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Road traffic server

  • US 9,928,743 B2
  • Filed: 05/04/2015
  • Issued: 03/27/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method of wireless distribution of traffic related messages and guidance to road users having mobile terminals travelling on a road system being monitored by a traffic server, whereinthe traffic server is configured to store thereon a computer-coded map of a geographical area comprising the road system, and the traffic server is further configured to store thereon a program that, when executed, causes the traffic server to execute the steps of:

  • allocating virtual traffic guides in a plurality of junctions being represented in the computer coded map of the road system,associating all road names, or road identifications, leading in and out of the respective junctions associated with virtual traffic guides, andmaintaining and updating a record of traffic flow levels on inbound and outbound traffic lanes of roads relative to each one of the virtual traffic guides,the traffic server is configured to acquire on a regular basis, or on an event driven basis, reports or information regarding traffic related incidents or events on the monitored road system,when the traffic server is analysing a specific report or information regarding a specific traffic incident or event, the traffic server is designating virtual traffic guides as decision points in the computer coded map at junctions having roads in common with roads in a geographical area surrounding an identified geographical location of the traffic incident or event,wherein the decision points are surrounding the geographical location of the incident or event, in a distance from the incident or event being assessed by the traffic server as defining an initial impact area size of the incident or event,evaluating the recorded and updated traffic flow levels of the named roads in and out of the respective decision points, andeach decision point is designated as an open or closed decision point according to a result of the evaluation the traffic levels, wherein;

    a decision point is designated as an open decision point if at least one inbound traffic lane relative to the decision point of a first named road is having a traffic flow level above a first predefined threshold level, and at least one outbound traffic lane relative to the decision point of a second named road is having a traffic flow level above a predefined second threshold level, thereby there is at least one road connection through the associated junction that has an acceptable traffic flow condition,a decision point is designated as a closed decision point if none of the roads of a decision point have a traffic flow level above the predefined threshold levels, or just one lane of a road has a traffic flow level above the predefined threshold levels, anddesignating virtual traffic guides having the named roads in common with the closed decision point(s) as candidates for being an open decision point,wherein candidate decision points are designated as open or closed decision points after an outcome of an analysis of the traffic flow levels of roads associated with the respective candidate decision points,when a candidate decision point is a closed decision point, then continuing evaluating further candidate decision points located away from the closed candidate decision point away from the geographical location of the traffic incident or event, until an open decision point is identified,thereby an impact area around a reported traffic incident or event is bounded by open decision points around a periphery of the impact area, andwhen a road user is detected to be approaching the impact area by the traffic server, the traffic server detects which open decision point the road user is approaching,the traffic server then informs the approaching road user about the at least one road connection with an acceptable traffic flow level through the associated junction of the open decision point the road user is approaching, thereby the road user can avoid entering the impact area of the traffic incident or event.

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