Patent ID: 9460614
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: G08G

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method for ascertaining traffic status, the method comprising iteratively performing the following sequence at predefined time intervals defining a speed acquisition period via a software program executed by an on-vehicle computer: acquiring a speed of the vehicle via a speed sensor communicatively coupled to the computer; assigning the acquired speed to a speed range, including at least one of: adjusting a respective count of a counter such that: determining a holding phase based on whether the acquired speed is assigned to the third speed range and a prior acquired speed associated with one or more immediately preceding iterations was also assigned to the third speed range; modifying the adjusting step for one or more subsequent iterations based on the determination, such that no count is adjusted for a predetermined non-consideration number of speed acquisition periods; determining a flowing traffic status when the first count exceeds a first value before the second count exceeds a second value; and determining a congested traffic status when the second count exceeds the second value before the first count exceeds the first value.