EP1295273B1 - Method for detecting traffic data - Google Patents

Method for detecting traffic data Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1295273B1
EP1295273B1 EP01955212A EP01955212A EP1295273B1 EP 1295273 B1 EP1295273 B1 EP 1295273B1 EP 01955212 A EP01955212 A EP 01955212A EP 01955212 A EP01955212 A EP 01955212A EP 1295273 B1 EP1295273 B1 EP 1295273B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
route
terminals
traffic
terminal
base stations
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EP01955212A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1295273A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Alger
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Vodafone Holding GmbH
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Vodafone Holding GmbH
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/0104Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
    • G08G1/0137Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions for specific applications
    • G08G1/0141Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions for specific applications for traffic information dissemination
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/0104Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
    • G08G1/0108Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions based on the source of data
    • G08G1/012Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions based on the source of data from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/0104Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
    • G08G1/0125Traffic data processing
    • G08G1/0133Traffic data processing for classifying traffic situation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for detecting traffic situation data in one Traffic infrastructure network, that of a cellular mobile network with a variety of Base stations is covered and in which a variety of vehicles moves, the each with an operating mobile terminal for the mobile network, in particular a mobile phone, wherein information about Signal transit times between the terminals and the base stations detected and the Estimation of the current location of individual terminals are used.
  • TDMA mobile radio systems is the duration of each wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the Base stations of the mobile network for the purpose of adjusting the terminal synchronization, So determines the phase of the TDMA frame at the terminal. Because the Runtime of the signal is representative of the distance between the terminal and the respective base station can in principle a very simple location determination occur when the distances to several base stations are known. Consequently there is a possibility to determine the current geographical position of the respective terminal relative to the known geographical positions of the Base stations.
  • the location can thus also without the use of a GPS system, however, the accuracy is due to the limited resolution (about 500 m) generally lower. Especially in metropolitan areas would be due this limited accuracy no unique assignment of a mobile terminal, that is in a vehicle on a road, possible to this road.
  • EP-A-0412286 mentions the propagation time measurements of the emission at least describes three transmitters. This corresponds to the known GPS used Triangulation.
  • WO 9810307 is still a method for locating a mobile terminal in which the signal propagation times are first measured to map a pattern. These patterns are saved as a "Signature" file. The position of the terminal is then determined using this pattern of at least one base station. With a Capturing traffic situation data in a traffic network has nothing to do.
  • Object of the present invention is a method of the type mentioned in such a way that despite the limited resolution in the Position determination of a mobile terminal in a mobile network a very Reliable detection of the traffic situation on certain traffic routes Traffic network can be ensured without the use of special Facilities directed to the collection of traffic data in which the Vehicles using traffic routes is required.
  • a calibration phase of a In the calibration phase the database for the Implementation of the actual use phase is laid in which the current Recording of the traffic situation data takes place.
  • An essential feature of the invention is that at least for a part of the individual traffic routes of the traffic route network at least for selected base stations of the traffic network superimposed Cellular cellular network characteristic patterns of values for the Signal propagation times relative to the respective base station during movement of a terminal along the route of the respective traffic route are representative determined and permanently (database). The storage of these values can be done in the respective base station or in any central office for several or all Base stations take place together. In the following, these values become simplistic referred to by the term signal propagation times.
  • the current signal transit times are more selected Terminals that are in the transmission area of the respective base station, with the compared stored patterns. As far as doing so significant matches can be decided with great certainty, on which traffic route the respective terminal is currently located or on which traffic route it is currently was moved. This decision then provides the basis for the required Information about the traffic situation assessment.
  • a terminal When a terminal is detected, its pattern at current signal delays with none of the stored characteristic pattern, then it is a terminal that e.g. carried by a pedestrian away from a traffic route or on a previously the traffic situation monitoring not underlying route is on the way.
  • each base station has a has unique identifier, so that by appending this identifier to the given value of the term is given a unique assignment.
  • the characteristic patterns determined in the calibration phase can be, for example through statistical analysis of a variety of moving over the roads Terminals that are located in vehicles, for example, win. If many Vehicles traveling the same route must be in terms of Signal delays result in values that are a very strong match demonstrate. Since each location of a route is a typical value of signal transit time to belongs to each base station, must be in each sequence of values a variety of Values are located in the same way in the value sequences for terminal devices occur that have traveled the same distance. When the signal transit times in certain predetermined time intervals, is the number of for a course certain values determined depending on the particular Speed at which the terminal covers the distance. The value sequence Therefore, for the sake of comparability, it has to be reduced to one Standard speed compressed or pulled apart.
  • traffic situation data can be achieved by adding, in addition to the Signal transit times of the terminals selected for observation also include information recorded and temporarily stores the time of the detected signal transit times.
  • the size of signal propagation times can be determined by the timing information and the assignment of the values of the Signal transit times to geographical locations (with appropriate intervals derive from each other sizes that are responsible for the speed of movement of the respective terminal along the associated traffic route are representative. With Determining the current speed is a meaningful quantity for Assessment of the traffic situation.
  • the evaluation of the measured values determined according to the invention can basically be made within a base station. But it can also be beneficial Development of the invention, a traffic situation center be provided for a Variety of base stations is responsible and to which the information obtained to get redirected. This can be done appropriately in such a way that in each case in The base stations already preprocessing and compression of the data volume is made and that priority only in case of detection of anomalies in the Traffic situation of each observed sub-area of the traffic route network one Forwarding to the traffic management center takes place.
  • a large Percentage of terminals used to obtain information about Traffic situation assessment selected is expediently a large Percentage of terminals used to obtain information about Traffic situation assessment selected. For example, if only 10 devices in one are active in such area, are expediently all in the observation included. If, however, the number of terminals operated in such a Subarea considerably larger, then a restriction to a small one Percentage completely sufficient. So you can, for example, at 100 devices in 20% of the same area and 1,000 terminals in that area Restrict area to 5%, for example to drive up the hill. In principle, then, the percentage of the selected Devices may be the smaller the larger the number of terminals in one observed sub-area of the traffic route network is.
  • the inventive method can be in a GSM mobile network apply.
  • the spatial resolution in the position determination according to the invention Method can be improved by the fact that the smallest measuring unit, which in the Determination of the signal propagation times in the respective mobile radio network is used, is reduced.
  • this measuring unit is for example 3.69 ⁇ s. This corresponds to a simple, since the signal transit time includes the round trip Distance of about 550 m.
  • the inventive method is less about the exact location of a individual mobile terminal, but rather the counting and tracking of a sufficient number of terminals located in a limited area (e.g. a road section) are present and move accordingly. It lies a great advantage of the present invention is that the required Communication costs can be kept extremely low.
  • the Essential evaluations can namely in the respective base stations be executed, in which anyway for the operation of the mobile network, the Signal transit times must be determined.
  • the emergence of communication costs can be limited to the cases in which the evaluation in a base station pointing to the existence of an atypical traffic situation which points to the head office must be forwarded.
  • the figure shows a detail of three base stations BS1, BS2, BS3 one Mobile network, in whose coverage area a main street and a side street run, with the side street opens into the main street.
  • concentric Circles are the increasing signal propagation times in the respective transmission area of the Base stations BS1, BS2, BS3 shown
  • the individual circles are ascending with the numbers 1 to 5, while the position of the base station itself with the Number 0 is Occupied
  • the area of the first circle includes the places where the signal propagation time is less than 3.69 ⁇ s.
  • the step from one circle to the next corresponds to a simple one Distance of about 550 m.
  • a terminal located in the territory of the three base stations moves, so one of the movement corresponding sequence of signal delays with respect to the three base stations that use the road typical, i. is unique.
  • Each measurement point along the road comes with a value pair of three individual terms related to each one of the three base stations. For example, if a terminal carried in a vehicle is on the vehicle Main street at the junction of the side street, so would for this measuring point the Value pair (5, 4, 5) can be determined.
  • the terminal is relative to the base station BS1 in the circle 5, with respect to the base station BS2 in the circle 4 and with respect to the base station BS3 in the circle 5.
  • the "term coordinate" of the base station 1 remains for short time at the value 5 and then gradually increases.
  • the "runtime coordinate" with respect to the base station 2 briefly from the value of 4 and persists for a longer time at the value 5, while the "runtime coordinate" with respect to the base station 3 first changes from 5 to 4 and then on for a long time the value 3 remains. In this way, you can enter the geographical route Characteristic pattern of values corresponding to terms or maturities be assigned.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for acquiring traffic situation data in a network of traffic routes which is covered by a cellular mobile radio network comprising a multiplicity of base stations and in which a multiplicity of vehicles is moving which are in each case provided with an operating mobile terminal for the mobile radio network. In this method, characteristic patterns of values (called signal transit times in the text which follows), which are representative of the signal transit times with respect to the respective base station during the movement of a terminal along the course of the respective traffic route, are determined and permanently stored at least for some of the individual traffic routes of the network of traffic routes at least for selected base stations, the respective characteristic pattern or a sequence of values representative of this pattern is mapped onto the course of the respective traffic route (calibration). To obtain current traffic situation information, the signal transit times of selected terminals which are located within the transmission area of the respective base station are detected and compared with the stored patterns.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Erfassung von Verkehrslagedaten in einem Verkehrswegenetz, das von einem zellularen Mobilfunknetz mit einer Vielzahl von Basisstationen überdeckt ist und in dem sich eine Vielzahl von Fahrzeugen bewegt, die jeweils mit einem in Betrieb befindlichen mobilen Endgerät für das Mobilfunknetz, insbesondere einem Mobiltelefon, versehen sind, wobei Informationen über Signallaufzeiten zwischen den Endgeräten und den Basisstationen erfasst und zur Abschätzung des aktuellen Aufenthaltsorts einzelner Endgeräte benutzt werden.The invention relates to a method for detecting traffic situation data in one Traffic infrastructure network, that of a cellular mobile network with a variety of Base stations is covered and in which a variety of vehicles moves, the each with an operating mobile terminal for the mobile network, in particular a mobile phone, wherein information about Signal transit times between the terminals and the base stations detected and the Estimation of the current location of individual terminals are used.

Es sind zahlreiche Verfahren zur Erfassung von Verkehrslagedaten bekannt, bei denen diese Daten durch Fahrzeuge, die im Sinne einer Stichprobenfahrzeugflotte am Straßenverkehr teilnehmen, aufgenommen und unter Angabe der aktuellen Fahrzeugposition an eine Zentrale mittels Mobilfunk weitergemeldet werden. Die an die Zentrale übermittelten Daten beinhalten üblicherweise Informationen zur Position des Fahrzeugs und dessen Geschwindigkeit. Die Bestimmung der aktuellen Fahrzeugposition erfolgt dabei im Fahrzeug selbst, indem beispielsweise ein Navigationssatellitensystem (z.B. GPS) benutzt wird. Da eine verlässliche Verkehrslageerfassung eine große Zahl von Fahrzeugen der Stichprobenfahrzeugflotte erfordert, ergibt sich ein erheblicher Aufwand für die Durchführung des Datenverkehrs zwischen den Fahrzeugen und der Zentrale. Zur Begrenzung dieses Aufwandes ist es beispielsweise aus der EP 0 715 285 B1 bekannt, den Fahrzeugen der Stichprobenfahrzeugflotte von der Zentrale aus Vorgaben dafür zu geben, unter welchen Bedingungen überhaupt eine Datenübertragung aus den Fahrzeugen zur Zentrale vorgenommen werden soll, so dass weitgehend eine Beschränkung des Datenverkehrs auf die Fälle von Störungen des Verkehrsflusses erfolgen kann. Numerous methods for collecting traffic data are known in which this data by vehicles used in the sense of a sampled vehicle fleet at Road traffic, recorded and stating the current Vehicle position are reported to a central office via mobile phone. The to the Central transmitted data usually contain information about the position of the Vehicle and its speed. The determination of the current Vehicle position takes place in the vehicle itself, for example by a Navigation satellite system (e.g., GPS). Because a reliable Traffic situation detection a large number of vehicles of the sampled vehicle fleet requires a considerable effort to carry out the traffic between the vehicles and the central office. To limit this effort it is For example, from EP 0 715 285 B1 known to the vehicles of Sample vehicle fleet from the headquarters to give specifications for, under which conditions at all a data transfer from the vehicles to Central is to be made, so that largely a restriction of the Traffic to the cases of disturbances of the traffic flow can take place.

Dennoch bringt dieses Verfahren nicht nur eine beträchtliche Belastung der Kanäle des benutzten Mobilfunknetzes mit sich, sondem erfordert darüber hinaus auch eine spezielle Geräteausstattung in den einzelnen Fahrzeugen der Stichprobenfahrzeugflotte.Nevertheless, this method not only puts a considerable burden on the channels of the used mobile network, but also requires a synonymous special equipment in the individual vehicles of Fleet of sample vehicles.

Aus der DE 198 36 178 A1 ist ein Verfahren bekannt zur Lokalisierung von Mobiltelefonen in einem Mobilfunknetz durch Triangulation aufgrund von Signallaufzeiten zwischen dem Mobiltelefon zu mehreren Basisstationen, in deren Sendebereich sich das Mobiltelefon aufhält. In sogenannten TDMA-Mobilfunksystemen wird die Laufzeit jeder Funkverbindung zwischen dem mobilen Endgerät und den Basisstationen des Mobilfunknetzes zum Zwecke der Justierung der Endgeräte-Synchronisation, also der Phase des TDMA-Rahmens am Endgerät bestimmt. Da die Laufzeit des Signals repräsentativ ist für die Entfernung zwischen dem Endgerät und der jeweiligen Basisstation kann im Grundsatz eine sehr einfache Ortsbestimmung erfolgen, wenn die Entfernungen zu mehreren Basisstationen bekannt sind. Somit besteht eine Möglichkeit zur Bestimmung der aktuellen geographischen Position des jeweiligen Endgeräts relativ zu den bekannten geographischen Positionen der Basisstationen. Die Ortung kann somit grundsätzlich auch ohne den Einsatz eines GPS-Systems erfolgen, allerdings ist die Genauigkeit wegen der begrenzten Auflösung (ca. 500 m) im Allgemeinen geringer. Insbesondere in Ballungsgebieten wäre aufgrund dieser begrenzten Genauigkeit keine eindeutige Zuordnung eines mobilen Endgeräts, das sich in einem Fahrzeug auf einer Straße befindet, zu dieser Straße möglich.From DE 198 36 178 A1 a method is known for the localization of Mobile phones in a mobile network due to triangulation due to Signal transit times between the mobile phone to multiple base stations, in whose Send range the mobile phone stops. In so-called TDMA mobile radio systems is the duration of each wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the Base stations of the mobile network for the purpose of adjusting the terminal synchronization, So determines the phase of the TDMA frame at the terminal. Because the Runtime of the signal is representative of the distance between the terminal and the respective base station can in principle a very simple location determination occur when the distances to several base stations are known. Consequently there is a possibility to determine the current geographical position of the respective terminal relative to the known geographical positions of the Base stations. The location can thus also without the use of a GPS system, however, the accuracy is due to the limited resolution (about 500 m) generally lower. Especially in metropolitan areas would be due this limited accuracy no unique assignment of a mobile terminal, that is in a vehicle on a road, possible to this road.

in der DE 198 36 089 A1 wird ein Verfahren zur Ermittlung dynamischer Verkehrsinformationen beschrieben, bei dem die in einem Verkehrswegenetz aufgestellten Basisstationen eines Mobilfunknetzes anhand der empfangenen Signalstärke den jeweiligen Abstand zu einem mobilen Endgerät schätzen und über die Änderung der Signalstärke auf Bewegungen des mobilen Endgeräts schließen. Die Auflösung dieses Verfahren ist vergleichsweise grob und daher insbesondere für Verkehrsnetze mit großer Verkehrswegedichte weniger geeignet. Vorteilhaft ist aber bei diesem Verfahren ebenfalls der Umstand, dass in den einzelnen Fahrzeugen keine speziellen Endgeräte verfügbar sein müssen, sondern die Anwesenheit beispielsweise eines in Betrieb befindlichen mobilen Telefons im Fahrzeug ausreicht. in DE 198 36 089 A1 discloses a method for determining dynamic Traffic information described in which the in a traffic network established base stations of a mobile network based on the received Signal strength estimate the distance to a mobile device and on the Change the signal strength to movements of the mobile terminal. The Resolution of this method is relatively crude and therefore in particular for Transport networks with high traffic density are less suitable. But it is advantageous with this procedure likewise the circumstance that in the individual vehicles no special terminals must be available, but the presence for example an operating mobile phone in the vehicle is sufficient.

Ferner sei erwähnt die EP-A-0412286, die Laufzeitmessungen der Ausstrahlung wenigstens dreier Sender beschreibt. Dies entspricht dem im GPS verwendeten bekannten Triangulierungsverfahren.Furthermore, EP-A-0412286 mentions the propagation time measurements of the emission at least describes three transmitters. This corresponds to the known GPS used Triangulation.

Aus der WO 9810307 ist noch ein Verfahren zur Lokalisierung eines mobilen Endgerätes bekannt, in dem die Signallaufzeiten zuerst gemessen werden, um ein Muster abzubilden. Dabei werden diese Muster als "Signature"-Date gespeichert. Die Position des Endgerätes wird dann mit Hilfe dieses Musters von mindestens einer Basisstation ermittelt. Mit einer Erfassung von Verkehrslagedaten in einem Verkehrswegenetz, hat dies nichts zu tun. From WO 9810307 is still a method for locating a mobile terminal in which the signal propagation times are first measured to map a pattern. These patterns are saved as a "Signature" file. The position of the terminal is then determined using this pattern of at least one base station. With a Capturing traffic situation data in a traffic network has nothing to do.

Ein weiteres Verfahren zur Verkehrslagedatenerfassung mittels Mobilfunknetzen ist aus der DE 196 38 798 A1 bekannt. Dort wird ein Verfahren beschrieben, bei dem Betriebsparameter im Mobilfunknetz, z.B. die Anzahl von Handovers an der Grenze zweier Zellen auf einer Straße, gezielt ausgewertet werden. Die ausgewerteten Betriebsparameter beziehen sich auf betriebliche Abläufe und Zustände in dem Mobilfunknetz und korrelieren mit gewissen Verkehrszuständen im Verkehrswegenetz. In einer Initialisierungsphase werden über längere Zeit Daten gesammelt und zu "Profilen" verarbeitet. In der Nutzungsphase werden die aktuell erfassten Betriebsparameter des Mobilfunknetzes mit diesen Profilen verglichen und festgestellte Abweichungen, die auf nicht normale Verkehrszustände hindeuten, an eine Verkehrsleitzentrale gemeldet. Nachteilig bei diesem Verfahren ist es, dass die Auflösung bei der Auswertung von Handovers an Zellgrenzen nicht zuverlässig reproduzierbar ist. Außerdem sind die Zellgrenzen naturgemäß ortsfest angeordnet und bieten somit keinen Verfahrenansatz, der mit einer Verkehrslagedatenerfassung mittels einer Stichprobenfahrzeugflotte vergleichbar wäre. Zellgrenzen lassen sich nicht überall eindeutig auf bestimmte Straßensegmente abbilden, so dass dieses bekannte Verfahren nur örtlich begrenzt und außerhalb von Ballungsräumen sinnvoll einsetzbar erscheint.Another method for traffic data collection via mobile networks is known from DE 196 38 798 A1. There is described a method in which Operating parameters in the mobile network, e.g. the number of handovers at the border two cells on a street, to be specifically evaluated. The evaluated Operating parameters refer to operational procedures and conditions in the Mobile network and correlate with certain traffic conditions in the traffic network. In an initialization phase, data is collected and added over a long period of time "Profiles" processed. During the usage phase, the currently recorded Operational parameters of the mobile network compared with these profiles and detected Deviations that indicate abnormal traffic conditions, to one Traffic control center reported. The disadvantage of this method is that the Resolution in the evaluation of handovers at cell boundaries not reliable is reproducible. In addition, the cell boundaries are naturally stationary and thus do not provide a method approach that with traffic data collection would be comparable by means of a sample vehicle fleet. Cell boundaries can not be everywhere clearly map to specific road segments, so this known Procedures only locally limited and useful outside metropolitan areas appears.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, ein Verfahren der eingangs genannten Art dahingehend weiterzubilden, dass trotz der begrenzten Auflösung bei der Positionsermittlung eines mobilen Endgeräts in einem Mobilfunknetz eine sehr zuverlässige Erfassung der Verkehrslage auf bestimmten Verkehrswegen eines Verkehrswegenetzes gewährleistet werden kann, ohne dass der Einsatz spezieller Einrichtungen, die auf die Erfassung von Verkehrslagedaten gerichtet sind, in den die Verkehrswege benutzenden Fahrzeugen erforderlich ist.Object of the present invention is a method of the type mentioned in such a way that despite the limited resolution in the Position determination of a mobile terminal in a mobile network a very Reliable detection of the traffic situation on certain traffic routes Traffic network can be ensured without the use of special Facilities directed to the collection of traffic data in which the Vehicles using traffic routes is required.

Gelöst wird diese Aufgabe durch ein Verfahren mit den im Patentanspruch 1 angegebenen Merkmalen. Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen dieses Verfahrens ergeben sich aus den abhängigen Unteransprüchen.This object is achieved by a method with the in claim 1 specified characteristics. Advantageous developments of this method result from the dependent claims.

Bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren kann eine Eichphase von einer Nutzungsphase unterschieden werden, wobei in der Eichphase die Datenbasis für die Durchführung der eigentlichen Nutzungsphase gelegt wird, in der die laufende Erfassung der Verkehrslagedaten erfolgt. Wesentliches Merkmal der Erfindung ist es, dass zumindest für einen Teil der einzelnen Verkehrswege des Verkehrswegenetzes zumindest für ausgewählte Basisstationen des dem Verkehrswegenetz überlagerten zellularen Mobilfunknetzes charakteristische Muster von Werten, die für die Signallaufzeiten bezüglich der jeweiligen Basisstation bei Bewegung eines Endgeräts entlang dem Streckenverlauf des jeweiligen Verkehrswegs repräsentativ sind, ermittelt und dauerhaft (Datenbank) gespeichert werden. Die Speicherung dieser Werte kann in der jeweiligen Basisstation oder auch in einer beliebigen Zentrale für mehrere oder alle Basisstationen gemeinsam erfolgen. Im folgenden werden diese Werte vereinfachend mit dem Begriff Signallaufzeiten bezeichnet. Dabei ist klar, dass es sich nicht notwendigerweise um echte Zeitwerte handelt, sondern es können auch Werte sein, die solchen Zeitwerten entsprechen. Bei der Bewegung eines Endgerätes entlang eines Verkehrsweges ergibt sich für jeden beliebigen Punkt ein ganz bestimmter Wert der Signallaufzeit zwischen dem Endgerät und einer ausgewählten Basisstation des Mobilfunknetzes, der im Allgemeinen sehr gut reproduzierbar ist. Somit kann im Grundsatz jedem Ort eines Verkehrsweges eine bestimmte Signallaufzeit zu einer ausgewählten Basisstation zugeordnet werden. Dabei ergibt sich für den geometrischen Streckenverlauf eines Verkehrsweges im Grundsatz jeweils ein charakteristisches Muster von Signallaufzeiten zu einer Basisstation. Derartige charakteristische Muster oder ersatzweise auch eine für ein solches Muster repräsentative Wertefolge werden im zweiten Schritt der Eichphase des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens auf den Streckenverlauf der jeweiligen Verkehrswege abgebildet. Durch die während der Eichphase zusammengestellte Datenbank ergeben sich also für die einzelnen Verkehrswege charakteristische Muster von Signallaufzeiten, die auf den Streckenverlauf der jeweiligen Verkehrswege abgebildet werden und diesen somit eindeutig zugeordnet sind, so dass sie gleichsam "Referenzstrecken" darstellen.In the method according to the invention, a calibration phase of a In the calibration phase, the database for the Implementation of the actual use phase is laid in which the current Recording of the traffic situation data takes place. An essential feature of the invention is that at least for a part of the individual traffic routes of the traffic route network at least for selected base stations of the traffic network superimposed Cellular cellular network characteristic patterns of values for the Signal propagation times relative to the respective base station during movement of a terminal along the route of the respective traffic route are representative determined and permanently (database). The storage of these values can be done in the respective base station or in any central office for several or all Base stations take place together. In the following, these values become simplistic referred to by the term signal propagation times. It is clear that it is not necessarily involves real time values, but it can also be values which correspond to such time values. During the movement of a terminal along A traffic route results in a specific value for any given point the signal transit time between the terminal and a selected base station of the Mobile network, which is generally very well reproducible. Thus, in the Principle every location of a traffic route a certain signal transit time to one be assigned to selected base station. This results for the geometric route of a traffic route in principle one characteristic pattern of signal transit times to a base station. such characteristic patterns or, alternatively, one for such a pattern representative sequence of values are in the second step of the calibration phase of Method according to the invention on the route of the respective traffic routes displayed. Through the compiled during the calibration phase database result So for the individual traffic routes characteristic patterns of Signal transit times, which are mapped on the route of the respective traffic routes and thus are clearly assigned to them, so they speak Represent "reference links".

In der Nutzungsphase des Verfahren, in der die aktuellen Verkehrsinformationen gewonnen werden sollen, werden die aktuellen Signallaufzeiten ausgewählter Endgeräte, die sich im Sendegebiet der jeweiligen Basisstation befinden, mit den gespeicherten Mustern verglichen. Soweit sich dabei signifikante Übereinstimmungen ergeben, kann mit großer Sicherheit entschieden werden, auf welchem Verkehrsweg sich das jeweilige Endgerät aktuell befindet oder auf welchem Verkehrsweg es gerade bewegt wurde. Diese Entscheidung liefert dann die Basis für die erforderlichen Informationen zur Verkehrslagebeurteilung. Wenn ein Endgerät festgestellt wird, dessen Muster an aktuellen Signallaufzeiten mit keinem der gespeicherten charakteristischen Muster übereinstimmt, dann handelt es sich um ein Endgerät, das z.B. von einem Fußgänger abseits eines Verkehrsweges mitgeführt oder auf einer bisher der Verkehrslageübenwachung nicht unterliegenden Wegstrecke unterwegs ist.In the use phase of the procedure, in which the current traffic information are to be won, the current signal transit times are more selected Terminals that are in the transmission area of the respective base station, with the compared stored patterns. As far as doing so significant matches can be decided with great certainty, on which traffic route the respective terminal is currently located or on which traffic route it is currently was moved. This decision then provides the basis for the required Information about the traffic situation assessment. When a terminal is detected, its pattern at current signal delays with none of the stored characteristic pattern, then it is a terminal that e.g. carried by a pedestrian away from a traffic route or on a previously the traffic situation monitoring not underlying route is on the way.

Bezüglich der Signallaufzeiten ist noch anzumerken, dass jede Basisstation eine eindeutige Kennung besitzt, so dass durch Anhängen dieser Kennung an den jeweiligen Wert der Laufzeit eine eindeutige Zuordnung gegeben ist.Regarding the signal transit times, it should be noted that each base station has a has unique identifier, so that by appending this identifier to the given value of the term is given a unique assignment.

Die in der Eichphase ermittelten charakteristischen Muster lassen sich beispielsweise durch statistische Auswertungen einer Vielzahl von über die Verkehrswege bewegten Endgeräten, die sich beispielsweise in Fahrzeugen befinden, gewinnen. Wenn viele Fahrzeuge dieselbe Strecke befahren, müssen sich dabei hinsichtlich der Signallaufzeiten Folgen von Werten ergeben, die eine sehr starke Übereinstimmung zeigen. Da jedem Ort einer Wegstrecke ein typischer Wert der Signallaufzeit zur jeweiligen Basisstation zukommt, müssen sich in jeder Wertefolge eine Vielzahl von Werten befinden, die in gleicher Weise auch in den Wertefolgen für Endgeräte auftreten, die dieselbe Strecke zurückgelegt haben. Wenn die Signallaufzeiten in bestimmten vorgegebenen Zeitabständen erfasst werden, ist die Anzahl der für eine bestimmte Strecke ermittelten Werte selbstverständlich abhängig von der jeweiligen Geschwindigkeit, mit der das Endgerät die Wegstrecke zurücklegt. Die Wertefolge muss daher für die Herstellung der Vergleichbarkeit gleichsam auf eine Normgeschwindigkeit komprimiert oder auseinander gezogen werden. Bildlich gesprochen bedeutet dies, dass bei einer hohen Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit des Endgeräts eine weniger dichte und bei einer niedrigen Geschwindigkeit eine dichtere Folge von Messpunkten vorliegt. In graphischer Hinsicht entsprechen diese Messpunkte (Signallaufzeiten) in ihrer Gesamtheit dem geographischen Streckenverlauf des jeweiligen Verkehrswegs. Abweichungen der tatsächlichen Signallaufzeit von der Signallaufzeit, die der tatsächlichen Entfernung eines Messortes an der Wegstrecke von der jeweiligen Basisstation entsprechen, führen bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren praktisch nicht zu Fehlern, da das Verfahren nicht auf die unmittelbare Berechnung von Entfernungen zurückgreift, sondern den vorstehend beschriebenen Mustervergleich durchführt. Abweichungen von den theoretischen Signallaufzeiten ergeben sich nämlich insbesondere durch ortsfeste Störeinflüsse, die in gleicher Weise das charakteristische Muster wie auch die aktuellen Messungen beeinflussen. Insoweit werden die Auswirkungen entsprechender Verzerrungen der Einzelwerte automatisch eliminiert.The characteristic patterns determined in the calibration phase can be, for example through statistical analysis of a variety of moving over the roads Terminals that are located in vehicles, for example, win. If many Vehicles traveling the same route must be in terms of Signal delays result in values that are a very strong match demonstrate. Since each location of a route is a typical value of signal transit time to belongs to each base station, must be in each sequence of values a variety of Values are located in the same way in the value sequences for terminal devices occur that have traveled the same distance. When the signal transit times in certain predetermined time intervals, is the number of for a course certain values determined depending on the particular Speed at which the terminal covers the distance. The value sequence Therefore, for the sake of comparability, it has to be reduced to one Standard speed compressed or pulled apart. pictorially speaking this means that at a high speed of movement of the Terminal a less dense and at a lower speed a denser Sequence of measuring points is present. Graphically, these correspond Measuring points (signal transit times) in their entirety to the geographical Route of the respective traffic route. Deviations of the actual Signal propagation time of the signal propagation time, the actual distance of a measurement site correspond to the distance from the respective base station, lead in the inventive method practically not to errors, since the method does not occur the immediate calculation of distances, but the above performs described pattern comparison. Deviations from the theoretical Signal propagation times arise in particular by stationary interference, the in the same way the characteristic pattern as well as the current measurements influence. In that regard, the effects of corresponding distortions of the Individual values automatically eliminated.

Statt der Durchführung statistischer Auswertungen zur Bildung der charakteristischen Muster ist es auch möglich, diese Muster durch fortlaufende Erfassung der für ein einzelnes bewegtes Endgerät gemessenen Signallaufzeiten, das zweckmäßigerweise in einem Messfahrzeug entlang der Verkehrswege bewegt wird, im jeweiligen Sendegebiet einer Basisstation zu ermitteln. Man muss also jeweils nur die interessierenden Verkehrswege des Wegstreckennetzes mit einem in Betrieb befindlichen Endgerät des Mobilfunknetzes befahren und die Signallaufzeiten aufzeichnen. Der Vorteil dabei ist, dass bereits während der Datenaufzeichnung des charakteristischen Musters eine eindeutige Zuordnung zu der jeweils befahrenen Straße vorgenommen werden kann. Bei Bedarf lassen sich selbstverständlich auch entsprechende Signallaufzeitwerte für besonders neuralgische Punkte oder Streckenabschnitte auf die zugehörigen geographischen Positionen abbilden.Instead of conducting statistical evaluations to form the characteristic It is also possible to pattern these patterns by continuously capturing the pattern single moving terminal measured signal transit times, that expediently in a measuring vehicle along the traffic routes is moved, in each case Determine the transmission area of a base station. So you just have to do each one interesting traffic routes of the route network with a in operation traversed terminal of the mobile network and the signal propagation times record. The advantage is that already during the data recording of the characteristic pattern of a unique assignment to each used Road can be made. If necessary, of course, too corresponding signal propagation time values for particularly sensitive points or Map route sections to the corresponding geographical positions.

Obschon eine einfache Entfemungsangabe von einer Basisstation noch keine eindeutige Ortposition definiert, wird durch eine Vielzahl von entsprechenden Messwerten der Signallaufzeit zu einer einzelnen Basisstation dennoch ein charakteristisches Muster erzeugt, das im allgemeinen typisch ist für eine einzige ganz bestimmte Wegstrecke. In Sonderfällen, bei denen bezüglich der jeweiligen Basisstation symmetrische Streckenverläufe unterschiedlicher Straßen vorliegen; kann die Eindeutigkeit allerdings nicht gewährleistet werden. Die Genauigkeit des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens wird aber erheblich verbessert, wenn zwei oder mehr Basisstationen für die Bildung des charakteristischen Musters der Signallaufzeiten herangezogen werden. Zweckmäßigerweise werden für einen bestimmten Streckenverlauf jeweils unmittelbar benachbarte Basisstationen ausgewählt für die Musterbildung. Den einzelnen Ortpositionen entlang des Wegstreckenverlaufs, d.h. den jeweiligen Aufenthaltsorten des Endgeräts werden dabei entsprechend der Anzahl der berücksichtigten Basisstationen jeweils Wertepaare mit einer entsprechenden Anzahl von Einzelwerten je Position zugeordnet. Insoweit stellen diese Wertepaare die Koordinaten eines entsprechend vielachsigen Koordinatensystems dar. Although a simple removal statement from a base station still no definite location defined by a variety of corresponding Measurements of the signal transit time to a single base station nevertheless produces a characteristic pattern, which is generally typical of a single whole certain distance. In special cases, with regard to the respective Base station symmetrical routes of different roads are present; can the uniqueness however can not be guaranteed. The accuracy of However, the method of the invention is significantly improved when two or more Base stations for the formation of the characteristic pattern of signal propagation times be used. Conveniently, for a given Route each immediately adjacent base stations selected for Patterning. The individual location positions along the course of the route, i. the respective whereabouts of the terminal are doing according to the number the considered base stations each value pairs with a corresponding Number of individual values assigned to each position. In that regard, these value pairs represent the Coordinates of a corresponding multi-axis coordinate system.

Die Richtung, mit der ein Endgerät entlang einer Wegstrecke bewegt wird, kann an der Reihenfolge leicht erkannt werden, in der die einzelnen "Wegpunkte" des jeweils zugehörigen charakteristischen Musters passiert werden. Die Tatsache, dass sich die Endgeräte entlang einer bestimmten Wegstrecke bewegen, lässt im Hinblick auf die Verkehrslagebeurteilung zumindest die Aussage zu, dass die entsprechende Wegstrecke in der festgestellten Bewegungsrichtung grundsätzlich befahrbar ist. Wertet man zusätzlich die Anzahl der sich in einem Streckenabschnitt bewegenden Endgerät aus, lassen sich Hinweise auf die Verkehrsdichte gewinnen, insbesondere wenn hierzu repräsentative historische Werte zum Vergleich zur Verfügung stehen. Eine besonders gute Aussagefähigkeit der erfindungsgemäß ermittelbaren Verkehrslagedaten lässt sich jedoch dadurch erreichen, dass man zusätzlich zu den Signallaufzeiten der zur Beobachtung ausgewählten Endgeräte auch Informationen über den Zeitpunkt der ermittelten Signallaufzeiten erfasst und zeitweilig speichert. Da die Größe der Signallaufzeiten, insbesondere wenn sie für mehrere Basisstationen ermittelt wurden, einem bestimmten Ort auf der jeweiligen Wegstrecke entspricht, lassen sich anhand der Zeitpunktinformationen und der Zuordnung der Werte der Signallaufzeiten zu geographischen Orten (mit entsprechenden Abständen voneinander) Größen ableiten, die für die Geschwindigkeit der Bewegung des jeweiligen Endgeräts entlang des zugeordneten Verkehrsweges repräsentativ sind. Mit der Ermittlung der aktuellen Geschwindigkeit ist eine aussagefähige Größe zur Beurteilung der Verkehrslage gegeben.The direction in which a terminal is moved along a route, at the Order easily be recognized, in which the individual "waypoints" of each associated characteristic pattern are passed. The fact that the Moving end devices along a certain distance leaves with regard to Traffic situation assessment at least the statement that the appropriate Distance in the determined direction of movement is basically passable. If one additionally evaluates the number of persons moving in a section of the route Terminal, information about the traffic density can be obtained, in particular if representative historical values are available for comparison. A particularly good informational value of the invention can be determined However, traffic situation data can be achieved by adding, in addition to the Signal transit times of the terminals selected for observation also include information recorded and temporarily stores the time of the detected signal transit times. There the size of signal propagation times, especially when used for multiple base stations were determined to correspond to a specific location on the respective route, can be determined by the timing information and the assignment of the values of the Signal transit times to geographical locations (with appropriate intervals derive from each other sizes that are responsible for the speed of movement of the respective terminal along the associated traffic route are representative. With Determining the current speed is a meaningful quantity for Assessment of the traffic situation.

Die Auswertung der erfindungsgemäß ermittelten Messwerte kann grundsätzlich innerhalb einer Basisstation vorgenommen werden. Es kann aber auch in vorteilhafter Weiterbildung der Erfindung eine Verkehrslagezentrale vorgesehen sein, die für eine Vielzahl von Basisstationen zuständig ist und an die die gewonnenen Informationen weitergeleitet werden. Dies kann zweckmäßig in der Weise geschehen, dass jeweils in den Basisstationen bereits eine Vorverarbeitung und Verdichtung des Datenvolumens vorgenommen wird und dass vorrangig nur bei Feststellung von Anomalien in der Verkehrslage des jeweils beobachteten Teilgebiets des Verkehrswegenetzes eine Weitermeldung an die Verkehrslagezentrale erfolgt.The evaluation of the measured values determined according to the invention can basically be made within a base station. But it can also be beneficial Development of the invention, a traffic situation center be provided for a Variety of base stations is responsible and to which the information obtained to get redirected. This can be done appropriately in such a way that in each case in The base stations already preprocessing and compression of the data volume is made and that priority only in case of detection of anomalies in the Traffic situation of each observed sub-area of the traffic route network one Forwarding to the traffic management center takes place.

Bei einer kleinen Anzahl von Endgeräten, die sich in einem Teilgebiet des Verkehrswegenetzes aktuell aufhalten, wird zweckmäßigerweise ein großer Prozentsatz der Endgeräte zur Gewinnung von Informationen zur Verkehrslagebeurteilung ausgewählt. Wenn beispielsweise nur 10 Endgeräte in einem solchen Gebiet aktiv sind, werden zweckmäßigerweise alle in die Beobachtung einbezogen. Ist dagegen die Anzahl der betriebenen Endgeräte in einem solchen Teilgebiet erheblich größer, dann kann eine Beschränkung auf einen kleinen Prozentsatz völlig ausreichen. So kann man sich beispielsweise bei 100 Endgeräten in demselben Gebiet auf einen Anteil von 20% und bei 1.000 Endgeräten in diesem Gebiet beispielsweise auf 5% beschränken, um den Rechenaufwand nicht unnötig in die Höhe zu treiben. Grundsätzlich gilt also, dass der Prozentsatz der ausgewählten Geräte um so kleiner sein darf, je größer die Anzahl der Endgeräte in einem beobachteten Teilgebiet des Verkehrswegenetzes ist.For a small number of terminals located in a subarea of the Traffic route network currently stop, is expediently a large Percentage of terminals used to obtain information about Traffic situation assessment selected. For example, if only 10 devices in one are active in such area, are expediently all in the observation included. If, however, the number of terminals operated in such a Subarea considerably larger, then a restriction to a small one Percentage completely sufficient. So you can, for example, at 100 devices in 20% of the same area and 1,000 terminals in that area Restrict area to 5%, for example to drive up the hill. In principle, then, the percentage of the selected Devices may be the smaller the larger the number of terminals in one observed sub-area of the traffic route network is.

Sollten in einem Fahrzeug, das sich in dem beobachteten Wegstreckennetz bewegt, mehrere in Betrieb befindliche Endgeräte vorhanden sein und diese für die Beobachtung ausgewählt worden sein, so ist dies leicht daran erkennbar, dass die ermittelten Laufzeitwerte und auch die damit erfassten Tageszeitinformationen für solche Geräte gleich ist. Hierdurch wird im Prinzip eine höhere Verkehrsdichte vorgetäuscht. In vorteilhafter Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist daher vorgesehen, dass im Fall der vollständig oder nahezu zeitgleichen Erfassung mehrerer Endgeräte mit demselben charakteristischen Muster der Signallaufzeiten lediglich eines dieser Endgeräte für die Auswertung berücksichtigt wird.Should in a vehicle moving in the observed path network, several operating terminals are present and this for the Observation, this is easily recognizable by the fact that ascertained runtime values and also the time of day information thus acquired for such equipment is the same. As a result, in principle, a higher traffic density faked. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention is therefore intended that in the case of complete or almost simultaneous detection of multiple terminals with the same characteristic pattern of signal propagation times only one of these Terminals for the evaluation is considered.

Vorteilhaft lässt sich das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren in einem GSM-Mobilfunknetz anwenden.Advantageously, the inventive method can be in a GSM mobile network apply.

Die räumliche Auflösung bei der Positionsbestimmung nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren lässt sich dadurch verbessern, dass die kleinste Messeinheit, die bei der Ermittlung der Signallaufzeiten im jeweiligen Mobilfunknetz zugrunde gelegt wird, verringert wird. Im GSM-Standard beträgt diese Messeinheit beispielsweise 3, 69 µs. Dies entspricht, da die Signallaufzeit den Hin- und Rückweg beinhaltet, einer einfachen Distanz von etwa 550 m.The spatial resolution in the position determination according to the invention Method can be improved by the fact that the smallest measuring unit, which in the Determination of the signal propagation times in the respective mobile radio network is used, is reduced. In the GSM standard, this measuring unit is for example 3.69 μs. This corresponds to a simple, since the signal transit time includes the round trip Distance of about 550 m.

Bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren geht es weniger um die exakte Ortung eines einzelnen Mobilfunkendgeräts, sondern vielmehr um die Zählung und Verfolgung einer ausreichenden Anzahl von Endgeräten, die in einem räumlich begrenzten Gebiet (z.B. einem Straßenabschnitt) anwesend sind und sich entsprechend bewegen. Dabei liegt ein großer Vorteil der vorliegenden Erfindung darin, dass die erforderlichen Kommunikationskosten außerordentlich niedrig gehalten werden können. Die wesentlichen Auswertungen können nämlich in den jeweiligen Basisstationen ausgeführt werden, in denen ohnehin für den Betrieb des Mobilfunknetzes die Signallaufzeiten bestimmt werden müssen. Das Entstehen von Kommunikationskosten kann auf die Fälle beschränkt werden, in denen die Auswertung in einer Basisstation auf das Vorliegen einer atypischen Verkehrssituation hindeutet, die an die Zentrale weitergeleitet werden muss.The inventive method is less about the exact location of a individual mobile terminal, but rather the counting and tracking of a sufficient number of terminals located in a limited area (e.g. a road section) are present and move accordingly. It lies a great advantage of the present invention is that the required Communication costs can be kept extremely low. The Essential evaluations can namely in the respective base stations be executed, in which anyway for the operation of the mobile network, the Signal transit times must be determined. The emergence of communication costs can be limited to the cases in which the evaluation in a base station pointing to the existence of an atypical traffic situation which points to the head office must be forwarded.

Nachfolgend wird die Erfindung anhand des in der einzigen Figur dargestellten schematischen Ausführungsbeispiels näher erläutert.The invention will be described below with reference to the single figure Schematic embodiment explained in more detail.

Die Figur zeigt ausschnittsweise drei Basisstationen BS1, BS2, BS3 eines Mobilfunknetzes, in deren Sendegebiet eine Hauptstraße und eine Nebenstraße verlaufen, wobei die Nebenstraße in die Hauptstraße mündet. In Form konzentrischer Kreise sind die zunehmenden Signallaufzeiten im jeweiligen Sendegebiet der Basisstationen BS1, BS2, BS3 dargestellt Die einzelnen Kreise sind aufsteigend mit den Ziffern 1 bis 5 bezeichnet, während die Position der Basisstation selbst mit der Ziffer 0 belegt ist Bei einer kleinsten Einheit für die Signallaufzeit von 3,69 µs für den GSM-Standard bedeutet dies, dass das Gebiet des ersten Kreises die Orte umfasst, an denen die Signallaufzeit kleiner als 3,69 µs, ist. Im Gebiet des nächsten konzentrischen Kreises 2 liegen die Signallaufzeiten jeweils im Bereich von ein- bis zweimal 3,69 µs usw. Somit entspricht der Schritt von einem Kreis zum nächst größeren einer einfachen Distanz von etwa 550 m. Ein Endgerät, das sich im Gebiet der drei Basisstationen bewegt, wird also eine der Bewegung entsprechende Folge von Signallaufzeiten bezüglich der drei Basisstationen erzeugen, die für den benutzen Straßenverfauf typisch, d.h. eindeutig ist. Jedem Messpunkt entlang der Straße kommt ein Wertepaar von drei einzelnen Laufzeiten bezogen auf jeweils eine der drei Basisstationen zu. Befindet sich ein in einem Fahrzeug mitgeführtes Endgerät beispielsweise auf der Hauptstraße an der Abzweigung der Nebenstraße, so würde für diesen Messpunkt das Wertepaar (5; 4; 5) ermittelt werden. Das bedeutet, dass sich das Endgerät bezüglich der Basisstation BS1 im Kreis 5, bezüglich der Basisstation BS2 im Kreis 4 und bezüglich der Basisstation BS3 im Kreis 5 befindet. Wenn nun das Fahrzeug in die Nebenstraße einbiegt, verharrt die "Laufzeitkoordinate" der Basisstation 1 zunächst für kurze Zeit auf dem Wert 5 und steigt dann sukzessive weiter an. Gleichzeitig ändert sich die "Laufzeitkoordinate" bezüglich der Basisstation 2 kurzzeitig von dem Wert 4 und verharrt für längere Zeit auf dem Wert 5, während die "Laufzeitkoordinate" bezüglich der Basisstation 3 zunächst von 5 auf 4 ändert und dann für längere Zeit auf dem Wert 3 verharrt. Auf diese Weise kann dem geographischen Streckenverlauf ein charakteristisches Muster.von Laufzeiten oder den Laufzeiten entsprechenden Werten zugeordnet werden.The figure shows a detail of three base stations BS1, BS2, BS3 one Mobile network, in whose coverage area a main street and a side street run, with the side street opens into the main street. In the form of concentric Circles are the increasing signal propagation times in the respective transmission area of the Base stations BS1, BS2, BS3 shown The individual circles are ascending with the numbers 1 to 5, while the position of the base station itself with the Number 0 is Occupied At a minimum unit for the signal propagation time of 3.69 μs for the GSM standard this means that the area of the first circle includes the places where the signal propagation time is less than 3.69 μs. In the area of the next concentric Circle 2 are the signal propagation times in the range of one to two times 3.69 μs etc. Thus, the step from one circle to the next corresponds to a simple one Distance of about 550 m. A terminal located in the territory of the three base stations moves, so one of the movement corresponding sequence of signal delays with respect to the three base stations that use the road typical, i. is unique. Each measurement point along the road comes with a value pair of three individual terms related to each one of the three base stations. For example, if a terminal carried in a vehicle is on the vehicle Main street at the junction of the side street, so would for this measuring point the Value pair (5, 4, 5) can be determined. This means that the terminal is relative to the base station BS1 in the circle 5, with respect to the base station BS2 in the circle 4 and with respect to the base station BS3 in the circle 5. If now the vehicle in the Nebenstraße turns, the "term coordinate" of the base station 1 remains for short time at the value 5 and then gradually increases. At the same time changes the "runtime coordinate" with respect to the base station 2 briefly from the value of 4 and persists for a longer time at the value 5, while the "runtime coordinate" with respect to the base station 3 first changes from 5 to 4 and then on for a long time the value 3 remains. In this way, you can enter the geographical route Characteristic pattern of values corresponding to terms or maturities be assigned.

Claims (11)

  1. Method for detecting traffic situation data in a route network which is covered by a cellular mobile phone network with a large number of base stations and within which a large number of vehicles are in motion, each of which is fitted with an operating mobile terminal for the mobile phone network, information on signal delays between the terminals and the base stations being detected and used to estimate the current location of individual terminals,
    characterised in that
    at least for some of the individual routes of the route network at least for selected base stations, characteristic patterns of values which are representative of the signal delays in relation to the base station concerned when a terminal moves along the road section of the relevant route are established and permanently stored,
    the relevant characteristic pattern, or a sequence of values which is representative of this pattern, is mapped on to the road section of the route concerned,
    in order to obtain current traffic situation information, the signal delays of selected terminals located in the transmission area of the base station concerned are detected and compared with the stored patterns, the comparison being used as a basis for deciding the route on which the terminal concerned is currently located or on which route it was moved,
    information for assessing the traffic situation is obtained from this, and
    the characteristic patterns are established by continuous detection of the signal delays measured for an individual terminal, preferably moved by means of a vehicle, within the relevant transmission area of a base station.
  2. Method as in Claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the characteristic patterns are obtained by statistical evaluation of the signal delays of a large number of terminals that are moved across the routes.
  3. Method as in one of Claims 1 or 2,
    characterised in that
    the characteristic patterns of the signal delays are formed from the values relating to several adjacent base stations, a corresponding pair of values, as the coordinates of a multiaxial coordinate system, being assigned in each case to the relevant location of the terminal.
  4. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 3,
    characterised in that
    in addition to the signal delays of the selected terminals, information relating to the time of the establishing of these signal delays is also detected and stored temporarily.
  5. Method as in Claim 4,
    characterised in that
    based on the time information and the assignment of the values of the signal delays to the road section, quantities are inferred which are representative of the speed of the movement of the terminal along the assigned route in each case.
  6. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 5,
    characterised in that
    the information obtained is passed on to a traffic centre which is responsible for a large number of base stations.
  7. Method as in Claim 6,
    characterised in that
    the information is passed on as a matter of priority only when anomalies are detected in the traffic situation of the route network sub-area that is being observed at the time.
  8. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 7,
    characterised in that
    where there is a small number of terminals currently present in a sub-area of the route network, a large percentage of the terminals is selected for the obtaining of information for evaluating the traffic situation, whereas where the number of terminals is large, only a small percentage is selected.
  9. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 8,
    characterised in that
    the number of terminals in motion in a time unit within the range of a route is incorporated as a criterion in the assessment of the traffic situation.
  10. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    in the event of the completely or almost completely contemporaneous detection of a number of terminals that have the same characteristic pattern of signal delays, only one of these terminals is included in the assessment.
  11. Method as in one of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    it is used in a GSM mobile phone network.
EP01955212A 2000-06-14 2001-06-13 Method for detecting traffic data Expired - Lifetime EP1295273B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10029115A DE10029115A1 (en) 2000-06-14 2000-06-14 Method for determination of the traffic state within an area by detecting the movement of mobile phones between base stations in the area and comparing the signal travel times with previously calibrated times to determine position
DE10029115 2000-06-14
PCT/DE2001/002217 WO2001097195A1 (en) 2000-06-14 2001-06-13 Method for detecting traffic data

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1295273A1 EP1295273A1 (en) 2003-03-26
EP1295273B1 true EP1295273B1 (en) 2005-03-02

Family

ID=7645580

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01955212A Expired - Lifetime EP1295273B1 (en) 2000-06-14 2001-06-13 Method for detecting traffic data

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US7162251B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1295273B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3990629B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE290245T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001277463A1 (en)
DE (2) DE10029115A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2236274T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2001097195A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001277463A1 (en) 2001-12-24
JP2004503886A (en) 2004-02-05
EP1295273A1 (en) 2003-03-26
US20030153331A1 (en) 2003-08-14
ES2236274T3 (en) 2005-07-16
JP3990629B2 (en) 2007-10-17
US7162251B2 (en) 2007-01-09
DE50105478D1 (en) 2005-04-07
DE10029115A1 (en) 2001-12-20
WO2001097195A1 (en) 2001-12-20
ATE290245T1 (en) 2005-03-15

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