Obtaining Vehicle Traffic Information Using Mobile Bluetooth Detectors

• US 20150194054A1
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, Lawrence M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,478,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and system for obtaining traffic information from mobile Bluetooth detectors is disclosed. A mobile Bluetooth detector is a device located in a moving vehicle that includes Bluetooth and GPS firmware for collecting data from Bluetooth enabled devices. The mobile Bluetooth detector transmits the collected data to a remote facility where the data is processed to generate traffic information. A pair of mobile Bluetooth detectors may be used to collect data for generating ground truth.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving location data for a plurality of wireless devices;

receiving data indicative of connection attempts for the plurality of wireless devices;

storing the location data in a location log;

storing the data indicative of connection attempts in a connection log; and

generating traffic data based on the location log and the connection log.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing travel times or traffic speeds based on the traffic data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the location data to map data from a geographic database; and

matching the location data to a location in the map data.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

filtering at least one of the plurality of wireless devices when the location data is not on a roadway.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the filtered at least one of the plurality of wireless devices corresponds to a boat or a train.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the location data for each of the plurality of wireless devices to a range of speeds; and

filtering the location data outside of the range of speeds.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the filtered location data corresponds to a pedestrian, or a disabled vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location log distinguishes between the plurality of wireless devices using media access control (MAC) addresses.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform;

receive location data for a plurality of wireless devices;

receive data indicative of connection attempts for the plurality of wireless devices;

store the location data in a location log;

store the data indicative of connection attempts in a connection log; and

generate traffic data based on the location log and the connection log.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

provide travel times or traffic speeds based on the traffic data.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

compare the location data to map data from a geographic database; and

match the location data to a location in the map data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

filter at least one of the plurality of wireless devices when the location data is not on a roadway.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the filtered at least one of the plurality of wireless devices corresponds to a boat or a train.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

compare the location data for each of the plurality of wireless devices to a range of speeds; and

filter the location data outside of the range of speeds.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the filtered location data corresponds to a pedestrian, or a disabled vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the location log distinguishes between the plurality of wireless devices using media access control (MAC) addresses.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, executable by a processor, to perform:

receiving location data for a plurality of wireless devices;

receiving data indicative of connection attempts for the plurality of wireless devices;

comparing the location data to a predetermined map;

comparing the location data to a speed profile;

filtering the location data according to the speed profile or the predetermined map; and

generating traffic data based on the location data and the data indicative of connection attempts.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, the instructions further configured to perform:

storing the location data in a location log; and

storing the data indicative of connection attempts in a connection log.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the filtered location data corresponds to location outside of a roadway.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the filtered location data corresponds to a pedestrian, a train, a boat, or a disabled vehicle.