Monitoring a mobile device

• US 8,280,617 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Maryland
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland
• Inventors: Tarnoff, Philip, Ganig, Nicholas J., Young, Stanley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul
• Application Number:
  US12/348,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/119
• US Class Current: 701/119
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 Traffic data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring traffic, such as vehicle traffic on a roadway, using identification information acquired using a Bluetooth protocol. A sensor is configured to scan for discoverable Bluetooth devices within a flow of vehicle traffic and to create a log of identified Bluetooth devices. A system includes multiple sensors at known locations along a route and is operable to identify a Bluetooth device identified at multiple sensors.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring vehicle traffic along a roadway comprising:

initiating, in a first sensor disposed at a first location along a roadway, a first inquiry scan according to a communications protocol;

receiving, in the first sensor and at a first time, a first inquiry response according to the communications protocol from a mobile device, the first inquiry response including a media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the first sensor, a first device identifier identifying the mobile device based on the first inquiry response, wherein the first device identifier is based on the media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the first sensor, a first sensor identifier that identifies the first sensor;

associating the first device identifier with the first sensor identifier and a first time stamp that reflects the first time;

initiating, in a second sensor, a second inquiry scan according to the communications protocol, wherein the second sensor is disposed along the roadway at a second location that is separated by a distance from the first location such that a first area associated with a communication range of the first sensor and a second area associated with a communication range of the second sensor are distinct;

receiving, in the second sensor and at a second time, a second inquiry response according to the communications protocol from the mobile device, the second inquiry response including the media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the second sensor, the first device identifier identifying the mobile device based on the second inquiry response;

storing, in the second sensor, a second sensor identifier that identifies the second sensor;

associating the first device identifier with the second sensor identifier and a second time stamp that reflects the second time;

determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier; and

based on determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier as well as with the second sensor identifier, deriving at least one vehicle traffic statistic based on the first time stamp, the second time stamp, the first location, and the second location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle traffic statistic includes an average vehicle speed between the first location and the second location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first inquiry scan comprises at least one inquiry scan routine, and further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the inquiry scan routine.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a threshold number of responses, the first inquiry scan terminating when a number of responses received equals the threshold number.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a maximum number of inquiry scan iterations, the first inquiry scan terminating after completing the maximum number of inquiry scan iterations of the inquiry scan routine.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises an interlaced scan setting, such that the first inquiry scan comprises an interlaced scan routine.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein associating the first device identifier with the first sensor identifier and the first time indicates that the mobile device was located in the first area associated with the communication range of the first sensor at the first time.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first location is derived from a global positioning satellite communication associated with the first sensor.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first inquiry response further includes clock information of the mobile device, and page scan type information, the method further comprising discarding at least one of the clock information of the mobile device and the page scan type information prior to transmitting a name discovery request.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising initiating, in the first sensor, a third inquiry scan before transmitting a name request.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a route distance between the first location and the second location, and wherein deriving at least one vehicle traffic statistic is based on the route distance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications protocol is based on frequency hopping associated with a Bluetooth standard.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device identifier is same as the media access control address of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area associated with the communication range of the first sensor and the second area associated with the communication range of the second sensor are non-overlapping.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first inquiry response and the second inquiry response includes a plurality of inquiry responses.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle traffic statistic includes origin-destination (OD) analysis.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle traffic statistic includes turning movement proportions that are based on at least one of a number of vehicles going straight, a number of vehicles turning left and number of vehicles turning right.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

monitoring, in a first sensor disposed at a first location along a roadway and using a communications protocol, presence of mobile devices within a first area associated with a communication range of the first sensor;

responsive to the monitoring, receiving, in the first sensor and at a first time a media access control address of the mobile device;

based on receiving the media access control address of the mobile device at the first time, storing, in the first sensor, a first device identifier identifying the mobile device, wherein the first device identifier is based on the received media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the first sensor, a first sensor identifier that identifies the first sensor;

associating the first device identifier with the first sensor identifier and a first time stamp that reflects the first time;

monitoring, in a second sensor disposed at a second location along the roadway and using the communications protocol, presence of mobile devices within a second area associated with a communication range of the second sensor, wherein the second location is separated by a distance from the first location such that the first area and the second area are distinct;

responsive to the monitoring, receiving, in the second sensor and at a second time, the media access control address of the mobile device;

based on receiving the media access control address of the mobile device at the second time, storing, in the second sensor, the first device identifier identifying the mobile device;

storing, in the second sensor, a second sensor identifier that identifies the second sensor;

associating the first device identifier with the second sensor identifier and a second time stamp that reflects the second time;

determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier; and

based on determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier as well as with the second sensor identifier, deriving at least one travel statistic based on the first time stamp, the second time stamp, the first location, and the second location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communications protocol is based on frequency hopping associated with a Bluetooth standard.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one travel statistic includes origin-destination (OD) analysis.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one travel statistic includes turning movement proportions that are based on at least one of a number of vehicles going straight, a number of vehicles turning left and number of vehicles turning right.

22. A system for monitoring vehicle traffic along a roadway comprising:

a instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including;

initiating, in a first sensor disposed at a first location along a roadway, a first inquiry scan according to a communications protocol;

receiving from a mobile device, in the first sensor and at a first time, a first inquiry response according to the communications protocol, the first inquiry response including a media access control address of the mobile device;

based on receiving the first inquiry response, storing, in the first sensor, a first device identifier identifying the mobile device, wherein the first device identifier is based on the media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the first sensor, a first sensor identifier that identifies the first sensor; and

associating the first device identifier with the first sensor identifier and a first time stamp that reflects the first time;

a second instruction module including instructions that are executable by a second processor and configured to cause the second processor to perform operations including;

initiating, in a second sensor, a second inquiry scan according to the communications protocol, wherein the second sensor is disposed along the roadway at a second location that is separated by a distance from the first location such that a first area associated with a communication range of the first sensor and a second area associated with a communication range of the second sensor are distinct;

receiving from the mobile device, in the second sensor and at a second time, a second inquiry response according to the communications protocol, the second inquiry response including the media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the second sensor, the first device identifier identifying the mobile device based on the second inquiry response;

storing, in the second sensor, a second sensor identifier that identifies the second sensor; and

associating the first device identifier with the second sensor identifier and a second time stamp that reflects the second time;

means for determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier; and

a third instruction module including instructions that are executable by a third processor and configured to cause the third processor to perform operations including deriving, based on determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier, at least one travel statistic based on the first time stamp, the second time stamp, the first location, and the second location.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the communications protocol is based on frequency hopping associated with a Bluetooth standard.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier comprises:

an instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier.

25. A system comprising:

an instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including;

monitoring, in a first sensor disposed at a first location along a roadway and using a communications protocol, presence of mobile devices within a first area associated with a communication range of the first sensor;

responsive to the monitoring, receiving, in the first sensor and at a first time a media access control address of the mobile device;

based on receiving the media access control address of the mobile device at the first time, storing, in the first sensor, a first device identifier identifying the mobile device, wherein the first device identifier is based on the received media access control address of the mobile device;

storing, in the first sensor, a first sensor identifier that identifies the first sensor; and

associating the first device identifier with the first sensor identifier and a first time stamp that reflects the first time;

an instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including;

monitoring, in a second sensor disposed at a second location along the roadway and using the communications protocol, presence of mobile devices within a second area associated with a communication range of the second sensor, wherein the second location is separated by a distance from the first location such that the first area and the second area are distinct;

responsive to the monitoring, receiving, in the second sensor and at a second time, the media access control address of the mobile device;

based on receiving the media access control address of the mobile device at the second time, storing, in the second sensor, the first device identifier identifying the mobile device;

storing, in the second sensor, a second sensor identifier that identifies the second sensor; and

associating the first device identifier with the second sensor identifier and a second time stamp that reflects the second time;

an instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier; and

an instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including deriving, based on determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier as well as with the second sensor identifier, at least one travel statistic based on the first time stamp, the second time stamp, the first location, and the second location.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the instruction module including instructions that are executable by a processor and configured to cause the processor to perform operations including determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier comprises:

means for determining that the first device identifier is associated with the first sensor identifier and with the second sensor identifier.