ETA Update Thresholding for Mobile Transport Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing public transport information systems require passengers to actively seek schedule updates and often burden receivers with excessive data transmission and computational demands, limiting their ability to provide convenient, up-to-date arrival time information.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates and transmits the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of transport vehicles to mobile terminals, with subsequent recalculations assessing changes in ETA and transmitting only when differences exceed a threshold, minimizing data transfer and ensuring users receive timely updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous ETA updates are transmitted to mobile terminals, then information timeliness is improved, but data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ETA update transmissions into a single notification when the change exceeds a threshold, merging what would otherwise be multiple separate data transmissions into one efficient update event
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of transmission frequency by introducing a threshold condition (5 minutes or 20% change), transforming continuous potential transmissions into conditional, optimized updates that balance timeliness with data volume
2Productivity
If threshold-based filtering is applied to ETA updates, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but information completeness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by setting specific threshold values (5 minutes time difference or 20% ETA change) that filter out negligible updates while preserving meaningful information changes, optimizing the balance between transmission efficiency and information completeness
3Measurement precision
If multiple recalculations of ETA are performed, then information accuracy is improved, but computational demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by performing multiple recalculations selectively - not continuously, but specifically when position information changes occur, concentrating computational effort where and when it is most needed for accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of calculation frequency by triggering recalculations based on position information changes rather than continuous timing, optimizing computational demand while maintaining accuracy through event-driven updates
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for providing transport time schedule information, comprising the steps of determining position information of at least one vehicle (3) of a transport network, calculating the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the at least one vehicle at a selected location, transmitting at least one calculated estimated time of arrival value (ETA) to at least one mobile terminal (2). The method is characterized in that after a calculation of an initial estimated time of arrival value (ETA0) at least one additional calculation of the estimated time of arrival for the at least one vehicle (3) of the transport network at the selected location is carried out and the difference (ΔETA) between the calculated initial estimated time of arrival value (ETA0) and a subsequently calculated estimated time of arrival value (ETA1) is determined. Furthermore a central processing unit (1) and a mobile terminal (2) in particular for usage with the inventive method are described.