Method and system for collecting traffic data

• US 20040243298A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inrix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oy Radiolinja AB
• Inventors: Nykopp, Juha, Knuuttila, Olli
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The invention relates to collecting of traffic data with the aid of a mobile station network. Such areas are determined in the mobile station network, wherein the terminal equipment communicates with the network with the aid of one or more predetermined messages. Based on the message between the network and terminal equipment and relating to a first area a first time by the clock is stored, and based on the message between the network and the same terminal equipment and relating to a second area a second time by the clock is stored. The times by the clock are used in order to obtain traffic data by calculating, for example, the time spent on moving from one area to another. By determining the distance between areas along the road it is possible also to determine the speed of the vehicle. Information may also be collected to form a statistic distribution.

Claims

1. Method for collecting traffic data with the aid of a mobile station network, characterised in that

such areas are defined in the mobile station network, wherein the terminal equipment communicates with the network with the aid of one or more predetermined messages,

a first time by the clock with the subscriber identity is stored based on a message between the network and the terminal equipment and relating to a first area,

a second time by the clock with the subscriber identity is stored based on a message between the network and the same terminal equipment and relating to a second area, and

the times by the clock are used in order to obtain traffic data.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the areas are boundary areas in between the location areas of the mobile station system.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the areas are boundary areas in between the routing areas of a packet radio system.

4. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the messages between the terminal equipment and the network are location updating requests and/or location updating accept messages.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the value of the subscriber identity is stored when the subscriber identity changes, and

the stored value of the subscriber identity is used when seeking the time by the clock.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the distance between the first area and the second area is determined using the location information of the areas.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

time by the clock pairs are selected based on the subscriber identity/subscriber identities,

the differences of the selected time by the clock pairs are calculated,

the calculated differences are collected to form a statistic distribution, and

a characteristic magnitude is calculated for the statistic distribution.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that

the distance between the first area and the second area is determined using the geographical information of the areas, and

the average speed of the traffic flow is calculated with the aid of the measurement and the calculated characteristic magnitude.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that

a second characteristic magnitude is calculated for the statistic distribution, and

a confidence limit of the traffic flow'"'"'s average speed and/or an error estimate is calculated with the aid of the measurement and the second magnitude.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the location information of the defined areas is used in order to obtain the desired traffic data.

11. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

to determine the area use is made of measuring equipment arranged in connection with a vehicle and tracking the location areas and/or analysing the signalling and in combination with satellite radio determination.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

calculatory determination of the location of the area is performed by utilising the measurement results obtained from the signalling information of the mobile station network.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that

a place on at least one of the roads in each area is chosen and the place is stored in the traffic data collection system.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the said place on the road is chosen based on the reading of a recorder of the covered distance arranged in connection with the vehicle.

15. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the said place on the road is chosen based on the location information and a digital map base.

16. System for collecting traffic data with the aid of a mobile station network, characterised in that the system includes

means for determination of such areas, wherein the terminal equipment communicates with the network with the aid of one or more predetermined messages,

first storing means for storing the time by the clock with the subscriber identity based on a message between the terminal equipment and the network and relating to a first area,

second storing means for storing the time by the clock with the subscriber identity based on a message between the network and the terminal equipment and relating to a second area, and

means using the stored times by the clock for producing traffic data.

17. System according to claim 16, characterised in that

the areas are boundary areas in between the location areas of the mobile station system.

18. System according to claim 17, characterised in that

the areas are boundary areas in between the routing areas of a packet radio system.

19. System according to claim 17, characterised in that the messages between the terminal equipment and the network are location update requests and/or location update complete messages.

20. System according to claim 16, characterised in that the means utilising the stored times by the clock includes paging means to page for the time by the clock based on the stored subscriber identity.

21. System according to claim 20, characterised in that the system includes detecting means for detecting a changed subscriber identity and storing means for storing the detected changed subscriber identity.

22. System according to claim 16, characterised in that the system includes

means for selecting time by the clock pairs based on the subscriber identity/identities,

calculating means for calculating the difference for the selected times by the clock,

means for collecting the calculated differences to form a statistic distribution, and

calculating means for calculating a characteristic magnitude for the statistic distribution.

23. System according to claim 22, characterised in that the system includes

means to determine the measurement between the first area and the second area, and

calculating means to calculate the average speed of the traffic flow with the aid of the measurement and the characteristic magnitude.

24. System according to claim 22, characterised in that the system includes

calculating means to calculate a second characteristic magnitude for the statistic distribution, and

calculating means for calculating an error estimate for the traffic flow'"'"'s speed with the aid of the measurement and the second magnitude.

25. System according to claim 16, characterised in that the system includes location information of the determined areas in order to obtain traffic data.

26. System according to claim 16, characterised in that the system further includes

means for choosing a place on at least one road in each of the area, and

storing means for storing the said place on the road in the traffic data collection system.

27. System according to claim 26, characterised in that the means for use in area determination is adapted to track the location areas or to analyse the signalling and to use satellite radio determination.

28. System according to claim 26, characterised in that the means for use in area determination is adapted to utilise in a calculatory manner the measurement results obtained from the signalling information of the mobile station network.

29. System according to claim 26, characterised in that the means used for choosing of the place on the road corresponds to a vehicle'"'"'s recorder of the covered distance.

30. System according to claim 26, characterised in that the means used for choosing of the place on the road is adapted to use a digital map base.