System and method for clustering probe vehicles for real-time traffic application
First Claim
1. A method of collecting traffic data, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a cluster of at least two probe vehicles, wherein each probe vehicle is operable to collect traffic data;
(b) establishing one of the probe vehicles as a cluster head;
(c) for each probe vehicle in the cluster, collecting traffic data and communicating the traffic data at least periodically to the cluster head;
(d) processing the traffic data at the cluster head; and
(e) communicating the processed traffic data from the cluster head to a receiving center.
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Abstract
A system and method for forming a cluster of probe vehicles, aggregating and processing (e.g., averaging) data generated by the members of the cluster, and reporting only the processed data to a receiving center, such as a Traffic Management Center, thereby reducing the number of simultaneous communication channels required to report the data and reducing the amount of data which must be processed in real-time at the receiving center. Broadly, each cluster identifies one member to which all other members report. The identified member receives the individual reports, aggregates and processes the data, and then transmits it to the receiving center for further processing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of collecting traffic data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a cluster of at least two probe vehicles, wherein each probe vehicle is operable to collect traffic data;
(b) establishing one of the probe vehicles as a cluster head;
(c) for each probe vehicle in the cluster, collecting traffic data and communicating the traffic data at least periodically to the cluster head;
(d) processing the traffic data at the cluster head; and
(e) communicating the processed traffic data from the cluster head to a receiving center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of collecting traffic data, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a cluster of at least two probe vehicles, wherein each probe vehicle is operable to collect traffic data;
(b) establishing one of the probe vehicles as a cluster head;
(c) allowing additional probe vehicles to join the cluster;
(d) for each probe vehicle, collecting traffic data and communicating the traffic data at least periodically to the cluster head using short-range communication;
(e) for any probe vehicle not within communication range with the cluster head, relaying that probe vehicle'"'"'s collected and communicated traffic data through another probe vehicle to the cluster head;
(f) aggregating and averaging the traffic data at the cluster head;
(g) communicating the aggregated and averaged traffic data from the cluster head to a receiving center; and
(h) if the cluster head indicates that it is leaving the cluster, establishing one of the remaining probe vehicles as a new cluster head. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for collecting traffic data, the system comprising:
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a plurality of probe vehicles, with each probe vehicle including— (a) one or more traffic data determining devices for determining traffic data, and (b) a short-range communicator for at least periodically communicating the determined traffic data; and
a cluster head including— (a) a communicator for receiving the communicated traffic data from each of the plurality of probe vehicles, and for communicating with a receiving center, and (b) a processor for processing the received traffic data, wherein the processed traffic data is communicated by the cluster head to the receiving center. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification