Traffic Reporting System Using Verified Crowd-Sourced Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current traffic reporting applications rely primarily on traditional sources and do not effectively utilize crowd-sourced data, leading to a need for more accurate and reliable traffic reports, maps, and forecasts that incorporate various data types and sources.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that integrates crowd-sourced data from users, verified for timeliness, with traditional traffic data sources to generate and display accurate traffic reports, maps, and forecasts, utilizing a computing device, application server, and database to provide personalized traffic information and alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional traffic sources are used, then data reliability is maintained, but real-time accuracy and coverage are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic data accuracyVSAvoiddata source reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines traditional traffic data sources with crowd-sourced data from mobile devices to create a hybrid data collection system. This merging allows the system to leverage the reliability of traditional sources while gaining real-time accuracy from user-generated data, thereby resolving the contradiction between data reliability and real-time accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification process that validates crowd-sourced data before integrating it with traditional data sources. This intermediary step ensures data quality and reliability while maintaining the benefits of real-time crowd-sourced information, effectively resolving the contradiction between accuracy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If crowd sourced data is collected from all users, then real-time traffic information accuracy is improved, but data verification complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic report accuracyVSAvoiddata verification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system verifies and validates crowd-sourced data in real-time, providing feedback to ensure data quality before integration. This feedback loop maintains high measurement precision while managing verification complexity through automated validation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of data verification by establishing specific criteria for timeliness and validity of crowd-sourced data. By defining clear parameter thresholds for data acceptance, the system improves accuracy while simplifying the verification process through standardized parameter checks rather than complex analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple data sources are integrated, then traffic report reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic information reliabilityVSAvoiddata integration system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data integration process into distinct modules: traditional data collection, crowd-sourced data collection, verification processes, and report generation. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple data sources systematically, improving reliability while managing complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal data processing framework that can handle multiple data sources through a common verification and integration mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows the system to accommodate various data types from different sources without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same verification principles apply across all sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8718910B2Crowd sourced traffic reporting
Publication Date: 2014.05.06 UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US8718910B2 patent drawing
  • US8718910B2 patent drawing
  • US8718910B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A traffic reporting service may allow for the generation of more reliable and accurate traffic reports, maps, and forecasts based on various data types and sources. Data sources include public sector sources, private entities, and end users providing crowd sourced data. Crowd sourced data is collected, verified, and used to generate a traffic report which is displayed to a user via a computing device. A user may use various information presented in the traffic report to make informed decisions when choosing travel routes and a departure time to reach a desired destination.