Method and system for generating traffic information to be used in map application executed on electronic device

• US 10,720,049 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Direct Cursus Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Yandex Europe AG (Yandex N.V.)
• Inventors: Khokhlov, Mikhail Aleksandrovich, Povolotsky, Arseny Vitalyevich
• Primary Examiner(s): Brushaber, Frederick M
• Application Number:
  US15/864,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20180293883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 Traffic data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination

Abstract

There is disclosed a computer-implemented method for evaluating traffic conditions, the method executable on a server. The method comprises receiving device movement data indicative of moving patterns of the at least some of the plurality of user devices. The method further comprises analyzing the device movement data by: selecting a specific road segment; retrieving at least a first movement pattern associated with a first user travelling the specific road segment and a second movement pattern associated with a second user travelling the specific road segment; and comparing the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern. Responsive to the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern being indicative of there being a disconnect between the first user and the second user entering and existing the specific road segment and proceeding to a same sequential road segment, the method comprises incrementing an overtaking score associated with the second user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for evaluating traffic conditions, the method executable on a server, the server being in a communication with a plurality of user devices, the plurality of user devices executing a map application, the traffic conditions for displaying by the map application, the method comprising:

receiving from at least two of the plurality of user devices device movement data, the device movement data having been generated by the map application, the device movement data indicative of moving patterns of the at least two of the plurality of user devices, each moving pattern including at least an indication of;

at least one road segment traveled,

at least one time record, each one of the at least one time record associated with a respective road segment traveled, the time record indicating an entry time and an exit time for the respective segment traveled;

analyzing the device movement data by;

selecting a road segment from the at least one road segment traveled;

retrieving at least a first movement pattern associated with a first user device travelling the selected road segment and a second movement pattern associated with a second user device travelling the selected road segment;

comparing the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern;

responsive to both of;

(i) the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern being indicative of the second user device entering the selected road segment later than the first user device entering the selected road segment and leaving the selected road segment earlier than the first user device;

and

(ii) both the first user device and the second user device subsequently entering a same sequential road segment from the plurality of road segments, the same sequential road segment being adjacent to the selected road segment;

executing;

incrementing an overtaking score associated with the second user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the device movement data further comprises:

selecting another road segment from the plurality of road segments travelled;

retrieving at least a third movement pattern associated with a third user device travelling the other road segment and a fourth movement pattern associated with a fourth user device travelling the other road segment;

comparing the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern;

responsive to both of;

(i) the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern being indicative of the fourth user device entering the other road segment later than the third user device entering the selected road segment and leaving the other road segment earlier than the third user device;

and

(ii) the fourth user device subsequently entering a first subsequent road segment and the third user device entering a second subsequent road segment, the first subsequent road segment and the second subsequent road segment being different, but both adjacent to the other road segment;

executing;

maintaining the overtaking score associated with the fourth user device unchanged.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the third user device and the first user device are the same user device;

the fourth user device and the second user device are the same user device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

analyzing the overtaking score associated with the second user device and an overtaking score associated with the first user device;

responsive to both of;

(i) the overtaking score associated with the first user device not exceeding an overtaking threshold;

and

(ii) the overtaking score associated with the second user device exceeding the overtaking threshold;

executing;

calculating a traffic flow information for the selected road segment based at least in part on the first movement pattern associated with the first user device and not on the second movement pattern associated with the second user device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving from a user electronic device a request for the traffic information for the selected road segment;

responsive to the request, transmitting to the user electronic device a trigger configured to cause the user electronic device to display the traffic information for the selected road segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the device movement data further comprises:

selecting another road segment from the plurality of road segments traveled;

retrieving at least a third movement pattern associated with a third user device travelling the other road segment and a fourth movement pattern associated with the second user device travelling the other road segment;

comparing the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern;

responsive to both of;

(i) the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern being indicative of the second user device entering the other road segment later than the third user device entering the selected road segment and leaving the other road segment earlier than the third user device;

and

(ii) the third user device and the second user device subsequently entering a same other sequential road segment from the plurality of road segments, the same other sequential road segment being adjacent to the other road segment;

executing;

further incrementing the overtaking score associated with the second user device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the device movement data further comprises:

selecting another road segment from the plurality of road segments travelled;

retrieving at least a third movement pattern associated with a third user device travelling the other road segment and a fourth movement pattern associated with the second user device travelling the other road segment;

comparing the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern;

responsive to both of;

(i) the third movement pattern and the fourth movement pattern being indicative of the third user device entering the other road segment later than the second user device entering the selected road segment and leaving the other road segment earlier than the second user device;

and

(ii) the third user device and the second user device subsequently entering a same other sequential road segment from the plurality of road segments, the same other sequential road segment being adjacent to the other road segment;

executing;

decreasing the overtaking score associated with the second user device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the plurality of road segments travelled based on a pre-defined segmentation rule.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-defined segmentation rule is for defining a given road segment having a length of 200 meters.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-defined segmentation rule is for defining a given road segment being disposed in-between two sequential traffic lights.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device movement data further comprises a unique user device identifier associated with an originating user of the device movement data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the overtaking score associated with the second user device is used in determining whether to use device movement data associated with the second user device in determining the traffic flow.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the overtaking score associated with the second user device is instrumental in determining whether to use device movement data associated with the second user device in determining the traffic flow on a going forward basis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the overtaking score is indicative of the second user device having an abnormal driving pattern, the device movement data associated with the second user device is not used in determining the traffic flow for a pre-determined period of future time.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the abnormal driving pattern is an abnormal overtaking pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the abnormal overtaking pattern is one of:

the second user device having a number of overtaking maneuvers over a first threshold;

the second user device being overtaken for a number of times over a second threshold.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating a movement graph, the movement graph made up of nodes interconnected by shoulders, wherein shoulders represent the at least one road segment traveled and the nodes represent an entry point and an exit point into an associated shoulder.

18. A server for evaluating traffic, the server executing a traffic prediction algorithm, the server being communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device executing a mapping application for electronically providing to a user of the electronic device the estimated road traffic condition, the server being configured to:

receive from at least two of the plurality of user devices device movement data, the device movement data having been generated by the map application, the device movement data indicative of moving patterns of the at least two of the plurality of user devices, each moving pattern including at least an indication of;

at least one road segment traveled,

at least one time record, each one of the at least one time record associated with a respective road segment traveled, the time record indicating an entry time and an exit time for the respective segment traveled;

analyze the device movement data by;

selecting a road segment from the at least one road segment traveled;

retrieving at least a first movement pattern associated with a first user device travelling the selected road segment and a second movement pattern associated with a second user device travelling the selected road segment;

comparing the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern;

responsive to both of;

(i) the first movement pattern and the second movement pattern being indicative of the second user device entering the selected road segment later than the first user device entering the selected road segment and leaving the selected road segment earlier than the first user device;

and

(ii) both the first user device and the second user device subsequently entering a same sequential road segment from the plurality of road segments, the same sequential road segment being adjacent to the selected road segment;

executing;

incrementing an overtaking score associated with the second user device.