Method of displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions

• US 20040046759A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobilify Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Agree, Jonathan K., Smyth, Brian J., Soulchin, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system includes creating a graphical map of the road system which includes one or more segments. The status of each segment on the graphical map is determined such that the status of each segment corresponds to the traffic flow data associated with that segment. An animated traffic flow map of the road system is created by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system, the method comprising:

(a) creating a graphical map of the road system, the graphical map including one or more segments;

(b) determining a status of each segment on the graphical map, the status of each segment corresponding to the traffic flow data associated with that segment; and

(c) creating an animated traffic flow map of the road system by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) updating the traffic flow data, the traffic flow map reflecting the updated traffic data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the traffic flow map is updated in real-time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic flow data is obtained from roadside sensors.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each segment on the traffic flow map is color coded to reflect its respective status.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each segment on the traffic flow map is animated to reflect its respective status by simulating different vehicle speeds that are representative of actual vehicle speeds.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each segment on the traffic flow map simulates vehicle densities that are representative of actual vehicle densities on the road system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more segments of the traffic flow map are redefined by an end user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more icons corresponding to incident information for one of the segments are placed on the traffic flow map.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in video format.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in broadcast television format.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in cable television format.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises creating a graphical map having a plurality of segments.

15. A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic conditions for a road system on a graphical map, the graphical map including one or more segments, each segment having animated traffic flow corresponding to a status for that link, the method comprising:

(a) evaluating traffic flow data to determine a status change of one or more of the segments on the graphical map, the status change corresponding to the traffic flow data associated with the one or more segments; and

(b) changing the animated traffic flow of the one or more segments to reflect the status change of the one or more segments.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the traffic flow data is evaluated in real time.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in video format.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in broadcast television format.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in cable television format.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the graphical map includes a plurality of segments.

22. A computer-implemented method of rendering traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system, the road system including one or more segments, the method comprising:

(a) providing graphical data of the road system and the corresponding segments;

(b) collecting traffic flow data corresponding to each segment on the road system;

(c) determining a status of each segment, the status corresponding to the traffic flow data associated with that segment; and

(d) inputting the graphical data and the status of each segment into a graphics engine to generate an animated traffic flow map of the road system.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the traffic flow data is collected in real time.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein step (d) further comprises inputting the traffic flow data to the graphics engine for updating the status of the segments.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in video format.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in broadcast television format.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in cable television format.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the road system includes a plurality of segments.

30. An animated traffic flow map representing traffic conditions on a road system comprising:

(a) a graphical map of the road system, the graphical map including one or more segments of the road system; and

(b) animated traffic flow on the graphical map associated with each segment, the animated traffic flow corresponding to traffic flow data associated with that segment.

31. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the animated traffic flow is updated in real-time.

32. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein each segment on the graphical map is color coded to reflect the traffic conditions of that segment.

33. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein each segment on the graphical map is animated to reflect the traffic conditions of that segment by simulating different vehicle speeds that are representative of actual vehicle speeds.

34. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein each segment on the graphical map simulates vehicle densities that are representative of actual vehicle densities on the road system.

35. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein one or more segments on the graphical map are redefined by an end user.

36. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein one or more icons corresponding to incident information for one of the segments are placed on the graphical map.

37. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in video format.

38. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in broadcast television format.

39. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in cable television format.

40. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the traffic flow map is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

41. The traffic flow map of claim 30 wherein the graphical map has a plurality of segments.