U.S. patent application number 13/591560 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-14 for method for sensing covering state according to velocity and system for providing traffic information using the same method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Thinkware Systems Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Hong Kyu Lee. Invention is credited to Hong Kyu Lee.
Application Number | 20130041579 13/591560 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39636101 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130041579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Hong Kyu |
February 14, 2013 |
Method for Sensing Covering State According to Velocity and System
for Providing Traffic Information Using the Same Method
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for sensing a traveling state based on a
speed. The method for sensing the traveling state based on the
speed includes outputting a mean speed C for each link with respect
to a number of total traversing times of a predetermined path, and
updating a reference speed B with the outputted mean speed C, and
measuring a speed A while traversing the predetermined path, and
comparing the measured speed A with the updated reference speed B,
thereby displaying the traveling state.
Inventors: |
Lee; Hong Kyu; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Hong Kyu |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Thinkware Systems
Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
39636101 |
Appl. No.: |
13/591560 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12523401 |
Jul 16, 2009 |
8290694 |
|
|
PCT/KR2007/006396 |
Dec 10, 2007 |
|
|
|
13591560 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/0133 20130101;
G08G 1/0112 20130101; G08G 1/096716 20130101; G08G 1/096733
20130101; G08G 1/0104 20130101; G08G 1/0129 20130101; G01C 21/3691
20130101; G08G 1/096775 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/410 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/34 20060101
G01C021/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 18, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0005654 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A system for guiding a path, the system comprising: a storage
unit configured to: store road map data and path guide data related
to the road map data; a controller configured to: ascertain a
current position of a vehicle using Global Positioning System (GPS)
signals received via a GPS receiver, and the path searching unit
configured to search for a path from the current position to a
destination using the road map data in the storage unit; provide a
path guide based on the path; request for speed information of each
link to another device, the link indicating a unit section on a
road map related to the path, and receive the speed information
from the another device; measure a current speed for each link,
compare the current speed with the speed information and determine
a current traveling state of the vehicle; and a display unit
configured to: display the determined traveling state of the
vehicle.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller further
configured to collect a link speed from a user terminal.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller further
configured to send the current speed to the another device.
21. A method for guiding a path, the method comprising: storing
road map data and path guide data related to the road map data;
ascertaining a current position of a vehicle using Global
Positioning System (GPS) signals received via a GPS receiver, and
the path searching unit configured to search for a path from the
current position to a destination using the road map data in the
storage unit; providing a path guide based on the path; requesting
for speed information of each link to another device, the link
indicating a unit section on a road map related to the path, and
receiving the speed information from the another device; measuring
a current speed for each link, compare the current speed with the
speed information and determine a current traveling state of the
vehicle; and displaying the determined traveling state of the
vehicle.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving step further
includes collecting a link speed from a user terminal.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further includes
sending the current speed to the another device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation system of a
vehicle, and more particularly, to a method for sensing a traveling
state based on a speed, and a system for providing traffic
information using the method, in which a road condition of a path
frequently traversed is acquired in advance to thereby provide more
substantial traffic information and enable the traffic information
to be shared.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Currently, opportunities for a search and sharing of various
information in a radio communication environment such as with a
portable computer, a mobile phone, and the like, have increased due
to services provided by a communication network.
[0003] In this regard, a navigation system (hereinafter, referred
to as `user terminal`) provides information helpful for the
traveling of vehicles using an artificial satellite orbiting the
Earth, and may be referred to as an automatic car navigation
system.
[0004] The user terminal receives predetermined data from a Global
Positioning System (GPS) satellite using a GPS receiver, and
calculates a position of the user terminal based on the received
data.
[0005] The user terminal of the vehicle may receive GPS signals
from three satellites, from among a plurality of artificial
satellites orbiting the Earth regardless of where the vehicle is
traveling, and calculate the position of the user terminal based on
the GPS signals received from the satellites.
[0006] The user terminal of the vehicle provides various traveling
information based on position information acquired by calculating
the position of the user terminal. The user terminal has been used
for position calculation and navigation of a large-sized vehicle
such as an aircraft, a ship, and the like, however, is currently
widely used for a motor vehicle.
[0007] The user terminal provides various data such as current
position information of a vehicle, traveling route information
determined by a user, map information related with the position
information and the traveling route information, traffic state
information, and the like.
[0008] Also, the user terminal measures a current traveling speed
of the vehicle, and displays traffic information (hereinafter,
referred to as traveling state) according to the traveling speed,
such as a delay state, congestion state, normal state, and the
like.
[0009] An existing scheme for providing the traveling state
according to the traveling speed measures a traveling speed for
each link while traversing a path determined by a user, and
compares the measured speed with a reference speed to thereby
provide the traveling state.
[0010] For example, when it is assumed that the reference speed is
50 km/h, the traveling state may be displayed as `normal` in the
case of the measured speed of more than 50 km/h, displayed as
`delay` in the case of the measured speed between 50 km/h and `the
reference speed--40 km/h`, and displayed as `congestion` in the
case of the measured speed of less than `the reference speed--40
km/h`.
[0011] However, there arises a problem in that different road
conditions varying according to a signal system, a road surface
state, a traffic network, and the like, which are used for
determining the traveling state, are not considered due to the
fixed reference speed.
[0012] Also, the user terminal may be mainly used for checking a
traveling state of a road frequently used during rush hour than for
checking a traveling state of an unfamiliar road.
[0013] Since paths requiring traffic information such as during
rush hour are likely to be fixed by most users, there arises a need
for a system for providing information of where a time required for
traveling on a road frequently used is either shorter than usual or
longer than usual, is predicted.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Goals
[0014] An aspect of the present invention provides a method for
sensing a traveling state based on a speed in which a road
condition of a path frequently traversed is acquired in advance to
thereby display a traveling state according to the speed.
[0015] An aspect of the present invention provides a system for
providing traffic information in which data of another user
terminal is shared to provide more accurate traffic information
even without acquiring a road condition in advance.
Technical solutions
[0016] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for sensing a traveling state based on a speed,
which includes: outputting a mean speed C for each link with
respect to a number of total traversing times of a predetermined
path, and updating a reference speed B with the outputted mean
speed C, and measuring a speed A while traversing the predetermined
path, and comparing the measured speed A with the updated reference
speed B, thereby displaying the traveling state.
[0017] In this instance, the method for sensing the traveling state
based on the speed according to the present invention may further
include transmitting, to a server for collecting data, the
outputted mean speed C.
[0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for providing traffic information, which
includes: a user terminal for either outputting a mean speed C for
each link with respect to a number of total traversing times of a
predetermined path, or requesting the mean speed C having been
collected for each link, thereby displaying a traveling state
according to a speed based on the mean speed C; and a server for
either collecting the mean speed C outputted from the user
terminal, or providing the collected mean speed C to the user
terminal according to the request of the user terminal.
[0019] According to the present invention, a road condition of a
path frequently used by a user is acquired using a mean speed for
each link with respect to the predetermined path of the user, and
thereby a traveling state based on a speed is displayed. Also, a
mean speed for each link of another user is used by sharing the
mean speed for each link of the user terminal even without directly
acquiring the road condition of the path, and thereby a traveling
state based on more accurate speed is displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of
a navigation system (hereinafter, also referred to as a user
terminal) used for describing a method for sensing a traveling
state based on a speed according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating all operations of a system
for providing traffic information using a method for sensing a
traveling state based on a speed according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating a screen of a user
interface used for sharing traffic information of a user
terminal.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in
order to explain the present invention by referring to the
figures.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of
a navigation system (hereinafter, also referred to as a user
terminal) used for describing a method for sensing a traveling
state based on a speed according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the navigation system of a user
terminal mainly includes a first recording means 110, a path
searching unit 120, a path guiding unit 130, and a user interface
190.
[0026] A user selects a desired destination using the user
interface 190.
[0027] In the first recording means 110, road map data and path
guide data related with the road map data is recorded therein.
[0028] The path searching unit 120 ascertains a current position of
a vehicle using Global Positioning System (GPS) signals received
via a GPS receiver (not shown). Then, the path searching unit 120
searches for a path stretching from the current position to a
desired destination of a user using the road map data stored in the
first recording means 110 to thereby generate path information.
[0029] The path guiding unit 130 provides a path guide to the user
based on the path information generated in the path searching unit
120.
[0030] Also, referring to FIG. 1, the navigation system of the user
terminal further includes a second recording means 140, a speed
measuring unit 150, a speed producing unit 160, a communication
means 180, and a control unit 170.
[0031] The navigation system utilizes a method for sensing a
traveling state based on a speed, which includes outputting a mean
speed C for each link with respect to a number of total traversing
times of a predetermined path, and updating a reference speed B
with the outputted mean speed C, and measuring a speed A while
traversing the predetermined path, and comparing the measured speed
A with the updated reference speed B, thereby displaying the
traveling state.
[0032] The second recording means 140 records a predetermined path
determined by a user, the speed A for each link measured each time
the predetermined path is traversed, and the reference speed B used
for determining the traveling state based on the speed,
respectively.
[0033] Preferably, the predetermined path is determined to be a
path frequently used by the user using the user interface 190.
[0034] The predetermined path is composed of at least one link, and
an identification (ID) is provided for each link.
[0035] The speed measuring unit 150 measures a traveling speed of
the vehicle using GPS signals received via the GPS receiver. The
speed measuring unit 150 measures a speed A for each link each time
the predetermined path is traversed, and records the measured speed
A in the second recording means 140.
[0036] A data configuration of the speed A for each link recorded
in the second recording means 140 is represented by
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Link ID Speed 1 Speed 2 . . . Speed N
[0037] In order to enhance data reliability with respect to the
speed A for each link, when the speed A for each link measured in
the speed measuring unit 150 is less than a speed limit of the
predetermined path, the second recording means 140 stores the speed
A for each link as is. Conversely, when the speed A for each link
is greater than the speed limit, the second recording means 140
replaces the speed A for each link with the speed limit, and stores
the replaced speed limit.
[0038] The speed limit may be determined to be 120% of the speed
limit applied when the corresponding link is traversed.
[0039] The speed producing unit 160 produces a mean speed C for
each link by reading each speed A for each respective link recorded
in the second recording means 140. A data configuration of the
produced mean speed C for each link is represented by
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Link ID Mean speed A number of traversing
times
[0040] In order to enhance data reliability with respect to the
mean speed C for each link, a scheme for outputting the mean speed
C with respect to remaining speeds excluding a maximum speed and a
minimum speed from among the stored speeds A may be adopted. In
this case, deducting two from the number of total traversing times
is a number of the remaining traversing times and may be preferably
stored in the data configuration of Table 2.
[0041] The control unit 170 uses the mean speed C for each link
produced by the speed producing unit 160 for updating the reference
speed B stored in the second recording means 140.
[0042] Specifically, the control unit 170 updates the produced mean
speed C for each link using the reference speed B used for
determining a traveling state of a corresponding link.
[0043] Next, the speed measuring unit 150 measures the speed A for
each link while traversing the predetermined path, and the control
unit 170 compares the measured speed A for each link and the
reference speed B stored in the second recording means 140 to
thereby determine a current traveling state.
[0044] For example, when it is assumed that the updated reference
speed B is 50 km/h, the traveling state may be displayed as
`normal` in the case of the speed A for each link of more than the
reference speed B, displayed as `delay` in the case of the speed A
of less than the reference speed B and more than `the reference
speed B-40 km/h`, and displayed as `congestion` in the case of the
speed A of less than `the reference speed B--40 km/h`.
[0045] Thus, the reason the path frequently used by the user is
determined as the predetermined path, and the reason the mean speed
C for each link with respect to the number of total traversing
times of the predetermined path is produced is to acquire a road
condition of the predetermine path.
[0046] Further, the navigation system according to the present
invention provides a system for providing traffic information by
which reference speeds acquired between all of the user terminals
(that is, the mean speed C for each link) are shared.
[0047] For this purpose, the user terminal may further include the
communication means 180 used for transmitting the mean speed C to a
server for each link produced as described above.
[0048] The user terminal automatically or manually transmits, to
the server via the communication means 180, traffic information
acquired by the user terminal itself, that is, the mean speed C for
each link so as to share the traffic information with another
user.
[0049] Hereinafter, an entire configuration of the system for
providing traffic information according to the present exemplary
embodiment will be described in detail.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating all operations of a system
for providing traffic information using a method for sensing a
traveling state based on a speed according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the system for providing traffic
information includes a user terminal 100 for either outputting a
mean speed C for each link with respect to a number of total
traversing times of a predetermined path, or requesting the mean
speed C having been collected for each link, thereby displaying a
traveling state according to a speed based on the mean speed C, and
a server 200 for either collecting the mean speed C outputted from
the user terminal, or providing the collected mean speed C to the
user terminal 100 according to the request of the user
terminal.
[0052] Here, the server 200 includes a reliability estimation means
210 for inspecting effectiveness of the mean speed C transmitted
from the user terminal, and a database 230 for storing the mean
speed C having passed through the effectiveness inspection
performed by the reliability estimation means 210 and also storing
the overall mean speed D of the mean speed C.
[0053] The server 200 receives the mean speed C for each link from
a plurality of user terminals 100. Then, the received mean speed C
passes through the reliability estimation means 210. The server 200
determines whether the received mean speed C for each link having
passed through the reliability estimation means 210 is
substantially within a range capable of traversing.
[0054] Only the mean speed C for each link being substantially
within the range capable of traversing is stored in the database
230 to thereby register the mean speed C in the server 200.
[0055] Next, the server 200 outputs an overall mean speed D with
respect to all of the mean speeds C received from the user terminal
100, and provides the produced overall mean speed D for each link
when a request is received from the user terminal 100.
[0056] A data configuration of the overall mean speed D for each
link is represented by
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Link ID Overall User 1 Mean . . . User N
Mean mean speed speed 1 speed N
[0057] According to Table 3, an overall mean speed with respect to
all users and a mean speed with respect to respective users are
recorded in the database 230.
[0058] Hereinafter, a method for sensing a traveling state of the
user terminal 100 using the overall mean speed D for each link of
the server 200 will be described in detail.
[0059] The user determines a path using the user interface 190, and
requests an overall mean speed D for each link with respect to the
predetermined path to the server 200.
[0060] The overall mean speed D for each link provided by the
server 200 is received via the communication means 180, and the
reference speed B recorded in the second recording means 140 is
updated with the received overall mean speed D for each link.
[0061] Also, the speed A for each link measured by the speed
measuring unit 150 while traversing the predetermined path is
compared with the updated reference speed B to thereby determine a
current traveling state of the vehicle.
[0062] The user interface used for sharing the traffic information
of the user terminal described above will be hereinafter described
in detail.
[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates a user menu screen for transmitting the
reference speed acquired by the user terminal (that is, the mean
speed C for each link) to the server 200.
[0064] FIG. 3 (A) illustrates a high-order menu used for
determining the reference speed. The high-order menu may be
configured such that the high-order menu is included in a specific
list of the highest menu of the system, and thus an operation for
advancing from the preceding step is performed starting from the
highest menu in a stepwise manner. Alternatively, the high-order
menu may include a hot key used for directly advancing from the
preceding step.
[0065] The list of FIG. 3 (A) may include a menu of `TRANSMIT
REFERENCE SPEED` used for transmitting the reference speed to the
server, and a menu of `DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED` used for
downloading the reference speed from the server.
[0066] FIG. 3 (B) illustrates a low-order menu corresponding to the
menu of `TRANSMIT REFERENCE SPEED` of FIG. 3 (A). A menu screen of
the low-order menu is set such that the reference speed acquired by
the user terminal is either automatically transmitted for each
predetermined cycle, or manually transmitted only when a request of
the user is received.
[0067] Specifically, when `AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION` of FIG. 3 (B) is
selected, the reference speed recorded in the second recording
means 140 is automatically transmitted to the server 200 for each
predetermined cycle.
[0068] In this instance, the predetermined cycle may be a number of
traversing times of the predetermined path determined by the user
(for example, ten times), or a time period required for traversing
(for example, ten days).
[0069] Conversely, when `MANUAL TRANSMISSION` of FIG. 3 (B) is
selected, the reference speed recorded in the second recording
means 140 at the time when `MANUAL TRANSMISSION` is inputted by the
user is transmitted to the server 200.
[0070] The menu of `MANUAL TRANSMISSION` may be configured to
include a screen indicating a massage of FIG. 3 (C) (for example,
`DO YOU WANT TO TRANSMIT ACQUIRED REFERENCE SPEED?`), so that the
transmission of the reference speed to the server 200 is started
when a request of the user is received.
[0071] FIG. 4 illustrates a user menu screen for downloading the
overall mean speed D for each link provided by the server with
respect to the predetermined path determined by the user
terminal.
[0072] FIG. 4 (A) is the same as FIG. 3 (A).
[0073] A menu of `DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED` of FIG. 4 (A) is used
for requesting the overall mean speed D for each link stored in the
database 230 of the server 200 with respect to a path being
acquired or not acquired by the user terminal.
[0074] When `DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED` is selected, the overall
mean speed D for each link corresponding to the predetermined path
determined by the user is provided from the server 200. The overall
mean speed D transmitted from the server 200 is downloaded and the
downloaded overall mean speed D is used as the reference speed for
determining the traveling state.
[0075] The menu of `DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED` may be configured to
include a screen indicating a massage of FIG. 4 (B) (for example,
`DO YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED OF PREDETERMINED PATH?`),
so that the download of data is started when a request of the user
is received.
[0076] The menu of `DOWNLOAD REFERENCE SPEED` may receive the
overall mean speed D for each link with respect to all of the paths
having been collected in the database 230 as well as the
predetermined path determined by the user.
[0077] The method for sensing the traveling state based on the
speed according to the above-described exemplary embodiments of the
present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media
including program instructions to implement various operations
embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in
combination with the program instructions, data files, data
structures, and the like. The media and program instructions may be
those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the
present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and
available to those having skill in the computer software arts.
Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as
hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as
CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks;
and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and
perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM),
random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of
program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by
a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be
executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described
hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software
modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described
exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0078] As described above, according to the present invention, a
user acquires a road condition of a path frequently used by the
user, and actively corrects the reference speed for determining the
traveling state of the path, thereby increasing reliability of the
traveling state (for example, delay, congestion, normal, and the
like) based on the speed.
[0079] According to the present invention, the reference speed of
the path having been acquired is shared between the user terminals,
thereby increasing reliability of the traveling state even
including an unfamiliar path.
[0080] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to
the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *