Method and apparatus for identifying through traffic

• US 8,489,313 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Vollmer, Rudolph, Rentel, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/161,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/117, 701/57, 375/130, 375/141, 375/146, 375/259, 340/539.12, 340/539.14, 600/259
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for identifying through traffic, entry into and exit from a predefined area are ascertained and the transit time is used to determine whether unauthorized transit through the area has occurred.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for identifying through traffic, the method comprising:

sensing a position of a vehicle being sensed;

detecting entry into and exit from a predefined area based on the vehicle position;

ascertaining, by a processor, a time spent by the vehicle in the area by an entry and exit point to provide a measured presence time;

comparing the measured presence time with a predetermined reference time; and

indicating whether the measured presence time in the area falls below the predetermined reference time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined time is stored in a memory.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference time depends on a combination of at least one of (a) the entry and exit point, (b) a time of day, (c) a vehicle type, (d) a direction of travel, and (e) weather conditions.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes sending predefined data to a monitoring center from a vehicle terminal device in which the method executes.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predefined data includes at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number, (b) a route traveled, (c) the presence time, and (d) or transit time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined time is stored in a memory, and wherein the reference time depends on a combination of at least one of (a) the entry and exit point, (b) a time of day, (c) a vehicle type, (d) a direction of travel, and (e) weather conditions.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the indicating includes sending predefined data to a monitoring center from a vehicle terminal device in which the method executes, and wherein the predefined data includes at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number, (b) a route traveled, (c) the presence time, and (d) or transit time.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

11. An apparatus for through traffic detection, comprising:

a terminal device installed in a vehicle that has a position determination system and a computer unit having a memory;

wherein the computer unit is configured to detect entry into and exit from a predefined area based on a position of the vehicle, to determine a measured presence time in the predefined area, to compare the measured presence time with a predetermined reference value, and to provide an indication whether the presence time falls below the reference value.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predefined time is stored in a memory.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reference time depends on a combination of at least one of (a) the entry and exit point, (b) a time of day, (c) a vehicle type, (d) a direction of travel, and (e) weather conditions.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the indication includes sending predefined data to a monitoring center from a vehicle terminal device in which the method executes.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the predefined data includes at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number, (b) a route traveled, (c) the presence time, and (d) or transit time.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predefined time is stored in a memory, and wherein the reference time depends on a combination of at least one of (a) the entry and exit point, (b) a time of day, (c) a vehicle type, (d) a direction of travel, and (e) weather conditions.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the indication includes sending predefined data to a monitoring center from a vehicle terminal device in which the method executes, and wherein the predefined data includes at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number, (b) a route traveled, (c) the presence time, and (d) or transit time.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the reference time and the predefined area are updated dynamically via a communications interface.

21. A computer-implemented method for identifying through traffic, comprising:

sensing a position of a vehicle being sensed;

detecting entry into and exit from a predefined area based on the vehicle position;

ascertaining, by a processor, a measured presence time spent by the vehicle in the area by an entry and exit point;

comparing the measured presence time with a predetermined reference time; and

indicating whether the measured presence time in the area exceeds the predetermined reference time.

22. An apparatus for through traffic detection, comprising:

a terminal device installed in a vehicle that has a position determination system and a computer unit having a memory;

wherein the computer unit is configured to detect entry into and exit from a predefined area based on a position of the vehicle, to determine a measured presence time in the predefined area, to compare the measured presence time with a predetermined reference value, and to provide an indication whether the measured presence time exceeds the predetermined reference value.