Data-driven traffic views with continuous real-time rendering of traffic flow map

• US 8,781,736 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Cera, Christopher D., Soulchin, Robert M., Smith, Brian J., Agree, Jonathan K., Auxer, Gregory A., Matzelle, Brent R., Balcerzak, Michal, Grubner, John B. III, Smith, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/405,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,011 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/400, 701/409, 701/418, 701/423, 701/425, 701/428, 701/429, 701/431, 701/436, 701/439, 701/454, 701/458, 707/200, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 340/995.16, 340/995.19, 340/995.23
• US Class Current: 701/458
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/13 the indicator being in the form of a map

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for displaying traffic flow data on a graphical map of a road system. The graphical map includes one or more segments and the traffic flow data represents traffic conditions on a road system. A status of each segment on the graphical map is determined, wherein the status corresponds to the traffic flow data associated with that segment. An animated traffic flow map of the road system is then created by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment. The animated traffic flow map is created by being continuously rendered in real time. The traffic flow data is updated in real-time, and the traffic flow map immediately reflects the updated traffic data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a video feed to a computer monitor for presenting a traffic report, comprising:

at a graphics computer, continually receiving traffic data representing traffic conditions on roads in a geographic area;

calculating a quantity of vehicle graphics from the traffic data;

creating at least one subject object that contains the traffic data, wherein the at least one subject object is associated with at least one scene object, and wherein the at least one scene object is a visual representation of the traffic data including the quantity of vehicle graphics;

receiving a selection of a type of traffic map including the quantity of vehicle graphics, wherein the type of traffic map is selected from a two-dimensional view, a three-dimensional overhead view and a three-dimensional view in the direction of traffic;

rendering image frames according to the type of traffic map using the at least one scene object and a graphical representation of the roads in the geographic area;

after rendering the image frames of the traffic map, transmitting a video signal according to the selection of the type of traffic map with the image frames from the graphics computer to a computer monitor;

upon receiving updated traffic data at the graphics computer, the at least one subject object modifying the at least one scene object;

automatically rendering updated image frames of the traffic map using the modified at least one scene object and the graphical representation of the roads in the geographic area; and

after rendering the updated image frames of the traffic map, transmitting the video signal with the updated image frames of the selection of the type of traffic map from the graphics computer to the computer monitor, wherein if the computer monitor is displaying a traffic report when the computer monitor receives the updated image frames, the traffic report depicts the updated traffic data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic data includes sensor data and the rendering converts the sensor data into a speed graphic depicting traffic speed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, if the updated traffic data includes updated sensor data, the speed graphic changes from depicting original traffic speed to depicting updated traffic speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic data includes route data and the rendering converts the route data into a travel time graphic depicting time to travel a route.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, if the updated traffic data includes updated route data, the travel time graphic changes from depicting original time to travel the route to depicting updated time to travel the route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic data includes flow data and the rendering uses the flow data to control vehicle graphics.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the flow data controls location of the vehicle graphics on the traffic map.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the flow data controls color of the vehicle graphics on the traffic map.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the flow data controls animation speed of the vehicle graphics on the traffic map.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein, if the updated traffic data includes updated flow data, the vehicle graphics change in at least one of location, color, and speed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic data includes incident data and the rendering converts the incident data into a traffic incident icon.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the traffic data includes updated incident data, the traffic incident icon changes in at least one of location and type.

13. A method comprising:

at a graphics computer, continually receiving traffic data representing traffic conditions on roads in a geographic area;

calculating a first animation speed for a first set of traffic vehicle graphics and a second animation speed for a second set of traffic vehicle graphics based on the traffic data;

calculating a first spacing for the first set of traffic vehicle graphics and a second spacing for the second set of traffic vehicle graphics based on the traffic data;

creating at least one subject object that contains the traffic data, wherein the at least one subject object is associated with at least one scene object, and wherein the at least one scene object is a visual representation of the traffic data including the first set of traffic vehicle graphics and second set of traffic vehicle graphics;

receiving a selection of a type of traffic map for a video, wherein the type of traffic map is selected from a three-dimensional overhead view and a three-dimensional view in the direction of traffic;

rendering image frames of the selected type of traffic map using the at least one scene object and a graphical representation of the roads in the geographic area;

after rendering the image frames of the traffic map, transmitting a video signal with the image frames of the selected type of traffic map from the graphics computer to a computer monitor;

automatically rendering updated image frames of the traffic map; and

after rendering the updated image frames of the traffic map, transmitting the video signal with the updated image frames from the graphics computer to the computer monitor, wherein if the computer monitor is displaying a traffic report when the computer monitor receives the updated image frames, the traffic report depicts the updated traffic data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting a first color for the first set of traffic vehicle graphics and a second color for the second set of traffic vehicle graphics based on the traffic data.