Cellular based traffic sensor system
First Claim
1. A system for providing vehicular traffic information, comprising:
- a plurality of receivers for monitoring signals on control and voice channels of a cellular telephone system, each of said plurality of receivers tuneable to a desired control or voice channel;
a plurality of receiver processors each connected to one of the plurality of receivers for analyzing the signals monitored from the control and voice channels of the cellular telephone system, each of the receiver processors including;
means for detecting and recording call initiations; and
means for detecting and recording call handoffs;
a controller connected to each of the plurality of receiver processors for generating vehicular traffic reports in response to the analysis of the signals monitored on the control and voice channels, the controller including;
means for comparing the recorded call initiations with predetermined levels of call initiations to determine locations of vechicular traffic congestion;
means for counting the number of recorded call handoffs per unit time to determine a vehicular traffic count; and
means for calculating the time between recorded call handoffs to determine a vehicular traffic flow rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing vehicular traffic information using presently existing cellular telephone system technology. Traffic sensors monitor the control and voice channel transmissions of cellular units within a cellular telephone system. Data from these transmissions is extracted and analyzed according to a statistical model and derived vehicle geolocating information to generate vehicular traffic information that is transmitted to a central control center. By combining the information from all of the traffic sensors and each individual cell within a cellular telephone system, a picture of the traffic conditions existing along major thoroughfares may be determined.
251 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for providing vehicular traffic information, comprising:
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a plurality of receivers for monitoring signals on control and voice channels of a cellular telephone system, each of said plurality of receivers tuneable to a desired control or voice channel; a plurality of receiver processors each connected to one of the plurality of receivers for analyzing the signals monitored from the control and voice channels of the cellular telephone system, each of the receiver processors including; means for detecting and recording call initiations; and means for detecting and recording call handoffs; a controller connected to each of the plurality of receiver processors for generating vehicular traffic reports in response to the analysis of the signals monitored on the control and voice channels, the controller including; means for comparing the recorded call initiations with predetermined levels of call initiations to determine locations of vechicular traffic congestion; means for counting the number of recorded call handoffs per unit time to determine a vehicular traffic count; and means for calculating the time between recorded call handoffs to determine a vehicular traffic flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing vehicular traffic information to a central control center comprising the steps of:
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monitoring control and voice channels of a cellular telephone system for call initiations, calls in progress, and call handoffs; recording monitored call initiations, calls in progress, and call handoffs in a data file; comparing the number of recorded call initiations with a standard value; determining an area of vehicular traffic congestion when the number of recorded call initiations exceeds the standard value for the area; forwarding notice of the area of vehicular traffic congestion to the central control center; counting a number of call handoffs recorded per unit time; calculating a vehicular traffic count based upon the number of call handoffs per unit time; and forwarding the vehicular traffic count to the central control center. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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9. A method for providing vehicular traffic information to a central control center comprising the steps of:
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monitoring control and voice channels of a cellular telephone system for call initiations, calls in progress, and call handoffs; recording monitored call initiations, calls in progress, and call handoffs in a data file; comparing the number of recorded call initiations with a standard value; determining an area of vehicular traffic congestion when the number of recorded call initiations exceeds the standard value for the area; forwarding notice of the area of vehicular traffic congestion to the central control center; calculating a time period between detected call handoffs; determining a vehicular traffic flow rate based on the time period between call handoffs; and forwarding the vehicular traffic flow rate to the central control center.
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Specification