GPS Wireless Devices as Traffic Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current traffic control systems face high costs and delays in infrastructure installation, limited use of GPS reporting systems, and insufficiently widespread vehicle-tracking entities, leading to inadequate traffic data collection for intelligent decision-making.

Innovation Solution

Wireless devices with location awareness and GPS capabilities are used to collect and disseminate traffic density and flow information, allowing a server to compile and provide real-time data to users and traffic control systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fixed road sensor devices are installed to monitor traffic conditions, then traffic data collection capability is improved, but capital investment cost and installation time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic data collection capabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure installation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms vehicles into self-service traffic sensors by equipping them with GPS and communication devices that automatically report position and speed data to traffic control centers, eliminating the need for vehicles to stop at fixed sensors and reducing infrastructure requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having fixed sensors detect passing vehicles, the patent inverts the approach by having vehicles actively report their own information, transforming the detection paradigm from passive fixed-point monitoring to active mobile self-reporting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Loss of information

If GPS reporting systems are utilized by trucking and delivery companies, then traffic information can be collected, but the number of participating vehicles remains limited and insufficient for widespread traffic control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic information availabilityVSAvoidnumber of GPS-equipped vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes GPS devices universal by integrating them into standard wireless communication devices that all vehicles possess, transforming these multi-functional devices into traffic sensors without requiring specialized GPS equipment in each vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges traffic monitoring function with existing wireless communication devices, combining the telematics, navigation, and communication capabilities into a single integrated system that serves multiple purposes including traffic data collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7480560B2Self-measuring automotive traffic

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for providing traffic density and flow information obtained from wireless devices. The wireless devices may be wireless telephones having Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities. A server interacts with the wireless telephones wireless telephones to compile the traffic density and flow information. The traffic density and flow information is then available for dissemination to requesting wireless telephones, or other requesting clients capable of contacting the server.