Traffic Condition Measurement via Cellular Signal Pings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring traffic conditions on roads without speed sensors and in areas where GPS device availability is limited, as some roads lack infrastructure and data restrictions, or where mobile devices are not equipped with GPS capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method using cellular signal pings to estimate traffic volume and speed factors in geographical areas by identifying cellular towers providing coverage, determining the total number of pings received over a predefined time, and providing traffic conditions to users without relying on speed sensors or GPS devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If speed sensors are installed on roads to measure traffic condition, then traffic measurement accuracy is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices as intermediary elements between the road infrastructure and the traffic measurement system. Instead of installing sensors on roads, the system leverages mobile devices already present in vehicles to collect location data, thereby avoiding infrastructure complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the mobile devices' own GPS and communication capabilities to perform traffic measurement functions. The mobile devices self-service by providing location information without requiring external infrastructure, thus reducing device complexity while enabling traffic condition monitoring
2Measurement precision
If GPS devices are required in mobile devices for traffic measurement, then location accuracy is improved, but device compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal traffic measurement system that works across different mobile device types. By using standardized cellular communication protocols and leveraging GPS capabilities when available while providing alternative location methods when GPS is absent, the system achieves broad device compatibility without sacrificing measurement functionality
3Adaptability or versatility
If cellular signal pings are used to estimate traffic volume, then device compatibility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data sources and measurement approaches to compensate for the limitations of cellular signal ping-based traffic volume estimation. By combining ping data with GPS location information when available, and using multiple cellular towers for triangulation, the system improves measurement precision while maintaining device compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for measuring traffic condition based on mobile device connection information are provided. An example method includes, at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors: identifying, in a plurality of geographical areas, a first geographical area; selecting, in a plurality of cellular towers, a first cellular tower providing cellular coverage to the first geographical area; determining a first total number of cellular signal pings received by the first cellular tower over a first predefined time period; estimating a traffic volume factor for the first geographical area in accordance with the first total number of cellular signal pings; and providing traffic condition associated with the first geographical area to a user, in accordance with the traffic volume factor.