the strength of 15 position within the retail centre and to determine customer exposure thereby promoting increased sales levels.

9• full scale traffic analysis system should be able to collect the data in real time and instantly compare the progress of customer traffic producing reports and graphs on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and/or yearly basis.

i 20 In one form therefore the invention is said to reside in a traffic analysis system comprising a plurality of sensor arrays adapted to provide signals dependent S•on traffic past each of the sensor arrays, at least one data collection point adapted to receive and process the signals from the sensor arrays including a primary analysis of the signals to differentiate wanted and unwanted signals by selected criteria and to thereby provide a count of traffic, the count of traffic being stored in the at least one data collection point, a transmission network connecting the or each data collection point with an interrogation and reception means and control means to receive and further process the count q I \47 C 3A of traffic from the data collection points via the interrogation and reception means.

It will be seen that by this invention there is a network system wherein sensor arrays which may be placed in a range of positions in a factory, shopping centre or the like may collect data from a range of points and process the data a* a.

a a a 0 o *a a So *o to provide the types of traffic analysis required.

One feature of the present invention is the data collection point stage of the process and the interrogation of those data collection points. The data collection point stage of the system functions to process the signals from the sensors of a group of sensors and provides a point for the retrieval of the data of those data collection points.

The sensor arrays used may comprise one or more sensors in a multiple sensor array and may be any of a number of known types including infra-red transmission and reception type sensors, proximity sensors, contrast or colour 1 0 sensors, radar, ultrasonic and video sensors. Other sensors which may be used include thermal sensors, pressure type sensors and rf transceiver type sensors.

Each of the data collection points may receive data from a number of sensor *;*arrays and may be adapted to receive and process signals from a number of 1 5 different types of sensors within each of the sensor arrays. A primary analysis of the raw data received from the sensors may occur within the data collection -*-points. Such primary analysis may be dependent upon the type of sensor being used, the relevant characteristics of the article or object such as a person being counted the duration of a signal received from a sensor. The 2 0 primary analysis may be varied by a user depending on the type of detail required.

~For instance, in the case of analysis of pedestrian traffic a signal which had a duration less than a certain time or greater than a certain time may be ignored as they may indicate just a hand or limb passing the sensor in the case of a short time or a large package for instance being carried past the sensor which may provide a long duration.

The primary analysis may include a determination as to whether a sensor has been blocked so that it is no longer recording signals. This may be caused by vandalism or by accidental blocking of the signal. A warning signal may be 3 0 provided if the sensor is blocked for five minutes for instance.

Where the sensor arrays are used to count traffic in a wide region such as in a broad aisle of sensors there may be a number of sensors with perhaps both vertical and horizontal looking beams so that cross referencing of signals may be used so that spurious counts are not recorded.

For instance, an array of vertically scanning sensors may count traffic passing along a wide passageway with one horizontally scanning sensor checking that at least one of the signals from a vertical sensor at any one time relates to a person over a certain height. This will eliminate signals which may be recorded from small animals or small children or objects being carried or dragged along the ground.

The sensors may be installed in pairs and spaced up to 100mm apart in the 1 0 expected direction of travel of persons to be counted and by suitable polling and processing of the signals from each pair the actual direction of travel of persons may be determined.

The primary analysis therefore may also include detection of direction of travel of a person entering or leaving a region and time slot processing or time 1 5 stamping of each recorded signal.

Other forms of discrimination of signals are also within the scope of this :present invention.

Once the data collection point has received and processed the signals from the sensors to remove spurious counts then a counter within the data 2 0 collection points records the total number of counts.

Each data collection point may include reset means to enable initialisation at convenient intervals or when setting up.

The data transfer means may be associated with a computer which also includes the control means and the means to process the counts from the data collection points to analysis the data.

Alternatively data transfer means may include a modem or other data handling device so that from a remote location the modem may be contacted by telephone or radio to interrogate the various data collection points in turn.

Alternatively the data collection point may include instruction sets to send the 6 data which has been stored via the modem or other device at selected periods of time to the control means. The transfer protocol for such transmission of data may include storage of the data on e-mail or similar storage devices until it is convenient to collect it.

The cable network for the data collection points may be set out in any desired configuration which may include a daisy chain arrangement branched radial or star arrangements and preferably the network uses a standard modem protocol for transmission of signals.

The interrogation means may be associated with a computer system which 1 0 also includes the control means and the means to process the counts from the data collection points to analysis the data and to provide a display of the data.

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Alternatively interrogation means may include a modem so that from a remote location the modem may be contacted by telephone or radio to interrogate the various data collection points in turn.

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1 5 The transmission network connecting the data collection points may be set out in any desired configuration which may include a daisy chain arrangement branched radial or star arrangements and preferably the network uses a standard modem protocol for transmission of signals. The transmission network may also use wireless communication techniques.

2 0 Preferably power requirements for the data collection points are transmitted down the cable network. This enables the sensors and data collection points to be placed in places where there is no available power supply. For long cable network runs booster power supplies may be provided at required intervals.

2 5 In use therefore in a preferred embodiment the general system operates by the data collection points recording counts and holding those recordings and at selected intervals the interrogation means interrogating each data collection point in turn to extract the count and if necessary resetting each counter in the data collection point and the data to the control means such as 3 0 a computer to allow analysis of the signals to give the desired traffic analysis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the data collection points may be set up to allow for at least ten varieties of optical and infra-red sensors with up to eight sensors being controlled by a single data collection point. The network may be a cable network and may include up to 1000 data collection points and have a total length of up to 1200 metres. Additional cable lengths can be added if required.

In a simplified arrangement of the traffic analysis system of the present invention the functions of the data collection point, interrogation means and the control means may be incorporated in a single component and hence the cable network is within that component. There may be supplied a data read 1 0 out and simple controls on the component.

Generally there is provided by this invention a system which enables occurrences occurring in a number of different places at once to be counted by use of a number of data collection points and then at convenient time intervals those data collection points can be interrogated to provide traffic ,1 5 information which can then be analysed.

Analysis of traffic information in real time may enable environmental *requirements such as air conditioning for a particular area to be determined in advance rather than working on a feedback system.

This then generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding of 2 0 the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG 1 there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a customer counting and analysis system looking at a passage or walkway in side view, FIG 2 there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a simplified customer counting and analysis system, and FIG 3 shows an arrangement of pairs of sensors looking from above.

In the drawing FIG 1 there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a customer counting and analysis system.

8 Now looking more closely at the drawing it will be seen that a cable network 1 has a plurality of data collection points 2 which may be in daisy chain configuration such as at 3 a serial configuration as at 16 or in a branched configuration such as at 4.

A corridor 5 in an entrance to a shopping centre for instance has six vertical sensors 7 mounted in the ceiling and one horizontal cross reference sensor 8 mounted on one wall with the sensors connected by cables 9 to the data collection point 6. The sensors 7 and 8 are arranged to count traffic across the wide corridor defined by floor 10 and walls 11. In alternative embodiments, 1 0 the vertical sensors 7 may be replaced by a single sensor collecting data from a wide angle.

At one time instant the vertical sensor beam 12 has located a person 13 passing under its beam and at the same time the beam 17 from the horizontal sensor 8 has also recorded a person passing the beam. Hence one count is 1 5 recorded.

At another time instant the vertical sensor beam 14 has recorded a small child passing under the beam but the horizontal sensor 8 has not recorded any object in the cross reference beam and hence no count is recorded.

""The valid counts are then added up in the data collection point 6. There may 2 0 be provided a readout such as a LED readout on the data collection point 6 and a reset button so that the number of persons passing selected point at a selected time can be checked.

A computer 20 is set to interrogate in turn each of the data collection points to receive the valid count data from each one and to provide an analysis of data on a time basis. For instance every ten minutes the computer may interrogate each data collection point and total the counts for each hour for each location in the shopping centre.

Preferably, each data collection point relates to data collected from a particular location within the shopping centre and hence meaningful analysis 3 0 of traffic can occur.

The data may be presented in hard copy form onto printer 21.

The analysis may relate to total traffic entering and leaving a shopping centre as well as traffic entering certain stores within the centre and even within certain parts of the store. The invention enables the collection of data from a number of places within a shopping centre or store in real time and the analysis of that data.

In FIG 2 there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a simplified customer counting and analysis system in which the data collection point includes the interrogation means and control means to receive and process the signals from the data collection point and t provide a display or an ability to 1 0 print out results to give a permanent record.

In FIG 2 those components equivalent to FIG 1 are given the same numbers.

The data collection point 25 incorporates the cable network, the interrogation "means and the control means. There is provided a display 26 to give a read out of the traffic counts in a selected time and controls 27.

1 5 FIG 3 shows an arrangement of pairs of sensors looking from above which can be used to determine direction of travel of objects in a monitored space.

In FIG 3 transmitting sensors 30 and receiving sensors 31 each have pairs of sensors 32 and 33 and 34 and 35 respectively. The sensors are adapted to monitor a passage way between walls 36 and 37. Each sensor receives its signals or sends its received data via cables 38 and plugs 39 to data collection point 40. The received data is cross-referenced with data from S: vertical sensors such as those designated 12 in FIG 1 to determine whether the object detected is the desired size to be counted.

Sensors 32 and 33 are energised and sensors 34 and 35 are polled at intervals to see whether an expected signal is being received. If no signal is received the something such as a person 42 is passing through beam 43.

Provided that the duration of an object passing through the beam 43 is within a predetermined period of time and subsequently beam 44 is also broken as determined by polling of sensor 35 then the passage of a person 42 is 3 0 recorded as travelling in the direction Throughout this specification unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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*°eo 11 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A traffic analysis system comprising a plurality of sensor arrays adapted to provide signals dependent on traffic past each of the sensor arrays, at least one data collection point adapted to receive and process the signals from the sensor arrays including a primary analysis of the signals to differentiate wanted and unwanted signals by selected criteria and to thereby provide a count of traffic, the count of traffic being stored in the at least one data collection point, a transmission network connecting the or each data collection point with an interrogation and reception means and control means to receive and further process the count of traffic from the data collection points via the interrogation and reception means.

2. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein each sensor array comprises one or more sensors.

1 5 3. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 2 wherein the sensor is selected the group comprising infra-red transmission and reception type sensors, proximity sensors, contrast, colour sensors, video sensors, radar, ultrasonic sensors, thermal sensors, pressure type sensors and rf transceiver type Sosensors.

20 4. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein each of the data S• collection points is adapted to receive and process signals from a number of different types of sensors within each array.

5. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein the interrogation means is associated with a computer system which also includes the control means and a means to process the counts from the data collection points to analysis the data.

6. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein the interrogation means includes a modem so that from a remote location the modem may be contacted by telephone or radio to interrogate the various data collection KA 0 points in turn.

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Claims

7. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein the transmission network comprises a wireless system.
8. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein the transmission network comprises a cable network.
9. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 8 wherein the cable network to the data collection points is set out in a configuration selected from a daisy chain arrangement, branched, radial or star arrangements and that the network uses a standard modem protocol for transmission of signals. 1 0 10. A traffic analysis system as in Claim 1 wherein the sensor arrays are multiple sensor arrays which are arranged to enable direction of travel of persons or objects in a monitored area to be detected.
11. A traffic analysis system according to claim 10, wherein the multiple *sensor arrays are used to monitor and track the path of one or more S" 15 individuals within the region. 4.
12. A traffic analysis system as in any one previous claim wherein a l :plurality of sensors are installed on all exits or entrances to a region and the total number of persons in that region is determined by the consolidated totals of persons entering and leaving the region. q 20 13. A traffic analysis as in Claim 1 wherein the cable network, the l interrogation means and the control means is included within a single control :box. l
14. A traffic analysis system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 30th day of October 1998 TRAFFIC PRO PTY LTD j By their Patent Attorneys, -COLLISON CO. ABSTRACT A traffic analysis system which uses a number of sensor arrays adapted to provide signals dependent on traffic past each of the sensor arrays and data collection points adapted to receive and process the signals from the sensor arrays and provide a count of traffic. A cable network connects each data collection point with an interrogation means and a control means to receive and process the signals from the data collection points via the interrogation means. Multiple sensor systems may also be used to give a determination of direction of traffic, or track the path of individuals. 0 *0 *0 S *0 S