Method and apparatus for determining traffic status

摘要

To ascertain traffic status data, a speed of a vehicle is acquired multiple times at predefined time intervals. The respective acquired speed is assigned to a first speed range when the respective acquired speed of the vehicle is greater than at least one predefined speed threshold. Furthermore, a first count is increased when the respective acquired speed is assigned to the first speed range. The respective acquired speed is assigned to a second speed range when the respective acquired speed of the vehicle is less than the at least one speed threshold, and a second count is increased when the respective acquired speed is assigned to the second speed range, wherein a holding phase is recognized while the respective acquired speed has a speed value in a predefined range around the value zero once or multiple times in succession. During the recognized holding phase, the acquired speeds having the speed value in the predefined range around the value zero are not taken into consideration for a predefined non-consideration number of speed acquisition periods with respect to the adaptation of the second count.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for ascertaining traffic status, the method comprising iteratively performing the following sequence at predefined time intervals defining a speed acquisition period via a software program executed by an on-vehicle computer:
acquiring a speed of the vehicle via a speed sensor communicatively coupled to the computer; assigning the acquired speed to a speed range, including at least one of:
a first speed range, when the acquired speed is greater than at least one speed threshold,a second speed range, when the acquired speed is less than the at least one speed threshold but greater than a minimum speed threshold,a third speed range, when the acquired speed is less than the minimum speed threshold; adjusting a respective count of a counter such that:
a first count is adjusted if the respective acquired speed is assigned to the first speed range,a second count is adjusted if the respective acquired speed is assigned to the second speed range, andno count is adjusted if the respective acquired speed is assigned to the third speed range; determining a holding phase based on whether the acquired speed is assigned to the third speed range and a prior acquired speed associated with one or more immediately preceding iterations was also assigned to the third speed range; modifying the adjusting step for one or more subsequent iterations based on the determination, such that no count is adjusted for a predetermined non-consideration number of speed acquisition periods; determining a flowing traffic status when the first count exceeds a first value before the second count exceeds a second value; and determining a congested traffic status when the second count exceeds the second value before the first count exceeds the first value.