Traffic monitoring system

Systems and techniques to determine a primary route between two locations by monitor vehicle speed using transmitting wireless devices. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: receiving information associated with traffic conditions on a route from a starting location to a destination location; determining a primary route from the starting location to the destination location; determining an average speed of vehicles along portions of the primary route from signals received from wireless transmitters transmitting from the vehicles; identifying one or more delayed portions of the primary route at which the average speed is less than a respective predetermined speed; and displaying the primary route including indicia of the one or more identified delayed portions. The wireless device may include a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to systems and techniques for monitoring traffic conditions on a route between locations.

Traffic conditions on roadways are commonly monitored in many cities, towns and areas. Information on the traffic flow may be gathered and monitored by methods including observation from helicopters or airplanes aloft for that purpose, personal reports of vehicle drivers and pedestrians, and roadway surveillance cameras. Information that affects traffic flow including weather conditions, roadway surface conditions, construction sites and accidents also may be gathered from public resources. The information may be relayed to the public through sources including media outlets, such as radio and television, and Internet websites and other networked sources, and newspapers.

A vehicle driver may determine a route from a starting location to a destination location by consulting on-line mapping systems. These mapping systems may enable a user to specify a starting location and a destination location and provide mapping of a route between those locations. The mapping system also may enable a user to specify user preferences for the mapping provided including shortest distance, shortest time, or scenic value. The mapping system also may provide a approximate driving time based upon factors such as distance and estimated traveling speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following describes systems and techniques for providing a driving route from a starting location to a destination location including, for example, information on traffic conditions along the route.

In general, in one aspect, monitoring traffic conditions along a route between a starting location and a destination location is facilitated by determining a primary route from the starting location to the destination location and determining an average speed of vehicles along portions of the primary route from signals received from wireless transmitters transmitting from the vehicles. One or more delayed portions of the primary route are identified at which the average speed is less than a respective predetermined speed. The primary route is displayed including indicia of the one or more identified delayed portions.

The identifying of a delayed portion of the route may be facilitated by determining an initial time when a signal from each of a plurality of transmitters transmitting from vehicles traveling along the primary route is received by a first receiver having a known reception area; determining a final time when each of transmitters is no longer received by the first receiver; calculating the speed of each of the transmitters through the first reception area; combining the speeds of all transmitters in the series; and determining a delayed portion based upon a comparison of the combined speed with an predetermined speed.

The wireless transmitting device may be a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a transmitter mounted in the vehicle.

In another aspect, determining the speed of vehicles along a route is facilitated by determining a first location of a wireless transmitter transmitting from a vehicle traveling along a route relative to a first receiver at a first time based on a first signal received from the transmitter; determining a second location of the transmitter relative to the first receiver at a second time based on a second signal received from the transmitter; calculating a distance between the first and second locations; and calculating a speed of the transmitter.

Other aspects include an article comprising a machine-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to perform the disclosed techniques, and/or a system that includes one or more computers configured to implement the disclosed techniques.

The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. In some implementations, the techniques may used to enable a user to select a route from a source to a destination based upon current conditions along a system-provided route. The techniques also may have the advantage of providing information on the current speed of vehicles along portions of system-provided route. In various implementations, the system enables a user to specify a default value for a starting location and for a destination location. These specified default values may be used by the system to provide a may route map for routes often traveled by the user.

Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages may be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems and techniques described here relate to monitoring traffic conditions on a predetermined route. A portable wireless web access device may be used to monitoring traffic conditions substantially in real time based on input from multiple disparate information sources. A user device, for example, a including handheld device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or a cellular phone may be used to display a route from a starting location to a destination location. The system may have indicia for portions of the route that have traffic delays. A delayed portion of the route is deemed to be one where the traffic is moving at a speed less than a predetermined speed. Links may be provided to a textual description of the delay or traffic camera pictures of a delayed portion of the route.

In another aspect, techniques are disclosed for determining route delay portions by monitoring the progress of transmitting locations of wireless communication devices along the route. The speed of progress of the transmitting location is used as a proxy for the actual speed of the vehicular traffic in the route portion. The actual speed is compared to a predetermined speed to determine whether traffic is delayed in that portion of the route.

FIG. 1illustrates a block diagram of a computer system that may be used to implement a traffic monitoring system100. The system includes a host server102including interface software operating traffic flow software104that may accessed by a user device including a vehicle global positioning system (GPS)106a, a personal digital assistant (PDA)106b, a cellular phone106c, a personal computer (PC)106dor virtually any other device using wireless or wired communication protocols to access the host server102over a network108.

In an implementation, the traffic flow software104can present a user with a display of a traffic route from a starting location to a destination location. The display may sized to be shown on the screens of the devices106and may be tailored to known characteristics of the user. The default starting and destination locations may be determined by, for example, the host server knowing the home address and work address of the user. In another implementation, the user may select a desired starting location, or destination location, or select from among alternative routes between the starting location and the destination location. The traffic flow software104may provide a user with access to network-based resources related to driving conditions along a selected route. For example, the system may present the user with information network resources including traffic reports114, weather reports116, route maps120from starting to destination location, driving instructions122and real-time camera views124of the route.

The host server102may include, for example, a processor110and a memory112. The memory112may be configured to include a database for use by the host server102to store and retrieve information related to the operation of the host server102including execution of the traffic flow software104to present the display to the user. The host server102may receive information from available resources on the network108and provide a user environment with selected access to the resources. The available resources may include documents, files, or other structured or unstructured information. The memory112may be used to operate on input requests received from a user and to display or otherwise provide output associated with the user requests. The network108may include a plurality of devices such as servers, routers and switching elements connected in an intranet, extranet or Internet configuration.

FIG. 2is a flow chart200of an implementation of a traffic monitoring system. The system receives202a starting location from a user of the system. The system may offer a default starting location, for example, the user's home address, which the user may change. In that case, the changed starting location may be used by the system as a new stored default starting location, stored on a list of previously selected starting locations or used for one route determination and discarded. In an implementation, the system may determine a starting location from a location received from a global positioning system (GPS) associated with the transmitter. Similarly, the system receives204a destination location from a user of the system. The system may offer a default destination location, for example the user's work address, which the user may change. The changed destination location may be used by the system as a new stored default destination location, stored on a list of previously selected destination locations or used for one route determination and discarded.

The traffic monitoring system displays206a primary route from the starting location to the destination location. The system may locate the primary route by accessing network structured and unstructured resources and providing the content in a size suitable for display on an output device such as a PDA or cellular phone. The system may access additional structured and unstructured network resources to provide208route condition information on the primary route. The route condition information may include weather conditions, accident reports and traffic delays. Indicia of route condition information may be provided at associated delay portions of the displayed route.

The traffic monitoring system may display an alternative route from the starting location to the destination location in response to a user request210. The search for an alternative route also may be triggered by delays on the primary route. The user may be warned of traffic delays and the alternative route may be offered. If an alternative is requested, the system displays206the alternative route and provides208route condition information. If an alternative route is not requested210, the traffic monitoring system displays the user-selected route212and may further include driving instructions for navigating from the starting location to the destination location. In an implementation, the system may automatically monitor conditions along selected route at a predetermined interval. The system may provide an alternative route in response to changes in traffic conditions along the selected route.

FIGS. 3A-3Iillustrate displays of an implementation of a traffic monitoring system.FIG. 3Aillustrates a starting location display300that may be displayed on a user's wired or wireless device. In one implementation, the display300shows a starting location302, a destination location304and an estimated driving time306. The starting and destination locations may have default values previously selected by the user. The system also may display a detailed address308of the starting location, which may be associated with a starting location nominative title310. The display300also may include a menu314that provides one or more selections to link to content from other network sources. The menu may include, for example: (1) a “map” selection to provide a link to a route map, for drawing a map between a starting and a destination location. The map may include indicia of delay portions; a jams button to provide details of a delay in a portion of a route displayed on the map, (2) a “cam” or “camera” selection to provide access to available live traffic cameras on the chosen route, (3) a “switch” selection, to switch around the starting location and destination location and calculate route and travel time, (4) a “direction” selection to determine alternative routes, and (5) a “change” selection to change the addresses associated with the starting or destination location.

FIG. 3Billustrates a destination location display320that may be displayed for the destination address304. The destination address324stored in system memory may be displayed along with the destination location nominative title322.

FIG. 3Cillustrates an implementation of a traffic monitoring system address editing display330that may be displayed in response to a user selecting the change address button312. The current address332may be displayed and edited by the user. The system may be enabled to store the change as a temporary address or as a new default location address.

FIG. 3Dillustrates an implementation of a map display340that may be provided by the traffic monitoring system in response to a user selection of a map button342. A map344may be displayed showing the route from the starting location to the destination location. The map344may be retrieved from network-based resources. The traffic monitoring system also may retrieve information on reported traffic delays and obstruction from network-based resources. The system may use the information on delays and obstructions to provide indicia346on portions of the map at the location of the reported traffic delays. Each respective indicium346also may be selectable and linked to details of the respective traffic delay or obstruction. The map display340also may include a selectable incident icon348or jams button350that is linked to a listing of all reported traffic delays and obstructions.

FIG. 3Eillustrates an implementation of an incident detail display360that may be provided by the traffic monitoring system in response to the user selecting an indicium346. The display360may provide detailed information related to the indicium selected including a specific location of the traffic incident362and an incident type364such as “disabled vehicle” or “icy conditions,” for example. The incident detail display360also may provide a severity indicator366that is indicative of relative level of traffic disruption such as a numeric or color-coded indication. The display360also may include a short narrative description368of the incident and a cleared notification370indicating when the incident was cleared from the route, if available.

FIG. 3Fillustrates an implementation of an all-incident display380that may be provided by the traffic monitoring system in response to the user selecting the incident icon348. The all-incident display380may be subdivided into incident categories382including “bridges,” “tunnels,” “interstates and intrastate highways,” or “side streets.” Location-names384associated with the incident category may be provided by the system. The system also may provide a narrative description386for each of the location-names384.

FIG. 3Gillustrates an implementation of a traffic camera view390of a traffic incident that may be provided by the traffic monitoring system in response to the user selecting a camera view button392from the display menu. The system may provide a real-time or delayed camera view394of portions of the traffic route. The camera view394also may include a location indication396indicative of the route portion presented.

FIG. 3Hillustrates a portion of a display400. In response to a user selection of change direction button406from the menu, the system interchanges the starting location302with the destination location304for providing the user with information on a return trip.

FIG. 3Iillustrates an implementation of a direction display410that the traffic monitoring system may display in response to a user selection of a direction button412from the menu. The display410may present driving instructions414for navigating from the starting location to the destination location along with as a map416of the route and a detailed map418of the route in a close proximity to the starting or destination location.

In one implementation, traffic flow conditions may be monitored by monitoring cellular phone transmitters to determine the time for mobile traffic to move from one transmitter to another. Because the distance between transmitters is known and the location of the transmitters relative to vehicle traffic routes, the rate of movement of vehicular traffic along portions of a route may be calculated. Delay portions of the route may be determined by comparing the speed of vehicles along the route with predetermined speed of vehicles on that portion. A delayed portion is deemed to be a portion of the route where the calculated speed of vehicular traffic is less than a predetermined speed.

FIG. 4illustrates a relationship between wireless devices being used in a vehicle450traveling along a route452and receiving towers T1to T4. Each of the receiving towers T1to T4may receive signal transmitted from within an area bounded by the peripheries454to460, respectively. As the vehicle progresses from a first location450ato a second location450b, one or more of the receivers T1to T4may receive a transmitted signal from the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle is at first location450a, a transmitted signal may be received by receivers T1and T2. If the vehicle is at second location450b, a transmitted signal may be received by receivers T2and T3.

FIG. 5illustrates an arrangement where a signal from a transmitting wireless device in a vehicle may be used to determine a speed that the vehicle travels through wireless device reception areas502,504and506that are serviced by receivers T5, T6and T7, respectively. In this example, the speed of traffic may be calculated for a wireless device transmitting a signal that may be received by receivers T5-T7. Each receiver can pick up signals transmitted from the wireless transmitter that is within a radius, r, of the receiver. In this example, assume that an overlap in the reception area502with504and reception area504with506both are equal to a known distance, x. A vehicle having a transmitting wireless device may be located at any position such as E1-E6along a highway508. The length, L, is the distance between E1and E6and represents the total distance along a highway508covered by the reception areas502,504and506.

The signal strength received by receivers T5-T7from transmitting wireless devices within the respective ranges502-506may be measured at known intervals, t, and recorded. After a predetermined period of time, P, a matrix may be developed that includes identification of a transmitting wireless device, the receiver T5-T7that received the transmitted signal and the time the signal was received.FIG. 6is a sample matrix600including illustrative entries for wireless device identification602, receivers T5-T7604-608and a time610, for example, that a signal from the transmitter was received.

FIG. 7is a flow chart700illustrating a method by which the data of the matrix600may be analyzed to estimate the speed of traffic flow in a portion of the route by:a. Eliminating702matrix entries for an identified transmitting wireless device where there is no corresponding time received for each receiver T5-T7within the time period, P. In the example matrix ofFIG. 6, entries for transmitters06and08are eliminated from the calculation because an entry was not recorded by at least one of the receivers during the period;b. Grouping704the remaining matrix entries into two groups, G1and G2, where the entries in G1include those entries where the signal is received by T5then T6then T7and G2includes those entries where the signal is received by T7then T6then T5. G1entries are those entries where the transmitting wireless device is traveling in one direction along route508and G2are those transmitting wireless device traveling in an opposite direction. InFIG. 6, G1includes the time entries for transmitters01,02,04and07and G2includes the time entries for transmitters03and05;c. Calculating706a time Ti as an interval from the first reading of T5until the last reading of T7for each entry in Group G1and calculating a time Tj as an interval from the first reading of T7until the last reading of T5for each entry in G2. For additional accuracy of time intervals, one time interval may be added for the full length of the reading. For G1of the example, the time intervals for transmitters01,02,04and07are 191 seconds, 204 seconds, 190 seconds and 200 seconds, respectively;d. Calculating708the average Ti, TiAv for Group G1as a sum of all calculated Ti for each G1entry divided by the number of entries in G1and calculating the average Tj, TjAv for Group G2as a sum of all calculated Tj for each G2entry divided by the number of entries in G2. The average interval in the example is (191+204+190+200)/4=196.25 seconds or 196.25/60=3.271 minutes; ande. Calculating710an average speed (SPG1) of vehicles having transmitting wireless devices as:SPG1=L*60TiAv⁢⁢miles⁢⁢per⁢⁢hour

If the distance, L, in the example is 3 miles then the average rate of the vehicles may be calculated as: (3*60)/3.271=55 mph.

A similar calculation may be used to determine an average speed (SPG2) of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction from G1and having transmitting wireless devices.

As data are collected for transmitting devices over time, the traffic monitoring system may recognize wireless devices traveling through the network and, with some pattern recognition, get the relevant wireless devices traveling on a particular highway in a particular direction and can calculate their speed of travel. For example, if the system has tracked a wireless device that travels through the system as described above, a pattern may develop. At a first time, a first registration at the receivers in towers T5and T6with signal strength S5and S6, respectively, may be determined. At a second time, receivers in towers T5and T6are registering signal strength S5′ and S6′, respectively. The system may then calculate which route the transmitting device was traveling along. The pattern of receiver and received signal strength becomes a pattern that the system may use to compare to new incoming signals. Hence, the system may receive two signal strength readings from the towers T5and T6, respectively, within a time interval and compare that with the available patterns and determine relevant received signal patterns from irrelevant patterns.

Alternatively, vehicle traffic information may be obtained by making use of traffic sensors as are found at bridges in some areas of Europe to monitor vehicle volume. These may provide traffic volume information and provide an indication of the likelihood of a traffic delay portion on a route. The disclosed system may include speed sensors incorporated at various locations along a route to monitor traffic speed. The system also may include cameras to gather visual traffic information at selected route locations. In response to a user request, the system also may be enabled to provide an alternative route and an estimated travel time from a selected starting location to a selected destination location.

Test cars equipped with global positioning system (GPS) wireless devices may be used to establish predetermined speeds of travel along different route portions. The traffic monitoring system also may be used to track commuter trains, their exact position, and determine whether their arrival will be on time or delayed.

Method steps of the system and techniques can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the system and techniques by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps can also be performed by, and apparatus of the system and techniques can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).