Method and system for determining dynamic traffic information

• US 6,012,012 A
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Mertens, Reinhold, Fleck, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/836,827
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117-9, 701/200, 701/208-12, 701/118, 701/119, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 340/988-90, 340/995, 340/905, 340/934
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 where the complete route is computed only once and not updated
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A method and system for determination of dynamic traffic information or traffic events. Relevant data from vehicle-mounted terminals are recorded automatically, by remote interrogation or manually, and transmitted directly, together with a location identifier, via a wide-coverage mobile-telephone network, for example, GSM, to other mobile-telephone subscribers and/or a higher level exchange. In the exchange, the incoming data are processed and fed to selected terminals and/or third parties. In addition, the results of interrogation, for example, braking behavior, can be pre-defined by a traffic-control center and transmitted by radio broadcast or mobile telephone system to the terminals of road users in a geographically limited area who can then "observe" the flow of traffic directly and immediately report incoming interrogation results by mobile telephone back to the exchange.

Claims

1. A process for mobile wireless acquisition, in a service center and in a terminal in a vehicle, of dynamic traffic information in a roadway system, the process comprising the steps of:

determining, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s position;

detecting, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, additional traffic-relevant attributes;

relaying information obtained in at least one of the determining step and the detecting step over a mobile wireless telecommunication system to at least one of a group comprising other mobile wireless subscribers and the service center;

compiling long-term traffic information in the vehicle;

controlling the acquisition of traffic information in the vehicle by reaching virtual data acquisition points in the roadway system; and

compiling a historical traffic database in the service center at least in part from the long-term traffic information compiled in the vehicle.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein a plausibility check of the data compiled is performed in the service center and optionally a message confirming the accuracy of the information or a cancellation message is sent to selected mobile wireless subscribers.

5. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein traffic-relevant attributes are compiled by remote scanning from the service center to selected vehicles, where the selection is preferably based on historical traffic information.

6. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information processed by the service center as well as events and information relevant to an inquiry for traffic management are transmitted to the terminals of one or more mobile wireless subscribers and/or third parties.

7. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein attributes of partial segments traveled by individual traffic participants are stored temporarily.

8. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data communication between the mobile wireless subscriber and the mobile wireless system takes place over a signaling channel.

9. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traffic-relevant attributes include at least the position and speed of the vehicle as well as time information.

10. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein vehicle attributes are also detected.

11. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the service center also uses information available from other traffic information acquisition systems.

12. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traffic information compiled is correlated in the control center with a digitally stored road map.

13. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein software for operation of the terminal is made available by chip map, separate mechanical interfaces or mobile wireless interfaces.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the control center permits optimization of the data acquisition process and traffic flow regulation by data distribution communication with the terminal.

15. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein collections of mobile wireless subscribers are used for controlling and determining dynamic traffic information over mobile wireless system functions.

3. A process for mobile wireless acquisition, in a service center and in a terminal in a vehicle, of dynamic traffic information in a roadway system the process comprising the steps of:

determining, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s position;

detecting, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, additional traffic-relevant attributes;

relaying information obtained in at least one of the determining step and the detecting step over a mobile wireless telecommunication system to at least one of a group comprising other mobile wireless subscribers and the service center;

compiling long-term traffic information in the vehicle;

controlling the acquisition of traffic information in the vehicle by reaching virtual data acquisition points in the roadway system; and

compiling a historical traffic database in the service center at least in part from the long-term traffic information compiled in the vehicle;

wherein the detecting step is accomplished by remote scanning conducted at least in part for certain segments of roadway, where stationary and/or dynamically variable acquisition areas are defined, in and/or between which the data acquisition takes place.

4. A process for mobile wireless acquisition, in a service center and in a terminal in a vehicle, of dynamic traffic information in a roadway system, the process comprising the steps of:

determining, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s position;

detecting, in the terminal provided in the vehicle, additional traffic-relevant attributes;

relaying information obtained in at least one of the determining step and the detecting step over a mobile wireless telecommunication system to at least one of a group comprising other mobile wireless subscribers and the service center;

compiling long-term traffic information in the vehicle;

controlling the acquisition of traffic information in the vehicle by reaching virtual data acquisition points in the roadway system; and

compiling a historical traffic database in the service center at least in part from the long-term traffic information compiled in the vehicle;

wherein an event-based standard data acquisition is performed at least in part, where a return message is sent back to the service center only after one or more predefined events occurs.

16. A system for mobile wireless acquisition of dynamic traffic information in a roadway system, the traffic information acquisition system comprising:

a service center comprising memory and data processing elements;

at least one mobile terminal in a vehicle;

a mobile wireless telecommunication system by means of which said mobile terminal and said service center are in mutual communication;

detectors in the vehicle for sensing traffic-relevant factors and for communicating the factors to said service center by means of said telecommunication system;

a compilation element in said mobile terminal to compile and store long-term traffic information;

a mobile terminal controller structured to control the acquisition of traffic information in said mobile terminal when the vehicle reaches virtual data acquisition locations in the roadway system; and

a compilation element in said service center to compile a historical traffic database at least from the long-term traffic information gathered.

17. The system according to claim 16, and further comprising an automatic navigation device.

18. The system according to claim 16, and further comprising an emergency call terminal.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said mobile wireless telecommunication system provides communication between said mobile terminal and similar mobile terminals in other vehicles.

20. A process for compiling traffic information in a vehicle, the process comprising the steps of:

determining the vehicle'"'"'s position;

acquiring traffic-relevant attributes based on the vehicle'"'"'s position; and

compiling long-term traffic information in the vehicle based on the traffic-relevant attributes.

21. The process according to claim 20 further comprising the step of controlling the acquisition of traffic-relevant attributes based on the position of the vehicle relative to locations of virtual data acquisition points.

22. A process for mobile wireless acquisition, in a service center, of dynamic traffic information relating to a roadway system, the process comprising the steps of:

compiling long-term traffic information in a plurality of vehicles that travel on the roadway system;

sending the long-term traffic information over a mobile wireless telecommunication system from the plurality of vehicles to the service center; and

compiling a historical traffic database in the service center at least in part from the long-term traffic information received by the service center through the mobile wireless system.