Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus for estimating real-time travel times or traffic loads (e.g., traffic flows or densities) over a transportation network based on limited real-time data. In one embodiment, a method for estimating a travel time over a transportation network comprising at least a first link and a second link includes receiving a data feed associated with a real-time traffic flow over the first link, estimating a first travel time over the first link based at least in part on the data feed, and estimating a second travel time over the second link, also based at least in part on the data feed. The method assumes that a real-time data feed is not available for the second link, and thus estimates the traffic flow over the second link based on the known traffic flow over the first link and other known data, such as historical traffic patterns and physical parameters of the transportation network.

Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system. Alternative routes through congested areas are automatically selected using congestion prediction metrics.

Abstract: Techniques are described for assessing road traffic conditions in various ways based on obtained traffic-related data, such as data samples from vehicles and other mobile data sources traveling on the roads, as well as in some situations data from one or more other sources (such as physical sensors near to or embedded in the roads). The assessment of road traffic conditions based on obtained data samples may include various filtering and/or conditioning of the data samples, and various inferences and probabilistic determinations of traffic-related characteristics from the data samples. In some situations, the inferences based on the data samples includes repeatedly determining traffic flow characteristics for road segments of interest during periods of time, such as to determine traffic volume and/or average occupancy of the road.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating a virtual traffic network includes inputting map data representing a road system, inputting flow data related to traffic flow on the road system and integrating the map data and the flow data to produce a virtual traffic network representing traffic conditions on the road system.

Abstract: A travel plan presenting apparatus includes: a travel history accumulation unit (109) which accumulates, in association with a date and time, pieces of travel history information regarding a travel of the mobile object from a departure place to an arrival place; a travel pattern extracting unit (112) which extracts at least one travel pattern from the pieces of travel history information and generates travel patterns in each of which an order of arrival places other than the final arrival place included in a corresponding one of the extracted travel patterns; a travel plan calculating unit (113) which calculates estimated arrival times at each of the arrival places in the travel patterns extracted and generated by the travel pattern extracting unit (112); and a display processing unit (114) which generates display information for displaying the estimated arrival time for each travel pattern.

Abstract: A traffic information sensor system includes an image acquisition device to generate video images of a traffic scene. The system also includes an image detection device to extract traffic information from the video images in connection with the lane position information of the traffic scene. The system also includes an information transfer device to transmit the extracted traffic information instead of the video images to a traffic management center. A traffic information detection method and system is also described.

Abstract: A method of route determination for mobile elements in a network comprising a plurality of paths each having a predetermined path capacity. The method comprises the steps of registering centrally a plurality of route requests from a corresponding plurality of mobile elements each of said requests defining a journey between an origin and a destination and registering centrally for each route request a journey start time. Routing instructions are centrally determined so as to optimise use of path capacity across all synchronous journeys requests in said network with reference to said registered information, and issued to corresponding mobile elements. The mobile elements adapt their route to comply with the routing instruction. There may be provided further steps of monitoring and rerouting the mobile element whenever new journeys requests can impact its remaining trip.

Abstract: A navigation device 100 includes: a map information acquirer for acquiring map information; a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body; a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination; an information retriever for acquiring plural pieces of parking information about parking lots to park the mobile body based on the map information; a route setting section for setting travel routes from the current position to the parking lots and travel routes from the parking lots to the destination; and a display controller for controlling a terminal display section 140 to display any one of the parking lots and at least one of the travel routes based on the travel routes.

Abstract: This system for displaying, on the flight deck of an aircraft travelling on the surface of an airport, an airport map mentioning the surface traffic, for the purpose of a taxiing aid and protection of the ground movements of the aircraft, shows on the airport map only the traffic occupying the airport thoroughfares close to the aircraft, this closeness being defined by the existence of a joining path comprising a number of thoroughfare sections that is less than an arbitrary limit of the order of 1 or 2.

Abstract: A traffic information display method includes creating a highest-level traffic information selection menu among traffic information categorized in multiple levels, and displaying the created traffic information selection menu, creating a low-level menu including associated travel speed data, and displaying the created low-level traffic information selection menu and repeating the creation of the low-level menu until the lowest-level menu is displayed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for suggesting an intermediate point-of-interest (POI) for a user that is traveling. A series of locations of a ground-based vehicle is received. At least some of the locations are related to at least one travel pattern. A route is identified based on relating at least some of the received locations to at least one travel patterns and an intermediate point-of-interest is identified responsive to a predicted interest of a user based on the route.

Abstract: Techniques are described for assessing road traffic conditions in various ways based on obtained traffic-related data, such as data samples from vehicles and other mobile data sources traveling on the roads, as well as in some situations data from one or more other sources (such as physical sensors near to or embedded in the roads). The assessment of road traffic conditions based on obtained data samples may include various filtering and/or conditioning of the data samples, and various inferences and probabilistic determinations of traffic-related characteristics from the data samples. In some situations, the inferences based on the data samples includes repeatedly determining traffic flow characteristics for road segments of interest during periods of time, such as to determine traffic volume and/or average occupancy of the road.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes a receiving section for receiving a broadcast. The apparatus further includes a location detector for detecting the location of the receiving apparatus, a moving direction calculator for calculating a moving direction of the receiving apparatus based on the location detected by the location detector, and a controller for allowing a reproducing section to reproduce a part of or all of the broadcast received by the receiving section selectively based on the moving direction calculated by the moving direction calculator.

Abstract: A method is provided herein for determining and recognizing types of vehicles passing a check point. The method takes advantage of an EM algorithm which is up-loaded into a CPU and which processes data of the vehicles which drive past a checkpoint, the data being representative of essential characteristics of vehicles to produce an output model of the traffic volumes of the various types of vehicles.

Abstract: A device for determining when a virtual trip line has been crossed or traversed is provided. The device includes a memory for storing the virtual trip lines which are defined pairs of location descriptors corresponding to a geographic area. The device further includes a processor that is capable of determining the location of the device when it crosses a virtual trip line as well as its speed and direction. The processing element is further capable of sending this information to another electronic device such as a server that may determine a number of vehicles crossing a virtual trip line for a specified amount of time, the average speed of vehicles crossing the virtual trip line and the traffic density in a region near the virtual trip line. The device is capable of receiving the information that was determined by the server.

Abstract: A method of reducing congestion on a roadway is disclosed comprising dividing selected lengths of selected normal lanes of a roadway into two commuter lanes, providing distinctive lane markings to identify the commuter lanes, and dynamically designating selected lengths of selected lanes as either normal lanes or pairs of commuter lanes. In order to dynamically change lane configurations, a set of indicators can be provided as lane markers together with a control system to alter particular lane configurations between normal lanes and commuting lanes both cyclically according to a preprogrammed schedule and dynamically in response to sensed vehicle traffic volume, unusual events such as accidents, weather, and so on. Commuter lanes are designated cyclically and dynamically in response to traffic conditions to increase the capacity of the affected road. Normal lanes are designated at other times.

Abstract: In a case where a CPU provided in an information distribution center has received, from a navigation apparatus, vehicle information together with a request command for requesting traffic information such as current traffic information, the CPU sets a road category that serves as a distribution target of the traffic information, based on one of a distance and a required travel time from a vehicle position to a destination. The CPU then extracts the traffic information that corresponds to the set road category and distributes it to the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determining of a refresh rate of a dynamic billboard. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a system for obtaining traffic flow information; a system for determining the refresh rate per minute of the dynamic billboard based on the traffic flow information, wherein the refresh rate is equal to 60 mph/V, wherein V is equal to an average velocity in miles per hour of vehicles passing the dynamic billboard; a system for determining a percent change in the traffic flow information over a predetermined period of time, and comparing the percent change in the traffic flow information to a predetermined threshold value; and a system for changing a display provided by the dynamic bill board in accordance with the refresh rate only if a magnitude of the percent change in the traffic flow information is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A system that enables a carrier to provide scheduled delivery service to a consignee is provided. The disclosed system allows the carrier to receive a consignee order from a consignor, determine whether scheduled delivery service is available, and, if scheduled delivery service is available, determine time windows from which the consignee may select for scheduled delivery. Scheduled delivery service may be available if the consignee delivery address is located within an area in which signature is required for delivery, there is a high frequency of failed delivery attempts, or there is a high frequency of inclement weather or traffic congestion/accidents, among other factors. The carrier may determine time windows from which a consignee may select based on the frequency of failed delivery attempts, inclement weather, and/or traffic congestion/accidents in the area surrounding or leading to the consignee delivery address, among other factors.

Abstract: A road assigned with speed limit information displayed in a display unit is extracted as a determination target road. Whether congestion information for the determination target road is acquired is determined. The determination target road, for which congestion information is acquired, is extracted as a display-switching target road. A display form of speed limit information of the display-switching target road is switched from a usual display form to a congestion display form to thereby inform a user of a presence of the congestion information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs determine whether it is possible to generate statistical values based on a number of pieces of travel history information and a degree of contingency of traffic information in the travel history information. Systems, methods, and programs display, if a predicted travel time is greater than a typical travel time, at least one of a predicted travel time, a predicted arrival time, or a route in a manner that indicates that the predicted travel time is greater than the typical travel time; or display, if the predicted travel time is less than the typical travel time, at least one of the predicted travel time, a predicted arrival time, or the route in a manner that indicates that the predicted travel time is less than the typical travel time.

Abstract: In an intersection information provision system, multiple cameras are installed oriented towards the direction where each road extends from the intersection. Each camera captures as an image or video the state ranging from the intersection to each road. Therefore, the area of the captured image by each camera is narrowed down. When this captured image is displayed in a display unit of a navigation apparatus in a vehicle, the driver of the vehicle can perform safety check easily. Furthermore, according to the traveling direction of the vehicle at the intersection, a display pattern of several captured images to be displayed is determined. According to the determined display pattern, multiple captured images are displayed in order. Therefore, image information required to pass through the intersection safely can be offered without shortage to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile device of a user may provide an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of the user to other participants of a scheduled meeting. In providing the ETA, the mobile device may retrieve meeting information associated with the scheduled meeting, location information associated with the location of the user, and environmental condition information associated with an intended path of the user to the scheduled meeting. The mobile device may calculate the ETA to the scheduled meeting based on the meeting information, the location information, and the environmental condition information. The calculated ETA may then be transmitted to the other participants.

Abstract: A traffic control system includes: a vehicle detection sensor (CS) for detecting a vehicle on a road; a traveling speed command indicator (VI) for indicating a traveling speed command to the vehicle on the road; a vehicle train detection means (104) for detecting a vehicle train in which vehicles range with each other within a predetermined inter-vehicle distance; a packet formation control means (106) for indicating a traveling speed command to form a packet having predetermined vehicle train length and inter-vehicle train distance for the vehicle on the road; a packet traveling control means (108) for indicating a traveling speed command so that the packets from respective direction can pass an intersection efficiently; and a traffic signal control means (114) for controlling a traffic signal in conjunction with a packet arriving at the intersection under control of the packet traveling control means.

Abstract: Traffic flow data is obtained for a road system that encompasses a predefined geographical region. A user then selects an object of interest within the geographical region. The object of interest has a corresponding geographical location. A graphical map of the road system is then created and the traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on the road system is displayed on the graphical map, wherein the graphical map includes the geographical location of the user-selected object of interest.

Abstract: A navigation device mounted in a vehicle determines a traffic condition when the vehicle travels in a road zone along a facility, and determines whether a payment terminal mounted in the vehicle has made a payment through communication with a facility terminal installed in the facility. If it is determined that a payment has been made through communication, then probe data is generated that associates the traffic condition in the road zone with a payment service of the facility.

Abstract: A system and method for automated estimation of average stopped delay at signalized intersections using digitized still image analysis of actual traffic flow is disclosed. The system and method includes digitizing images of an intersection and creating a line of pixels that acts as a virtual sensor in a traffic lane of interest. Background intensities of the pixel line on the traffic lane without vehicles are compared to pixel intensities on images with traffic. Once vehicles are identified, the present method and system provides for three alternative embodiments of methods for determining the stopped delay for an entire image or for a particular vehicle. Once the stopped delay for all relevant images or for all relevant vehicles is determined, the average stopped delay per vehicle is estimated.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a traffic information provision system which can arbitrarily set a position resolution and a traffic representation resolution and flexibly support a traffic information prediction service. The traffic information provision system of the invention quantizes the state quantity of traffic information changing along a road, converts said quantized state quantity to a value having statistical deviation, performs encoding of said value, and provides the encoded value to traffic information utilization apparatus such as a car navigation system. The traffic information utilization apparatus decodes said encoded state quantity to reproduce the traffic information on said road.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for providing real-time traffic information using a wireless network and a method thereof, particularly a system for providing real-time traffic information using a wireless network, by using a wireless network technology for preventing a traffic accident and an accident due to traffic congestion, and a method of providing real-time traffic information using a wireless network. A system for providing real-time traffic information using a wireless network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: one or more vehicle velocity information collectors that are disposed on a road to establish a wireless network for sharing information, and collect vehicle velocity information of vehicles on the road; and a traffic information provider that receives the vehicle velocity information from the one or more vehicle velocity information collectors and provides a traffic information based on the vehicle velocity information.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus and method store traffic information and searches for a guidance route to a specified destination. The apparatus and method calculate congestion degrees for the guidance route based on a factor by time period and the stored traffic information and display the guidance route and the congestion degrees by time period.

Abstract: At least one waveform characteristic of a vehicular sensor waveform is reported in a wireless vehicular sensor network. The vehicular sensor waveform results a vehicle's presence near a wireless vehicular sensor node. The waveform characteristic may be rising edge, falling edge, waveform duration and/or waveform midpoint of vehicular sensor waveform. Report transmission uses at least one wireless physical transport. Transmitting the report may initiate a response across the wireless physical transport, preferably from an access point, an acknowledgement of receiving the report. The transmitted report may be received by an access point in the wireless vehicular sensor network. The wireless vehicular sensor network may create any of a vehicular traffic report, a vehicular parking report, and/or a vehicular speeding report, based upon the received vehicular sensor waveform report.

Abstract: Disclosed is a traffic information generation method for generating traffic information for each link, the method including a vehicle speed detection step of detecting a vehicle speed at predetermined distance intervals or at predetermined time intervals using a vehicle speed sensor; and a traffic jam degree detection step of referring to a specified speed and a specified distance prescribed in association with a traffic jam degree representing a level of a traffic jam and a connection determination distance prescribed in accordance with a road type to detect the traffic jam degree corresponding to the vehicle speed. When a link length falls within a predetermined range, information on the traffic jam degree corresponding to a fastest vehicle speed within a prescribed starting point distance from a beginning of the link is allocated to the link.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network, where the rail network is divided into a plurality of planning areas with a boundary element of common track between adjacent planning areas, using a local coordinating agent for controlling the movement of the trains through the boundary elements.

Abstract: A route search device includes: a parameter calculator for calculating a parameter of each section in a route; a driving repetition information obtaining element for obtaining driving repetition information in each section from an external server; a parameter changing element for increasing a parameter of first one of the sections when a driving repetition of the first one of the sections is smaller than a first parameter threshold; and a route search element for searching the route to minimize a total of parameters of the sections in the route.

Abstract: A probe-vehicle traffic information system for and method of gathering traffic data utilizing a host probe vehicle having onboard exterior sensors. The host vehicle is configured to detect at least one condition from at least one traveling target vehicle, aggregate and process the condition data, and report only the processed data to a traffic information center, so as to reduce the number of simultaneous communication channels typically required to report condition data from a plurality of probe vehicles.

Abstract: Vehicle navigation systems, methods, and programs, receive traffic information. The systems, methods, and programs determine whether there is a controlled road link within a predetermined distance of the vehicle and determine whether there is congestion information that begins with the controlled road link based on the received traffic information. The systems, methods, and programs provide, if the congestion information indicates that traffic congestion begins at the controlled link, guidance including traffic congestion guidance, the traffic congestion guidance indicating that the traffic congestion begins at the controlled road link.

Abstract: The present invention relates to displaying traffic density information, from historical traffic density information after determining for which moment in time the traffic density information should be displayed and displaying the traffic density information on a display.

Abstract: A method for providing predictive traffic information to global positioning satellite systems on board vehicles includes a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, each estimating at least one travel route comprising a plurality of road segments and estimating arrival and exit times for the vehicle in each road segment; calculating an initial road capacity for each road segment; statistically polling a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles; obtaining at least one of at least one static parameter, at least one dynamic parameter, or at least one catastrophic condition relating to the at least one travel route; and calculating predictive capacity estimates for each road segment for at least one future time interval.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting traffic on a transportation network where real time data points are missing. In one embodiment, the missing data is estimated using a calibration model comprised of historical data that can be periodically updated, from select links constituting a relationship vector. The missing data can be estimated off-line whereafter it can be used to predict traffic for at least a part of the network, the traffic prediction being calculated by using a deviation from a historical traffic on the network. The invention further discloses a method for in-vehicle navigation; and a method for traffic prediction for a single lane.

Abstract: A method of determining traffic information for a mobile vehicle includes receiving a plurality of service requests at a call center from a telematics unit via a wireless connection. The service request includes time, date, and vehicle location data. A database of the received service requests is compiled. A plurality of eligible service requests is determined based on the time and date of the received service requests in the database. A traffic profile is determined based on a comparison of digital map data to vehicle location data of the eligible service requests.

Abstract: A travel time calculation server is provided which comprises: a probe data reception part 31 configured to receive travel time data of an intersection node 6 through which a vehicle 3 passes as well as a traffic event of each of links 1-4 connecting to the intersection node; and a right and left turn cost generating part 33 configured to store a table, which stores the travel time data of the intersection node 6 associated with combinations of traffic events of the links 1-4, in storage means 35.

Abstract: A traffic information transmitting apparatus, method, and program store accumulated traffic information including past traffic information and estimate traffic information at a time when a vehicle passes through a predetermined link based on the accumulated traffic information. The apparatus, method, and program determine whether the estimated traffic information is substantially different from traffic information stored in the vehicle. The apparatus, method, and program transmit, when the estimated traffic information and the traffic information stored in the vehicle are substantially different, the substantially different estimated traffic information to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the flow of traffic in a monitored route segment using global positioning system, or assisted global positioning system, enabled cellular phones as traffic probes takes advantage of the existing cellular infrastructure to deploy traffic probes to determine the flow of traffic based on the speed and direction of probes. Filtering of probe data can be used to remove probes having outlying results such as excessive speed, or probes that do not fit the general trend already observed on a traffic route segment.

Abstract: A method of automatically communicating subscription-specific messages to a telematics-equipped vehicle includes the following steps: a) establishing a trigger and a message associated with the trigger; b) setting the trigger; c) monitoring for the occurrence of one or more conditions that satisfy the trigger; and d) determining that the one or more conditions have occurred and, if so, then; e) accessing the message associated with the trigger; and f) playing the message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses relation to traffic control systems. In one embodiment, a traffic condition is identified by capturing a traffic image, masking the traffic image to obtain an image portion including a traffic image object, and generating the traffic condition based on the traffic image object and the traffic image portion.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus, including a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including car pool lane data, a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position, and a display unit 2 for generating and displaying a map of an area in a neighborhood of the determined current position on the basis of the acquired map data, is provided with a road information receiving means 16 for receiving road information in real time from outside the apparatus, a control unit 10 for, when the road information received by the road information receiving means shows that a traffic congestion has occurred in a highway in a traveling direction, judging whether a car pool lane is also provided in the highway on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and an output means 2 and 4 for outputting a message showing whether or not there exists a car pool lane according to the result of the judgment by the control unit.

Abstract: There is provided a prediction calculation system capable of allowing a numerical traffic information to be predicted in such a manner that day factors and the like are reflected thereon. Even if a day whose combination of the day factors is the same as that of a prediction-target day, i.e., a day with the same instance, does not exist within a time-period during which past traffic information has been accumulated, the prediction calculation unit merges the past traffic information appropriately, thereby predicting traffic information corresponding to the objective combination of the day factors. Concretely, the prediction calculation unit combines some of characteristic quantities of the past traffic information on a day-unit basis, thereby approximately reconstructing and predicting the instance.

Abstract: A destination prediction device having a map information accumulation unit that accumulates map information including at least positions of a plurality of points on a map and routes between the plurality of points; a start position acquisition unit that acquires a start position of the mobile body; a current position acquisition unit that acquires a current position of the mobile body; a destination candidate position acquisition unit that acquires positions of a plurality of destination candidates that may potentially become destinations of the mobile body; a circuitousness calculation unit that calculates a circuitousness which is a deviation of a route from the start position to the position of the destination candidate and a destination prediction unit that predicts, as a destination, a destination candidate whose calculated circuitousness is the smallest among the destination candidates.