Autonomous and Dependent Data Collection for Traffic Analysis

Abstract

A central control system operates in conjunction with multiple mobile traffic probes to analyze and characterize traffic in a particular region or area. The traffic probes operate autonomously to collect traffic related data and report the collected data to the central control system. The traffic probes can analyze the collected data to identify traffic anomalies, and in response, change the amount and type of data collected, as well as the frequency of reporting the data to the central control system. In addition, the central control system can analyze the received data to identify traffic anomalies or points of interest and force one or more deployed traffic probes to change the amount and type of data collected, as well as the frequency of reporting.

1 . A bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network, the method comprising the acts of:
 collecting data autonomously at a first one of a plurality of in-traffic probes, wherein the in-traffic probe is associated with a mobile vehicle, comprises a sensor and is configured to autonomously perform actions to:
 control the rate and type of data collection; 
 record collected data, wherein the collected data is uniquely attributable to the traffic probe and sufficient to support a derivation of traffic related data; 
 derive traffic related data; and 
 transmit the traffic related data to a central processor; 
   the first in-traffic probe reporting the traffic data, via a wireless network, to a geographically stationary central control system;   the central control system receiving traffic data reports from the first one of a plurality of in-traffic probes;   the central control system sending, via the wireless network, a control signal to a second one of a plurality of in-traffic probes; and   in response to receiving the control signal, the second in-traffic probe commencing the reporting of traffic data via the wireless network.   
   
   
       2 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the traffic data reports received from the first in-traffic probe comprises geographic positioning data, further comprising the act of:
 selecting the second in-traffic probe based on the geographic positioning data associated with the first in-traffic probe.   
   
   
       3 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the traffic data reports received from the second in-traffic probe comprises geographic positioning data, further comprising the act of:
 selecting a third in-traffic probe based on the geographic positioning data associated with an actively reporting in-traffic probe.   
   
   
       4 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 2 , wherein in response to receiving traffic data reports from one or more of the in-traffic probes, the central control system aggregating the received data and characterizing the traffic conditions. 
   
   
       5 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of the central control system reporting the characterized traffic conditions to at least one of a plurality of mobile devices. 
   
   
       6 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of a plurality of mobile devices is a personal handheld communication device. 
   
   
       7 . The bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network of  claim 1 , wherein the first in-traffic probe reports at a first rate and the second in-traffic probe reports at a second rate. 
   
   
       8 . A bandwidth efficient method for gathering traffic data over a wireless network, the method comprising the acts of:
 collecting data autonomously using at least one in-traffic probe, wherein the in-traffic probe resides in a mobile vehicle, comprises a sensor, a data storage and a processor and is configured to autonomously perform the acts of:
 periodically at a first rate, via the sensor, collecting at least one data type; 
 tracking, via the processor, the collected data; 
 comparing, via the processor, each newly collected datum to previously collected data, wherein an anomaly is identified if a newly collected datum has a value that is determined to be outside an expected deviation from previously collected data; 
 subsequent to identification of an anomaly, recording data collection to the data storage, wherein the collected data is sufficient to support a derivation of traffic related data; 
 deriving traffic related data; 
 characterizing the traffic related data into a traffic conditions report; and 
 transmitting the traffic conditions report, via a wireless network, to a geographically stationary central control system; 
   wherein wireless network bandwidth is only consumed in the event that an anomaly has been identified.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the acts of:
 receiving, at the central control system, the traffic conditions reports; and   sending, by the central control system, via the wireless network, the traffic conditions report to at least one of a plurality of subscriber associated mobile devices.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the in-traffic probe also comprises a geographic positioning receiver, the transmitted traffic conditions report comprises geographical positioning data and the at least one of a plurality of subscriber associated mobile devices is identified by the central control system based on the geographical positioning data comprised within the traffic conditions report. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the autonomous process comprises the further act of modifying the first data collection rate to a second data collection rate after the identification of an anomaly. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the autonomous process comprises the further act of modifying the type of data being collected after the identification of an anomaly. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the autonomous process comprises the further act of collecting additional data types after the identification of an anomaly. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the in-traffic probe is communicatively coupled to the communications bus of its host vehicle and, after identification of an anomaly, collects data uniquely attributable to the host vehicle. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data uniquely attributable to the host vehicle comprises the frequency of brake application. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data uniquely attributable to the host vehicle comprises the pressure of brake application. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the acts of:
 the central control system sending, via the wireless network, a control signal to a second one of a plurality of in-traffic probes; and   in response to receiving the control signal, the second in-traffic probe commencing the reporting of uncharacterized traffic data via the wireless network.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the central control system is configured to aggregate data received from two or more in-traffic probes and characterize the aggregated data into a single traffic conditions report. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the central control system sends, via the wireless network, the single traffic conditions report to at least one of a plurality of subscriber associated mobile devices. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the in-traffic probes also comprise a geographic positioning receiver, the transmitted traffic conditions reports and uncharacterized traffic data comprise geographical positioning data and the at least one of a plurality of subscriber associated mobile devices is identified by the central control system based on said geographical positioning data.