Traffic status detection with a threshold method

• US 7,343,242 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Breitenberger, Susanne, Hauschild, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/453,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/202, 701/208, 701/211, 340/904, 340/905, 340/995.13, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A method for providing traffic status information as part of a traffic status detection system using a traffic status detection device provided in the vehicle, in particular traffic status information for ascertaining the traffic situation, including traffic status information for detecting congested traffic is provided. To provide high-quality traffic status information at an acceptable cost, it is proposed that in a first step a traffic status is detected repeatedly by the traffic status detection device. In a second step, a change in traffic status is detected by the traffic status detection device. In a third step, a data record describing the change in traffic status is generated by the traffic status detection device, in particular a program-controlled computer, and in a fourth step, the data record is transmitted from the traffic status detection device to a receiver that receives the data record, via Short Message Service.

Claims

1. Method for providing traffic status information as part of a traffic status detection by a traffic status detection device provided in a motor vehicle, for ascertaining the traffic situation, including detecting traffic congestion, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting a traffic status repeatedly by the traffic status detection device,

detecting a change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device,

generating a data record describing the change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device, which comprises a program-controlled computer, and

transmitting the data record by the traffic status detection device to a receiver that receives the data record via Short Message Service,

wherein the data record indicates whether a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

to the traffic status of “

driving freely”

or a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

driving freely”

to the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

has been detected by the traffic status detection device provided in the motor vehicle.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in determination of the traffic statuses of “

congestion”

or “

driving freely,”

a check is performed several times to ascertain whether the relevant speed of the vehicle is less than a lower speed threshold and greater than an upper speed threshold.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the check is performed periodically and the traffic status of “

congestion”

or “

driving freely”

that has occurred first largely without interruption with a predetermined frequency is considered as a prevailing state.

4. Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data record describing the change in traffic status additionally indicates a location and a point in time of the change in traffic status, including a place and point in time of a start of the congestion or an end of the congestion.

5. Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein after transmission of the data record of the change in traffic status after a predetermined interval of time or distance, a data record describing the traffic status, including congested traffic, is transmitted by the vehicle, indicating the average speed in the congested traffic or the frequency of stopping in the most recent interval.

6. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data record describing the change in traffic status additionally indicates a location and a point in time of the change in traffic status, including a place and point in time of a start of the congestion or an end of the congestion.

7. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein after transmission of the data record of the change in traffic status after a predetermined interval of time or distance, a data record describing the traffic status, including congested traffic, is transmitted by the vehicle, indicating the average speed in the congested traffic or the frequency of stopping in the most recent interval.

8. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data record describing the change in traffic status additionally indicates a location and a point in time of the change in traffic status, including a place and point in time of a start of the congestion or an end of the congestion.

9. Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein after transmission of the data record of the change in traffic status after a predetermined interval of time or distance, a data record describing the traffic status, including congested traffic, is transmitted by the vehicle, indicating the average speed in the congested traffic or the frequency of stopping in the most recent interval.

10. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after transmission of the data record of the change in traffic status after a predetermined interval of time or distance, a data record describing the traffic status, including congested traffic, is transmitted by the vehicle, indicating the average speed in the congested traffic or the frequency of stopping in the most recent interval.

11. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is a central traffic information office, which provides information about the traffic situation using the data record.

12. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic situation is made available using the data record and additional traffic status information from local measurement sites including at least one of induction loops, bridge sensors, camera systems, signal lights and mobile measurement sites, including at least one of reporting vehicles, traffic reporters and police reports.

13. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is at least one other vehicle which analyzes the data record to support the driver or relays the data record to other vehicles or to central traffic information offices by way of data collection points via a wireless interface to a transmission network.

14. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in determination of the traffic statuses of “

congestion”

or “

driving freely,”

a check is performed several times to ascertain whether the relevant speed of the vehicle is less than a lower speed threshold and greater than an upper speed threshold.

15. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after transmission of the data record of the change in traffic status after a predetermined interval of time or distance, a data record describing the traffic status, including congested traffic, is transmitted by the vehicle, indicating the average speed in the congested traffic or the frequency of stopping in the most recent interval.

16. System for transmitting traffic status data from a first vehicle to a second vehicle, in modified form, via an ad hoc network or from a central traffic information office to one or more vehicles, by broadcast, the system comprising:

a receiver in the second vehicle for receiving the traffic status data; and

a traffic status detection device configured to repeatedly detect traffic status, detect a change in traffic status, generate a data record describing the change in traffic status, and transmit the data record to the receiver,

wherein the data record indicates whether a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

to the traffic status of “

driving freely”

or a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

driving freely”

to the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

has been detected by the traffic status detection device provided in the motor vehicle.

17. Device in a motor vehicle for generating and sending traffic status information, wherein the device is configured to repeatedly detect traffic status, detect a change in traffic status, generate a data record describing the change in traffic status, and transmit the data record to a receiver.

wherein the data record indicates whether a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

to the traffic status of “

driving freely”

or a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

driving freely”

to the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

has been detected by the traffic status detection device provided in the motor vehicle.

18. Computer program product including a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for use in a motor vehicle for generating and sending traffic status information, the computer program comprising instructions for:

detecting a traffic status repeatedly by a traffic status detection device,

detecting a change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device,

generating a data record describing the change in traffic status by the traffic status detection device, which comprises a program-controlled computer, and transmitting the data record by the traffic status detection device to a receiver that receives the data record via Short Message Service,

wherein the data record indicates whether a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

to the traffic status of “

driving freely”

or a change in traffic status from the traffic status of “

driving freely”

to the traffic status of “

congested traffic”

has been detected by the traffic status detection device provided in the motor vehicle.