Method for determining traffic related information

• US 6,865,475 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: gedas deutschland GmbH (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Willenbrock, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US10/332,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/200, 701/36, 731/78.R, 340/995.13
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

In a method for determining traffic-related information within a traffic system with the aid of mobile detectors, e.g., vehicles selected at random, the information which is used for determining the traffic situation includes at least the standard deviation of the driven speed of the mobile detector compared to the average speed of the mobile detector on a section of a road and/or the sum of the stationary time on the section of the road.

Claims

1. A method for determining traffic situation information within a traffic system using mobile detectors, the mobile detectors including a terminal, comprising:

determining a mean speed of at least one mobile detector on at least one route segment traveled thereby;

determining a standard deviation of a speed being driven by the mobile detector in accordance with at least one of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled and a sum of stand still times of the mobile detector on the route segment being traveled,

comparing at least one of;

the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled to at least one boundary profile that defines a boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled, as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled, to at least one boundary profile that defines the boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment; and

determining the traffic situation in accordance with at least one of;

the comparison of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the comparison of the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the sum of the stand still times and the mean speed on the route segment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile detectors are arranged in vehicles of a random-sample fleet.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing multiple boundary profiles that are defined in accordance with standard deviation and mean speed on a route segment.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing multiple boundary provides that are defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one boundary profile includes a hysteresis.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the boundary profiles in accordance with road type for definition of traffic conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the boundary profiles on a route-dependent basis.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the boundary profiles in infrastructure-dependent fashion.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the boundary profiles in time-dependent fashion.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the boundary profiles are modifiable.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed and at least on the basis of a maximum permitted speed on the route segment.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in at least infrastructure-dependent fashion in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed on the route segment.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with acceleration behavior of the mobile detector.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is performed in a control center configured to receive at least time-related data for a position of the at least one mobile detector.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is performed in the terminal of the mobile detector, the method further comprising at least one of sending and transferring data relating to the traffic situation to a control center.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

sending data relating to an expected traffic situation from the control center to the mobile detector; and

transmitting data relating to the determined traffic situation from the mobile detector to the control center substantially only in accordance with a change in the expected traffic situation.

17. A control center for determining traffic situation information within a traffic system, the control center configured to obtain from at least one mobile detector data relating to a geographic position of the at least one mobile detector and configured to perform a method for determining traffic situation information within the traffic system using the mobile detectors, the mobile detectors including a terminal the method including the steps of:

determining a mean speed of at least one mobile detector on at least one route segment traveled thereby;

determining a standard deviation of a speed being driven by the mobile detector in accordance with at least one of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled and a sum of stand still times of the mobile detector on the route segment being traveled,

comparing at least one of;

the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled to at least one boundary profile that defines a boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled, as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled, to at least one boundary profile that defines the boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment; and

determining the traffic situation in accordance with at least one of;

the comparison of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the comparison of the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the sum of the stand still times and the mean speed on the route segment.

18. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the mobile detectors are arranged in vehicles of a random-sample fleet.

19. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary profiles that are defined in accordance with standard deviation and mean speed on a route segment.

20. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary provides that are defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment.

21. The control center according to claim 17, wherein at least one boundary profile includes a hysteresis.

22. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in accordance with road type for definition of traffic conditions.

23. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles on a route-dependent basis.

24. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in infrastructure-dependent fashion.

25. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in time-dependent fashion.

26. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the boundary profiles are modifiable.

27. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed and at least on the basis of a maximum permitted speed on the route segment.

28. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in at least infrastructure-dependent fashion in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed on the route segment.

29. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with acceleration behavior of the mobile detector.

30. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the determining step is performed in the control center and the control center is configured to receive at least time-related data for a position of the at least one mobile detector.

31. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the determining step is performed in the terminal of the mobile detector, the method further comprising at least one of sending and transferring data relating to the traffic situation to the control center.

32. The control center according to claim 31, wherein the method further includes:

sending data relating to an expected traffic situation from the control center to the mobile detector; and

transmitting data relating to the determined traffic situation from the mobile detector to the control center substantially only in accordance with a change in the expected traffic situation.

33. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the control center is configured to receive from the mobile detector time-related data relating to the geographic position of the mobile detector.

34. The control center according to claim 17, wherein the control center is configured to receive vehicle status data of the mobile detector.

35. The control center according to claim 34, wherein the vehicle status data includes at least instantaneous speed.

36. A terminal in a mobile detector, comprising:

at least one of at least one position identification device and an arrangement configured to connect to at least one position identification device;

a data processing device;

a device configured to exchange data with a control center;

wherein the terminal is configured to perform a method for determining traffic situation information within a traffic system using mobile detectors, the mobile detectors including the terminal, the method including the steps of;

determining a mean speed of at least one mobile detector on at least one route segment traveled thereby,

determining a standard deviation of a speed being driven by the mobile detector in accordance with at least one of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled and a sum of stand still times of the mobile detector on the route segment being traveled;

comparing at least one of;

the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled to at least one boundary profile that defines a boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled, as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled, to at least one boundary profile that defines the boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment; and

determining the traffic situation in accordance with at least one of;

the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled to at least one boundary profile that defines a boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the standard deviation and the mean speed, and

the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled, as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled, to at least one boundary profile that defines the boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment; and

determining the traffic situation in accordance with at least one of;

the comparison of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the standard deviation and the mean speed, and

the comparison of the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the sum of the stand still times and the mean speed on the route segment.

37. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the mobile detectors are arranged in vehicles of a random-sample fleet.

38. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary profiles that are defined in accordance with standard deviation and mean speed on a route segment.

39. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary provides that are defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment.

40. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein at least one boundary profile includes a hysteresis.

41. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in accordance with road type for definition of traffic conditions.

42. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles on a route-dependent basis.

43. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in infrastructure-dependent fashion.

44. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in time-dependent fashion.

45. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the boundary profiles are modifiable.

46. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed and at least on the basis of a maximum permitted speed on the route segment.

47. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining stop in at least infrastructure-dependent fashion in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed on the route segment.

48. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with acceleration behavior of the mobile detector.

49. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the determining step is performed in the control center and the control center is configured to receive at least time-related data for a position of the at least one mobile detector.

50. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the determining step is performed in the terminal of the mobile detector, the method further comprising at least one of sending and transferring data relating to the traffic situation to the control center.

51. The terminal according to claim 50, wherein the method further includes:

sending data relating to an expected traffic situation from the control center to the mobile detector, and

transmitting data relating to the determined traffic situation from the mobile detector to the control center substantially only in accordance with a change in the expected traffic situation.

52. The terminal according to claim 50, wherein the control center is configured to receive from the mobile detector time-related data relating to the geographic position of the mobile detector.

53. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the control center is configured to receive vehicle status data of the mobile detector.

54. The terminal according to claim 53, wherein the vehicle status data includes at least instantaneous speed.

55. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the terminal is configured to determine a speed of the mobile detector in accordance with time-related position date of the mobile detector.

56. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the terminal is configured one of to receive a speed of the mobile detector from a vehicle speed sensor and to determine the speed of the mobile detector from vehicle status data.

57. A software program product loadable directly into an internal memory of at least one of a control center and a terminal of a mobile detector, the software program product including program steps at least one of executed and executable by the at least one of the control center and the terminal, the program steps configured to perform a method for determining traffic situation information within a traffic system using mobile detectors, the method including the steps of:

determining a mean speed of at least one mobile detector on at least one route segment traveled thereby,

determining a standard deviation of a speed being driven by the mobile detector in accordance with at least one of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled and a sum of stand still times of the mobile detector on the route segment being traveled;

comparing at least one of;

the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled to at least one boundary profile that defines a boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the standard deviation and the mean speed; and

the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled, as a function of the mean speed on the route segment being traveled, to at least one boundary profile that defines the boundary between two traffic conditions and that is defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment; and

determining the traffic situation in accordance with at least one of;

the comparison of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the standard deviation and the mean speed and

the comparison of the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed to the at least one boundary profile that is defined on the basis of the sum of the stand still times and the mean speed on the route segment.

58. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the mobile detectors are arranged in vehicles of a random-sample fleet.

59. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary profiles that are defined in accordance with standard deviation and mean speed on a route segment.

60. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes providing multiple boundary provides that are defined in accordance with the sum of the stand still times on the route segment being traveled and the mean speed on the route segment.

61. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein at least one boundary profile includes a hysteresis.

62. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in accordance with road type for definition of traffic conditions.

63. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles on a route-dependent basis.

64. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in infrastructure-dependent fashion.

65. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the method further includes defining the boundary profiles in time-dependent fashion.

66. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the boundary profiles are modifiable.

67. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed and at least on the basis of a maximum permitted speed on the route segment.

68. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in at least infrastructure-dependent fashion in accordance with at least one of the standard deviation as a function of the mean speed and the sum of the stand still times as a function of the mean speed on the route segment.

69. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the traffic situation is determined in the determining step in accordance with acceleration behavior of the mobile detector.

70. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the determining step is performed in the control center and the control center is configured to receive at least time-related data for a position of the at least one mobile detector.

71. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the determining step is performed in the terminal of the mobile detector, the method further comprising at least one of sending and transferring data relating to the traffic situation to the control center.

72. The computer program product according to claim 71, wherein the method further includes

sending data relating to an expected traffic situation from the control center to the mobile detector, and

transmitting data relating to the determined traffic situation from the mobile detector to the control center substantially only in accordance with a change in the expected traffic situation.

73. The computer program product according to claim 71, wherein the control center is configured to receive from the mobile detector time-related data relating to the geographic position of the mobile detector.

74. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the control center is configured to receive vehicle status data of the mobile detector.

75. The computer program product according to claim 74, wherein the vehicle status data includes at least instantaneous speed.

76. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the terminal is configured to determine a speed of the mobile detector in accordance with time-related position date of the mobile detector.

77. The computer program product according to claim 57, wherein the terminal is configured one of to receive a speed of the mobile detector from a vehicle speed sensor and to determine the speed of the mobile detector from vehicle status data.