Method and system for mapping traffic predictions with respect to telematics and route guidance applications

• US 20040249559A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Josef Mintz
• Original Assignee: Josef Mintz
• Inventors: Mintz, Josef
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

A method is provided for predicting load of traffic of vehicles that are travelling according to non reference route plan, provided with Dynamic Route Guidance capability of their PMMS, in a Forward Time Interval related Route Segment and according to a predetermined protocol between mobile systems and a non mobile system platform of a SODMS. Using mobile units, a traffic prediction query is receiving according, to a predetermined differential traffic load match process. A match process is performed by each of the mobile units and, according to a match, a predetermined response procedure is enabled, wherein a response procedure in each mobile unit uses a predetermined random process to select an allocated slot in which to transmit a predetermined signal, which provides an improved way to predict traffic in conjunction with off line database statistics, preferably with such that are being adaptively corrected by prior data and method to predict traffic which do not include, or lack sufficient erratic traffic information.

Claims

1. (Canceled)

2. (Canceled)

3. (Canceled)

4. (Canceled)

5. A method of differentially predicting load of traffic on a route segment related to a forward time interval by estimating the number of vehicles traveling according to a non-reference route plan, wherein the vehicles are equipped with mobile units capable of communicating with a slot-oriented discrimination mapping system, the method comprising:

receiving by one or more of the mobile units a traffic prediction query from said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system;

performing by each of said one or more mobile units a predetermined differential traffic load match process; and

for each of said one or more mobile units, if said match process results in a match, transmitting a signal to said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system over an allocated slot selected according to a predetermined response procedure.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising estimating a deviation in said load of traffic based on at least one signal received from at least one of said one or more mobile units.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating a deviation in said load of traffic comprises estimating said deviation in relation to database statistics.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating comprises estimating a deviation in said load of traffic in relation to a proportion of a number of allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals to a number of allocated slots not occupied by transmitted signals.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating comprises estimating a deviation in said load of traffic in relation to a sum of energies received from said mobile units in allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals under a common power control of transmission.

10. The method according to claim 6, comprising updating database statistics according to a result of estimating said deviation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein updating comprises adaptively correcting prior data which lacks sufficient erratic traffic information.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating said deviation comprises estimating said deviation in relation to at least one signal received from at least one vehicle that is not expected according to a probabilistic level to be on said route segment at said forward time interval, wherein said at least one vehicle is expected to be on said route segment at said forward time interval according to statistic database information.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating said deviation comprises estimating said deviation in relation to at least one signal received from at least one vehicle that is expected according to a probabilistic level to be on said route segment at said forward time interval, wherein said at least one vehicle is not expected to be on said route segment at said forward time interval according to statistic database information.

14. The method according to claim 5, comprising randomly selecting the allocated slot for transmitting said signal.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting the signal if the vehicle is not on a reference route of the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 5, wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting the signal if the vehicle is not on a default route of the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 5, wherein receiving said traffic prediction query comprises receiving said traffic prediction query by a mobile unit with a capability of a potential mobile mapping system.

18. The method according to claim 5, comprising estimating a deviation from expected traffic loads on said route segment in relation to said forward time interval.

19. The method according to claim 5, wherein receiving a traffic prediction query comprises receiving the traffic prediction query by at least one mobile unit capable of route guidance.

20. A method of estimating a deviation from a predicted load of traffic on a route segment related to a forward time interval by estimating the number of vehicles traveling according to a non-reference route plan, wherein the vehicles are equipped with mobile units capable of communicating with a slot-oriented discrimination mapping system, the method comprising:

receiving by one or more of the mobile units a traffic prediction query from said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system;

performing by each of said one or more mobile units a predetermined differential traffic load match process;

for each of said one or more mobile units, if said match process results in a match, transmitting a signal to said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system over an allocated slot selected according to a predetermined response procedure; and

estimating a deviation in load of traffic in relation to a proportion of a number of allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals to a number of allocated slots not occupied by transmitted signals.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein estimating comprises estimating a deviation in said load of traffic in relation to a proportion of a number of allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals to a number of allocated slots not occupied by transmitted signals.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein estimating comprises estimating a deviation in said load of traffic in relation to a sum of energies received from said mobile units in allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals under a common power control of transmission.

23. The method according to claim 20, comprising updating database statistics according to a result of estimating said deviation.

24. A method of estimating a demand for a product, wherein a description of said product is stored in one or more product lists on one or more vehicular telematics computers, the method comprising:

receiving by one or more of said vehicular telematics computers a query of a hunting trip application;

performing by each of said one or more vehicular telematics computer a predetermined match process in relation to said query; and

if said match process results in a match, transmitting a signal from each of said one or more vehicular telematics computers to a slot-oriented discrimination mapping system over an allocated slot selected according to a predetermined response procedure.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising estimating the demand based on at least one signal received from at least one of said one or more vehicular telematics computers.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein estimating the demand comprises estimating the demand in relation to a proportion of a number of allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals to a number of allocated slots not occupied by transmitted signals.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein estimating the demand comprises estimating the demand in relation to a sum of energies received from said mobile units in allocated slots occupied by transmitted signals under a common power control of transmission.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein performing the predetermined match process comprises performing the predetermined match process in conjunction with differentially predicting load of traffic on a route segment related to a forward time interval by estimating the number of vehicles traveling according to a non-reference route plan in relation to said route segment and said forward time interval.

29. The method according to claim 24, comprising randomly selecting the allocated slot for transmitting said signal.

30. The method according to claim 24, further comprising receiving by at least one of said vehicular telematics computers an offer within a predetermined price range of said product.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising transmitting by said at least one of said vehicular telematics computers a confirmation response indicating acceptance of said offer for said product within said predetermined price range.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising registering said confirmation response by an interested vendor.

33. A system for differentially predicting load of traffic on a route segment related to a forward time interval by estimating the number of vehicles traveling according to a non-reference route plan, the system comprising:

a slot-oriented discrimination mapping system; and

at least one mobile unit associated with at least one of said vehicles, respectively, the mobile unit adapted to receive a traffic prediction query from a non-mobile part of said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system, to perform a predetermined differential traffic load match process, and, if the match process results in a match, to transmit a signal to said non-mobile part of said slot-oriented discrimination mapping system over an allocated slot selected according to a predetermined response procedure.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one mobile unit is capable of route guidance.

35. A system for estimating a demand for a product, the system comprising:

a vehicular telematics computer adapted to store a description of said product in a product list; and

a non-mobile part of a slot-oriented discrimination mapping system adapted to transmit a hunting trip application query to said vehicular telematics computer,

wherein said vehicular telematics computer is adapted to receive said hunting trip application query, to perform a predetermined differential traffic load match process, and, if the match process results in a match, to transmit a signal to said non-mobile part of slot-oriented discrimination mapping system over an allocated slot selected according to a predetermined response procedure.