Traffic Alert System Using Intermediary Data Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traffic determination systems are limited in accurately estimating traffic conditions, particularly when cell phones move slowly, leading to inaccurate assumptions about driver speed and traffic congestion.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines a user's origin and destination by monitoring history, contacts, and current location, and provides customizable traffic alerts based on threshold comparisons, using onboard devices and servers to fuse data from multiple sources for accurate traffic profiling and notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cell phone movement speed is used to estimate traffic conditions, then traffic estimation can be performed using available mobile device data, but false assumptions about driver speed and traffic congestion occur when phones move slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that decouples the measurement tool (cell phone) from the measured object (vehicle speed). Instead of assuming phone movement reflects vehicle movement, the system uses the phone as a communication device to receive and transmit traffic data from external sources, thereby eliminating the false assumption that slow phone movement indicates slow driving
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement approach (using phone movement to infer speed) with an information-based approach (receiving traffic data from external sources). This substitution eliminates the fundamental flaw in the original system where physical constraints of the measurement device confused the measurement results
2Loss of information
If traffic alerts are provided to users, then users receive traffic information, but users may receive false or irrelevant alerts that reduce system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing traffic alerts to specific user contexts including destination, route, and user-defined parameters. Instead of providing generic traffic information, the system tailors alerts to each user's specific travel needs, ensuring that only relevant and accurate information is delivered to each user
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where user responses to alerts and actual travel outcomes are used to refine and improve alert accuracy over time. The system learns from user behavior patterns and adjusts alert generation to reduce false positives while maintaining comprehensive information delivery
3Measurement precision
If multiple data sources are integrated for traffic profiling, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data sources (cell phone data, road sensor data, GPS data) into a unified traffic information system. By combining these diverse data streams through a centralized processing architecture, the system achieves comprehensive and accurate traffic profiling while managing complexity through integrated data fusion rather than separate processing systems
Data Source
AI summary
A method for notifying a user about traffic including the step of determining an origin of the user. A destination of the user is also determined. Traffic conditions between the origin and the destination are determined. The user is notified of the traffic conditions.