NAVIGATION DEVICE & METHOD

• US 20110118965A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Van Hemert, Jasper Michael, Aben, Sjoerd
• Application Number:
  US12/736,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118965A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/141 with means giving the indication of available parking spaces

Abstract

A digital processing apparatus is disclosed for processing live traffic information in order to predict future evolution of the live traffic information. The apparatus includes, in at least one embodiment, a processing resource configured to: receive an item of live traffic information representing a traffic journey-time delay, at a respective time of incidence; store information indicating the journey-time delay and the respective time in a memory, to create a history of variation of the respective journey-time delay with respect to incidence time; and determine from the history at least one characteristic of the journey-time delay indicative of predicted evolution into the future of the journey-time delay from time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

Claims

1. Digital processing apparatus for processing live traffic information in order to predict future evolution of the live traffic information, the apparatus comprising a processing resource configured to:

receive an item of live traffic information representing a traffic journey-time delay, at a respective time of incidence;

store information indicating the journey-time delay and the respective time in a memory, to create a history of variation of the respective journey-time delay with respect to incidence time; and

determine from the history at least one characteristic of the journey-time delay indicative of predicted evolution into the future of the journey-time delay from time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

2. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource is configured to determine said at least one characteristic by extrapolation of the history from the time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information, to a future time of incidence.

3. The processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the future time of incidence is between about 5 minutes and about 1 hour in the future with respect to the time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

4. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation selected from:

the journey-time delay increasing;

the journey-time delay decreasing, the journey-time delay being substantially stable.

5. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation selected from:

the location of the journey-time delay being substantially stationary;

the location of the journey-time delay being in motion.

6. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation indicative of the whether a start location of traffic congestion is moving.

7. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation of speed of movement.

8. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the start location.

9. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation indicative of the whether a finish location of traffic congestion is moving.

10. The processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation of speed of movement.

11. The processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the finish location.

12. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is a navigation device.

13. The processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the navigation device is a portable navigation device.

14. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory resource for storing a planned navigation route, and wherein the processing apparatus is operable to calculate a prediction of journey-time including journey-time delay.

15. A method of processing live traffic information to predict future evolution of the live traffic information, the method comprising:

receiving an item of live traffic information representing a traffic journey-time delay, at a respective time of incidence;

storing information indicating the journey-time delay and the respective time in a memory, to create a history of variation of the respective journey-time delay with respect to incidence time; and

determining from the history at least one characteristic of the journey-time delay indicative of predicted evolution into the future of the journey-time delay from time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the determination step comprises extrapolating the history from the time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information, to a future time of incidence.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the future time of incidence is between about 5 minutes and about 1 hour in the future with respect to the time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation selected as one or more from:

the journey-time delay increasing;

the journey-time delay decreasing;

the journey-time delay being substantially stable;

a location of the journey-time delay being substantially stationary;

a location of the journey-time delay being in motion;

a start location of traffic congestion moving;

a representation of speed of movement of the start location;

a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the start location;

a representation indicative of the whether a finish location of traffic congestion is moving;

a representation of speed of movement of the finish location;

a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the finish location.

19. A computer program which when executed by a processing resource implements a method of processing live traffic information to predict future evolution of the live traffic information, the method comprising:

receiving an item of live traffic information representing a traffic journey-time delay, at a respective time of incidence;

storing information indicating the journey-time delay and the respective time in a memory, to create a history of variation of the respective journey-time delay with respect to incidence time; and

determining from the history at least one characteristic of the journey-time delay indicative of predicted evolution into the future of the journey-time delay from time of incidence of a most recent item of live traffic information.

20. A machine-readable information carrier carrying or embodying a computer program as defined in claim 19.

21. A signal format for a live traffic information stream, the signal format including instances of traffic delay information, each instance including a current-time information field representing a current delay to journey-time, and an evolution information field representing at least one characteristic indicative of predicted evolution of the journey-time delay into the future.

22. The signal format of claim 21, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a representation selected as one or more from:

the journey-time delay increasing;

the journey-time delay decreasing;

the journey-time delay being substantially stable;

a location of the journey-time delay being substantially stationary;

a location of the journey-time delay being in motion;

a start location of traffic congestion moving;

a representation of speed of movement of the start location;

a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the start location;

a representation indicative of the whether a finish location of traffic congestion is moving;

a representation of speed of movement of the finish location;

a representation of whether the congestion is growing at the finish location.