PROVIDING DYNAMIC ROUTING ALTERNATIVES BASED ON DETERMINED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

• US 20150319093A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elizabeth B. Stolfus
• Original Assignee: Elizabeth B. Stolfus
• Inventors: Stolfus, Elizabeth B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,755,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• 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: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/43 with synchronous transmission, e.g. time division multiplex [TDM], slotted rings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are provided to determine traffic conditions along a traffic path and dynamically present one or more entities with at least one alternate route. The alternate route is determined based on a number of entities along the traffic path and available routing points adjacent to the traffic conditions. The alternate route may be configured to optimize traffic for an entire traffic system rather than only optimizing traffic for receivers of the alternate routes. Data relating to the alternate routes presented to the entities can be tracked. This data may be used to evaluate an effectiveness of the routing decisions made. Effectiveness can be measured in cost and time saved or spent. Information, such as the data, determinations of the data, and/or even effectiveness of alternate routes, can be distributed to one or more parties. Distribution of the information may be associated with a tiered cost structure.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a traffic condition along a traffic path;

determining traffic nodes adjacent to the detected traffic condition;

determining a location and number of one or more entities along the traffic path adjacent to the traffic condition;

determining, based on the traffic condition and location and number of entities along the traffic path, at least one alternate route for presentation to the one or more entities; and

providing the at least one alternate route to the one or more entities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location and number of one or more entities along the traffic path further comprises:

dividing the traffic path into two or more sections, wherein each section of the two or more sections is a length of the traffic path between traffic nodes; and

determining the number of the one or more entities for each section.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the at least one alternate route for presentation to the one or more entities, further comprises:

determining a destination of the one or more entities; and

determining available alternate route nodes adjacent to the traffic condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the at least one alternate route for presentation to the one or more entities, further comprises:

applying at least one transportation theory algorithm based on at least one of, the determined traffic nodes, the location of the one or more entities, the number of the one or more entities, the destination of the one or more entities, and the available alternate route nodes adjacent to the traffic condition, wherein a result of the at least one transportation theory algorithm provides the at least one alternate route.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the at least one alternate route for presentation to the one or more entities, further comprises:

monitoring traffic flow along available alternate route nodes; and

allocating one or more entities to the available alternate routes based on the traffic flow, while continuing to monitor the traffic flow along the alternate routes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that the traffic flow along the available alternate routes is decreasing; and

providing at least one different alternate route to the one or more entities that have not been provided with the at least one alternate route.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the one or more entities is determined via information provided by one or more of a traffic monitoring device and a communication device associated with the entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic condition includes at least one of an accident, traffic congestion, traffic path construction, and traffic path surface irregularity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information about the one or more entities, wherein the information includes whether the one or more entities followed the provided at least one alternate route; and

determining an effectiveness of the at least one alternate route.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

modifying operational conditions for traffic flow along the available alternate routes, wherein modifying operational conditions includes altering at least one of the traffic flow along routes adjacent to the available alternate routes and a behavior of one or more traffic control devices associated with the routes adjacent to the available alternate routes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the at least one alternate route to the one or more entities further comprises:

determining one or more communication devices associated with a first position along the traffic path;

determining one or more alternative communication devices associated with a second different position along the traffic path;

sending a first set of messages to the one or more communication devices associated with the first position along the traffic path; and

sending a second different set of messages to the one or more alternative communication devices associated with a second different position along the traffic path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of messages includes a first alternate route and the second set of messages includes a second different alternate route.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting a disruption along a traffic path in a traffic system;

determining traffic nodes adjacent to the detected disruption;

determining a location and number of entities along the traffic path adjacent to the disruption;

determining, based on the disruption and the location and number of entities along the traffic path, alternative routing for presentation to the entities, wherein the alternative routing includes instructions configured to distribute routing of the entities around the disruption according to an optimal traffic flow for the traffic system;

providing at least one alternative route of the alternative routing to the entities.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the alternative routing for presentation to the entities, further comprises:

determining path sections between the traffic nodes, wherein each path section of the path sections represents a shortest distance between two adjacent nodes that is capable of receiving traffic;

determining a first entity is in a first path section in the traffic path;

determining a second entity is in the first path section in the traffic path; and

determining a first alternative route for providing to the first entity in the first path section in the traffic system and a second alternative route for providing to a second entity in the first path section in the traffic system, wherein the first and second alternative route include different routing instructions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein no other nodes exist between the two adjacent nodes.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the alternative routing for presentation to the entities, further comprises:

determining a temporary destination of the first and second entity, wherein the temporary destination is identical; and

determining available alternate route nodes adjacent to the traffic condition for routing the first and second entity around the disruption to the temporary destination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the different routing instructions include providing different paths having different alternate route nodes.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first alternative route is determined based on historical information associated with the first entity, wherein the historical information defines a driving style of the first entity, wherein the second alternative route is determined based on driver information associated with the second entity, wherein the driver information includes at least one of a driving style and age of the second entity.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the optimal traffic flow for the traffic system includes increasing at least one of a travel time and travel distance for one or more of the first and second alternative route, the optimal traffic flow providing a distribution of traffic flow in the traffic system.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising.

detecting a traffic condition along a traffic path;

determining traffic nodes adjacent to the detected traffic condition;

determining a location and number of one or more entities along the traffic path adjacent to the traffic condition;

determining, based on the traffic condition and location and number of entities along the traffic path, at least one alternate route for presentation to the one or more entities;

determining operational behavior modifications to one or more traffic control devices;

providing the at least one alternate route to the one or more entities; and

providing the operational behavior modifications to the one or more traffic control devices.