Methods and systems for generating a traffic prediction

A method of determining an exposure parameter for a visual point of interest (VPOI), the VPOI being visible to a plurality of observers located in an exposure zone at a given moment in time, the exposure zone being defined by first boundary coordinates having been geometrically predetermined based on at least a location of the VPOI, the plurality of observers comprising feedback observers and non-feedback observers, each of the feedback observers being associated with a respective navigational device, the navigational devices being communicatively coupled to a server by a communication network and configured to provide respective feedback signals to the server, the method being executable on the server and comprising:

• tracking, by the server, a feedback signal of each one of a first plurality of navigational devices entering a traffic sample zone, the traffic sample zone being defined by second boundary coordinates having been geometrically predetermined, the traffic sample zone being associated with traffic characteristics, the traffic characteristics being indicative of a maximum possible number of observers that can be located in the traffic sample zone at once, each feedback signal comprising positional coordinates of a respective one of the first plurality of navigational devices;
• determining, by the server, an actual number of feedback observers located in the exposure zone based on a feedback signal of each one of a second plurality of navigational devices entering the exposure zone;
• and
• determining, by the server, the exposure parameter for the VPOI based on (i) the actual number of feedback observers in the exposure zone and (ii) a feedback ratio, the exposure parameter being indicative of an estimated number of observers that possibly viewed the VPOI, the feedback ratio having been determined by processing the feedback signals tracked for the first plurality of navigational devices, the processing comprising:
• determining, by the server, an actual number of feedback observers located in the traffic sample zone at a first moment in time by comparing the positional coordinates of each one of the first plurality of navigational devices against the second boundary coordinates at the first moment in time;
• computing, by the server, a fill rate parameter of the traffic sample zone at the first moment in time based on (i) the positional coordinates of at least one navigational device within the second boundary coordinates, (ii) the second boundary coordinates and (iii) the traffic characteristics, the fill rate parameter being indicative of an estimated total number of observers located in the traffic sample zone at the first moment in time;
• and
• determining, by the server, the feedback ratio associated with the traffic sample zone and being a ratio between (i) the estimated total number of observers located in the traffic sample zone and (ii) the actual number of feedback observers located in the traffic sample zone, the feedback ratio being indicative of an estimated proportion of feedback observers and of non-feedback observers located in the traffic sample zone.

A server for generating a traffic prediction for a target zone, the target zone being defined by first boundary coordinates having been geometrically predetermined, traffic in the target zone being caused by a plurality of vehicles located in the target zone at a given moment in time, the plurality of vehicles comprising feedback vehicles and non-feedback vehicles, each of the feedback vehicles being associated with a respective navigational device, the navigational devices being communicatively coupled to the server by a communication network and configured to provide respective feedback signals to the server, the server being configured to:

• track a feedback signal of each one of a first plurality of navigational devices entering a traffic sample zone, the traffic sample zone being defined by second boundary coordinates having been geometrically predetermined, the traffic sample zone being associated with traffic characteristics, the traffic characteristics being indicative of a maximum possible number of vehicles that can be located in the traffic sample zone at once, each feedback signal comprising positional coordinates of a respective one of the first plurality of navigational devices;
• determine an actual number of feedback vehicles located in the target zone based on a feedback signal of each one of a second plurality of navigational devices entering the target zone;
• and
• generate the traffic prediction for the target zone based on (i) the actual number of feedback vehicles in the target zone and (ii) a feedback ratio, the traffic predication being indicative of an estimated number of non-feedback vehicles within the plurality of vehicles causing traffic in the target zone,
• wherein the feedback ratio has been determined by the server processing the feedback signal tracked for the first plurality of navigational devices, and wherein the server processing the feedback signal is configured to:
• determine an actual number of feedback vehicles located in the traffic sample zone at a first moment in time by comparing the positional coordinates of each one of the first plurality of navigational devices against the second boundary coordinates at the first moment in time;
• compute a fill rate parameter of the traffic sample zone at the first moment in time based on (i) the positional coordinates of at least one navigational device within the second boundary coordinates, (ii) the second boundary coordinates and (iii) the traffic characteristics, the fill rate parameter being indicative of an estimated total number of vehicles located in the traffic sample zone at the first moment in time;
• and
• determine a feedback ratio associated with the traffic sample zone and being a ratio between (i) the estimated total number of vehicles located in the traffic sample zone and (ii) the actual number of feedback vehicles located in the traffic sample zone, the feedback ratio being indicative of an estimated proportion of feedback vehicles and of non-feedback vehicles located in the traffic sample zone.