Method of determining traffic data by means of mobile radio telephones

• US 6,230,011 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Kuenzel, Roland, Guenther, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/147,873
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/422, 455/433, 455/435, 455/458, 455/445, 455/450, 455/550, 455/575, 455/456, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

A method for acquiring traffic data from vehicles equipped with at least one decentralized unit having at least one function for mobile communication a second function for obtaining time information and a third function for data storage. At least one central unit with control functions and processing functions assigned to a plurality of decentralized units, wherein decentralized unit receives and evaluates information characterizing radio cells, and other technical radio and transmission information and information which characterizes cell changeover is recorded together with time stamps.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring traffic data from vehicles including at least one decentralized unit having at least one function for mobile communication a function for obtaining time information and a function for data storage, and at least one central unit with control functions and processing functions assigned to a plurality of decentralized units, said method comprising the steps receiving and evaluating, by the decentralized unit, information characterizing cells of a mobile radio network, technical radio information and transmission information;

and

recording time stamp information and information characterizing a cell changeover.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

communicating, to a central station, data gathered in the decentralized units;

assigning the communicated data, using the information characterizing the cells and radio coverage information relating to the cells, to geographical information about a routing network; and

performing a reconstruction of a route of the vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of evaluating, with aid of the reconstructed route, the time stamp information from data records communicated to the central station, so as to determine variables characterizing traffic flow on routes.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating to a central station via a mobile communication system, data recorded in the decentralized units.