Traffic information prediction device with day-factors and day factor classifications

• US 7,636,630 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kumagai, Masatoshi, Fushiki, Takumi, Kimita, Kazuya, Yokota, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sriraman; Nikhil
• Application Number:
  US11/189,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/204, 340/905, 340/907
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

There is provided a prediction calculation system capable of allowing a numerical traffic information to be predicted in such a manner that day factors and the like are reflected thereon. Even if a day whose combination of the day factors is the same as that of a prediction-target day, i.e., a day with the same instance, does not exist within a time-period during which past traffic information has been accumulated, the prediction calculation unit merges the past traffic information appropriately, thereby predicting traffic information corresponding to the objective combination of the day factors. Concretely, the prediction calculation unit combines some of characteristic quantities of the past traffic information on a day-unit basis, thereby approximately reconstructing and predicting the instance.

Claims

1. A traffic-information providing device, comprising:

a traffic-information database for recording past traffic-information time-sequence data,

a day factor input device for inputting plural day factors on a prediction-target day, or date of said prediction-target day, either one of the prediction-target day or the date of the prediction-target day being arranged to be inputted in a mutually exclusive manner by a tab-type interface indicated on a display screen of the day factor input device so as to permit arbitrary editing of the day factors

prediction target designating unit for inputting a prediction target route,

a traffic-information calculation device for determining, based on said past traffic-information time-sequence data, traffic-information time-sequence data for the prediction target route according to each of said plural day factors inputted from said day-factors input device,

a day factor database for storing day-factor classifications for road links, at least one of the links being arranged to include an area for which past traffic-information time sequence data has been stored in the traffic-information database, and

a day factor classification setting unit for updating day-factor classifications stored in the day-factor database, wherein

the day factor classification setting unit includes;

a route input device for specifying the prediction-target route between two locations for which a day factor is to be modified due to data input operation through the display screen of the day factor input device, and

day-factors classification specifying unit for setting day-factors classifications for each of said routes at which day-factor has been designated, wherein

said day-factors classification specifying unit sets said day-factors classifications for each prediction-target route specified by said route input device.

3. The traffic-information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising traffic-information managing means for managing traffic-information time-sequence data which differs for each user who has specified said day-factors classifications.

4. The traffic-information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising day-factors classification collecting means for collecting day-factors classification data for each user who has specified said day-factors classifications,

said traffic-information calculation device determining traffic-information time-sequence data corresponding to said day-factors classifications collected.

2. A traffic-information providing device, comprising:

a traffic-information database for recording past traffic-information time-sequence data,

a day factor input device for inputting plural day factors on a prediction-target day, or date of said prediction-target day, either one of the prediction-target day or the date of the prediction-target day being arranged to be inputted in a mutually exclusive manner by a tab-type interface indicated on a display screen of the day factor input device so as to permit arbitrary editing of the day factor

prediction target designating unit for inputting a prediction target route,

a traffic-information calculation device for determining, based on said past traffic-information time-sequence data, traffic-information time-sequence data for the prediction target route according to each of said plural day factors inputted from said day-factors input device,

a day factor database for storing day-factor classifications for road links, at least one of the links being arranged to include an area for which past traffic-information time sequence data has been stored in the traffic-information database, and

a day factor classification setting unit for updating day-factor classifications stored in the day-factor database, wherein

the day factor classification setting unit includes;

an area input device for specifying an area in which day-factors classifications are to be set, and

day-factors classification specifying unit for setting said day-factors classifications, wherein for each of said routes at which day-factor has been designated and which exists in said area specified by said area input device.

5. A traffic-information providing device, comprising:

a traffic-information database for recording past traffic-information time-sequence data,

a day factor input device for inputting plural day factors on a prediction-target day, or date of said prediction-target day, either one of the prediction-target day or the date of the prediction-target day being arranged to be inputted in a mutually exclusive manner by a tab-type interface indicated on a display screen of the day factor input device so as to permit arbitrary editing of the day prediction target designating unit for inputting a prediction target route, a traffic-information calculation device for determining, based on said past traffic-information time-sequence data, traffic-information time-sequence data for the prediction target route according to each of said plural day factors inputted from said day-factors input device,

a day factor database for storing day-factor classifications for road links, at least one of the links being arranged to include an area for which past traffic-information time sequence data has been stored in the traffic-information database, and

a day factor classification setting unit for updating day-factor classifications stored in the day-factor database, wherein

the day factor classification setting unit includes;

a route input device for specifying the prediction-target route between two locations for which a day factor is to be modified, and

means for determining a delay risk of necessity time in said specified route specified by said route input device.

6. The traffic-information providing device according to claim 5, wherein said arrival-time delay risk provided varies depending on said day factors and time-zones.

7. The traffic-information providing device according to claim 5, wherein said arrival-time delay risk provided is represented by combination of delay-time class value and delay occurrence probability, or by delay risk level.