Probe Vehicle Traffic Anomaly Detection via Local History Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic data collection systems using probe vehicles face scalability issues due to the need for constant communication and large data processing requirements at traffic information centers, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system where probe vehicles store and compare traffic condition data to a history, transmitting notifications only when discrepancies exceed a threshold, reducing data transmission and processing demands at the center, and using an intermediary probe station for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant communication between probe vehicles and traffic information center is implemented, then real-time traffic data collection is achieved, but data storage and processing requirements at the center increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data filtering and preliminary processing function from the central traffic information center and places it in the probe vehicle's on-board system. The probe vehicle compares current traffic conditions against stored historical data and only transmits notifications when anomalies are detected, thereby extracting unnecessary data transmission and reducing the burden on the center's storage and processing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe vehicle performs preliminary data processing by maintaining a history of traffic conditions locally and comparing current readings against this history before transmission. This preliminary action of filtering and anomaly detection at the edge device (probe vehicle) prevents voluminous unnecessary data from being transmitted to and stored at the center.
2Productivity
If data processing capacity at the center is increased to handle large volumes of real-time data, then comprehensive traffic monitoring is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The probe vehicle performs self-service by autonomously maintaining its own history of traffic conditions and independently comparing current conditions against this history to detect anomalies. This self-service capability eliminates the need for the central system to process every data point, thereby reducing the required processing capacity and associated costs while maintaining effective traffic monitoring.
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication infrastructure is sized for peak capacity to handle all probe vehicles, then system scalability is achieved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases during non-peak periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential anomaly notification data from the probe vehicle's local history comparison, transmitting only when necessary. This selective data transmission reduces communication traffic significantly compared to constant communication, allowing the system to scale without requiring peak-sized communication infrastructure, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency during non-peak periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining and communicating a traffic anomaly at a point to at least one receiving vehicle includes a traffic information center and at least one probe device. Each probe device is configured to determine and store within an on-board database a current value of a condition at the point during each of a plurality of trips, so as to build a history of condition values. The probe device is further configured to compare the current value to the historic values during each trip, and selectively transmit notification of an anomalous value to the center.