Tomtom Traffic B.v.

Tomtom Development Germany Gmbh

Tom Tom International B.v.

Tomtom Navigation B.v.

Tomtom Global Content B.v.

Nikolaus Witte

Stefan Lorkowski

Arne Kesting

Christian Lorenz

Robin Tenhagen

Peter Mieth

Ralf-Peter Schäfer

Oliver Kannenberg

David Schilling

Felix Godafoss König

Rene Beier

Jean-Claude Mattelaer

George De Boer

Tom Westendorp

A method of generating map data indicating a deviation from expected jam conditions on a segment of a plurality of segments in an area covered by an electronic map, the segment having associated therewith a jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment. The method comprises establishing an expected jam condition for the segment based on the jam probability of that segment, and then obtaining live data indicating the jam conditions on at least one of the plurality of other segments in the area. A revised jam condition can then be established for the segment using the obtained live data.

Methods and systems for generating revised jam conditions

Method of generating expected average speed of travel

A method of determining whether one or more navigable elements of a navigable network within a geographic area are still affected by a precipitation weather event. A quantity parameter is associated with each segment of an electronic map representing the navigable network and indicates the amount of precipitation remaining on the navigable element or portion thereof represented by the segment. The value of the quantity parameter increases in the presence of any precipitation weather event, and decreases ac cording to a predefined function with respect to time in the absence of any such precipitation weather event. A speed of travel of one or more devices along the navigable element or portion thereof represented by a segment is determined and compared to an expected speed of travel for the segment; the value of the quantity parameter being decreased based on the comparison. The value of quantity parameter can be used to generate weather events and/or attribute the cause of a congestion event as being the precipitation weather event.

Methods and systems for identifying navigable elements affected by weather conditions

A method and system of detecting when a navigable element previously determined to be closed is in an open state is disclosed, the navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area, the navigable elements being represented by segments of an electronic map. Positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable elements of the navigable network with respect to time is obtained, and a navigable element is identified as being in a closed state based at least on the positional data and a first visit interval associated with the segment representing the navigable element. The positional data is then used to determine a second visit interval for the segment representing the navigable element, and the navigable element is changed to be in an open state when a parameter based on the determined second visit interval for the segment representing the navigable element passes a predetermined threshold value.

Methods and systems for detecting an open navigable element

A serverdetermines modified flow speed data for each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch. The modified flow speed data is determined so as to make the segment more favourable when a route is determined by a navigation device through the navigable network using the flow speed data. The server transmits the modified flow speed data to a set of one or more navigation devicesfor use by the or each device at least for the purposes of determining a route through the network of navigable segments. Each navigation device then determines a route to a destination using the modified flow speed data.

Methods and systems for providing information indicative of a recommended navigable stretch

A method of detecting the closure and/or opening of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area. A passability parameter is associated with each segment of an electronic map representing the navigable network and indicates a likelihood of closure of the element represented by the segment. The value of the passability parameter decays over time. When a device is detected on the element represented by the segment, the passability parameter is increased, and when a closure report is received relating to the segment, the parameter is decreased. In one set of embodiments, when the passability parameter decreases below a first threshold value, the element represented by the segment is determined to be potentially closed. In another set of embodiments, when the passability parameter increases above a second threshold value, the closed element represented by the segment is determined to be opened.

Methods and systems for detecting a closure and/or opening of a navigable element

A method of determining whether one or more navigable elements of a navigable network within a geographic area are still affected by a precipitation weather event. A quantity parameter is associated with each segment of an electronic map representing the navigable network and indicates the amount of precipitation remaining on the navigable element or portion thereof represented by the segment. The value of the quantity parameter increases in the presence of any precipitation weather event, and decreases according to a predefined function with respect to time in the absence of any such precipitation weather event. A speed of travel of one or more devices along the navigable element or portion thereof represented by a segment is determined and compared to an expected speed of travel for the segment; the value of the quantity parameter being decreased based on the comparison. The value of quantity parameter can be used to generate weather events and/or attribute the cause of a congestion event as being the precipitation weather event.

Live vehicle probe data is obtained relating to the movement of vehicles with respect to time along a navigable element. The probe data is used to determine a current speed of travel along the navigable element, which is compared to the free flow speed of travel for the navigable element. When the current speed of travel along the element is reduced relative to the free flow speed for the navigable element by less than a threshold associated with identifying a congestion event, and obtained weather data indicates the navigable element is affected by one or more adverse weather conditions, then a weather event is generated. If the reduction in speed of travel is of a size sufficient to trigger the generation of a congestion event, and obtained weather data again indicates the navigable element is affected by one or more adverse weather conditions, then one or more attributes of the congestion event can be used to determine if the cause of the congestion can be attributed to the adverse weather.

A method of detecting the closure of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area. A server obtains positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable element with respect to time. The positional data is used to determine an elapsed time since a device was last detected on the navigable element, and the determined elapsed time is compared to an expected time interval between consecutive devices being detected on the navigable element. The navigable element is identified as being potentially closed, subject to one or more optional validation steps, when the determined elapsed time exceeds the expected time interval, e.g. by a predetermined amount.

Methods and systems for detecting a closure of a navigable element

A method is disclosed for determining a route in an area covered by an electronic map, the map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of a navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. The method involves generating a plurality of routes through the navigable network between a first location and a second location, determining a relative traffic flow value for each of the routes using data indicative of a relative current capacity of segments of the navigable network, and selecting a given one of the routes from the plurality of routes for use in navigating between the first location and the second location. The probability of a given one of the plurality of routes being selected is based on the determined relative flow value for the route.

Generating routes to optimise traffic flow

A method of generating flow data indicative of speeds of travel within a navigable network in an area covered by an electronic map is disclosed. The electronic map comprises a plurality of segments representing navigable elements of the navigable network. Live vehicle probe data is obtained indicative of the average speed of travel for the current time with respect to distance along a link, the link being predetermined by reference to the electronic map. The link is sectioned to provide a plurality of sections along the length thereof. The sectioning is carried out based on the data indicative of the current average speed of time along the link. Where a differential in the current average speed exceeds a threshold, a new section is created. Data is generated indicative of the location of the link together with data indicative of each determined section of the link, the data indicative of each determined section of the link being associated with data indicative of the average speed of travel for the current time for the section. The same process can be repeated using predicted flow data for a future time, but using a more stringent threshold, such that the link is divided into a smaller number of longer sections.

Methods and systems for generating flow data

A serverdetermines modified flow speed data for each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch. The modified flow speed data is determined so as to make the segment more favorable when a route is determined by a navigation device through the navigable network using the flow speed data. The server transmits the modified flow speed data to a set of one or more navigation devicesfor use by the or each device at least for the purposes of determining a route through the network of navigable segments. Each navigation device then determines a route to a destination using the modified flow speed data.

A method of obtaining data relating to the timing of a transition between phases of a traffic control signal. The method involves obtaining live probe data relating to the travel of vehicles in the region of the traffic control signal, and using the data to determine times at which a given transition of the signal has occurred. This is carried out by consideration of the distance from the traffic signal at which a vehicle waits when stopped at the signal, and a time of passing the signal, as determined using the probe data. Different transition time pairs are analyzed to obtain time differences between the transition times. A cycle time which best fits the time difference data is determined, and used with the transition time data to predict future transition times of the traffic control signal.

Methods and systems for determining information relating to the operation of traffic control signals

A method is provided of providing jam warning messages in relation to jams affecting navigable segments of a network of navigable segments. The method comprises, for each of one or more identified jams, obtaining a jam tail flow speed for the jam. The jam tail flow speed is preferably determined from the analysis of positional data relating to the current or relatively recent movement of a plurality of devices associated with vehicles along at least some navigable segments of a navigable network with respect to time. The jam tail flow speed is used to generate, or to determine whether to generate, a jam warning message in respect of the jam.

Growing community of inventors

Berlin, Germany

Nikolaus Witte