3014 results about "Traffic conditions" patented technology

A system of mobile units are installed in multiple vehicles in traffic. These mobile units include both wireless communications devices and apparatus that determines the location of each vehicle. Monitoring a vehicle's position as a function of time also reveals the velocity of the vehicle. Position and speed information is periodically broadcast by the vehicles to a central monitoring station and to neighboring vehicles. At the central monitoring station, the collective input of a set of vehicles is processed to provide an instant chart of traffic conditions in the area. Warnings of delays or updates on traffic conditions on the road ahead are then automatically returned to subscribers of the information or are used as part of an Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS). Neighboring vehicles within a region communicating with one another form a network in which the broadcast information is processed locally on the respective vehicles to estimate possible problems ahead and consider computing an alternate road and/or checking with the central monitoring station for more information. If out of range of the central monitoring station, the vehicles in the network form a local area network for the exchange and update of information, and when any vehicle in the network is within range of the central monitoring station, the local area network data is uploaded to help update the overall traffic information.

Techniques are described for automatically detecting anomalous road traffic conditions and for providing information about the detected anomalies, such as for use in facilitating travel on roads of interest. Anomalous road traffic conditions may be identified using target traffic conditions for a particular road segment at a particular selected time, such as target traffic conditions that reflect actual traffic conditions for a current or past selected time, and/or target traffic conditions that reflect predicted future traffic conditions for a future selected time. Target traffic conditions may be compared to distinct expected road traffic conditions for a road segment at a selected time, with the expected conditions reflecting road traffic conditions that are typical or normal for the road segment at the selected time. Anomalous conditions may be identified based on sufficiently large differences from the expected conditions, and information about the anomalous conditions may be provided in various ways.

A lane-level vehicle routing and navigation apparatus includes a simulation module that performs microsimulation of individual vehicles in a traffic stream, and a lane-level optimizer that evaluates conditions along the candidate paths from an origin to a destination as determined by the simulation module, and determines recommended lane-level maneuvers along the candidate paths. A link-level optimizer may determines the candidate paths based on link travel times determined by the simulation module. The simulation may be based on real-time traffic condition data. Recommended candidate paths may be provided to delivery or service or emergency response vehicles, or used for evacuation planning, or to route vehicles such as garbage or postal trucks, or snowplows. Corresponding methods also may be used for traffic planning and management, including determining, based on microsimulation, at least one of (a) altered road geometry, (b) altered traffic signal settings, such as traffic signal timing, or (c) road pricing.

A Data Link Control protocol for 3G wireless communication system for direct support for network layer protocols, e.g. the Internet Protocol (IP), is provided. The Link Layer disclosed comprises a Link Access Control (LAC) sublayer and a Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer. At a transmit end of the wireless system, a plurality of Quality of Service (QoS) data planes are created to directly support the IP QoS. Each QoS data plane is optimized to handle QoS requirements for a corresponding Class of Service (CoS). Data packets received at the LAC sublayer are directed to a QoS data plane according to the particular QoS information they contain and processed according to the particular QoS requirement to generate variable size LAC frames. The variable size LAC frames are transmitted to the MAC sublayer for generating radio link protocol data units (RLP PDUs) to be transmitted to a receiving end. A new level of error correction is provided at the LAC sublayer as the size of the LAC PDUs can be dynamically adjusted in response to the conditions of the communication link. A dual mode ARQ is provided at the MAC sublayer to improve the quality of the air transmission for bursty as well as non-bursty traffic conditions.

The information available to a driver of a vehicle is greatly expanded using wireless communications (e.g., using Bluetooth wireless communication devices). In one embodiment, information regarding an adjacent vehicle such as a brake light, a turn light, speed, distance, direction, etc., is transmitted from one vehicle to a nearby or adjacent other vehicle. The received information is used in any appropriate manner, such as causing the receiving vehicle to change vehicle speed or brake, to turn to avoid a collision, etc. In a second embodiment, roadside wireless transceivers collect information regarding passing vehicles, and central database is compiled relating to a traffic conditions. The traffic condition information can be passed back to the passing vehicles for appropriate use, e.g., causing the driver to slow down, or even causing a navigation device in the receiving vehicle to manually prompt for or automatically recalculate a best route to an intended destination. In yet another embodiment, broadcast transmitters can be established at signs and other significant locations transmitting information to passing vehicles. The broadcast information may be as simple as indicating the existence of the sign, or depending upon the range of the particular wireless transmitter, the existence of a particular sign, bump in road, curve, etc., can be forewarned far in advance of when the driver will actually see the relevant object. Alternatively, the broadcast information may be quite detailed, e.g., containing a detailed itemization and directions to a large number of gas stations, restaurants, etc., reachable from a particular exit from a highway.

A mobile computing implemented platform is provided that enables the generation, and delivery of highly relevant content to the mobile device of a driver. The content is filtered based on the current location and direction of the driver, and content is generated and filtered based a crowd sourced model where a plurality of users who are driving within a similar locations are linked to one another via the platform for improved discovery of traffic conditions, and improved determination of user interest based on collective interest of the plurality of users. Various intelligent features are enabled by the platform.

A traffic incidents processing system for sharing real time traffic information between a plurality of users connected via a network. The system includes a central computer system, operatively connected to a wide area network such as the Internet, a multiplicity of mobile communication devices, capable of determining their geographical location, and are operatively connected to a wide area network such as the Internet, and are capable of transmitting location based traffic information to the said central computer system. The central computer system continuously maintains updated database of traffic information. The central computer system is capable of analyzing, screening and assessing the reliability of the traffic information, detect a traffic situation, and provide customized, real time traffic alerts to a plurality of users connected to a network and to mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones via the wide area network as well as via short messaging service SMS, multimedia messaging system MMS, or any other data protocol capable of communicating with mobile devices. The central computer system is further capable of storing a history of routes traveled by users, and determine an optimal route from any originating point to any destination point by analyzing the stored routes and construct the optimal route using the most frequently traveled segments found in the stored routes database, and the realtime traffic information that is known to the system.

Sensor network routing uses distance information of sensors relative to a collector node, optionally along with non-unique key information, to route broadcasts from addressless sensors to a selected addressless collector. Distance calculation messages (DCMs) are used to set distance values on sensors relative to collectors. The distance values enable messages to propagate toward collectors to reduce the number of broadcasts. Self-assigned key information may be added to DCMs propagating in the network to enable routes to be determined through the network without assigning addresses to the participants. By storing the key information associated with the route, and causing sensors to only rebroadcast a message if the message contains a matching key at the matching distance position, broadcast paths may be created on the network. Optionally, diverse collectors and paths may be selected on the network by exchanging traffic condition indications and preferentially selecting paths with better traffic conditions.

Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a mobile network in which each mobile unit, such as a car, becomes a node able to receive and transmit a wide variety of information, including for example, traffic conditions, vehicle mechanical/electrical status, interactive game playing information, streaming audio and video, email, and voice mail. In one aspect, multi-sensor fusion technology is used to determine the best value of a monitored variable, for example, the real time locations of each mobile unit, that may be communicated to others via the network. In addition, a new method of traffic control using real time traffic positioning and density data is disclosed. Further, methods and systems for enhancing driver safety are disclosed. In another aspect, the system may use a unique secure dynamic link allocation system to improve the information transfer from one node (mobile unit) to another and to other networks, such as the Internet.

A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided for suggesting meeting locations to multiple users based, at least in part, on their current locations. In one example, a method includes receiving location information associated with at least two users, determining a center location with respect to the received location information, causing a search for a meeting location based on the determined center location, and causing communication of the meeting location(s) to at least one of the users. The method may further include receiving search criteria, where the search includes searching point-of-interest locations based on the center location and filtering the search results based on the search criteria. The method may further include receiving or using additional context information in addition to location information, such as time of day, day of the week, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and the like, to filter or order the search results.

A method generates optimized traffic movement plans. A plan monitor determines a first planning boundary for traffic based upon traffic conditions of a region. A plan generator employs the first planning boundary and repetitively generates first traffic movement plans for the traffic. The plan generator selects one of the first traffic movement plans as a first optimized traffic movement plan, and outputs the same for controlling traffic movement. The plan monitor determines current traffic conditions of the region for a planning window, and updates the first planning boundary to provide a second planning boundary for the traffic based upon the current traffic conditions. The plan generator employs the second planning boundary and repetitively generates second traffic movement plans for the traffic, selects one of the first and second traffic movement plans as a second optimized traffic movement plan, and outputs the same for controlling traffic movement.

A traffic information prediction system, including a traffic information prediction apparatus, of the present invention comprises travel status measuring means for measuring a travel status of a vehicle and accumulating it as travel record information, and traffic information predicting means for predicting traffic information on a route on the basis of the travel record information and statistical traffic information to predict an arrival time to any place on a route containing the destination. The traffic information predicting means compares a traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information and the traveling trace based on the travel record information to calculate the degree of progress of the travel record based on the statistical traffic information, and correct the traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information on the basis of the degree of progress.

Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying traffic status information to a user of a vehicle. An onboard vehicle methodology as described herein receives traffic image data corresponding to a picture of a road section, and displays the picture of the road section on an onboard display element of the vehicle.

A vehicle communication network provides information about traffic conditions in a local area on a near real time basis. An RF transceiver in a vehicle communicates with other transceivers in other vehicles to relay traffic condition related information. The traffic information can be provided to local vehicles equipped with transceivers, or roadside devices that participate in the communication network. The traffic information is derived from data that may include time, position, velocity, acceleration or other information related to traffic flow. The data can be derived from a GPS, accelerometer or other devices that are typically prevalent in automobiles, whether as standalone units or integrated into the automobile. The transceivers can implement an emergency messaging construct to permit rapid dissemination of traffic information that may be derived from collisions, slowdowns, congestion or other traffic conditions that may prompt drivers to slowdown or otherwise increase vehicle spacing. The vehicle network can be implemented using add-on equipment in conjunction with PNDs or smart cellular telephones, or as a standalone device that is optionally integrated into a PND or vehicle.

A method for developing traffic messages for broadcast is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of traffic conditions on a road network are obtained. For each of the traffic conditions, the data provides a start location at which the traffic condition begins and an end location at which the traffic condition ends. For each of the traffic conditions, a road length from the start location to the end location is determined. The traffic conditions are assigned a priority based upon the road lengths. The data indicating the traffic conditions are transmitted in the assigned priority as a plurality of traffic messages.

A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. The system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user's physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user's physical condition.

A system and method for generating and delivering to users combined personalized traffic and weather report and alerts including forecast traffic and weather conditions. A user defines a travel route of interest and alert conditions. Based on current weather information, weather forecast information, current traffic information, and forecast traffic conditions a combined traffic and weather report for the user specified route is generated and delivered to the user via the internet and/or a wireless communications channel. The combined report may include a graphic display on a map background showing traffic conditions with a graphic representation of weather conditions overlaid thereon along with a tabular representation of traffic and weather conditions including forecast traffic and weather conditions for a plurality of future time periods. Alerts are generated and delivered when the traffic and weather alert conditions are satisfied.

A system of mobile units are installed in multiple vehicles in traffic, the vehicles with mobile units being a sample of all vehicles in traffic. These mobile units include both wireless communications devices and apparatus that determines the location of each vehicle. Monitoring a vehicle's position as a function of time also reveals the velocity of the vehicle. Position and speed information is periodically broadcast by the vehicles to a central monitoring station and to neighboring vehicles. At the central monitoring station, the collective input from the sample set of vehicles is processed using statistical analysis methods to provide an instant chart of traffic conditions in the area, the accuracy of said chart being within a range determined by the size of the sample. Warnings of delays or updates on traffic conditions on the road ahead are then automatically returned to subscribers of the information or are used as part of an Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS). Neighboring vehicles within a region communicating with one another form a network in which the broadcast information is processed locally on the respective vehicles to estimate possible problems ahead and consider computing an alternate road and/or checking with the central monitoring station for more information. If out of range of the central monitoring station, the vehicles in the network form a local area network for the exchange and update of information, and when any vehicle in the network is within range of the central monitoring station, the local area network data is uploaded to help update the overall traffic information.

The invention provides a four-dimensional live-action traffic road condition perceiving and early-warning monitoring management system based on radar tracking and positioning. According to the four-dimensional live-action traffic road condition perceiving and early-warning monitoring management system, a tracking and positioning technology, a license plate snapping technology, a vehicle and pedestrian three-dimensional simulation technology, a road monitoring technology, an early-warning and alarming technology, a traffic condition simulation technology, a network communication technology, a meteorological simulation technology, a computer graphic technology, a video rendering technology, a three-dimensional high-precision GIS map technology, a virtual reality fusion technology, a vehicle-road collaborative technology and a navigation technology are perfectly fused together; and through the system, the various demands of road traffic operation managers for road real-time monitoring orarea monitoring and the information demands of traveling of drivers and passengers for real-time and real traffic conditions are greatly met, and the various drawbacks which are imperfect and cannot be solved in an existing monitoring system are overcome, so that the management efficiency of the road managers is improved, the firm foundation is laid for automatic management of roads, and the important safety guarantee is also provided for traveling vehicles on the road.

The invention discloses an air traffic control system for four-dimensional (4D)-trajectory-based operation. The air traffic control system comprises a data communication module, a monitoring data fusion module, an airborne terminal module and a control terminal module, wherein the monitoring data fusion module is used for fusing the monitoring data of an air traffic control radar and automatic dependent monitoring data, and providing real-time trajectory information for the control terminal module; and the control terminal module comprises a preflight conflict-free 4D trajectory generation sub-module, an in-flight short-term 4D trajectory generation sub-module, a real-time flight conflict monitoring and alarming sub-module and a flight conflict resolution 4D trajectory optimization sub-module. The invention also discloses an air traffic control method for the system. The control terminal module processes flight plan data, generates 4D trajectories, analyzes potential traffic conflicts of air traffic conditions and provides an optimal resolution scheme. By the system and the method, flight conflicts can be effectively prevented, and the safety of air traffic can be improved.

The invention discloses an intelligent parking induction system and a method. The intelligent parking induction system comprises an information collection system, a communication network, a central control system, an Internet and a user terminal, wherein the information collection system is connected with the central control system by the communication network, and the central control system is connected with the user terminal by the Internet. By adopting the technical scheme disclosed by the invention, the use rate of a parking lot can be greatly enhanced, the traffic jam of a city is reduced, the wastage of parking resources is avoided, and the management cost is lowered; and moreover, the satisfaction degree of a user can be enhanced, and a positive action is provided for improving the traffic condition of the city and the service level of a parking lot industry.

A real-time vehicular traffic flow display system employs groups of monitor stations positioned at spaced-apart locations along vehicular roadways, to sense the speed of traffic flow on a given portion of a route. Individual section stations each serve a sequential group of different monitor stations. Each monitor station senses the speed of vehicular traffic a given road portion and transmits corresponding information to an associated section station; each section station processes the received signals, and transmits them to display stations on board vehicles in addition to sending the signals to an optional geographic area central station. The signals transmitted to vehicles present information concerning traffic speed for each monitored portion of a road in addition to identifying the road portion; traffic speed information is processed to identify predetermined ranges of average speed in selected colors. Each vehicle station includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and visual display device with access to both the GPS including a database of local area road maps for display. All portions of each monitored route on a displayed map are shown in a color corresponding to the average speed of traffic monitored on the corresponding route portion. The current position of the vehicle station is shown on the map, and a “preferred” route from that location to an optionally selected destination is highlighted; both functions are accomplished in accordance with known GPS technology. An optional geographic area central station stores information not usually available in the on-board vehicle station, such as wide-area maps, and also receives traffic condition signals from various section stations including those beyond the range of the vehicle station. The central station correlates these two sources of information and makes the combined results available for separate access by users of the system.

A navigation device displays a route superimposed on a road map, together with one or more symbols each indicating a location for which audio or visual traffic information exists, each symbol being selectable to play back the audio or visual information. Visual traffic information can be from a fixed traffic camera; a driver can hence rapidly view a video feed or still image from a traffic camera to allow him to assess the traffic conditions.

A method for monitoring travel by a vehicle includes monitoring location of a vehicle as it travels along a plurality of routes from each of a plurality of origins to a plurality of destinations. Frequently-traveled routes are determined from the monitored location of the vehicle. The frequently-traveled routes are displayed to the user. Current traffic conditions may also be displayed on routes between the current location of the vehicle and potential destinations, which are determined based upon previous destinations, contacts, or calendar events.