Method, apparatus, and computer program product for reducing redundant data uploads

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to reduce redundant data uploads, the method includes, for example, providing a collection indicator for a specific data type on a given road. The method further includes separating a plurality of data points for the specific data type collected during travel of a vehicle along the given road into a transmission group of data points and a non-transmission group of data points. The separating of the plurality of data points may be done by determining an amount of data points to be included in the transmission group by applying the collection indicator to the plurality of data points for the specific data type that are collected during travel of the vehicle along the given road. The method still further includes causing the transmission of the transmission group of data points.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a collection indicator for a given segment of road, the method comprising:
 receiving an estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road, wherein the vehicle frequency comprises information regarding the amount of traffic;   receiving a target vehicle frequency level, wherein the target vehicle frequency level is based on a desired amount of data points to be transmitted on the given segment of road for a specific data type;   determining the collection indicator for the specific data type along the given segment of road,   wherein the collection indicator provides an indication of an amount of data points to be transmitted for the specific data type by a vehicle on the given segment of road based on the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level; and   causing transmission of the collection indicator for the given segment of road.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the target vehicle frequency level using a probabilistic process. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the probabilistic process comprises Poisson process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on a probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than a period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on the probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than the period of time within a confidence level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road comprises a plurality of levels, and wherein the plurality of levels are based on an amount of estimated vehicles on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on a similar segment of road, and wherein the similar segment of road shares one or more characteristics with the given segment of road. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collection indicator is based on a ratio between the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for determining a collection indicator for a given segment of road, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code instructions, the computer program code instructions configured to, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
 receive an estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road, wherein the vehicle frequency comprises information regarding the amount of traffic;   receive a target vehicle frequency level, wherein the target vehicle frequency level is based on a desired amount of data points to be transmitted on the given segment of road for a specific data type;   determine the collection indicator for the specific data type along the given segment of road,   wherein the collection indicator provides an indication of an amount of data points to be transmitted for the specific data type by a vehicle on the given segment of road based on the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level; and   cause transmission of the collection indicator for the given segment of road.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the target vehicle frequency level using a probabilistic process. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the probabilistic process comprises Poisson process. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on a probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than a period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on the probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than the period of time within a confidence level. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road comprises a plurality of levels, and wherein the plurality of levels are based on an amount of estimated vehicles on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on a similar segment of road, and wherein the similar segment of road shares one or more characteristics with the given segment of road. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the collection indicator is based on a ratio between the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions configured to:
 receive an estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road, wherein the vehicle frequency comprises information regarding the amount of traffic;   receive a target vehicle frequency level, wherein the target vehicle frequency level is based on a desired amount of data points to be transmitted on the given segment of road for a specific data type;   determine the collection indicator for the specific data type along the given segment of road,   wherein the collection indicator provides an indication of an amount of data points to be transmitted for the specific data type by a vehicle on the given segment of road based on the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level; and   cause transmission of the collection indicator for the given segment of road.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , further comprising program code instructions to determine the target vehicle frequency level using a probabilistic process. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the probabilistic process comprises Poisson process. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on a probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than a period of time. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the target vehicle frequency is based on the probability that no vehicle provides probe data regarding a vehicle on the road for more than the period of time within a confidence level. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level on the given segment of road comprises a plurality of levels, and wherein the plurality of levels are based on an amount of estimated vehicles on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on the given segment of road. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the estimated vehicle frequency level comprises information regarding an amount of traffic on a similar segment of road, and wherein the similar segment of road shares one or more characteristics with the given segment of road. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the collection indicator is based on a ratio between the estimated vehicle frequency level and the target vehicle frequency level.