US6587781B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information and applying thereof
Assignee: INRIX UK Ltd
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Filing: 2001-08-28
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2021-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with the oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of the variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value for each oriented road section of said oriented road section network using the prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each source; (e) fusing the partial current traffic situation picture associated with each source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire oriented road section network; (f) predicting a future complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with the entire oriented road section network; and (g) using the current vehicular traffic situation picture and the future vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
Inventors
- 👤 Israel Feldman
- 👤 Arie Trinker
- 👤 Yochai Meltzer
- 👤 Allon Eshpar
- 👤 Amonon Lotem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:51
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/0104; G08G1/0125; H; H04; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 153
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each said source; and (e) fusing said partial current traffic situation picture associated with each said source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire said oriented road section network and with said road network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each said source; and (e) fusing said partial current traffic situation picture associated with each said source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire said oriented road section network and with said road network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said road network is a geographical information system (GIS) road network encompassing a local or wide area region within which is a plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, and, other designated sub-divisions selected from the group consisting of roads, turns, junctions, areas or regions of variably populated streets and roads, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network represents a road section having a single vehicular traffic continuation option located at a head end road junction, said road section represents a unit featuring a plurality of consecutive road segments of said road network, said consecutive road segments positioned head-to-tail relative to each other are located between two road junctions, a tail end road junction and a said head end road junction, within said road network, and are characterized by similar vehicular traffic data and information, and, said single vehicular traffic continuation option refers to one of various vehicular traffic flow options said each vehicle may take within said road network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 , whereby said vehicular traffic continuation option is selected from the group consisting of continuing to travel straight, taking a right turn, and, taking a left turn, from a said road segment joined or linked to a said head end road junction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 , whereby, when special lanes in various said road segments within said oriented road section network are assigned to turning traffic, respective said oriented road sections may yield different vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 3 , whereby a particular traffic situation or scenario characterizing a particular said oriented road section is interdependent and interrelated with other particular said traffic situations or scenarios characterizing other particular said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information is selected from the group consisting of sources of fixed sensors, sources of mobile sensors, sources of traffic reports by police or radio broadcasts of the vehicular traffic data and information, sources of historical and event related vehicular traffic data and information, other sources of the vehicular traffic data and information, and combinations thereof, whereby each said source is characterized by a variable level of accuracy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 8 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (b) includes said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information from at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system by tracking locations of a sample of a plurality of mobile sensors that are carried in moving vehicles as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said source of the vehicular traffic data and information is a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby in step (b) locations of said mobile sensors are obtained from said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system in known time intervals, whereby a path of said each vehicle is identified in terms of a plurality of said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile cellular phones of at least one type of mobile wireless cellular phone communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile cellular phones whose cell transition or handover rates indicate a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile vehicle anti-theft devices of at least one type of mobile wireless vehicle anti-theft communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile vehicle anti-theft devices indicating ignition activation potentially indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement, and, tracking locations of said mobile sensors by using locating parameters selected from the group consisting of mobile wireless communication cell geometrical area transitions or handovers, location data and information provided by a server of said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof, as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby said tracking is performed by polling said locations of said mobile sensors in known time intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby step (c) further comprises the steps of: (i) filtering out said mobile sensors that are recognized as noise, (ii) prioritizing said acquired vehicular traffic data and information according to policy or present vehicular traffic circumstances, (iii) preventing said tracking of said mobile sensors that stopped moving, and (iv) maintaining said tracking within locating capacity of each said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby steps (b) and (c) further include said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information by a procedure selected from the group consisting of a push procedure, a pull procedure, and, combinations thereof, said push procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by said mobile sensors, and, said pull procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by a software module sampling said mobile sensors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby said tracking is controlled according to a predefined and updated policy selected from the group consisting of not to track too many said vehicles in a same region of said road network, focus said tracking on a certain problematic region of said road network, stop said tracking said vehicles that stopped for a pre-determined time interval, collect the vehicular traffic data and information within a certain limited capacity of a said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors by deleting identities of said identified mobile sensors and by deleting said locations of said tracked mobile sensors following derived velocities of said mobile sensors are incorporated into calculations and processing associated with said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby in step (d) said pre-determined distance is in a range of between about 10 meters to about 100 meters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby in step (d) a said normalized travel time (NTT) value of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby in step (d) said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle, for indicating possibility of different said velocities on different lanes of said specific oriented road section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby step (d) includes deducing a path of said each vehicle from several consecutive readings of said tracked locations, said deduced path is a sequence of connected said oriented road sections that cross said geometrical area locations in order of appearance and which join into a logical route to take between two points within said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 27 , whereby a said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values on each said oriented road section of said deduced path is calculated by using timings and said tracked locations of said footprints of said mobile sensors determined by using assumptions as to reasonable acceleration and velocity behaviors of vehicular drivers of said plurality of vehicles moving on said road network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 17 , whereby in step (d) said mean normalized travel time (NTT) values are calculated using a confidence factor being a function of accuracy of said footprints, amount of said footprints, and, error rate of said footprints, of said identified and tracked mobile sensors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby sequence of steps (b)-(e) is performed at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (e) is performed at regular time intervals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (e) includes calculating final values of said mean normalized travel time (NTT) for said oriented road sections by integrating and fusing said calculated mean normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections associated with each said source of the vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (e) includes filling in gaps of said partial current traffic situation picture by using predicted said normalized travel time (NTT) values for said normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections not calculated in a previous cycle of steps (b)-(d).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (e) includes filling in gaps of said partial current traffic situation picture by using a set of vehicular traffic behavior patterns and correlation rules, derived by and based on analyzing historical vehicular traffic data and information, for describing interdependence, interrelation, and mutual correlation of vehicular traffic parameters among said oriented road sections in a particular region of said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby step (e) includes using time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network and time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 35 , whereby a said time dependent behavior pattern of a specific said oriented road section describes regular changing of associated said normalized travel time (NTT) values as a function of time, and, whereby said time dependent correlation rule determines correlation and interrelation of each said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture between different said oriented road sections as a function of time.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (f) predicting at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with said entire oriented road section network.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 37 , whereby said generated single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture of step (e) serves as a baseline or starting point for said predicting said at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 37 , whereby said predicting is performed at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 37 , whereby said predicting includes using time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network and time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 40 , whereby a said time dependent behavior pattern of a specific said oriented road section describes regular changing of associated said normalized travel time (NTT) values as a function of time, and, whereby said time dependent correlation rule determines correlation and interrelation of each said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture between different said oriented road sections as a function of time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 40 , whereby said predicting includes identifying unexpected vehicular traffic developments from a said generated single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture of step (e) by comparing said developments to regular said time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network, using said normalized travel time (NTT) values, and correcting said normalized travel time (NTT) values according to discrepancies from said time dependent behavior patterns.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 40 , whereby said predicting includes predicting propagation, in time along adjacent and non-adjacent said oriented road sections, of traffic events identified by discrepancies from said time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network, using said time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising the step of: (g) using at least one said complete current vehicular traffic situation picture and said at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 44 , whereby said variety of vehicular traffic related service applications includes responding to traffic oriented queries selected from the group consisting of finding optimal routes between given points of said road network, finding alternative routes between said given points of said road network, estimating travel times between said given points of said road network, initiating alerts and route alterations when unexpected traffic events change said complete current vehicular traffic situation picture, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for acquiring vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; and (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for acquiring vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; and (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said road network is a geographical information system (GIS) road network encompassing a local or wide area region within which is a plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, and, other designated sub-divisions selected from the group consisting of roads, turns, junctions, areas or regions of variably populated streets and roads, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network represents a road section having a single vehicular traffic continuation option located at a head end road junction, said road section represents a unit featuring a plurality of consecutive road segments of said road network, said consecutive road segments positioned head-to-tail relative to each other are located between two road junctions, a tail end road junction and a said head end road junction, within said road network, and are characterized by similar vehicular traffic data and information, and, said single vehicular traffic continuation option refers to one of various vehicular traffic flow options a vehicle may take within said road network.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 48 , whereby said vehicular traffic continuation option is selected from the group consisting of continuing to travel straight, taking a right turn, and, taking a left turn, from a said road segment joined or linked to a said head end road junction.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 49 , whereby, when special lanes in various said road segments within said oriented road section network are assigned to turning traffic, respective said oriented road sections may yield different vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 49 , whereby a particular traffic situation or scenario characterizing a particular said oriented road section is interdependent and interrelated with other particular said traffic situations or scenarios characterizing other particular said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information is selected from the group consisting of sources of fixed sensors, sources of mobile sensors, sources of traffic reports by police or radio broadcasts of the vehicular traffic data and information, sources of historical and event related vehicular traffic data and information, other sources of the vehicular traffic data and information, and combinations thereof, whereby each said source is characterized by a variable level of accuracy.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 53 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby step (b) includes said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information from at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system by tracking locations of a sample of a plurality of mobile sensors that are carried in moving vehicles as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 55 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said source of the vehicular traffic data and information is a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby in step (b) locations of said mobile sensors are obtained from said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system in known time intervals, whereby a path of a vehicle is identified in terms of a plurality of said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 58 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile cellular phones of at least one type of mobile wireless cellular phone communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile cellular phones whose cell transition or handover rates indicate a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile vehicle anti-theft devices of at least one type of mobile wireless vehicle anti-theft communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile vehicle anti-theft devices indicating ignition activation potentially indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 46 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement, and, tracking locations of said mobile sensors by using locating parameters selected from the group consisting of mobile wireless communication cell geometrical area transitions or handovers, location data and information provided by a server of said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof, as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby said tracking is performed by polling said locations of said mobile sensors in known time intervals.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby step (c) further comprises the steps of: (i) filtering out said mobile sensors that are recognized as noise, (ii) prioritizing said acquired vehicular traffic data and information according to policy or present vehicular traffic circumstances, (iii) preventing said tracking of said mobile sensors that stopped moving, and (iv) maintaining said tracking within locating capacity of each said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby steps (b) and (c) further include said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information by a procedure selected from the group consisting of a push procedure, a pull procedure, and, combinations thereof, said push procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by said mobile sensors, and, said pull procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by a software module sampling said mobile sensors.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby said tracking is controlled according to a predefined and updated policy selected from the group consisting of not to track too many vehicles in a same region of said road network, focus said tracking on a certain problematic region of said road network, stop said tracking said vehicles that stopped for a pre-determined time interval, collect the vehicular traffic data and information within a certain limited capacity of a said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 62 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors by deleting identities of said identified mobile sensors and by deleting said locations of said tracked mobile sensors following derived velocities of said mobile sensors are incorporated into calculations and processing associated with said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
36 words
A The method of claim 46 , whereby sequence of steps (b)-(c) is performed at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 72
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for calculating mean normalized travel times of vehicles from vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; and (d) calculating the mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of the vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, for forming a set of the mean normalized travel time (NTT) values of the vehicles within said road network.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for calculating mean normalized travel times of vehicles from vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; and (d) calculating the mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of the vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, for forming a set of the mean normalized travel time (NTT) values of the vehicles within said road network.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said road network is a geographical information system (GIS) road network encompassing a local or wide area region within which is a plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, and, other designated sub-divisions selected from the group consisting of roads, turns, junctions, areas or regions of variably populated streets and roads, and combinations thereof.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network represents a road section having a single vehicular traffic continuation option located at a head end road junction, said road section represents a unit featuring a plurality of consecutive road segments of said road network, said consecutive road segments positioned head-to-tail relative to each other are located between two road junctions, a tail end road junction and a said head end road junction, within said road network, and are characterized by similar vehicular traffic data and information, and, said single vehicular traffic continuation option refers to one of various vehicular traffic flow options the vehicles may take within said road network.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 72 , whereby said vehicular traffic continuation option is selected from the group consisting of continuing to travel straight, taking a right turn, and, taking a left turn, from a said road segment joined or linked to a said head end road junction.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 72 , whereby, when special lanes in various said road segments within said oriented road section network are assigned to turning traffic, respective said oriented road sections may yield different vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 72 , whereby a particular traffic situation or scenario characterizing a particular said oriented road section is interdependent and interrelated with other particular said traffic situations or scenarios characterizing other particular said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information is selected from the group consisting of sources of fixed sensors, sources of mobile sensors, sources of traffic reports by police or radio broadcasts of the vehicular traffic data and information, sources of historical and event related vehicular traffic data and information, other sources of the vehicular traffic data and information, and combinations thereof, whereby each said source is characterized by a variable level of accuracy.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 77 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby step (b) includes said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information from at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system by tracking locations of a sample of a plurality of mobile sensors that are carried in moving vehicles as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 79 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said source of the vehicular traffic data and information is a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby in step (b) locations of said mobile sensors are obtained from said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system in known time intervals, whereby a path of each of the vehicles is identified in terms of a plurality of said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 82 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile cellular phones of at least one type of mobile wireless cellular phone communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile cellular phones whose cell transition or handover rates indicate a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile vehicle anti-theft devices of at least one type of mobile wireless vehicle anti-theft communication system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile vehicle anti-theft devices indicating ignition activation potentially indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby step (c) includes identifying said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement, and, tracking locations of said mobile sensors by using locating parameters selected from the group consisting of mobile wireless communication cell geometrical area transitions or handovers, location data and information provided by a server of said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof, as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby said tracking is performed by polling said locations of said mobile sensors in known time intervals.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby step (c) further comprises: (i) filtering out said mobile sensors that are recognized as noise, (ii) prioritizing said acquired vehicular traffic data and information according to policy or present vehicular traffic circumstances, (iii) preventing said tracking of said mobile sensors that stopped moving, and (iv) maintaining said tracking within locating capacity of each said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby steps (b) and (c) further include said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information by a procedure selected from the group consisting of a push procedure, a pull procedure, and, combinations thereof, said push procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by said mobile sensors, and, said pull procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by a software module sampling said mobile sensors.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby said tracking is controlled according to a predefined and updated policy selected from the group consisting of not to track too many of the vehicles in a same region of said road network, focus said tracking on a certain problematic region of said road network, stop said tracking of the vehicles that stopped for a pre-determined time interval, collect the vehicular traffic data and information within a certain limited capacity of a said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby step (c) further includes a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors by deleting identities of said identified mobile sensors and by deleting said locations of said tracked mobile sensors following derived velocities of said mobile sensors are incorporated into calculations and processing associated with said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby in step (d) said pre-determined distance is in a range of between about 10 meters to about 100 meters.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby in step (d) a said normalized travel time (NTT) value of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby in step (d) said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle, for indicating possibility of different said velocities on different lanes of said specific oriented road section.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby step (d) includes deducing a path of said each vehicle from several consecutive readings of said tracked locations, said deduced path is a sequence of connected said oriented road sections that cross said geometrical area locations in order of appearance and which join into a logical route to take between two points within said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 96 , whereby a said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values on each said oriented road section of said deduced path is calculated by using timings and said tracked locations of said footprints of said mobile sensors determined by using assumptions as to reasonable acceleration and velocity behaviors of vehicular drivers of the vehicles moving on said road network.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 86 , whereby in step (d) said mean normalized travel time (NTT) values are calculated using a confidence factor being a function of accuracy of said footprints, amount of said footprints, and, error rate of said footprints, of said identified and tracked mobile sensors.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 70 , whereby sequence of steps (b)-(d) is performed at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 70 , further comprising the step of: (e) calculating final values of said mean normalized travel time (NTT) for said oriented road sections by integrating and fusing said calculated mean normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections associated with each said source of the vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 100 , whereby step (e) includes predicting said normalized travel time (NTT) values for said normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections not calculated in a previous cycle of steps (b)-(d).
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 100 , whereby step (e) includes using a set of vehicular traffic behavior patterns and correlation rules, derived by and based on analyzing historical vehicular traffic data and information, for describing interdependence, interrelation, and mutual correlation of vehicular traffic parameters among said oriented road sections in a particular region of said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 100 , whereby step (e) includes using time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network and time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 103 , whereby a said time dependent behavior pattern of a specific said oriented road section describes regular changing of associated said normalized travel time (NTT) values as a function of time, and, whereby said time dependent correlation rule determines correlation and interrelation of each said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture between different said oriented road sections as a function of time.
Claim 108
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) a transform mechanism for transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) a sampler software module operatively interacting with said transform mechanism, for acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources, and, for prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; (c) a normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module for calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network by using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, supplied by said sampler software module, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each said source; and (d) a fusion and current picture generator module for fusing said partial current traffic situation picture associated with each said source, supplied by said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire said oriented road section network and with said road network.
Claim 109
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) a transform mechanism for transforming a spatial representation of a road network associated with the vehicular traffic data and information into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) a sampler software module operatively interacting with said transform mechanism, for acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with said oriented road section network, from a variety of sources, and, for prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of said variety of sources; (c) a normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module for calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value from a plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of each of a plurality of vehicles, normalized with respect to a pre-determined distance, for each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network by using said prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each said source, supplied by said sampler software module, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each said source; and (d) a fusion and current picture generator module for fusing said partial current traffic situation picture associated with each said source, supplied by said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire said oriented road section network and with said road network.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said road network is a geographical information system (GIS) road network encompassing a local or wide area region within which is a plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, and, other designated sub-divisions selected from the group consisting of roads, turns, junctions, areas or regions of variably populated streets and roads, and combinations thereof.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
120 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby each said oriented road section of said oriented road section network represents a road section having a single vehicular traffic continuation option located at a head end road junction, said road section represents a unit featuring a plurality of consecutive road segments of said road network, said consecutive road segments positioned head-to-tail relative to each other are located between two road junctions, a tail end road junction and a said head end road junction, within said road network, and are characterized by similar vehicular traffic data and information, and, said single vehicular traffic continuation option refers to one of various vehicular traffic flow options said each vehicle may take within said road network.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 107 , whereby said vehicular traffic continuation option is selected from the group consisting of continuing to travel straight, taking a right turn, and, taking a left turn, from a said road segment joined or linked to a said head end road junction.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 107 , whereby, when special lanes in various said road segments within said oriented road section network are assigned to turning traffic, respective said oriented road sections may yield different vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 107 , whereby a particular traffic situation or scenario characterizing a particular said oriented road section is interdependent and interrelated with other particular said traffic situations or scenarios characterizing other particular said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information is selected from the group consisting of sources of fixed sensors, sources of mobile sensors, sources of traffic reports by police or radio broadcasts of the vehicular traffic data and information, sources of historical and event related vehicular traffic data and information, other sources of the vehicular traffic data and information, and combinations thereof, whereby each said source is characterized by a variable level of accuracy.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 112 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said sampler software module acquires the vehicular traffic data and information from at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system by tracking locations of a sample of a plurality of mobile sensors that are carried in moving vehicles as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 114 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said source of the vehicular traffic data and information is a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby said sampler software module obtains locations of said mobile sensors from said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system in known time intervals, whereby a path of said each vehicle is identified in terms of a plurality of said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby said sampler software module identifies said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 117 , whereby said vehicle-carried mobile sensors are selected from the group consisting of GPS devices, vehicle anti-theft devices, computer laptop devices, cellular phone devices, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile cellular phones of at least one type of mobile wireless cellular phone communication system, and, whereby said sampler software module identifies said mobile cellular phones whose cell transition or handover rates indicate a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile vehicle anti-theft devices of at least one type of mobile wireless vehicle anti-theft communication system, and, whereby said sampler software module identifies said mobile vehicle anti-theft devices indicating ignition activation potentially indicating vehicular movement.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said variety of sources of the vehicular traffic data and information includes a plurality of vehicle-carried mobile sensors of at least one type of mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, whereby said sampler software module identifies said mobile sensors having a relatively fast movement indicating vehicular movement, and, tracking locations of said mobile sensors by using locating parameters selected from the group consisting of mobile wireless communication cell geometrical area transitions or handovers, location data and information provided by a server of said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof, as footprints of said mobile sensors.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said tracking is performed by polling said locations of said mobile sensors in known time intervals.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said sampler software module further performs the steps of: (i) filtering out said mobile sensors that are recognized as noise, (ii) prioritizing said acquired vehicular traffic data and information according to policy or present vehicular traffic circumstances, (iii) preventing said tracking of said mobile sensors that stopped moving, and (iv) maintaining said tracking within locating capacity of each said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said sampler software module acquires the vehicular traffic data and information by a procedure selected from the group consisting of a push procedure, a pull procedure, and, combinations thereof, said push procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by said mobile sensors, and, said pull procedure is a mode of said acquiring the vehicular traffic data and information initiated by a software module sampling said mobile sensors.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said tracking is controlled according to a predefined and updated policy selected from the group consisting of not to track too many said vehicles in a same region of said road network, focus said tracking on a certain problematic region of said road network, stop said tracking said vehicles that stopped for a pre-determined time interval, collect the vehicular traffic data and information within a certain limited capacity of a said mobile wireless communication or telemetric system, and, combinations thereof.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said sampler software module further performs a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said sampler software module further performs a procedure for protecting privacy of individuals associated with said vehicle-carried mobile sensors by deleting identities of said identified mobile sensors and by deleting said locations of said tracked mobile sensors following derived velocities of said mobile sensors are incorporated into calculations and processing associated with said oriented road sections of said oriented road section network.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said pre-determined distance used by said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module is in a range of between about 10 meters to about 100 meters.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said normalized travel time (NTT) value of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values of a specific said oriented road section is calculated by statistically processing said tracked locations and velocities of said mobile sensors traveled on said specific oriented road section during a time period of an assessment cycle, for indicating possibility of different said velocities on different lanes of said specific oriented road section.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module deduces a path of said each vehicle from several consecutive readings of said tracked locations, said deduced path is a sequence of connected said oriented road sections that cross said geometrical area locations in order of appearance and which join into a logical route to take between two points within said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 131 , whereby a said plurality of normalized travel time (NTT) values on each said oriented road section of said deduced path is calculated by using timings and said tracked locations of said footprints of said mobile sensors determined by using assumptions as to reasonable acceleration and velocity behaviors of vehicular drivers of said plurality of vehicles moving on said road network.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 121 , whereby said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module calculates said mean normalized travel time (NTT) values using a confidence factor being a function of accuracy of said footprints, amount of said footprints, and, error rate of said footprints, of said identified and tracked mobile sensors.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module generates said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module generates said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture at regular time intervals.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module calculates final values of said mean normalized travel time (NTT) for said oriented road sections by integrating and fusing said calculated mean normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections associated with each said source of the vehicular traffic data and information.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module fills in gaps of said partial current traffic situation picture by using predicted said normalized travel time (NTT) values for said normalized travel time (NTT) values of said oriented road sections not previously calculated in a previous cycle by said normalized travel time (NTT) calculator software module.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module fills in gaps of said partial current traffic situation picture by using a set of vehicular traffic behavior patterns and correlation rules, derived by and based on analyzing historical vehicular traffic data and information, for describing interdependence, interrelation, and mutual correlation of vehicular traffic parameters among said oriented road sections in a particular region of said oriented road section network representing said road network.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 105 , whereby said fusion and current picture generator module uses time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network and time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 139 , whereby a said time dependent behavior pattern of a specific said oriented road section describes regular changing of associated said normalized travel time (NTT) values as a function of time, and, whereby said time dependent correlation rule determines correlation and interrelation of each said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture between different said oriented road sections as a function of time.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 105 , further comprising: (e) a predictor software module operatively interacting with said fusion and current picture generator module, for predicting at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with said entire oriented road section network.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 141 , whereby said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture generated by said fusion and current picture generator module serves as a baseline or starting point for said predicting said at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 141 , whereby said predicting is performed at a pre-determined frequency in a range of from about once per every two minutes to about once per every ten minutes.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 141 , whereby said predicting includes using time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network and time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 149
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 144 , whereby a said time dependent behavior pattern of a specific said oriented road section describes regular changing of associated said normalized travel time (NTT) values as a function of time, and, whereby said time dependent correlation rule determines correlation and interrelation of each said single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture between different said oriented road sections as a function of time.
Claim 150
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 144 , whereby said predicting includes identifying unexpected vehicular traffic developments from a said generated single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture, by comparing said developments to regular said time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network, using said normalized travel time (NTT) values, and correcting said normalized travel time (NTT) values according to discrepancies from said time dependent behavior patterns.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 144 , whereby said predicting includes predicting propagation, in time along adjacent and non-adjacent said oriented road sections, of traffic events identified by discrepancies from said time dependent behavior patterns of said oriented road section network, using said time dependent correlation rules of said oriented road section network.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 141 , further comprising: (f) a service engine software module operatively interacting with said predictor software module, for using at least one said complete current vehicular traffic situation picture and said at least one future time complete vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 148 , whereby said variety of vehicular traffic related service applications includes responding to traffic oriented queries selected from the group consisting of finding optimal routes between given points of said road network, finding alternative routes between said given points of said road network, estimating travel times between said given points of said road network, initiating alerts and route alterations when unexpected traffic events change said complete current vehicular traffic situation picture, and, combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-30 | 2006-12-30 | 2007-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-30 | 2011-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-30 | 2014-12-30 | 2015-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |