Traffic information gathering and query system and method thereof

• US 20070118275A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NEC Company Limited
• Inventors: Wang, Yabo, Qi, Hongwei, Liu, Xiaowei, Liu, Huifeng, Liu, Yuguang
• Application Number:
  US11/598,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118275A1
• 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: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

The invention provides a traffic information gathering device, a traffic information gathering method, a traffic information gathering and searching system and a traffic information gathering and searching method. The traffic information gathering and searching system for receiving traffic information from a user terminal and providing traffic information query service, comprises a map knowledge base generating section for generating information comprising attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map so as to form a map knowledge base; a traffic information processing section for receiving traffic information from the user terminal, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points; and a query information processing section for receiving a query request from the user terminal and analyzing it, decomposing the query request if it is determined that the query request can be composed according to the map knowledge base, and searching the traffic information database based on the decomposed query request.

Claims

1. A traffic information gathering device, comprising:

a map knowledge base generating section for generating information comprising attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map so as to form a map knowledge base; and

a traffic information processing section for receiving traffic information from a user terminal, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points.

2. The traffic information gathering device according to claim 1, wherein the map knowledge base generating section comprises:

an attribute value extracting unit for extracting attribute values corresponding to attributes of the roads and traffic points from the electronic map;

an attribute value spatial relationship forming unit for forming spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values of the roads and traffic points; and

a combining unit for combining the attributes of roads and traffic points and the corresponding attribute values, spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values and spatial correspondence relationship based axiom so as to form the map knowledge base.

3. The traffic information gathering device according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information processing section comprises:

a traffic information receiving unit for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing unit for identifying the format of the first traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into a second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points if it is determined that the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base;

a traffic information integrating unit for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

4. The traffic information gathering device according to claim 3, wherein the traffic information analyzing unit identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then converting the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

5. A traffic information gathering method, comprising:

a map knowledge base generating step for generating information comprising attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map so as to form a map knowledge base; and

a traffic information processing step for receiving traffic information from a user terminal, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed by using the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points.

6. The traffic information gathering method according to claim 5, wherein the map knowledge base generating step comprises:

an attribute value extracting step for extracting attribute values corresponding to attributes of the roads and traffic points from the electronic map;

an attribute value spatial relationship forming step for forming spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values of the roads and traffic points; and

a combining step for combining the attributes of roads and traffic points and the corresponding attribute values, spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values and the spatial correspondence relationship based axiom so as to form the map knowledge base.

7. The traffic information gathering method according to claim 5, wherein traffic information processing step comprises:

a traffic information receiving step for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing step for identifying the format of the first traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points if it is determined that the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base; and

a traffic information integrating step for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

8. The traffic information gathering method according to claim 7, wherein the traffic information analyzing step identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

9. A traffic information gathering device, comprising:

a traffic information receiving section for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing section for identifying the format of the first traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points if is determined that the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, wherein the map knowledge base comprises knowledge related to attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values

corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map; and

a traffic information integrating section for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

10. The traffic information gathering device according to claim 9, further comprising a map knowledge base.

11. The traffic information gathering device according to claim 10, wherein the traffic information analyzing section identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

12. A traffic information gathering method, comprising:

a receiving step for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

an traffic information analyzing step for identifying the format of the first traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, wherein the map knowledge base comprising information related to attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map; and

an traffic information integrating step for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

13. The traffic information gathering method according to claim 12, wherein the traffic information analyzing step identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

23. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 13, wherein the user terminal comprises a wireless communication terminal or a wired communication terminal.

33. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 23, wherein user terminal is a wireless communication terminal or a wired communication terminal.

14. A traffic information gathering and searching system for receiving traffic information from a user terminal and providing traffic information query service, comprising:

a map knowledge base generating section for generating information comprising attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map so as to form a map knowledge base;

a traffic information processing section for receiving traffic information from the user terminal, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points; and

a query information processing section for receiving a query request from the user terminal and analyzing it, decomposing the query request if it is determined that the query request can be composed according to the map knowledge base, and searching the traffic information database based on the decomposed query request.

15. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 14, wherein the map knowledge base generating section comprises:

an attribute value extracting unit for extracting attribute values corresponding to attributes of the roads and traffic points from the electronic map;

attribute value spatial relationship forming unit for forming spatial corresponding relationship among attribute values of the roads and traffic points; and

a combining unit for combining the attributes of roads and traffic points and the corresponding attribute values thereof, spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values of roads and traffic points and spatial correspondence relationship based axiom so as to form the map knowledge base.

16. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 14, wherein the traffic information processing section comprises:

a traffic information receiving unit for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing unit for identifying the format of the traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base; and

a traffic information integrating unit for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

17. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 18, wherein the first analyzing unit identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

18. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 14, wherein the query information processing section comprises:

a query request receiving unit for receiving the query request from the user terminal as a first query;

a query request analyzing unit for identifying the format of the first query request, decomposing the first query request into second query request which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points if it is determined that the first query request can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base;

a searching unit for searching the traffic information from the traffic information database based on the first or the second query request and summarizing the initial searched result to a query result corresponding to the query request; and

a sending unit for sending the searched result to the user terminal.

19. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 18, wherein the query information processing section further comprises:

a traffic result combining unit, for combining the similar traffic information from the initial searched result so as to form the query result.

20. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 19, wherein the searched result comprises a traffic information summary part and a detail description part.

21. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 18, wherein the second analyzing unit identifies the format of the first query request to the steps of:

determining whether the first query request is corresponding to one of the formats “

where”

, “

where, direction”

, “

where, question”

, “

where, time”

, “

where, direction, question”

, “

where, time, question”

, “

where, direction, time” and

“

where, direction, question, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the query request into a format which is corresponding to one of the formats.

22. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 18, wherein the sending unit sends the searched result in at least one of the text format, image format and voice format.

24. A traffic information gathering and searching method for receiving traffic information from a user terminal and providing traffic information query request service, comprising:

a map knowledge base generating step for generating information comprising attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship of the attribute values based on an electronic map so as to form a map knowledge base;

a traffic information processing step for receiving traffic information from the user terminal and analyzing it, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points; and

a user terminal, decomposing the query request if it is determined that the query request can be composed according to the map knowledge base, and searching the traffic information database based on the decomposed query request.

25. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 24, wherein the map knowledge base generating step comprises:

an attribute value extracting unit for extracting attribute values corresponding to attributes of the roads and traffic points from the electronic map;

attribute value spatial relationship forming unit for forming spatial corresponding relationship among attribute values of attributes of the roads and traffic points; and

a combining step for combining the attributes of roads and traffic points and the corresponding attribute values thereof, spatial correspondence relationship among attribute values of roads and traffic points and spatial correspondence relationship based axiom so as to form the map knowledge base.

26. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 24, wherein the first traffic information processing step comprises:

a traffic information receiving step for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing step for identifying the format of the traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base; and

a traffic information integrating step for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information in a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

27. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 26, wherein the first traffic information analyzing step identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

28. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 24, wherein the query information processing step comprises:

a query request receiving step for receiving the query request from the user terminal as a first query request;

a query analyzing step for identifying the format of the first query request, decomposing the first query request into second query request which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first query request can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base;

a searching step for searching the traffic information from the traffic information database based on the first query request or the second query request and summarizing the initial searched result to query result corresponding to the query request; and

a sending step for sending the searched result to the second user terminal.

29. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 28, wherein the query information processing step further comprises:

a query result combining step, for combining the similar traffic information from the initial searched result so as to form the searched result.

30. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 29, wherein the result comprises a traffic information summary part and a detail description part.

31. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 28, wherein the query analyzing step identifies the format of the first query request by the steps of:

determining whether the first query request corresponds to one of the formats “

where”

, “

where, direction”

, “

where, question”

, “

where, time”

, “

where, direction, question”

, “

where, time question”

, “

where, direction, time” and

“

where, direction, question, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first query request into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

32. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 28, wherein the sending step sends the searched result in at least one of the text format, image format and voice format.

34. A traffic information gathering and searching system for receiving traffic information from a user terminal and providing traffic information query service, comprising:

a traffic information processing section for receiving traffic information from the user terminal, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points, wherein the map knowledge base comprises knowledge related to attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship of the attribute values based on an electronic map; and

a query information processing section for receiving a query request from the user terminal, decomposing the query request if it is determined that the query request can be composed according to the map knowledge base, and searching the traffic information database based on the decomposed query request.

35. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 34, wherein the system further comprises:

a map knowledge base.

36. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 34, wherein the traffic information processing section comprises:

a traffic information receiving unit for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing unit for identifying the format of the first traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base; and

a traffic information integrating unit for integrating the first and second traffic information with the traffic information of a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

37. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 36, wherein the first analyzing unit identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

38. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 34, wherein the query information processing section comprises:

a query receiving unit for receiving the query request from the user terminal as a first query request;

a query analyzing unit for identifying the format of the query request, decomposing the first query request into second query request which is corresponding to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first query request can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base;

a searching unit for searching the traffic information from the traffic information database based on the first or the second query request and summarizing the initial searched result to query result corresponding to the query request; and

a sending unit for sending the searched result to the user terminal.

39. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 38, wherein the second traffic information processing section further comprises:

a query result combining unit, for combining the similar traffic information from the initial searched result so as to form the searched result.

40. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 39, wherein the searched result comprises a traffic information summary part and a detail description part.

41. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 38, wherein the query analyzing unit identifies the format of the first query request by the steps of:

determining whether the query request corresponds to one of the formats “

where”

, “

where, direction”

, “

where, question”

, “

where, time”

, “

where, direction, question”

, “

where, time, question”

, “

where, direction, time” and

“

where, direction, question, time”

or not, and if not, then translating the first query request into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

42. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 38, wherein the sending unit sends the searched result in at least one of the text format, image format and voice format.

43. The traffic information gathering and searching system according to claim 34, wherein the user terminal is a wireless communication or a wired communication terminal.

44. A traffic information gathering and searching method for receiving traffic information from a user terminal and analyzing it, providing traffic information query request service, comprising:

a traffic information processing step for receiving traffic information from the user terminal and analyzing it, and decomposing the traffic information if it is determined that the traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base, so as to generate traffic information corresponding to attribute values of roads or traffic points, wherein the map knowledge base comprises knowledge related to attributes of roads and traffic points, attribute values corresponding to the attributes, and spatial relationship among the attribute values based on an electronic map; and

a query information processing step for receiving a query request from the user terminal and analyzing it, decomposing the query request if it is determined that the query request can be composed according to the map knowledge base, and searching the traffic information database based on the decomposed query request.

45. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 44, wherein the traffic information processing step comprises:

a traffic information receiving step for receiving the traffic information from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a traffic information analyzing step for identifying the format of the traffic information, decomposing the first traffic information into second traffic information which corresponds to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first traffic information can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base; and

a traffic information integrating step for integrating the first or second traffic information with the traffic information in a traffic information database and updating the traffic information database using the integrated traffic information.

46. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 45, wherein the first traffic information analyzing step identifies the format of the first traffic information by the steps of:

determining whether the first traffic information corresponds to one of the formats “

where, traffic status”

, “

where, direction, traffic status”

, “

where, traffic status, time” and

“

where, direction, traffic status, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first traffic information into a format which corresponds to one of the formats.

47. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 44, wherein the query information processing step comprises:

a query receiving step for receiving the query request from the user terminal as first traffic information;

a query analyzing step for identifying the format of the first query request, decomposing the first query request into second query request which corresponds to the attribute values of roads or traffic points when the first query request can be decomposed according to the map knowledge base;

a searching step for searching the traffic information from the traffic information database based on the first or the second query request and summarizing the initial searched result to query result corresponding to the query request; and

a sending step for sending the searched result to the second user terminal.

48. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 47, wherein the query information processing step further comprises:

a query result combining step, for combining the similar traffic information from the initial searched result so as to form the searched result.

49. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 48, wherein the result comprises a traffic information summary part and a detail description part.

50. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 47, wherein the query analyzing step identifies the first query request by the steps of:

determining whether the first query request is corresponding to one of the formats “

where”

, “

where, direction”

, “

where, question”

, “

where, time”

, “

where, direction, question”

, “

where, time, question”

, “

where, direction, time” and

“

where, direction, question, time”

or not; and

if not, then translating the first query request into a format which is corresponds to one of the formats.

51. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 47, wherein the sending step sends the searched result in at least one of the text format, image format and voice format.

52. The traffic information gathering and searching method according to claim 44, wherein the user is a wireless communication terminal or a wired communication terminal.