×

Traffic probe in-vehicle map-based process to reduce data communications and improve accuracy

  • US 8,260,532 B2
  • Filed: 06/27/2007
  • Issued: 09/04/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of acquiring and storing data useful for generating traffic information, the method comprising:

  • combining a plurality of sequential map segments associated with a first street to provide a superlink, said superlink extending between an intersection with a second street and an intersection with a third street, wherein said plurality of sequential map segments are located between the intersection with the second street and the intersection with the third street, wherein combining a plurality of sequential map segments includes;

    identifying a set of map segments, wherein each map segment of the set of map segments is associated with a through street, and wherein each through street has a name;

    sorting the set of map segments according to the names of their respective through streets, and identifying, for each through street name, a subset of map segments associated with the through street name;

    determining, for each map segment of each subset of map segments, a longitude range including a beginning longitude and an ending longitude, and a latitude range, including a beginning latitude and an ending latitude;

    identifying one or more nodes at which each subset of map segments intersects all other subsets of map segments, resulting in a plurality of nodes;

    sorting the plurality of nodes by the larger of the longitude range or the latitude range of each map segment associated with one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes; and

    determining, for each pair of adjacent nodes of the plurality of nodes, the plurality of map segments extending between the pair of adjacent nodes, and combining the plurality of map segments;

    configuring a processing center, said processing center comprising;

    a computing device, comprising a memory;

    a wireless transmitter connected to said computing device; and

    a wireless receiver connected to said computing device;

    providing a plurality of probe vehicles, wherein each of said probe vehicles are traveling on map segments of said superlink, said probe vehicles each comprising;

    a global positioning system unit;

    an on-board data processor;

    an on-board vehicle speed sensor connected to said processor;

    a wireless transmitter connected to said processor;

    partitioning the map segments upon which said probe vehicles are traveling into a plurality of connected segments;

    assigning each particular connected segment a unique identifier name;

    selecting the particular connected segment on which each particular vehicle is traveling from said plurality of connected segments;

    determining an estimate of the time required for each vehicle to traverse a particular selected connected segment upon which it travels;

    transmitting data that comprises said unique identifier name and time required for each vehicle to traverse each of such particular connected segments to said processing center; and

    storing said data in said memory.

View all claims
  • 12 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×