Apparatus and method for providing real-time information using analysis factor based on road and traffic conditions

• US 9,418,494 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inavi Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thinkware Corporation
• Inventors: Seong, Deuk Yeong, Park, Tae Hyeon, Jin, Hyung Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US13/662,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 340438-441, 34042618-42619, 340903-905, 340/539.13, 340/539.2, 3409951-996
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for providing real-time information using an analysis factor of road and traffic conditions. The real-time information service apparatus may include a calculating unit to calculate at least one of a topographical factor related to a road and a behavioral factor related to a speed, and a providing unit to provide real-time notification information to a driver based on at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor. The real-time notification information may include at least one of a light signal of an indicator lamp, an alarm signal, a video signal, and an audio signal.

Claims

1. A real-time information service apparatus, comprising:

a calculating unit to calculate a topographical factor related to a road and a behavioral factor related to a speed to produce an eco-driving index of the road; and

a providing unit to provide real-time notification information to a driver based on the topographical factor and the behavioral factor;

wherein the calculating unit calculates the topographical factor per unit time and the behavioral factor per unit time for the road, and calculates an average of the topographical factor and an average of the behavioral factor for each of at least one area among a unit section, a link section, and a section between junctions along the entire road;

wherein the providing unit displays the topographical factor and the behavioral factor for each area of a predetermined road section in response to a request by the driver, and displays the average of the topographical factor and the average of the behavioral factor;

wherein the topographical factor includes a gradient of the road calculated per unit time and a curvature of the road calculated per unit time; and

wherein the calculating unit classifies variables associated with the topographical factor or the behavioral factor into at least two grades, stores different combinations with respect to the at least two grades of variables associated with the topographical factor and the behavioral factor, and produces the eco-driving index of the road by selecting at least one combination from the different combinations stored.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the behavioral factor includes at least one of a speed in meters per second (m/s) and an acceleration in meters per second² (m/s²) calculated per unit time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the providing unit generates a light signal of an indicator lamp as the real-time notification information when at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor fails to match a reference value.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the providing unit generates the light signal in different types of lights depending on the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the providing unit generates an alarm signal as the real-time notification information when at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor fails to match a reference value.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the providing unit generates the alarm signal in different types of alarms depending on the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the providing unit generates at least one of a video signal and an audio signal as the real-time notification information when at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor fails to match a reference value.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reference value is determined through learning using log data of at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calculating unit grades the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a reference value for the grading is determined through learning using log data of at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the providing unit provides the real-time notification information in a type of signal being outputted from at least one terminal of a mobile terminal, a navigation terminal, and a black box.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the providing unit displays the topographical factor and the behavioral factor for each unit section through at least one terminal of a mobile terminal, a navigation terminal, and a black box.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the topographical factor for each unit section and the behavioral factor for each unit section is used as reference data for setting a route.

14. A real-time information service method, comprising:

Calculating, by a calculating unit, a topographical factor related to a road and a behavioral factor related to a speed to produce an eco-driving index of the road; and

providing real-time notification information to a driver based on the topographical factor and the behavioral factor;

wherein the calculating calculates the topographical factor per unit time and the behavioral factor per unit time for the road, and calculates an average of the topographical factor and an average of the behavioral factor for each of at least one area among a unit section, a link section, and a section between junctions along the entire road;

wherein the providing includes displaying the topographical factor and the behavioral factor for each area of a predetermined road section in response to a request by the driver, and displaying the average of the topographical factor and the average of the behavioral factor;

wherein the topographical factor includes a gradient of the road calculated per unit time and a curvature of the road calculated per unit time; and

wherein the calculating unit classifies variables associated with the topographical factor or the behavioral factor into at least two grades, stores different combinations with respect to the at least two grades of variables associated with the topographical factor and the behavioral factor, and produces the eco-driving index of the road by selecting at least one combination from the different combinations stored.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein

the behavioral factor includes at least one of a speed in meters per second (m/s) and an acceleration in meters per second² (m/s²) calculated per unit time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing comprises generating a visual signal or an auditory signal as the real-time notification information when at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor fails to match a reference value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reference value is determined through learning using log data of at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising a program for implementing the method of claim 14.