Traffic Flow Change Calculation for Overlapping Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer-assisted driving systems struggle to accurately predict and account for the impacts of multiple traffic events on traffic flow, particularly when these events overlap, leading to inefficiencies in computation and incomplete real-time adjustments in traffic maps.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects traffic events, determines affected areas, and selects specific vehicles within these areas to calculate changes in traffic flow, updating the affected areas based on changes in traffic flow and predicting the propagation of events, enabling more accurate and efficient real-time adjustments to traffic maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional simulation algorithms are used to calculate traffic flow propagation, then traffic flow changes can be tracked, but computation cost increases significantly especially when multiple traffic events occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the affected area into multiple zones based on distance from the traffic event, with each zone having different calculation requirements. Zone 1 (closest to event) uses full simulation algorithms for high precision, while zones 2 and 3 (farther away) use simplified models or no calculations, thereby reducing overall computation cost while maintaining necessary accuracy where it matters most
Solution Approach 2:
Different calculation methods and precision levels are applied to different spatial locations. The patent implements local quality by using computationally intensive simulation algorithms only in the immediate vicinity of traffic events where high precision is critical, while using lighter computational approaches in peripheral areas, thus optimizing the balance between accuracy and computation cost
2Loss of information
If all vehicles within the affected area are monitored to calculate traffic flow changes, then comprehensive traffic data is obtained, but data processing requirements and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses only on the most relevant vehicles for traffic flow calculation - specifically those directly affected by or near the traffic event. By taking out and prioritizing vehicles in critical zones while excluding or minimally processing data from vehicles in peripheral zones, the system maintains sufficient traffic data completeness while dramatically reducing data processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of monitoring all vehicles equally, the patent applies partial action by selectively monitoring only the subset of vehicles that have significant impact on traffic flow changes. This partial monitoring approach focuses computational resources on vehicles whose behavior most directly reflects traffic event impacts, achieving adequate data completeness with reduced processing load
3Productivity
If traffic events are processed independently, then individual event impacts are calculated, but interrelated effects of concurrent traffic events are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the processing of multiple concurrent traffic events by implementing a hierarchy system that detects overlapping affected areas. When events overlap, they are combined into a unified affected area with a single hierarchy level, allowing the system to calculate combined traffic flow impacts that capture interrelated effects while maintaining processing efficiency through the hierarchical structure
4Ease of manufacture
If static affected areas are used for traffic events, then initial impact zones are defined, but dynamic propagation of traffic events over time is not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the affected area hierarchy adaptive and time-varying. The system continuously monitors traffic flow changes and dynamically adjusts the hierarchy levels and affected area boundaries based on current conditions. This allows the system to capture the temporal propagation of traffic events while maintaining a structured hierarchical framework that preserves reasonable system simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calculating traffic flow changes includes detecting a traffic event. The method further includes determining an affected area of the traffic event and determining an investigation area based on the affected area. The method further includes selecting at least one vehicle located within the investigation area and calculating a change in traffic flow due to the traffic event based on a comparison of a predicted traffic flow with a current traffic flow, wherein the current traffic flow is based on information received from the at least one vehicle. The method further includes updating the affected area based on the change in traffic flow and calculating an updated change in traffic flow based on the updated affected area when the updated affected area is larger than a predetermined threshold area.