Probe Data Event Detection for Non-Recurring Traffic Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems struggle to predict aperiodic and sporadic traffic increases effectively, relying heavily on web crawling techniques which can be unreliable and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that processes probe data to identify changes in vehicle parking patterns, allowing for the detection of events likely to cause future traffic increases, using AI models and map-agnostic approaches to predict and manage traffic flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If web crawling techniques are used to determine events, then event information can be obtained, but the reliability and efficiency are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent detection reliabilityVSAvoidevent detection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces web crawling techniques (mechanical information gathering) with probe data processing (sensor-based detection). By using navigation devices and mobile terminals as probes that continuously report location and status information, the system achieves more reliable and efficient event detection without relying on external web sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the navigation devices and mobile terminals themselves to generate event detection data through their normal operation. These devices serve dual purposes: providing navigation services and simultaneously detecting events through their location and status information, eliminating the need for separate detection infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If probe data processing is used to identify parking changes, then future traffic increases can be predicted, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic prediction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing navigation devices and mobile terminals serve multiple functions: they continue to provide navigation services while simultaneously acting as probes for collecting location data and detecting events. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate detection devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a processing server as an intermediary that receives probe data from multiple navigation devices and mobile terminals, processes this data to identify parking changes, and generates predictions about future traffic increases. This intermediary approach distributes the processing complexity rather than concentrating it in single devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12462680B2Method and processing system for processing probe data and probe

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT

AI summary

A processing system processes probe data to determine a change in a number of vehicles parked in an area, the probe data comprising information on probe traces for a plurality of probes. The processing system identifies occurrence of an event based at least on the determined change in the number of vehicles parked in the area. The processing system causes the identified occurrence of the event to be used for performing one or several operations.