EP2224408A2 - Traffic detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves providing multiple road users with mobile transmitters, with which each individual journey data is wirelessly transmitted to a central computer (6). The journey data of multiple road users is collected and a route information concerning the individual route sections (7) is processed. The route information is determined depending on the time, and the route information is wirelessly transmitted to a receiving device of the road user. An independent claim is also included for a system for an execution of a method.

Description

The invention relates to a method for generating and providing traffic information through the collection and processing of traffic-related additional data. The invention also relates to a system for implementing the method.

In general, methods for providing traffic information are known in which current traffic reports are collected centrally and distributed, for example, via radio stations. In addition, systems are known which send by radio signal or SMS text messages in the form of digital data, which are then included for route planning in the navigation.

The US 5,173,691 shows a method for providing up-to-date traffic information, in which, in addition to traffic monitoring data, information transmitted by road users regarding their location, direction of travel and current speed is also used.

Furthermore, methods are known for generating forecasts concerning the future expected traffic on a certain section of the route. Such a method together with a corresponding system, for example, in DE 100 63 763 A1 described. In this system, abstract and extensive results of theoretically determined traffic forecasts are analyzed on possibly interesting parts for the user, whereby these parts are presented to the user.

A disadvantage of the previously used method for the integration of traffic information is that they are based only on currently determined data and do not allow a forecast. On the other hand, it is disadvantageous in the known forecasting systems that they are based on more or less good calculation models, but do not take into account the current situations.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method for generating and providing traffic information that with simple and cost-effective implementation of an optimized route planning in particular on the basis of accurate forecasts on the traffic situation on certain sections is possible at certain times. In addition, it is the object of the invention to provide a system for implementing the method.

These objects are achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the system according to claim 13. Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the respective subclaims.

The essential aspect of the invention is not to generate traffic information, as hitherto, only from collected status data on currently affected sections of the route, as is known, for example, from traffic reports in the broadcasting and Traffic Message Channel (TMC), or to derive them from purely theoretical calculations, but to use "real" trip data from a variety of road users who are currently traveling or planning a trip and then to a central location where they are collected and evaluated. Based on this trip data are then inventively drawn conclusions about the traffic on certain sections at certain times, trying to deduce from when meet how many vehicles on their individually completely different trips in the specific sections.

According to the invention, a multiplicity of road users are equipped with mobile transmitting devices with which individual travel data concerning the current journey of the road user are transmitted wirelessly to a central computer system (server). Such trip data may be the start, the destination and the start of the journey. As mobile transmitting devices, the Road users are assigned respectively to his vehicle, thereby offer devices that communicate with the server via the existing mobile networks. If the journey data is collected by as many road users as possible in this way, it is possible to extrapolate time-related route information relating to individual route sections. Based on a sufficient amount of driving data, the system can determine, for example, that on a certain day at 16:00 clock at least 1500 vehicles in front of the construction site on the A3 at Montabaur in the direction of Frankfurt are expected, which previously were traveling on very different routes. In this case, the route information can be generated by summing the number of vehicles within a specific time window in a specific route section, the number of vehicles being determined on the basis of the journey data of these vehicles. Such route information is then transmitted wirelessly to receivers of the road users, with the receivers and road users thus get the opportunity to adjust to this situation. The route information can therefore contain fairly accurate predictions about the traffic volume to be expected within certain route sections at certain times.

In the simplest case, a starting point, a start time and a destination can be entered manually via a keyboard of the transmitting device as travel data, which are then transmitted by a single command to the server. However, it is particularly convenient to take these data from a navigation system in the vehicle and to send it automatically. If such a navigation system is previously available, it is also advantageous to transmit the current position data as travel data, wherein this transmission advantageously takes place automatically and in predefinable cyclically recurring intervals. With this data, alternative route recommendations can be given, wherein it is of course advantageous not to broadcast the route information via broadcasting, but in such a format, for example TMC, which can be selectively processed by the existing in the vehicles navigation system.

According to the invention, route profiles of a plurality of vehicles are projected on the road network, taking into account the temporal factor, and it is determined when and where they are combined. This may be trip data of planned journeys and / or current journeys. In an advantageous embodiment, a plurality of trip data are stored over a long period of time, so that in addition to current trip data, historical trip data are also available for generating the route information. The historical trip data can then be statistically evaluated and made available to the system. In this case, historical trip data can also be archived in the evaluated form as route information. On the basis of historical data, the system can also learn that, for example, at certain times of certain days in front of the Elbtunnel, long traffic jams occur. According to the invention, all these available data can be evaluated with regard to expected traffic situations. Thus, the invention is in a sense to simulate expected traffic situations using as many actual data collected as possible. Such simulations are known, for example, from weather forecasts that use certain models and apply them to existing data. Accordingly, it is also possible to make use of known functions for the traffic forecasts.

The particular advantages of the invention are that it is now possible to offer significantly improved navigation assistance to motorists compared to the state of the art in terms of route planning and the estimation of arrival times. Another important advantage of the invention is that standardized consumer hardware, in particular conventional mobile phones, can be used, so that the invention is affordable for a large circle of end customers at cost-effective conditions. This is particularly important insofar as the procedure "lives" on the scale of dissemination insofar as widespread use produces good statistics. Another advantage of The invention is that navigation systems become significantly "smarter" and more predictive. In addition, the system operators can bundle traffic information and make it commercially available.

It is also advantageous that the invention can be based on currently available technology, as is known in particular from mobile communications via GPRS or UMTS standard. Also the necessary for navigation digital map material is available. A particular advantage of the invention is also that vehicles with navigation system with the system according to the invention can be easily upgraded by, for example, the navigation system is only supplemented by the need for communication mobile phone. Such combinations of navigation system and mobile phone are already used today as "telematics" systems in motor vehicles and need to be equipped for the implementation of the invention only with the appropriate functionality. It is particularly advantageous to use existing navigation devices, such as GPS, GLONASS or mobile network-based localization mechanisms. When determining the route information, it is also possible to take into account traffic reports made available in a correspondingly simple manner by other systems, such as are transmitted in particular via TMC. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is therefore to be provided that the server receives further traffic-relevant information, for example about current traffic obstructions or also about local weather conditions, from other sources.

The central server can also be used to monitor the access to the system, wherein the authentication of the user can be done for example via the MSISDN of the mobile terminal or user name and password. In a further advantageous embodiment, the server also detects the use of the system by the customer in order to settle it according to predetermined criteria, for example the duration of use or the distance traveled.

To implement the invention, first the operator of the system, which provides the server in particular, is required. This uses hardware and software components as runtime environment for the realization of the method according to the invention. It can also be a variety of physically separate system components. As a mobile sending terminals are terminals with a user interface for operation, in particular for entering routes and destinations to. Such terminals are already present today in many places in motor vehicles as telematics systems, especially in connection with navigation systems. The localization components can be used, for example, by the Global Positioning System (GPS). These components may be standalone or integrated into the sending terminals. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the server has access to a database containing the profile information shown above and user-specific information regarding authorization to use the system and its billing, as well as the respective last or current whereabouts of the users.

As already indicated above, the detection of the journey data in the simplest case can be done "manually". The user can enter key data of his trip via the terminal and send it to the server. As such key data, for example, start, destination, start time and planned route can be entered. Based on this data, the server can determine when the road user can be expected at which location. On the one hand, these data can be used to calculate the traffic density at specific times on specific sections of the route, and on the other hand, the forecasts calculated therefrom in turn influence the route planning for the road user.

As already described, it is advantageous if these data are transmitted automatically and if additional current position data of the road users determined by navigation systems are used. Ideally, the vehicle's navigation system communicates continuously with the server. In doing so, especially after previous authentication or authorization, the current location and speed information can be continuously updated recorded together with the current time and date and transmitted to the server using the possibility of mobile data communication. The transmission can take place in a server-settable interval, wherein the data can be intermediately stored in the terminal. The detection of location and speed information and their transmission can be omitted on the device side unless a change in location is detected.

The transmission of the data is advantageously carried out in compressed form, wherein it is particularly advantageous because of the lower data volume, if these data in the form of "delta information", so as information only about a change, transmitted, for example, instead of the absolute location information with geographic length and width, only the difference vector and the differential speed is transmitted in relation to the last transmitted speed or Ortsinformatiorien. In this case, a transmission of the total information in the form of the location coordinates and the speed can take place at regular intervals or after communication disturbances.

In the event of disturbances in the mobile data transmission, for example in dead spots, it is advantageous to store the journey data in the terminal and to transmit them only after the mobile data communication has been rebuilt. In addition, it is advantageous to check the location and speed information for plausibility and, if necessary, to correct or delete it. Such corrections can be carried out, for example, using the known method of "map matching".

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, profiles are created, in particular on the basis of "historical" data, which can also be used to generate the forecasts. Such profiles can be time-dependent or user-specific databases that relate to routes or sections of the route. The server can use the incoming data to create traffic profiles, in particular user-specific or non-user-specific motion profiles, as well as location, road, road segment, direction or time-specific traffic density profiles. Also these data can can be used to generate route forecasts or to provide dynamic travel time forecasts based on the speed profiles.

A special kind of profiles are user-specific motion profiles. Here, user-specific recorded location information can be assigned in connection with road sections for the respective direction of the vehicle. This results in a route that the road user traveled from the starting point to the end point. This route, together with the time information, results in a database entry that can form part of the user-specific motion profile. Users and non- specific movement profiles are also conceivable. In this case, the user-specific recorded location information for road sections and for the respective direction of the vehicle are assigned. The time of the journey is also recorded. This results in a sequence of sections between start and finish with the respective traffic density at certain times. In its entirety, this collection of temporally assigned sequences of sections represents the user-unspecific movement profiles.

When creating speed profiles, the user-specific recorded location information is assigned to the road sections for the respective direction of the drive. It also records the timing and speed of the journey. Over time, each section of the route has an extensive collection of date-time / speed pairs that can be used in the forecasts.

As already indicated, functions are advantageously implemented which support authentication, authorization and / or a possibility for billing. The authentication of the user can be done by identifying himself by entering a previously agreed combination of username and password. Furthermore, the IP address used by the terminal during the data transmission can be used for identification via which the server identifies the terminal. This IP address can be assigned by the network operator a mobile number and this in turn a user. For authorization can be to those shown in the database user-specific rights of use are accessed, which may restrict the use of time, space and / or other criteria. In the case of a spatial restriction of use, the location information currently transmitted by the terminal in each case can be used to check the spatial restriction.

The billing is advantageously based on user-specific billing events that are generated by the server and made available to external billing systems. In this case, billing is possible based on the distance covered by the user within a time period or on the basis of transmitted route information. A billing based on used traffic routes, such as highways, may be advantageous.

In the figure, the inventive method for generating and providing traffic-related information is shown with reference to a simplified diagram:

Shown are two road users in their vehicles 1 and 2, each equipped with a mobile transceiver, the antennas 3 are visible equipped. The vehicles 1 and 2 have a navigation system which determines the position data of the respective location, designated here as A and B, as the travel data, as well as the speed of the vehicles, which are each located on a road 4 and 5. With the mobile transmitting devices, individual travel data are transmitted wirelessly to a central computer system 6 that can be reached via a radio network. On the computer 6 a functionality is realized, the travel data and positions of a plurality of road users collects and processed to time-dependent route information concerning individual sections, in which case a section 7, which lies between two exits of the highway 4, is shown. The computer 6 in turn transmits the route information to the transceivers of the road users wirelessly.

The computer 6 has a server 8, the access to a database 9, are stored on the profile, in particular evaluated historical trip data. In order to determine the route information, the computer system 6 can access traffic reports of other systems 10 and information regarding the current weather situation on certain route sections.

In the example shown here, the computer system 6 as travel data, the current positions A and B of the vehicles 1 and 2, and their speed and the respective destination C and D are available. On the basis of this trip data, the computer system determines that the vehicles 1 and 2 will be together on the route section 7 at the same time, even if their routes subsequently separate again. Since the computer 6 knows that also 1500 other vehicles at this time use the section 7 in that direction and since the weather forecast for this area has announced rain, they can predict that there will be traffic congestion. This route information is transmitted to road users in a format that allows for inclusion in the individual navigation.

In this example, the route information was generated by summing the number of vehicles within a certain time window in the route section 7, the number of vehicles being determined based on the travel data of these vehicles.

Claims (12)

Method for generating and providing traffic-related information,
wherein a plurality of road users is equipped with mobile transmitting devices with which individual travel data are transmitted wirelessly to a central computer system,
wherein journey data of a plurality of road users are collected and processed to route information concerning individual route sections,
wherein the route information is transmitted wirelessly to receivers of the road users,
characterized,
that the route information is determined as a function of time and predictions contained on the expected traffic at certain times within certain sections. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that a starting point, a starting time and a destination are transmitted as the driving data. Method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that current position data, which are determined in particular on the basis of a satellite navigation system, are transmitted as travel data. Method according to claim 3,
characterized,
that the travel data are transmitted automatically in predefinable cyclically recurring intervals. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the route information contains situation reports which are determined on the basis of the journey data and which include traffic densities at specific times and in certain route sections. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that in addition to current trip data, historical trip data is used to generate the route information. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the distance information with the number of vehicles is determined from the travel data of the vehicles is produced by summing the number of times within a certain time window in a certain section vehicles located. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the route information is transmitted in a format that allows inclusion in the individual navigation. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that traffic information provided by other systems when determining the route information is taken into account, in particular as transmitted via the Traffic Message Channel (TMC). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the transmission takes place after a compression of the data and / or that only changes are transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that information concerning the current weather situation is transmitted as journey data. System for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a central computer system (6) which can be reached via a radio network, - A variety of participating in vehicles (1,2) on the road users who are equipped with mobile and wireless communication with the computer system (6) suitable transmitting devices (3), the transmitting devices each having a navigation module is assigned to determine the current position which transmits the transmitting device (3) of the computer system (6) together with other travel data, a functionality realized on the computer system (6), which collects travel data and positions of a plurality of road users and processes to route information relating to individual road sections (7), - means that send route information to road users for further processing in the navigation module. characterized by
the computer system (6) determines route information as a function of time, wherein the route information contains forecasts concerning the traffic volume to be expected at certain times within certain route sections.

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