Method of displaying traffic flow conditions using a 3D system

• US 20050143902A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Trafficcom Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Agree, Jonathan K., Soulchin, Robert M., Braddock, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic conditions on a road system includes creating a 3D graphical map of the road system that includes one or more segments. The status of at least one of the segments on the 3D graphical map is determined. The status of the segment corresponds to traffic data associated with that segment. A 3D model of the road system is created by combining the 3D graphical map and the status of that segment.

Claims

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

(a) creating a 3D graphical map of the road system, the 3D graphical map including one or more segments;

(b) determining a status of at least one of the segments on the 3D graphical map, the status of the at least one segment corresponding to traffic data associated with that segment; and

(c) creating a 3D model of the road system by combining the 3D graphical map and the status of the at least one segment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) updating the traffic data, the 3D model reflecting the updated traffic data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the 3D model is updated in real-time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes determining the status of a plurality of the segments on the 3D graphical map, and wherein step (c) includes combining the 3D graphical map and the status of the plurality of segments.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model includes a plurality of segments.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D graphical map includes models of local landmarks.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model includes a geographically elevated ground plain.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D graphical map includes animated features outside of the segments.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model is animated to reflect its respective status by simulating different vehicle speeds that are representative of actual vehicle speeds.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model simulates vehicle densities that are representative of actual vehicle densities on the road system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) moving a view of the 3D model along a route created by one or more of the segments.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more segments of the 3D model are redefined by an end user.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic data includes traffic flow data obtained from roadside sensors.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its respective status.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic data is obtained from a VGSTN.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model is rendered in video format.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model is rendered in broadcast television format.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model is rendered in cable television format.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D model is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

20. A 3D model representing traffic conditions on a road system comprising:

(a) a 3D graphical map of the road system, the 3D graphical map including one or more segments of the road system; and

(b) traffic flow on the 3D graphical map associated with at least one of the segments, the traffic flow corresponding to traffic data associated with the at least one segment.

21. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the traffic flow is associated with a plurality of segments.

22. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D graphical map is color coded to reflect the traffic conditions of that segment.

23. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model simulates vehicle densities that are representative of actual vehicle densities on the road system.

24. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the 3D graphical map includes 3D models of local landmarks.

25. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the 3D model includes a geographically elevated ground plain.

26. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the 3D graphical map includes animated features located outside of the segments.

27. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the traffic flow on the 3D graphical map is animated.

28. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the traffic data is obtained from a VGSTN,

29. The 3D model of claim 20 wherein the traffic data includes traffic flow data obtained from roadside sensors.

30. A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic conditions on a road system comprising:

(a) creating a graphical 3D map of the road system, the graphical 3D map including one or more 3D point locations of the road system;

(b) determining traffic data associated with at least one of the 3D point locations on the graphical map; and

(c) creating a 3D model of the road system by combining the graphical 3D map and the traffic data associated with the at least one 3D point location.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein step (b) includes determining traffic data associated with a plurality of the 3D point locations and step (c) includes combining the 3D graphical map and the traffic data associated with the plurality of 3D point locations.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is traffic flow data.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is speed.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is incident information.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least one 3D point location in the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its criticality.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein the traffic data is obtained from a VGSTN.

37. A 3D model representing traffic conditions on a road system comprising:

(a) a graphical 3D map of the road system, the graphical 3D map including one or more 3D point locations of the road system;

(b) traffic data on the 3D graphical map associated with at least one of the 3D point locations, the traffic data being combined with the 3D graphical map.

38. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the traffic data on the 3D graphical map is associated with a plurality of 3D point locations.

39. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is traffic flow data.

40. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is speed.

41. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one each point location is incident information.

42. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the at least one 3D point location in the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its criticality.

43. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the at least one 3D point location in the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its desirability.

44. The 3D model of claim 37 wherein the traffic data is obtained from a VGSTN.

45. A computer-implemented method of displaying traffic conditions on a road system, the method comprising:

(a) creating a 3D graphical map of the road system, the 3D graphical map including one or more segments and one or more 3D point locations of the road system;

(b) determining a status of at least one of the segments on the 3D graphical map, the status of the at least one segment corresponding to traffic flow data associated with that segment;

(c) determining traffic data associated with at least one of the 3D point locations on the graphical map; and

(c) creating a 3D model of the road system by combining the 3D graphical map, the status of the at least one segment and the traffic data associated with the at least one 3D point location.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising:

(e) updating the traffic data, the 3D model reflecting the updated traffic data.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the 3D model is updated in real-time.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein step (b) includes determining the status of a plurality of the segments on the 3D graphical map, and wherein step (d) includes combining the 3D graphical map and the status of the plurality of segments.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model includes a plurality of segments.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein step (c) includes determining traffic data associated with a plurality of the 3D point locations and step (d) includes combining the 3D graphical map and the traffic data associated with the plurality of 3D point locations.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D graphical map includes models of local landmarks.

52. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model includes a geographically elevated ground plain.

53. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D graphical map includes animated features outside of the segments.

54. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model is animated to reflect its respective status by simulating different vehicle speeds that are representative of actual vehicle speeds.

55. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model simulates vehicle densities that are representative of actual vehicle densities on the road system.

56. The method of claim 45 further comprising:

(e) moving a view of the 3D model along a route created by one or more of the segments.

57. The method of claim 45 wherein one or more segments of the 3D model are redefined by an end user.

58. The method of claim 45 wherein the traffic data includes traffic flow data obtained from roadside sensors.

59. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one segment on the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its respective status.

60. The method of claim 45 wherein the traffic data is obtained from a VGSTN.

61. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model is rendered in video format.

62. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model is rendered in broadcast television format.

63. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model is rendered in cable television format.

64. The method of claim 45 wherein the 3D model is rendered in satellite broadcast format.

65. The method of claim 45 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is traffic flow data.

66. The method of claim 45 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is speed.

67. The method of claim 45 wherein the traffic data associated with the at least one point location is incident information.

68. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one 3D point location in the 3D model is color-coded to reflect its criticality.