Real time vehicle guidance and traffic forecasting system

A system for real time vehicle guidance and forcasting travel times within a predetermined travel region, the system comprising:

• central traffic unit (CTU)), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS)
• the COS providing wireless communications for communicating with client vehicles;
• the CTU operatively connected to the communications system, the CTU performing a computed mute search based on current and statistical section data;
• a receiving device for collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within the predetermined travel region, and operatively connected to the CTU;
• map database containing digital road maps of a predefined geographical region together with predetermined relevant data on road factors;
• said CTU operatively connected to the communications system capable of processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data;
• a database suitable for storing and updating statistical data on traffic parameters on individual roads as sensed by the sample vehicles;
• statistical application for collecting structured GPS data, computing individual statistical travel time estimates (regular times) for predetermined roads, and storing the results, the statistical application periodically updating the statistical data using statistical criteria for determining volumes of data necessary for obtaining valid and reliable estimates;
• and
• computational tools for automatic identification of real time traffic jam conditions at various locations of the individual roads by utilizing the sample vehicles for measuring time delays,
• wherein a plurality of the mobile guidance units further comprise:
• mobile unit with hybrid telecommunications and GPS capabilities connected to an existing mobile telecommunications network and utilizing a GPS receiver for accurate positioning;
• a mobile phone telematics protocol (MPTP) connection to a mobile telecommunications network server for real time position updates;
• a mounting receptacle for holding mobile cell phone handset unit;
• a sensor to identify when a mobile cell phone handset unit is located in the mounting receptacle;
• said mobile guidance units having a capability of accepting voice queries and transmit navigation commands;
• and
• said mobile guidance units containing computational units for storing route information and displaying it on the display unit.

A system for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times within a predetermined travel region, the system comprising:

• central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS)
• the COS providing wireless communications for communicating with client vehicles;
• the CTU operatively connected to the communications system, the CTU performing a computed route search based on current and statistical section data;
• a receiving device for collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within the predetermined travel region, and operatively connected to the CTU;
• map database containing digital road maps of a predefined geographical region together with predetermined relevant data on road factors;
• said CTU operatively connected to the communications system capable of processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data;
• a database suitable for storing and updating statistical data on traffic parameters on individual roads as sensed by the sample vehicles;
• statistical application for collecting structured GPS data, computing individual statistical travel time estimates (regular times) for predetermined roads, and storing the results, the statistical application periodically updating the statistical data using statistical criteria for determining volumes of data necessary for obtaining valid and reliable estimates;
• and
• computational tools for automatic identification of real time traffic jam conditions at various locations of the individual roads by utilizing the sample vehicles for measuring time delays,
• the system utilizing wireless mobile telephone telecommunications for the purpose of providing reliable connection among the CTU, telecommunications operator stations, and MGUs wherein:
• said COS is capable of transmitting location data from MGUs to CTU via telecommunications service operator stations when relevant handset units are located in the client vehicles;
• said COS is capable of transmitting client requests from MGUs to CTU for a fastest route from a given location to a desired destination;
• and
• said COS is capable of transmitting appropriately coded information on calculated routes from CTU to MGUs for displaying it on the PC unit screen and communicating it by voice on the car navigational terminal.

A mobile unit for use with system which includes central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS) for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times, the mobile unit comprising:

• mobile unit with hybrid telecommunications and GPS capabilities connected to an existing mobile telecommunications network and utilizing a GPS receiver for accurate positioning, the mobile unit receiving data from a central traffic unit, the data including updated statistical data on traffic parameters of individual roads, the updated data including data for computing individual statistical travel time estimates as provided by sample vehicles;
• a mobile phone telematics protocol (MPTP) connection to a mobile telecommunications network server for real time position updates;
• a mounting receptacle for holding mobile cell phone handset unit;
• a sensor to identify when a mobile cell phone handset unit is located in the mounting receptacle;
• said mobile guidance units having a capability of accepting voice queries and transmit navigation commands;
• and
• said mobile guidance units containing computational units, the computational units capable of storing route information and displaying it on the display unit.

A method for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times, the method comprising:

• providing central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS) for wireless communication with client vehicles and operatively connected to the CTU;
• connecting the central traffic unit to telecommunications operator base stations and to the mobile guidance units via the communication system;
• using said central traffic unit for determination of location and for communication with MGUs via the communication system by utilizing wireless telephone technology;
• receiving and collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within a predetermined travel region;
• using said central traffic unit and the GPS location data, and processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data for achieving maximum feasible precision in determining MGU positions;
• storing road category data in the map database;
• utilizing the data from the sample vehicles for automatic identification of real time traffic jam conditions at various locations of the individual roads by utilizing the sample vehicles for measuring time delays and computing travel time estimates;
• using mathematical and artificial intelligence algorithms together with the map databases for calculating fastest available travel routes from the present vehicle position to the desired destination while taking into account both statistical travel times and current travel time estimates;
• and
• applying an optimization procedure for computing an optimal route.

A method for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times, the method comprising:

• providing central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS) for wireless communication with client vehicles and operatively connected to the CTU;
• connecting the central traffic unit to telecommunications operator base stations and to the mobile guidance units via the communication system;
• using said central traffic unit for determination of location and for communication with MGUs via the communication system by utilizing wireless telephone technology;
• receiving and collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within a predetermined travel region;
• using said central traffic unit and the GPS location data, and processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data for achieving maximum feasible precision in determining MGU positions;
• providing a map database containing digital road maps of a predetermined geographical region, together with predetermined relevant data on road factors including, data on speed limits, road capacity, road intersections, and street directional designations;
• processing the location data received from MGUs and transforming them into structured data suitable for storage;
• storing and updating statistical data on traffic parameters at least on a limited number of individual roads;
• further subdividing said statistical data according to time into subdivisions;
• collecting said structured data, using the structured data to compute individual statistical time travel estimates for at least said limited number of individual roads, and storing the results according to said subdivisions;
• periodically updating said statistical data using statistical criteria for determining volumes of data required for obtaining estimates of a predetermined validity;
• dividing said geographical region into a number of smaller geographical zones for reducing volumes of traffic parameter data broadcast to client vehicles;
• calculating said current travel times in traffic congestion based on said travel time traffic updates, thereby minimizing reliance on vehicle speed estimates, thereby increasing the reliability and stability of resulting statistical estimates;
• calculating fastest travel routes using said current travel time estimates in the zones contiguous to the vehicle while using statistical travel times in the zones situated further from the vehicle;
• and
• applying an optimization procedure for computing an optimal route.

A method for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times, the method comprising:

• providing central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS) for wireless communication with client vehicles and operatively connected to the CTU;
• connecting the central traffic unit to telecommunications operator base stations and to the mobile guidance units via the communication system;
• using said central traffic unit for determination of location and for communication with MGUs via the communication system by utilizing wireless telephone technology;
• receiving and collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within a predetermined travel region;
• using said central traffic unit and the GPS location data, and processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data for achieving maximum feasible precision in determining MGU positions;
• providing a plurality of mobile unit with hybrid telecommunications and GPS capabilities connected to an existing mobile telecommunications network and utilizing a GPS receiver for accurate positioning;
• using a mobile phone telematics protocol (MPTP) connection to a mobile telecommunications network server for real time position updates;
• using said mobile guidance units to accept voice queries and transmit navigation commands;
• and
• storing route information and displaying said route information in display units associated with said mobile units.

A method for real time vehicle guidance and forecasting travel times, the method comprising:

• providing central traffic unit (CTU), mobile guidance units (MGU), and communication system (COS) for wireless communication with client vehicles and operatively connected to the CTU;
• connecting the central traffic unit to telecommunications operator base stations and to the mobile guidance units via the communication system;
• using said central traffic unit for determination of location and for communication with MGUs via the communication system by utilizing wireless telephone technology;
• receiving and collecting GPS data at predetermined time intervals from sample vehicles moving within a predetermined travel region;
• using said central traffic unit and the GPS location data, and processing in real time said GPS data and transforming them into appropriately structured data for achieving maximum feasible precision in determining MGU positions;
• and
• utilizing wireless mobile telephone telecommunications for the purpose of providing reliable connection among the CTU, telecommunications operator stations, and MGUs wherein:
• said COS is used to transmit location data from MGUs to CTU via telecommunications service operator stations when relevant handset units are located in mounting receptacles;
• said COS is used to transmit client requests from MGUs to CTU for a fastest route from a given location to a desired destination;
• and
• said COS is used to transmit appropriately coded information on calculated routes from CTU to MGUs for displaying it on the PC unit screen and communicating it by voice on the car navigational terminal.