Format for providing traffic information and a method and apparatus for using the format

摘要

A method for identifying traffic information includes receiving traffic data including a first identifier, an amount of time currently taken to traverse a particular link, and information corresponding to a location associated with the particular link. The first identifier enables a determination of a type of the information that is included within the received traffic data. The method also includes determining a type of information included within the received traffic data based on the first identifier and determining current travel time information based on the information included in the received traffic data only if the first identifier enables a determination that the received traffic data includes an amount of time. The method further includes determining location information based on the information that is included in the received traffic data corresponding to the location associated with the particular link and identifying traffic information based on the determined current travel time information and the determined location information.