Mobile Bluetooth Detector Traffic Data Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Static Bluetooth detectors are costly to deploy and maintain, limiting their coverage of large road networks, and traditional test vehicles for collecting traffic data are expensive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Mobile Bluetooth detectors equipped with GPS, which collect and transmit data on nearby Bluetooth devices, allowing for the generation of traffic information by merging and analyzing data from multiple detectors, including travel times and speeds, and providing ground truth for testing accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If static Bluetooth detectors are deployed alongside roadways to monitor traffic conditions, then traffic information can be obtained, but the cost of installing and maintaining the detectors increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic information accuracyVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of deploying detectors along the roadways to collect traffic data, the invention inverts the approach by using mobile detectors carried by vehicles to collect data from stationary Bluetooth devices along the roadways. This inversion transforms the traditional fixed infrastructure model into a mobile data collection model, significantly reducing deployment and maintenance costs while maintaining data collection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses existing mobile vehicles and their onboard Bluetooth devices as copies of the traditional fixed detectors. By leveraging already-deployed mobile infrastructure (vehicles with Bluetooth capabilities) rather than deploying dedicated fixed detector infrastructure, the system achieves cost-effective traffic monitoring without requiring new infrastructure installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Area of stationary object

If static Bluetooth detectors are deployed to cover large portions of road network, then comprehensive traffic monitoring is achieved, but the maintenance requirements and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad network coverageVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from static detector infrastructure to dynamic mobile detection. By using vehicles that move along the roadways, the system achieves comprehensive road network coverage without maintaining fixed infrastructure. The mobile nature of the detectors allows them to dynamically access different locations along the road network, eliminating the need for permanent installation and maintenance at each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If traditional test vehicles are used to collect traffic data, then data collection is possible, but the cost and inefficiency of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidtest vehicle cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes existing mobile vehicles universal by enabling them to perform both their primary function (transportation) and the additional function of traffic data collection. By equipping vehicles with Bluetooth detectors and GPS capabilities, these vehicles serve dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated test vehicles and improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables cost-effective and extensive coverage of traffic data collection, providing accurate traffic information and reduced costs for data suppliers, while allowing for the testing of vehicle speeds on various road types.

Implementation Method 1

The detector includes a positioning system (e.g., a GPS system) that detects the location (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite positioning:

Implementation Method 2

A Bluetooth detector is a device that can read and record the unique Media Access Control (MAC) address of other Bluetooth devices that come into radio frequency range of the detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBluetooth radio frequency transmission:

Data Source

PatentUS9478128B2Obtaining vehicle traffic information using mobile bluetooth detectors

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 HERE GLOBAL BV

AI summary

A method and system for obtaining traffic information from mobile Bluetooth detectors is disclosed. A mobile Bluetooth detector is a device located in a moving vehicle that includes Bluetooth and GPS firmware for collecting data from Bluetooth enabled devices. The mobile Bluetooth detector transmits the collected data to a remote facility where the data is processed to generate traffic information. A pair of mobile Bluetooth detectors may be used to collect data for generating ground truth.