Geofenced Traffic Alerts for Low-Data Vulnerable Road User Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for providing location-dependent traffic information to vulnerable road users generate excessive data volumes and require significant server capacity, even when the traffic situation is non-critical.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where mobile devices define a monitoring area, transmit location data only when within that area, and a server checks predefined conditions between devices for potential traffic situations, transmitting alerts only when necessary, using cellular connections and satellite positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If location data is transmitted continuously to servers over a large area, then comprehensive traffic monitoring is achieved, but data volume and server capacity requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic monitoring coverageVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by defining specific monitoring areas (geofences) where location data transmission is activated. Instead of continuous transmission over large areas, the system selectively monitors only those geographic zones where vulnerable road users are present and potential conflicts may occur. This localized approach maintains comprehensive monitoring coverage in critical areas while significantly reducing overall data volume transmitted to servers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the monitoring approach by dividing the service area into discrete geofenced zones. Each geofence represents a distinct monitoring unit with its own activation conditions. This segmentation allows the system to manage data transmission in manageable chunks rather than as a continuous large-scale operation, reducing server load and data processing requirements while maintaining effective coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If location data is transmitted continuously to servers over a large area, then comprehensive traffic monitoring is achieved, but server capacity requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic monitoring coverageVSAvoidserver capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing location-dependent activation where servers only process data from devices within defined geofenced monitoring areas, the system reduces server capacity requirements. Servers receive and process information only when devices are present in specific zones of interest, rather than continuously processing data from all devices across large areas. This localized processing approach maintains comprehensive monitoring coverage while significantly reducing computational power and server resources required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If all location data is processed by the server, then complete traffic situation analysis is achieved, but unnecessary data processing occurs in non-critical situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic situation analysis completenessVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining geofenced monitoring areas and activation conditions before data transmission occurs. The system establishes geographic boundaries and conflict criteria in advance, so that location data is only transmitted and processed when devices enter these predefined zones and meet specified conditions. This preliminary setup prevents unnecessary data processing in non-critical situations while ensuring complete analysis when actual traffic conflicts are detected within monitoring areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If monitoring covers large areas continuously, then all potential traffic conflicts are detected, but data transmission volume increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconflict detection coverageVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating discrete geofenced monitoring areas where conflict detection is activated. Instead of continuous monitoring across large geographic regions, the system concentrates monitoring resources within specific bounded zones where vulnerable road users are present. This approach ensures all potential traffic conflicts within these localized areas are detected while minimizing data transmission volume by excluding areas outside the geofences from continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20260067642A1Method for Providing Location-Dependent Traffic Information
Publication Date: 2026.03.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • US20260067642A1 patent drawing
  • US20260067642A1 patent drawing
  • US20260067642A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for providing location-dependent traffic information includes (i) defining a monitoring area for a first mobile device, (ii) capturing an associated current location of the first mobile device, (iii) transmitting, by the first mobile device, location data or movement information to a server in response to the current location being present within the monitoring area, (iv) performing a checking operation by the server, wherein the first mobile device is checked as to whether a condition is met, wherein the predefined condition defines a dependence between the current location data or movement information of the first mobile device and current location data or movement information of a second mobile device also within the monitoring area, and wherein the predefined condition indicates the presence of a traffic situation caused by the second mobile device, and (v) transmitting, by the server, information to the first mobile device in response to the checking operation determining that the predefined condition is met, wherein the information indicates the presence of the particular traffic situation with respect to the second