TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 20130183927A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: SCARR, Kevin Tristan, POLLINGTON, David, HICKMAN, Nichola Jane Inglis, BRENNAN, Damian Frederick, MAYS, Daniel Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,843,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

Method and system of detecting traffic in a transport network comprising obtaining network usage records from a mobile network. Extracting cell information from the network usage records. Identifying the network usage records originating from moving handsets from the extracted cell information. Matching the identified network usage records with one or more transport routes. Matching each of the one or more transport routes with a transport mode using transport mode map data.

Claims

1. A method of detecting traffic in a transport network comprising the steps of:

obtaining network usage records from a mobile network;

extracting cell information from the network usage records;

identifying the network usage records originating from moving handsets from the extracted cell information;

matching the identified network usage records with one or more transport routes; and

matching each of the one or more transport routes with a transport mode using transport mode map data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network usage records record mobile events and further wherein the extracted cell information includes cellular base station identifiers and identifying network usage records originating from moving handsets further comprises determining changes in cellular base station identifiers during the mobile events.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile events are selected from the group consisting of:

call;

SMS;

cell change;

MMS;

USSD;

IMSI; and

data download.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein matching the movement of identified network usage records with one or more transport routes further comprises comparing the locations of cellular base stations recorded in the indentified network usage records with predetermined transport routes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined transport routes are scheduled transport routes.

6. The method according claim 1, wherein the transport routes are defined by timetables or road segments.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of optimising the transport network based on the matched transport routes and any one or more of:

transport route volume;

transport route utilisation;

transport route congestion;

direction of travel; and

transport route time of use.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting traffic flow within the matched transport route by determining the volume of moving handsets on the matched transport route from the network usage records.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transport mode is selected from the group consisting of:

bus;

train;

automobile;

coach;

walking;

cycling;

light rail;

underground train; and

tram.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of determining origins and destinations of moving handsets from the network usage records.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of predicting a future utilisation of the matched transport routes using timing information within the network usage records.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the NUR are real-time, near real-time or stored data.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of obtaining a distance travelled and a call duration from the identified network usage records.

14. A computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed on a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1=.

15. A computer-readable medium carrying a computer program according to claim 14.

16. A computer programmed to perform the method of claim 1.