Precision traffic indication

• US 10,068,469 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradley, Corinne, Fowe, James Adeyemi, Jackson, Kyle, Giurgiu, Gavril, McCuiston, Mitchell, Stenneth, Leon Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ziaeianmehdizadeh, Navid
• Application Number:
  US15/600,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20170256163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination

Abstract

Precision traffic flow indication may involve receiving device data over a period of time representing a plurality traffic flow readings associated with a road involving a plurality of subsections. Calculating traffic flows and determining road subsections having similar traffic flows may also be involved. Also, indicating a different traffic flow level for a first subsection and a second subsection of road may be involved.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving probe data for a traffic message channel (TMC) designated length of road comprising a plurality of road segments;

receiving an indication, based on the probe data, that a jam factor along the TMC designated length of road satisfies a variance threshold, wherein the jam factor is a ratio of an observed speed on the TMC designated length of road relative to a free flow speed on the TMC designated length of road;

identifying a first subsection of the TMC designated length of road and a second subsection of the TMC designated length of road from the TMC designated length of road, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection each comprise one or more road segments, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection are identified, based at least in part, on a jam factor along the road segments of the respective subsection being within a predefined degree of similarity, wherein the first subsection of the TMC designated length of road or the second subsection of the TMC designated length of road comprises a composite subsection of more than one road segment in response to at least one road segment of the composite subsection having a length failing to satisfy a length threshold;

calculating, using a processor, a first jam factor for the first subsection and a second jam factor for the second subsection;

calculating, using the processor, a traffic flow difference based on the first jam factor for the first subsection and the second jam factor for the second subsection;

modifying, using the processor, the TMC designated length of road in response to the traffic flow difference; and

storing a composite road segment having the modified TMC designated length in a geographic database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, using the processor, a traffic flow significance based on an error or reliability of the probe data for the first subsection of road or the second subsection of road.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the error or reliability of the probe data for the first subsection of road or the second subsection of road is a function of a corresponding free flow speed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the TMC designated length of road is modified according to the traffic flow significance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a navigation related application using the composite road segment having the modified TMC designated length.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the navigation related application indicates a single traffic flow level for the modified TMC designated length.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation related application provides routing based on the modified TMC designated length.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a digitally encoded radio broadcast defining the TMC designated length of road.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the probe data comprises:

receiving real time data from a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first jam factor for the first subsection of road and the second jam factor for the second subsection of road are based on the real time data.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code stored therein;

the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code stored therein configured to, with the

at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

receive probe data for a traffic message channel (TMC) designated length of road comprising a plurality of road segments;

receive an indication, based on the probe data, that a jam factor along the TMC designated length of road satisfies a variance threshold, wherein the jam factor is a ratio of an observed speed on the TMC designated length of road relative to a free flow speed on the TMC designated length of road;

identify a first subsection of the TMC designated length of road and a second subsection of the TMC designated length of road from the TMC designated length of road, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection each comprise one or more road segments, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection are identified, based at least in part, on a jam factor along the road segments of the respective subsection being within a predefined degree of similarity, wherein the first subsection of the TMC designated length of road or the second subsection of the TMC designated length of road comprises a composite subsection of more than one road segment in response to at least one road segment of the composite subsection having a length failing to satisfy a length threshold;

calculate a first jam factor for the first subsection and a second jam factor for the second subsection;

modify the TMC designated length of road to a modified road length in response to the first jam factor for the first subsection and the second jam factor for the second subsection; and

store a composite road segment having the modified TMC designated length in a geographic database.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code stored therein are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

calculate a traffic flow difference based on the first jam factor for the first subsection of road and the second jam factor for the second subsection of road, wherein the modified road length is based on the traffic flow difference.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code stored therein are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

calculate a traffic flow significance based on an error or reliability of the first subsection of road or the second subsection of road.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the error or reliability of the first subsection of road or the second subsection of road is a function of a corresponding free flow speed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the TMC designated length of road is modified according to the traffic flow significance.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code stored therein are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

provide a navigation related application using the composite road segment having the modified TMC designated length.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code stored therein are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

identify the TMC designated length of road from a digitally encoded radio broadcast.

17. A method comprising:

generating probe data for a traffic message channel (TMC) designated length of road comprising a plurality of road segments;

receiving an indication, based on the probe data, that a jam factor along the TMC designated length of road satisfies a variance threshold, wherein the jam factor is a ratio of an observed speed on the TMC designated length of road relative to a free flow speed on the TMC designated length of road;

calculating a modified length of road different from the TMC designated length of road based on a traffic flow difference based on a first jam factor for a first subsection of the TMC designated length of road and a second jam factor for a second subsection of the TMC designated length of road, wherein at least one of the first subsection and the second subsection comprises a composite subsection of more than one road segment in response to at least one road segment of the composite subsection having a length failing to satisfy a length threshold, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection are identified, based at least in part, on a jam factor along the road segments of the respective subsection being within a predefined degree of similarity of other road segments of the respective subsection;

storing the modified length of road in a geographic database; and

providing a navigation related application using the modified length of road.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the navigation related application provides a single traffic level for the first subsection of road and the second subsection of road according to the modified length of road.