Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
Patent
1997-12-23
2000-01-04
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
701200, 701118, 701119, 340988, 340995, 340905, 340934, G08G 100, G06F16500
Patent
active
060120126
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to traffic information for drivers, and more particularly to a method and system for providing dynamic information useful on a real time basis for roadway travelers.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traffic control and acquisition of traffic information have become indispensable because of the growing volume of traffic. Normally the prevailing dynamic traffic information may be acquired by: emergency call boxes; information sources not mentioned here.
Disadvantages of the previous methods of obtaining traffic information include the great amount of personnel and materials required, the high cost associated with these methods, and the very long "reaction times" for some events such as accidents, congestion or weather-related traffic problems. Due to the enormous expense, complete coverage of an area in acquisition of traffic information based on sensors in the streets is virtually impossible, so that main areas of emphasis must always be established in data acquisition.
In addition, such a decentralized acquisition of traffic information presents problems when the information is to be compiled and processed centrally and relayed to third parties, such as police, road service personnel, and traffic participants.
German patent 4,105,584 discloses a traffic information system that works on the basis of a mobile communication system. Traffic information is transmitted from a central office to vehicles over an organization channel of the mobile communication system, where the information thus transmitted can be displayed visually and/or acoustically in the vehicle. In addition, means are provided for obtaining information regarding the location and/or movement of the vehicle and sending it to the central office. If a cellular mobile communication system is used, an approximate tracking of a vehicle on the basis of its position in a certain wireless cell is possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an important purpose of the present invention is to provide a process and a system for determining dynamic traffic information that avoids the disadvantages mentioned above and makes it possible to obtain traffic information essentially directly from the vehicle with complete coverage of the subject area at a moderate expense.
Dynamic individual and collective information services require current and historical traffic flow information such as speed driven, prevailing traffic volume, braking and acceleration response, congestion reports, accident reports, and weather, among others, based on specific roadway segments. The same information forms the basis for qualitative and quantitative planning of expansion of the traffic network. This information can be obtained by mobile wireless transmission from vehicles on the road. To be able to assign the information to a certain location, it is also necessary to provide the corresponding vehicles with their own positioning device.
There is a great deal of interest in predicting traffic impediments and predetermining their effects through inventive recognition algorithms in the vehicle and in a central location, using this current traffic flow information plus historical values. In this way, traffic information can be updated very quickly, that is, recognized or deleted.
With this concept of "dynamic traffic flow information" based on the building blocks of telematics, such as a mobile wireless system, and a satellite-assisted positioning and navigation system, the most recent traffic flow information can be obtained from all roads with complete coverage of the area, or specific inquiries can be made.
According to one possible application of the invention, the traffic flow information collected by vehicle terminals is relayed to a regional control center. With this method, both traffic counts and speed determinations are possible. With this "mobile traffic data generation" the expenditures are much more cost-effective than with traditional methods using fixed built-in components in or
REFERENCES:
patent: 5173691 (1992-12-01), Sumner
patent: 5296852 (1994-03-01), Rathi
patent: 5845227 (1998-12-01), Peterson
Fleck Gerhard
Mertens Reinhold
Beaulieu Yonel
DeTeMobil Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
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