Visualization of traffic patterns using GPS data

• US 9,311,819 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kadous, Mohammed Waleed, Lookingbill, Andrew, Arfvidsson, Joakim Kristian Olle
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/720,457
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• 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

Maps are created that display representations of GPS data generated from a plurality of GPS devices. The GPS data received from the GPS devices is embodied as a representation having descriptive features that visually indicate the location, direction of travel, and speed of travel of the GPS device, and the representation is associated with a road segment on the map. The display of the GPS data from a plurality of GPS devices can be used for editing information about roads on maps and determining preferred routes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for visualizing traffic data on a map, comprising:

receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;

generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;

receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and

assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the generated representation is an arrow.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and

assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein associating the GPS sample to the road segment is based upon a log probability of the association of the GPS sample to the road segment.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for visualizing traffic data on a map, the computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising:

receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;

generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;

receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and

assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the generated representation is an arrow.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and

assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein associating the GPS sample to the road segment is based upon a log probability of the association of the GPS sample to the road segment.

15. A computer system for visualizing traffic data on a map, comprising:

a computer processor for executing computer program instructions; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising;

receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;

generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;

receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and

assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.

17. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the generated representation is an arrow.

19. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and

assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.