Method and apparatus for signalling local traffic disturbances

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for signaling local traffic disturbances wherein a decentralized communication between vehicles is performed by exchanging their respective vehicle data. Through repeated evaluation of these individual vehicle data, each reference vehicle may determine a group of vehicles having relevance for itself from within a maximum group of vehicles and compare the group behavior of the relevant group with its own behavior. The results of this comparison are indicated in the reference vehicle, whereby a homogeneous flow of traffic may be generated, and the occurrence of accidents is reduced.

1 . A method for signalling local traffic disturbances, comprising the steps: 
 a) determining a maximum group of vehicles ( 1 - 12 ) associated with a reference vehicle ( 0 ) through reception of at least one individual vehicle data signal,    b) repeatedly evaluating the at least one individual vehicle data signal and storing as individual vehicle data of the at least one vehicles ( 1 - 12 ) from among the maximum group of vehicles ( 1 - 12 );    c) determining at least one group of vehicles ( 1 - 4 ) having relevance for the reference vehicle ( 0 ) within the maximum group of vehicles ( 1 - 12 ) by evaluating the individual vehicle data;    d) determining the group behavior of the at least one relevant group of vehicles ( 1 - 4 ) by evaluating the respective individual vehicle data; and    e) signalling information corresponding to the group behavior of the at least one relevant group of vehicles ( 1 - 4 ).    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determination of the at least one relevant group of vehicles ( 1 - 4 ) is performed with the aid of a method for fractal-darwinian object generation.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the method for fractal-darwinian object generation consists of the steps, 
 a) preparing a fractal, hierarchical object library with predetermined objects and related property, context and modification rules;    b) forming basic objects in a hierarchical object structure including subordinate and superordinate objects;    c) comparing the basic objects with the objects of the fractal object library, wherein the respectively formed basic object is evaluated to be unknown if no corresponding object having the corresponding property rules exists in the object library, and at least one or a plurality of local classification likelihood(s) is/are allocated to the basic object having said property rule if one or a plurality of corresponding object(s) exist(s) in said fractal object library;    d) applying said context rules to the respective objects in order to form and calculate respective fractal classification likelihoods;    e) applying said alteration rules to the respective objects in order to optimise the fractal classification likelihoods;    f) iterative execution of steps d) and e) for stepwise improvement of the classification likelihoods.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the maximum group of vehicles ( 1 - 12 ) associated with the reference vehicle ( 0 ) is determined through a maximum reception range of its receiver ( 40 ).  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the maximum reception range is a variable range of the receiver which is set in dependence on a determined traffic density and/or a reception disturbance resulting from overlap of the received vehicle data signals.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the individual vehicle data include: 
 an identification code (IC) for identifying a respective vehicle,  
 a velocity value (v) for indicating the current speed of the respective vehicle, and  
 a distance parameter for indicating a distance between the reference vehicle ( 0 ) and the respective vehicles from among the maximum group of vehicles ( 1 - 12 ).  
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the individual vehicle data moreover include 
 a deceleration/acceleration value (v) for indicating a current deceleration/acceleration of the respective vehicle, and/or    a steering angle (θ) for indicating a current steering angle of the respective vehicle, and/or    a direction value (DIR) for indicating a current absolute direction of the respective vehicle, and/or    a position value (POS) for indicating a current absolute position of the respective vehicle, and/or    a brake signal value (BREMS) for indicating a current use of a brake device of the respective vehicle, and/or    group behavior values for indicating the current group behavior of a group of vehicles to be examined and associated with the respective vehicle, and/or    an emergency signal value for indicating a current emergency situation of the respective vehicle.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein in accordance with a combination of predetermined individual vehicle data of a respective vehicle, the emergency signal having priority over the individual vehicle data value is generated.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein, depending on the signalled information, vehicle control is performed in the reference vehicle ( 0 ) by means of a control device ( 160 ).  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the control is an engine control and/or a brake control.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for signalling local traffic disturbances, including: 
 detection means ( 90 - 140 ) for detecting the local vehicle data to be transmitted;    a transmitting/receiving device ( 10 - 50 ) for transmitting/receiving radio signals containing the respective vehicle data to be transmitted/received;    field strength detection means ( 30 - 40 ) for detecting a respective field strength of the respective received radio signals;    memory means ( 70 ) for storing the respective received vehicle data as maximum data group in dependence on an identity code (IC) allocating each radio signal to its respective transmitting vehicle, a time value, and the reception field strength of the respective radio signal;    an evaluation device ( 60 ) for evaluating the data of the maximum data group, whereby at least one relevant data group is determined;    a determining device ( 60 ) for determining a signal value in dependence on the data of the at least one relevant data group and the local vehicle data; and    signalling means ( 150 ,  160 ) for signalling the determined signal value.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , including further memory means ( 80 ) for storing a fractal hierarchical object library with the aid of which the at least one relevant data group is determined.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein said detection means include a brake signal sensor ( 90 ), a steering angle sensor ( 100 ), a velocity sensor ( 110 ), an acceleration/deceleration sensor ( 120 ), a direction sensor ( 130 ), a position sensor ( 140 ) and/or an emergency signal sensor.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , wherein the detection means ( 90 - 140 ) include a group behavior value determining device indicating the current group behavior of a relevant group of vehicles associated with the respective vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 10  to  13 , wherein said signalling means are indicator means ( 150 ) for audibly and/or visually representing the determined signal value.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 10  to  13 , wherein said signalling means are a control device ( 160 ) for performing engine control and/or brake control.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 10  to  16 , wherein said transmitting/receiving device includes a detector device for recognising a received emergency signal and passing on a corresponding amplified emergency signal when the reception field strength is below a specific reception field strength.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the received emergency signal presents an emergency signal value and/or group behavior value of the vehicle emitting the emergency signal.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , including an emergency signal evaluation device for evaluating the group behavior values associated with the emergency signal and adding them to the emergency signal to be passed on.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the group behavior value pertaining to the emergency signal is a distance between the vehicle transmitting the emergency signal and the vehicle receiving the emergency signal, and the evaluation device adds up the respective distances into a total distance when passing on the emergency signal.