US6510377B2
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Environmental traffic recognition identification prediction strategies
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Filing: 2001-05-21
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Granted: 2003-01-21
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Expires: 2021-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for continuously predicting the type of traffic in which a vehicle is traveling. The traffic pattern can be used in other vehicle control systems as an input to determine how to adjust system parameters, such as control loop proportional and integral gain calibrations. Vehicle speed is sampled over a variable number of sampling intervals, defining a prediction period. The prediction period varies as a function of distance traveled, and is limited for conditions where the distance interval is not reached within a particular time interval. When the prediction period is reached, average vehicle speed and speed variation over the period are determined. A lookup table incorporating average speed and speed variation is used to determine the traffic pattern. The prediction period can be shortened to quickly recognize transitions from city or highway traffic pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Tam A. Phung
- 👤 Ronald C. Allison
- 👤 James R. Yurgil
- 👤 Xiaowen Dai
- 👤 Thomas E. Bolander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:03
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/0104; B; B60; B60W; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/10; B60W2554/00; B60W2554/40; B60W2554/408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of determining a traffic pattern in which a vehicle is traveling, comprising the steps of: sampling a speed of the vehicle at predetermined sampling intervals; establishing a prediction period; performing the sampling step until the prediction period is reached; determining an average speed and a speed variation of the vehicle upon reaching the prediction period; and determining the traffic pattern using the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of determining a traffic pattern in which a vehicle is traveling, comprising the steps of: sampling a speed of the vehicle at predetermined sampling intervals; establishing a prediction period; performing the sampling step until the prediction period is reached; determining an average speed and a speed variation of the vehicle upon reaching the prediction period; and determining the traffic pattern using the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the traffic pattern comprises the step of using a lookup table incorporating the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prediction period is the shorter of a time interval and an amount of time it takes to travel a distance interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a minimum speed when the traffic pattern is highway traffic; and adjusting the distance interval by a first distance modifier based on a result of the comparing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of adjusting the distance interval by a first distance modifier comprises the step of subtracting the first distance modifier from the distance interval when the result of the comparing step shows that the average speed is less than the minimum speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a maximum speed when the traffic pattern is city traffic; and adjusting the distance interval by a second distance modifier based on a result of the comparing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of adjusting the distance interval by a second distance modifier comprises the step of subtracting the second distance modifier from the distance interval when the result of the comparing step shows that the average speed is less than the maximum speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: performing a first comparison step by comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a minimum speed when the traffic pattern is highway traffic; performing a second comparison step by comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a maximum speed when the traffic pattern is city traffic; adjusting the distance interval by subtracting a first distance modifier from the distance interval when the first comparison step shows that the average speed is less than the minimum speed; adjusting the distance interval by subtracting a second distance modifier from the distance interval when the second comparison step shows that the average speed is less than the maximum speed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for determining a traffic pattern in which a vehicle is traveling, comprising: means for sampling a speed of the vehicle at predetermined sampling intervals; means for establishing a prediction period; means for performing the sampling step until the prediction period is reached; means for determining an average speed and a speed variation of the vehicle upon reaching the prediction period; and means for determining the traffic pattern using the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for determining a traffic pattern in which a vehicle is traveling, comprising: means for sampling a speed of the vehicle at predetermined sampling intervals; means for establishing a prediction period; means for performing the sampling step until the prediction period is reached; means for determining an average speed and a speed variation of the vehicle upon reaching the prediction period; and means for determining the traffic pattern using the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the means for determining the traffic pattern comprises a lookup table incorporating the average speed and the speed variation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the prediction period is the shorter of a time interval and an amount of time it takes to travel a distance interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising: means for comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a minimum speed when the traffic pattern is highway traffic; and means for adjusting the distance interval by a first distance modifier based on a result of the comparing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the means for adjusting the distance interval by a first distance modifier comprises means for subtracting the first distance modifier from the distance interval when the result of the comparing step shows that the average speed is less than the minimum speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising: means for comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a maximum speed when the traffic pattern is city traffic; and means for adjusting the distance interval by a second distance modifier based on a result of the comparing step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the means for adjusting the distance interval by a second distance modifier comprises means for subtracting the second distance modifier from the distance interval when the result of the comparing step shows that the average speed is less than the maximum speed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising: means for performing a first comparison step by comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a minimum speed when the traffic pattern is highway traffic; means for performing a second comparison step by comparing the average speed during the prediction period to a maximum speed when the traffic pattern is city traffic; means for adjusting the distance interval by subtracting a first distance modifier from the distance interval when the first comparison step shows that the average speed is less than the minimum speed. means for adjusting the distance interval by subtracting a second distance modifier from the distance interval when the second comparison step shows that the average speed is less than the maximum speed.
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