Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing traffic density and flow information obtained from wireless devices. The wireless devices may be wireless telephones having Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities. A server interacts with the wireless telephones wireless telephones to compile the traffic density and flow information. The traffic density and flow information is then available for dissemination to requesting wireless telephones, or other requesting clients capable of contacting the server.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to vehicular traffic control systems. More specifically, the present invention generally relates to a vehicular traffic information gathering arrangement that uses wireless devices as information gathering sensors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In the following, a brief discussion of conventional components of current traffic control systems is provided.  
         [0003]     Traffic signal controllers are used extensively through the United States and elsewhere around the globe. Most controllers are computer activated and use sophisticated software models to achieve optimization of traffic flow.  
         [0004]     Years ago, digital computers began to be increasingly utilized in traffic control systems. Computers allowed creation of actuated controllers that have the ability to assist controlling traffic, in real-time, in response to actual traffic flow.  
         [0005]     Generally, current controller operation can be divided into three primary categories: pre-timed, actuated (including both semi-actuated and fully actuated), and traffic response controller. Under the pre-timed operation, a master controller sets traffic signal phases and cycle lengths at predetermined rates based on historical data, whereas actuated controllers operate based on traffic demands as registered by the actuation of vehicle and/or pedestrian detectors.  
         [0006]     Semi-actuated controllers maintain green lights (associated with traffic signals) on major streets, except when vehicles are detected on minor streets. If a vehicle is not detected, then the right of way associated with a major street is maintained. Fully-actuated controllers rely on detectors for measuring traffic flow on all approaches associated with an intersection and make assignments to the right of way in accordance with traffic demands.  
         [0007]     The use of traffic response controllers has been gaining momentum in the recent years. Traffic response controllers are used, in conjunction with supplied traffic information, to control traffic flow. Therefore, it is important to ensure that information related to traffic can be collected in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  
         [0008]     There are various methods in which traffic condition information may be collected in order to aid in optimizing traffic flow, through the use of traffic response controllers. For example, road sensor devices such as induction loops, traffic detectors and TV cameras mounted on poles may be used to monitor traffic conditions. Another way of supplying traffic condition information includes the use of mobile traffic units such as police, road service, helicopters and weather reports that may be provided by various information providing sectors. Finally, more recently, vehicle integrated mobile positioning and communication systems using GPS devices or similar vehicle-tracking/locating equipment are used to supply traffic related information to systems utilized to control and optimize traffic flow.  
         [0009]     Although useful, the current traffic data collection methods and systems have various disadvantages. For example, there is a relatively high cost of capital investment needed to install fixed road devices, especially in existing road infrastructures, for monitoring traffic flow, and a potentially significant delay between when such infrastructure is planned for and when it is finally deployed, risking physically misplaced/misallocated infrastructure investment. In addition, there are a limited number of organizations, such as trucking, delivery and other service companies, utilizing GPS reporting systems. Moreover, there is a hurdle of establishing agreements to utilize information collected by such organizations. Finally, there are very few GPS or similar equipped vehicle-tracking/locating entities in service today. Therefore, the information provided by these few individual vehicles that include equipment for procuring and disseminating position information is insufficiently widespread and dense to allow conventional vehicular traffic control systems to make intelligent decisions related to traffic flow.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and arrangement where wireless devices currently in operation, or soon to be widely used via the emerging wireless mobile computing market, may be used as sensors for obtaining and disseminating traffic density and flow information. In particular, if a wireless device has (location awareness/GPS information receiving) capability, this information may be collected and used to supply traffic density and flow information back to wireless devices in order to assist users while driving.  
         [0011]     An exemplary method formed in accordance with the present invention includes acquiring data from a plurality of wireless devices, and utilizing the acquired data from the plurality of wireless devices to compile traffic density and flow information pertaining to a geographical area where the plurality of wireless devices are located.  
         [0012]     An exemplary apparatus formed in accordance with the present invention includes a server for acquiring data from a plurality of wireless devices, the server utilizing the acquired data from the plurality of wireless devices to compile at least one of traffic density and flow information pertaining to a geographical area where the plurality of wireless devices are located. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wireless device coupled to an exemplary wireless service provider;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a graphical map that includes various road arteries and larger highways; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of obtaining and disseminating data by way of a wireless service provider. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     Brief Summary  
       [0017]     In the following, an exemplary operating device and system will be described. Then, an exemplary graphical representation of traffic conditions will be discussed. Following the discussion of the exemplary operating device and system and the graphical representation of traffic conditions, an exemplary method according to the present invention will be described in conjunction therewith. Finally, alternatives will be covered. It is to be understood that the following description is merely illustrative and not limiting of claims of the present invention.  
       Exemplary Operating Device and System  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wireless device  10  coupled wirelessly to an exemplary wireless service provider  50 . As is illustrated, the wireless device  10  includes a data processor such as a Microprocessor Control Unit (MCU)  12  that is coupled to a visual display  14 , such as an LCD. The MCU  12  receives input from a keypad  16 . The keypad  16  may include alphanumeric keys, soft keys, a power ON/OFF key, etc., as is conventional in these types of devices. The combination of the MCU  12 , the display  14  and the keypad  16  may be generally considered as a User Interface (UI) for the wireless device  10 .  
         [0019]     The wireless device  10  also includes a memory (MEM)  18  that stores an operating program for the MCU  12 . In addition, the MEM  18  may also store user entered data and other data constants. Moreover, the MEM  18  also stores program instructions that implement the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0020]     A Digital Signal Processor (DSP)  20  of the wireless device  10  includes known baseband and audio functions related to the wireless device  10 . A Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver is bi-directionally coupled to the DSP  20 , as is also at least one antenna  24 . In addition, a speaker  26  and a microphone  28  are also coupled to the DSP  20 . The speaker  26  and microphone  28  enable the user to make and receive telephone calls via the wireless device  10 .  
         [0021]     As is further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the wireless device  10  includes a controlling data processor (CDP) along with a Global Positioning System (GPS) accessory  32 . The CDP  30  and the GPS accessory  32  are coupled to the MCU  12 . A GPS antenna  34  and a receiver  36  are coupled to the CDP  30 .  
         [0022]     The GPS accessory  32  may include an integrated memory device and any required support circuitry for supporting an operating program and data. Such data may include satellite orbital parameters needed for acquiring transmissions from satellites associated with the GPS constellation (not shown). Transmissions from the GPS constellation are received by way of the GPS antenna  34 .  
         [0023]     During operation of the wireless device  10 , a wireless transmission may be established between the wireless device  10  and the wireless service provider  50 . As is illustrated, the wireless service provider includes a Base Station (BS)  52  coupled to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  54 . The manner in which the BS  52  and the MSC  54  operate in conjunction with the wireless device  10  is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art and therefore will not be described in detail herein. The wireless service provider  50  may also include the use of a server  56 , which is coupled to the MSC  54 . The operational characteristics of the server  56  in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail in the following.  
         [0024]     In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the MCU  12  is responsive to position data (e.g., latitude, longitude, velocity and possibly elevation) received from the CDP  30  via the receiver  36  and the GPS antenna  34 . The received position data may be communicated to the wireless service provider  50  via the antenna  24 . The position data may be transmitted using a wireless control channel, such as a Digital Control Channel (DCCH) associated with the wireless transmission  38 . However, other wireless control channels may also be used. For example, position data may also be transmitted using analog control channels, analog voice channels, etc.  
       Exemplary Graphical Traffic Representation  
       [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a graphical map  60  that includes various road arteries  62  and larger highways  64 . Various vehicles  66  are also illustrated on the graphical map  60 . Some of the vehicles  66  are traveling along road arteries  62  and/or highways  64  in a relatively disbursed manner. In particular, the various vehicles  66  that are traveling in a relatively disbursed manner are not clustered in a congested manner. The vehicles  66  that may be considered as traveling in a substantially disbursed manner are, for example, represented within the highlighted portion  68 . In contrast, a highlighted portion  70  illustrates a group of vehicles  66  positioned in a generally congested manner.  
         [0026]     Each of the vehicles  66  illustrated in the graphical map  60  may or may not include the use of a wireless device  10 . The graphical map  60  will be discussed in further detail in relation to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the wireless device  10  and the wireless service provider  50  illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
       Exemplary Method  
       [0027]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of obtaining and disseminating data by way of wireless service provider  50 . Block B 300  represents the beginning of the illustrated method. Foremost, the server  56  obtains data from a plurality of wireless devices  10  positioned in the vehicles  66  (B 304 ). The data obtained includes latitude in degrees, longitude in degrees, a velocity vector (compass heading in degrees and speed in statute miles-per-hour), a time stamp, and possibly identity information related to the respective wireless device  10  that the data was obtained from. Whether or not a wireless device  10  situated in one of the vehicles  66  includes the indicated data depends upon the configuration of the given wireless device  10 . For example, a user of the wireless device  10 , having the capability of receiving and disseminating position data, may choose to provide such data in order to in return receive information pertaining to traffic density and flow from the server  56 . Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a wireless device  10  that provides position information may correspondingly receive location appropriate traffic data from the server  56  in response to the provided data.  
         [0028]     After the server  56  receives the data from a plurality of the wireless devices  10 , the server  56  stores the obtained data on a volatile and/or nonvolatile memory associated with the server  56  (B 306 ). Therefore, in the case of the graphical map  60  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , if each of the vehicles  66  includes a wireless device  10 , and these wireless devices  10  are in communication with the wireless server provider  50 , then the server  56  will include the relatively large amount of position data that may be communicated to wireless devices  10  in need of traffic density and flow information.  
         [0029]     Next, at any given time, a wireless device  10  positioned in a vehicle  66  may request data, in particular, traffic density and flow information, pertaining to various road arteries  62  and highways  64  located in the vicinity of a vehicle  66  carrying a wireless device  10  (B 308 ). Based on the request in block B 308 , the server  56  evaluates the request made by the wireless device  10  (B 310 ). Specifically, the server  56  will evaluate current position data associated with, and provided by, the requesting wireless device  10 . Based on this current position data provided by the wireless device  10 , the server  56  will transmit traffic density and flow information, via the MSC  54  and the BS  52  to the requesting wireless device  10  (B 312 ). This traffic density and flow information may include information pertaining to possible congestion in current traffic conditions. For example, the data provided by the server  56  in block B 312  may include information pertaining to the congestion illustrated in the highlighted portion  70  of  FIG. 2 . Therefore, if a vehicle were headed toward the vicinity of the highlighted portion  70 , then an operator of the vehicle  66  would have the opportunity to modify and/or change the current course of the vehicle  66  operated by the user.  
         [0030]     The data provided in block B 312  may be represented in various ways based on the type of wireless device  10  being used in a vehicle  66 . For example, the data provided may be in the form of voice communicated information, a graphical map generally represented as shown in  FIG. 2 , a simple dataset indicating the number and state of vehicles in the vicinity, and/or commands directing the user of the wireless device  10  to make alterations in a current travel direction in order to avoid any undesirable traffic condition. The specifics of how the data provided in block B 312  are represented are not described in detail herein, as the manner in which such data may be represented is well within the purview of those having ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0031]     Block B 314  represents termination of the method illustrated by way of the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . However, it should be understood that the various blocks illustrated in  FIG. 3  in association with the flowchart may be repeated as deemed necessary by the server  56 , and as required by requests made by wireless devices  10  positioned within vehicles  66 .  
       Alternatives  
       [0032]     Although the wireless device  10  has been illustrated as including the GPS accessory  32  along with the associated CDP  30 , the receiver  36  and the GPS antenna  34 , it should be understood that the wireless device  10  may still provide position data to the wireless service provider  50  in a manner that does not require the indicated GPS circuitry. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the wireless device  10  may calculate its position using information received from a plurality of base stations  52 , or based on information received directly from only one base station  52 .  
         [0033]     Additionally, it is also possible for a wireless device  10  to simply supply GPS information obtained using the GPS accessory  32  along with the CDP  30 , the receiver  36  and the GPS antenna  34 . In this case, the position data may be calculated by a data processor that is external to the wireless device  10 , such as a data processor associated with the wireless service provider  50 . Moreover, the wireless service provider  50  may include location awareness technology that allows it to determine position information related to the wireless device  10  or devices without the use of GPS technology. Such location awareness technology is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0034]     The server  56  of the wireless service provider  50  may also provide traffic density and flow data related to information obtained from various wireless devices  10  to other entities other than the wireless devices  10 . For example, the server  56  may be connected to various computers via a network connection (e.g. the server  56  may be a web-server), and requesting computers with proper authorization may obtain position related data from the server  56 . This obtained position related data may then be communicated to other devices, and/or processed and used by the obtaining computer.  
         [0035]     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.