Method and apparatus for estimating real-time travel times over a transportation network based on limited real-time data
First Claim
1. A method for estimating a travel time over a transportation network comprising a plurality of links including at least a first link and a second link and a plurality of nodes at which two or more of the plurality of links intersect, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one data feed associated with a real-time traffic flow over said first link;
estimating a first travel time over said first link based at least in part on said at least one data feed;
estimating a second travel time over said second link based at least in part on said at least one data feed;
observing data representative of an inconsistent traffic flow on one or more of said first link and said second; and
responsive to said observing, using said data representative of said inconsistent traffic flow to generate an artificial node in said transportation network that is different from said plurality of nodes, where said artificial node merges one or more characteristics of two or more of said plurality of nodes and incorporates said one or more of said first link and said second link.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and an apparatus for estimating real-time travel times or traffic loads (e.g., traffic flows or densities) over a transportation network based on limited real-time data. In one embodiment, a method for estimating a travel time over a transportation network comprising at least a first link and a second link includes receiving a data feed associated with a real-time traffic flow over the first link, estimating a first travel time over the first link based at least in part on the data feed, and estimating a second travel time over the second link, also based at least in part on the data feed. The method assumes that a real-time data feed is not available for the second link, and thus estimates the traffic flow over the second link based on the known traffic flow over the first link and other known data, such as historical traffic patterns and physical parameters of the transportation network.
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for estimating a travel time over a transportation network comprising a plurality of links including at least a first link and a second link and a plurality of nodes at which two or more of the plurality of links intersect, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one data feed associated with a real-time traffic flow over said first link; estimating a first travel time over said first link based at least in part on said at least one data feed; estimating a second travel time over said second link based at least in part on said at least one data feed; observing data representative of an inconsistent traffic flow on one or more of said first link and said second; and responsive to said observing, using said data representative of said inconsistent traffic flow to generate an artificial node in said transportation network that is different from said plurality of nodes, where said artificial node merges one or more characteristics of two or more of said plurality of nodes and incorporates said one or more of said first link and said second link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A computer readable storage medium containing an executable program for estimating a travel time over a transportation network comprising a plurality of links including at least a first link and a second link and a plurality of nodes at which two or more of the plurality of links intersect, where the program performs steps of:
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receiving at least one data feed associated with a real-time traffic flow over said first link; estimating a first travel time over said first link based at least in part on said at least one data feed; estimating a second travel time over said second link based at least in part on said at least one data feed; observing data representative of an inconsistent traffic flow on one or more of said first link and said second link; and responsive to said observing, using said data representative of said inconsistent traffic flow to generate an artificial node in said transportation network that is different from said plurality of nodes, where said artificial node merges one or more characteristics of two or more of said plurality of nodes and incorporates said one or more of said first link and said second link.
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Specification