Central unit and procedure for providing traffic information

Abstract

Method (300) for providing traffic information (111) to a road user (110), wherein the road user (110) is a vehicle; wherein the method (300) comprises, - Determining (301) density information in relation to a density and / or quantity of traffic events in a road user's environment (110); wherein the density information indicates a quantity of data to be transferred for traffic information (111) per area; - Determining position information in relation to a current position (211) of the road user (100); - Defining (302) an individual information region (210) for the road user (110) depending on the density information and depending on the position information; wherein the information region (210) defined individually for the road user (110) is determined such that the amount of traffic information (111) for the information region (210) does not exceed a limit data set and / or substantially corresponds to the limit data set; and - Sending (303) traffic information (111) regarding all traffic events relevant to and / or located in the information region (210) to the road user (110).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a central unit, in particular a backend server, and a corresponding method for providing traffic information.

[0002] A road user, especially a vehicle, can communicate with a central unit, e.g., a backend server, via a wireless communication connection to obtain real-time traffic information regarding the road user's current surroundings. The bandwidth of the wireless communication connection is typically limited. Furthermore, the data volume of the traffic information to be transmitted can vary.

[0003] Bandwidth limitations and fluctuations in the amount of data to be transmitted can lead to relevant traffic information not always being reliably received by a road user. Furthermore, a communication link between the central unit and a road user may become overloaded. US 2016 / 0371864 A1 describes a system with different subsystems for different subregions, with boundaries between different subregions being dynamically adjusted to equalize the load between the different subsystems.

[0004] This document addresses the technical task of providing a central unit and a method by which traffic information can be provided to a road user, in particular to a vehicle, in a reliable and resource-efficient manner.

[0005] The problem is solved by the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, among other things, in the dependent claims. It should be noted that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim can form a separate invention, independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim, without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim, which invention can be made the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application, or a subsequent application. This applies equally to technical teachings described in the description, which can form an invention independent of the features of the independent patent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect, a method for providing traffic information to a road user, e.g. for a vehicle, in particular for a road vehicle, such as a passenger car, a bus, a truck and / or a motorcycle, is described. The method can be executed by a central unit or by a backend server. The provided traffic information can, for example, comprise or display one or more traffic events in a specific region. Example traffic events are: a speed limit, a construction site, an accident, a traffic jam, a roadblock, a local hazardous situation, etc. A traffic event is typically associated with a specific position or with a specific regional section.

[0007] The method comprises determining density information relating to a density and / or a quantity of traffic events in an environment of the road user, in particular the vehicle. The density information can indicate a quantity and / or a number of traffic events per (regional) area or per regional section. Alternatively or additionally, the density information can indicate a quantity of data to be transmitted for a traffic event. Alternatively or additionally, the density information can indicate a quantity of data to be transmitted for the traffic information per area or per regional section. The quantity and / or number of traffic events can vary regionally or be different in different regional sections.

[0008] The method also includes defining an information region for the road user, in particular for the vehicle, based on the density information. In particular, the size and / or shape of the information region can be defined based on the density information. For example, an information region can be efficiently described by a polygon.

[0009] Preferably, a relatively small information region can be defined if the density information indicates a relatively high density and / or quantity of traffic events in the road user's immediate vicinity. On the other hand, a relatively large information region can be defined if the density information indicates a relatively low density and / or quantity of traffic events in the road user's immediate vicinity.

[0010] The method further comprises sending traffic information regarding the traffic events in the information region to the road user, in particular to the vehicle. In particular, only and / or all traffic events relevant to the information region or located within the information region can be sent to the road user as traffic information. The traffic information can be sent to a communication unit of the road user via a wireless communication connection (e.g., via a UMTS or LTE network).

[0011] The method thus makes it possible to dynamically adapt an information region for a vehicle's traffic information to the regional density of traffic events. This allows traffic information to be provided in a reliable and resource-efficient manner.

[0012] The information region can be defined such that the traffic information data volume for the information region does not exceed a data volume limit and / or substantially corresponds to the data volume limit. For example, the size and / or shape of the information region can be defined in an iterative process in which the information region is gradually enlarged or expanded (e.g., starting from a base region) until the traffic information to be transmitted for the information region substantially reaches the data volume limit. This can further increase the reliability of the method.

[0013] The method typically involves determining position information relating to a current position of the road user, in particular of the vehicle. The information region can then be defined depending on the position information. In particular, an information region can be defined that encompasses the current position of the road user. If necessary, a direction of movement of the road user can be taken into account. An information region can then be determined that extends from the current position of the road user in the direction of movement of the road user. In this way, the relevance of the traffic information transmitted to a road user can be further increased in a reliable and resource-efficient manner.

[0014] The method can include determining a road type on which the road user, in particular the vehicle, is located. For example, the road type can be determined based on the position information in conjunction with digital map information. Example road types are a motorway, a country road, or a street in a city. The information region can then also be defined depending on the road type. For example, a tubular information region along a motorway can be determined if the vehicle is on a motorway. In this way, the relevance of the traffic information transmitted to a road user can be further increased in a reliable and resource-efficient manner.

[0015] Traffic information can be sent to the road user, especially to the vehicle, in a specific order. In particular, the distances of individual traffic events in the information region from the road user's current position can be determined. Information regarding individual traffic events can then be sent to the road user with increasing distance from the road user's current position. This can further increase the reliability of the transmitted traffic information.

[0016] The method may comprise providing a grid network with a plurality of grid cells. A grid cell may correspond to a regional section of the road user's surroundings, in particular the vehicle. In other words, the road user's surroundings may be divided into a plurality of different grid cells. The individual grid cells may have a uniform size and / or shape (e.g., a rectangular shape).

[0017] A grid cell can display zero, one, or more traffic events in the regional section corresponding to the grid cell. The traffic events can be determined based on reports from road users and / or data from one or more infrastructure units and stored in the relevant grid cells of the grid network. This makes it possible to provide a grid network that displays different traffic events in different regional sections. The grid network can be determined and updated, for example, by a central unit.

[0018] The density information can be determined based on the traffic events in at least some of the plurality of grid cells. For example, the density information for a regional section can be determined by the number of traffic events in the grid cell corresponding to the regional section.

[0019] The information region can be composed of a subset of the plurality of grid cells. For example, if the density of traffic events is relatively high, the information region can be composed of a relatively small number of grid cells. On the other hand, if the density of traffic events is relatively low, the information region can be composed of a relatively large number of grid cells. By providing a grid network, an information region can be adapted to the density of traffic events in a particularly efficient manner.

[0020] It can be determined which one or more grid cells are contained in the information region. It can then be assumed that these one or more grid cells have been subscribed to by the road user (in particular, the vehicle). A central unit can determine and store for each of the plurality of grid cells which zero, one, or more road users (in particular, vehicles) have subscribed to the respective grid cell. A grid cell can thus indicate which zero, one, or more vehicles have subscribed to the grid cell.

[0021] The transmission of traffic information may then comprise the transmission, in particular the broadcasting or multicasting, of information relating to the traffic events in the one or more grid cells contained in the information region of the road user.

[0022] In particular, information regarding traffic events in a grid cell can be sent (in particular, broadcast or multicast) to zero, one, or more road users who have subscribed to this grid cell. The transmission of information regarding the respective traffic events can occur for each of the plurality of grid cells of a grid network. Thus, traffic information can be sent to a multitude of different road users (in particular, vehicles) in a resource-efficient manner.

[0023] The method may include determining, based on the position information relating to a current position of the road user, that the road user has reached an edge of the information region. In response, a new information region may then be defined (and the relevant traffic information sent). Thus, an information region may be defined repeatedly while a vehicle is traveling. The determination of a new information region may be triggered by reaching the edge of a previously determined information region.

[0024] The method described in this document makes it possible to define a relatively large information region when traffic events are relatively low. As a result, a road user rarely reaches the edge of the information region in such a case, so defining a new information region and the associated transmission of traffic information occurs relatively infrequently. This allows the resources required for providing traffic information to be further reduced.

[0025] According to a further aspect, a central unit for providing traffic information to a road user, in particular to a vehicle, is described. The central unit is configured to determine density information relating to a density and / or quantity of traffic events in the surroundings of the road user, in particular to the vehicle. Furthermore, the central unit is configured to define an information region for the road user, in particular to the vehicle, depending on the density information. Furthermore, the central unit is configured to send traffic information relating to the traffic events in the information region to the road user, in particular to the vehicle.

[0026] According to another aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The SW program can be configured to be executed on a processor and thereby to carry out the method described in this document.

[0027] According to a further aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium can comprise a software program configured to be executed on a processor and thereby to carry out the method described in this document.

[0028] It should be noted that the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices, and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0029] The invention will be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 an exemplary system for providing traffic information; Fig. 2 an exemplary information region around the current position of a vehicle; and Fig. 3 a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing traffic information.

[0030] As stated at the beginning, this document deals with the reliable and resource-efficient provision of traffic information to a road user, in particular to a vehicle. In this context, Fig. 1 shows an exemplary system 100 for providing traffic information. The system 100 comprises a central unit 101 (e.g., a backend server) configured to obtain traffic information from a plurality of information sources 102, 103. Exemplary information sources 102, 103 are road users 102 (e.g., vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, etc.) and infrastructure units 103 (e.g., cameras on bridges, etc.).

[0031] The central unit 101 is configured to analyze the traffic information or traffic events provided and to store them position-dependently (e.g. in a Fig. 2). Examples of traffic information or traffic events are: a blocked roadway or lane; an accident; a traffic jam; an object on a roadway; black ice or fog; etc.

[0032] A vehicle 110 (as an exemplary road user) can register with the central unit 101. The current position of the vehicle 110 can be specified. The central unit 101 can then provide the vehicle 110 with traffic information 111 from a specific region or from a specific environment around the current position of the vehicle 110 (via a wireless communication connection). The vehicle 110 can use the provided traffic information 111 as part of one or more driver assistance functions. For example, routing of the vehicle 110 can be performed depending on the provided traffic information 111. Alternatively or additionally, a warning can be issued to a driver of the vehicle 110 depending on the traffic information 111.

[0033] A vehicle 110 can thus register with a backend server 101 for a specific geo-region (e.g., a specific map tile) using GPS to receive real-time traffic information 111 (such as a local hazard warning) from this geo-region. The traffic information 111 can be transmitted to the vehicle 110 via broadcast. The size of the geo-region can be fixed or specified.

[0034] The density of relevant traffic events can vary substantially for different geo-regions. Consequently, the data volume of the traffic information 111 to be transmitted for different geo-regions can fluctuate substantially. The use of static and / or fixed sizes of the geo-regions or map tiles in a vehicle 110 thus leads to substantial fluctuations in the data traffic between the central unit 101 and a vehicle 110. In particular, in a geo-region with a relatively high density of traffic events (e.g., in a city), data traffic may be required that may exceed the available bandwidth of a wireless communication connection. In particular, with a relatively large tile size or region size and a relatively high traffic information density, a relatively large number of traffic events may be sent unnecessarily to a vehicle 110.On the other hand, with a relatively small tile size or region size and a relatively low traffic information density, an unnecessarily large number of registrations and deregistrations from the different tiles or regions can be generated.

[0035] It is therefore advantageous to dynamically adjust the size of an information region for a vehicle 110 instead of determining a fixed tile size. In particular, the central unit 101 can define an individual information region for this vehicle 110 depending on the current position of this vehicle 110. Traffic information 111 from the individually defined information region is then provided to the vehicle 110. The individual information region can be defined by the central unit 101 based on the traffic information density. If there are a relatively large number of traffic events for a specific region, the information region (e.g., a polygon) can be selected to be relatively small. On the other hand, if there are relatively few traffic events for a region, the information region can be selected to be relatively large.The size and / or shape of an information region for a vehicle 110 can be calculated dynamically and / or traffic-dependently by the central unit 101.

[0036] By dynamically adjusting the size and / or shape of an information region, data traffic between a vehicle 110 and the central unit 101 can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the data processing load in a vehicle 110 and in the central unit 101 can be reduced.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary subdivision of an environment of a vehicle 110 into a grid network 200 with a plurality of grid cells 201. The grid cells 201 can have the shape of quadrilaterals (as in Fig. 2). The central unit 101 can be configured to determine traffic information and assign it to the different grid cells 201 of the grid network 200 depending on the position. A grid cell 201 can thus be associated with zero, one, or more traffic events. The position of the grid cell 201 corresponds to the position of a traffic event associated with the grid cell 201.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a vehicle 110 located at a specific position 211 within the grid network 200. The vehicle 110 can transmit position information relating to the current position 211 of the vehicle 110 to the central unit 101. In response, the central unit 101 can determine an information region 210 from which traffic information 111 is provided to the vehicle 110. The information region 210 can be determined based on the position information relating to the current position 211 of the vehicle 110. Furthermore, the information region 210 can be determined depending on the amount of traffic information 111 to be transmitted. The amount of traffic information 111 to be transmitted can be determined based on the grid network 200.For example, the information region 210 can be gradually expanded by one or more grid cells 201 until a certain limit of the amount of traffic information 111 to be transmitted is reached. This leads to the determination of a relatively large information region 210 if the grid cells 201 in the surroundings of the vehicle 110 are associated with relatively few traffic events. On the other hand, this leads to the determination of a relatively small information region 210 if the grid cells 201 in the surroundings of the vehicle 110 are associated with relatively many traffic events.

[0039] Fig.3 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 300 for providing traffic information 111 for a vehicle 110. The traffic information 111 can indicate one or more traffic events in an environment of the vehicle 110. Example traffic events include: speed limits, traffic jams, accidents, construction sites, local weather information (black ice, fog, etc.), etc. The method 300 can be executed by a central unit 101, in particular by a backend server.

[0040] The method 300 includes determining 301 density information relating to a density and / or a quantity of traffic events in the surroundings of the vehicle 110. The density information may, for example, indicate the number of traffic events and / or the amount of data relating to traffic events per area. In particular, the density information may indicate whether the density and / or the quantity of traffic events in the surroundings of the vehicle 110 is relatively high or relatively low.

[0041] The method 300 further includes defining 302 an information region 210 for the vehicle 110 based on the density information. The current position 211 of the vehicle 110 can also be taken into account when defining the information region 210. The current position 211 can be received as position information at a central unit 101.

[0042] When defining 201 the information region, the size and / or shape of the information region 210 can be adjusted depending on the density information. Preferably, a relatively large information region 210 can be defined if the density information indicates a relatively low density and / or quantity of traffic events in the surroundings of the vehicle 110. On the other hand, a relatively small information region 210 can be defined if the density information indicates a relatively high density and / or quantity of traffic events in the surroundings of the vehicle 110.

[0043] Furthermore, the method 300 includes sending 303 traffic information 111 regarding the traffic events in the information region 210 to the vehicle 110. In particular, only the traffic events relevant to the information region 210 or located in the information region 210 can be sent to the vehicle 110 as traffic information 111. On the other hand, all traffic events relevant to the information region 210 or located in the information region 210 can be sent to the vehicle 110 as traffic information 111.

[0044] Method 300 enables the information region 210 to be dynamically adapted to the traffic information density with respect to the local location of the traffic events to be transmitted. This allows the required bandwidth for the traffic information 111 to be transmitted to be limited. Furthermore, traffic information 111 can be provided that can be reliably and resource-efficiently transmitted to a vehicle 110 and processed by the vehicle 110 in a reliable and resource-efficient manner.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices, and systems.

Claims

[1] Method (300) for providing traffic information (111) to a road user (110), wherein the road user (110) is a vehicle; wherein the method (300) comprises, - Determining (301) density information relating to a density and / or a quantity of traffic events in an environment of the road user (110); wherein the density information indicates a quantity of data to be transmitted for the traffic information (111) per area; - determining position information relating to a current position (211) of the road user (100); - defining (302) an individual information region (210) for the road user (110) as a function of the density information and as a function of the position information; wherein the information region (210) defined individually for the road user (110) is defined such that the data volume of the traffic information (111) for the information region (210) does not exceed a limit data volume and / or substantially corresponds to the limit data volume; and - Sending (303) traffic information (111) to the road user (110) regarding all traffic events relevant to the information region (210) and / or located in the information region (210). [2] Method (300) according to claim 1, wherein - the method (300) comprises determining a road type on which the road user (100) is located; and - the information region (210) is determined depending on the road type. [3] Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - a size and / or a shape of the information region (210) is determined; and / or - the information region (210) is described by a polygon. [4] Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the method (300) comprises providing a grid network (200) having a plurality of grid cells (201); - a grid cell (201) corresponds to a regional section of the surroundings of the road user (110); - a grid cell (201) displays zero, one or more traffic events in the regional section corresponding to the grid cell (201); and - the density information is determined on the basis of the traffic events of at least some of the plurality of grid cells (201). [5] The method (300) of claim 4, wherein the information region (210) is composed of a subset of the plurality of raster cells (201). [6] Method (300) according to one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the sending (303) of traffic information (111) comprises - determining which one or more grid cells (201) are contained in the information region (210); and - transmitting information relating to the traffic events in the one or more grid cells (201) contained in the information region (210). [7] Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method (300) comprises - determining, on the basis of the position information relating to the current position (211) of the road user (110), that the road user (110) reaches an edge of the information region (210); and - in response, defining a new information region (210). [8] Central unit (101) for providing traffic information (111) to a road user (110), wherein the road user (110) is a vehicle; wherein the central unit (101) is configured - to determine density information relating to a density and / or quantity of traffic events in an environment of the road user (110); wherein the density information indicates a quantity of data to be transmitted for the traffic information (111) per area; - to determine position information relating to a current position (211) of the road user (100); - to define an individual information region (210) for the road user (110) as a function of the density information and as a function of the position information; wherein the information region (210) defined individually for the road user (110) is defined such that a data volume of the traffic information (111) for the information region (210) does not exceed the limit data volume and / or substantially corresponds to the limit data volume; and - to send traffic information (111) to the road user (110) regarding all traffic events relevant to the information region (210) and / or located in the information region (210).

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