Patent US1476103A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6092020A
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Method and apparatus for obtaining traffic situation data
Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
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Filing: 1997-01-29
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Granted: 2000-07-18
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Expires: 2017-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for obtaining data on the traffic situation in a road network, wherein a plurality of vehicles involved in road traffic ("floating cars") and equipped with sensory analysis equipment for collecting traffic-relevant sensor data, which include at least one variable representing the current speed v(t) of a given vehicle, wirelessly transmit to a center at chronological intervals individual reports concerning the current traffic situation in the vicinity of the given vehicle determined on the basis of collected sensor data by a data processing device arranged in the vehicle. The individual reports, in addition to containing a classifying interpretation of the traffic situation carried out by the data processing device based on the collected speed variables, which interpretation encompasses at least the class of "traffic-related hold-up" (traffic jam), also contain, as part of the report, a confidence factor F, which represents a measure for the waviness of the chronological profile of the speed variables, especially the vehicle speed v(t), for the period of time to which the given individual report relates.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich Fastenrath
- 👤 Markus Becker
- 👤 Rainer Ogger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:57
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096716; G08G1/01; G08G1/0104; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096758; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096775; G08G1/096791
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for obtaining data on a traffic situation in a road network wherein a plurality of vehicles involved in road traffic known as "floating cars" are equipped with sensory analysis equipment for collecting traffic-relevant sensor data to be transmitted to a central station, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the traffic-relevant sensor data including a speed variable using a data processing device located in each of the plurality of vehicles wherein the speed variable represents current speed v(t) of each one of said plurality of vehicles for a period of time; determining a classifying interpretation of the traffic situation based on the collected speed variables; determining a confidence factor F which represents a measurement for a waviness of a chronological profile of the speed variable; and wirelessly transmitting to the central station at chronological intervals, a plurality of individual reports which includes the classifying interpretation of the traffic situation and the confidence factor F.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for obtaining data on a traffic situation in a road network wherein a plurality of vehicles involved in road traffic known as "floating cars" are equipped with sensory analysis equipment for collecting traffic-relevant sensor data to be transmitted to a central station, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the traffic-relevant sensor data including a speed variable using a data processing device located in each of the plurality of vehicles wherein the speed variable represents current speed v(t) of each one of said plurality of vehicles for a period of time; determining a classifying interpretation of the traffic situation based on the collected speed variables; determining a confidence factor F which represents a measurement for a waviness of a chronological profile of the speed variable; and wirelessly transmitting to the central station at chronological intervals, a plurality of individual reports which includes the classifying interpretation of the traffic situation and the confidence factor F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the classifying interpretation of the traffic situation encompasses at least a class of a traffic jam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining a confidence factor includes calculating an approximate length of a graph v(t) over the time period to which each one of the plurality of individual reports relates and norming the length of the graph v(t) using a predetermined reference speed and a measurement frequency f.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the reference speed is a preestablished minimum vehicle speed, v min which is a threshold value for identifying a traffic jam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of determining the confidence factor F includes determining the confidence factor in accordance with the following equation ##EQU2## S=Index quantity of speed measurements in course of sensor data collection (preferably, index quantity assigned to a traffic jam event) N=Cardinal number of index quantity t i =Times at which speed measurements were carried out.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting the predetermined reference speed to the central station.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus in a vehicle for collecting and transmitting traffic situation data in a plurality of individual reports to a central station, comprising: sensory analysis means for collecting the traffic situation data at least representative of a vehicle speed variable; data processing means connected to the sensory analysis means for providing a confidence factor F based on the collected speed variable and a classifying interpretation of a traffic situation in a vicinity of the vehicle, the classifying interpretation encompassing at least a traffic jam wherein the confidence factor F represents a measurement for a waviness of a chronological profile of the speed variable for a time period to which a given individual report relates; and communications means for wirelessly transmitting the individual reports to the central station, the individual reports including at least the confidence factor F and the classifying interpretation of the traffic situation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus in a vehicle for collecting and transmitting traffic situation data in a plurality of individual reports to a central station, comprising: sensory analysis means for collecting the traffic situation data at least representative of a vehicle speed variable; data processing means connected to the sensory analysis means for providing a confidence factor F based on the collected speed variable and a classifying interpretation of a traffic situation in a vicinity of the vehicle, the classifying interpretation encompassing at least a traffic jam wherein the confidence factor F represents a measurement for a waviness of a chronological profile of the speed variable for a time period to which a given individual report relates; and communications means for wirelessly transmitting the individual reports to the central station, the individual reports including at least the confidence factor F and the classifying interpretation of the traffic situation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-01-17 | 2004-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-18 | 2008-01-17 | 2008-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-18 | 2012-01-17 | 2012-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |