EP0887782B1 - Remote interrogation system to prepare information about the traffic conditions on motorways - Google Patents

Abstract

The system is accessible via the telephone network or internet, and has a databank (3) holding information relating to traffic congestion etc.. A signalling channel provides the information to a user upon interrogation. The databank is accessed via an input element (10) which differentiates between the signalling channel and the interrogation channel. The databank has a speech or word recognition device (4) for recognising key words in a telephone or internet call, for accessing the information relating to the required motorway section, fed to the user via an output element (2).

Description

The invention relates to a remote query system for providing Information about traffic conditions, especially traffic jams, denser Traffic, fog, slippery, ghost drivers, on expressways.

Information about the current traffic situation is provided by radio stations usually only at longer intervals, e.g. half an hour, sent. As a result, it happens again and again that drivers get stuck in a traffic jam advised because they are informed too late. This is particularly annoying if, with timely knowledge of the Traffic conditions a different route would have been chosen can. On the other hand, there is often the case that on the radio be warned of a traffic jam that is actually already resolving itself Has. Here, drivers set themselves up on detours that, if they know about the current traffic situation can be avoided. Because many channels most have a large broadcasting area Traffic information irrelevant to the listener.

A disadvantage of the known traffic jam systems is that they are not can react flexibly to the current traffic situation, as the time from the occurrence until a traffic jam is reported and until it is sent the traffic jam report on the radio is often very long.

Remote telephone inquiry systems are known, for example for checking account balances or making bookings at Telephone banking or for ordering by telephone in the mail order business serve. The user is out with an announcement text Predictable announcement text modules for use or the requested information is transmitted to him, whereby the User his commands on the keyboard of his phone in the Multi-frequency method outputs coded. Furthermore are telephone Remote inquiry systems known, their operation and control over pure speech signals are carried out, which a speech recognition unit of the Remote query system is able to evaluate.

De 42 41 408 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for Control of traffic has become known, one Road connection divided into sections and an expected traffic volume and instant traffic through destination facilities is determined. All of the destination facilities determined data on the use of a motorway section are stored in a mass storage device. Will be from one between the determination device and the mass storage switched comparator determines that the expected traffic has reached a threshold value, the corresponding Highway section blocked for further registrations by the determination device no longer the data of the new registration the mass storage device are forwarded. Do that current traffic volume determined by the determination device a maximum traffic volume stored in the mass storage device, this can block the motorway section that no further data from the determining device more are transmitted to the mass storage device, and one Entry into the motorway system is denied. The device provides thus a remote inquiry system for the provision of information about Traffic conditions on expressways with an entrance element too Which user information is able to recognize and the User information received via a query channel, information takes over the route of interest, whereupon the remote inquiry system makes a database query for the route in question, and the determined information about the traffic conditions Users are informed by an output element which predeterminable Compile text modules and the user as is able to transmit this perceptible signal.

Online services on the Internet continue to be used as a remote query system Known what information a user based on a database Provide request.

The invention has for its object to provide a traffic jam system to provide the most current information possible about the Is able to provide traffic conditions and this to any To make points of time accessible to interested parties as well as a more precise and denser description of the traffic condition to capture.

The task is solved by a remote inquiry system for the provision of information about traffic conditions on expressways with an input element which is able to recognize user information and the user information that is received via a query channel, Takes information about the route of interest, what the Remote query system a database query for the route concerned carries out, and the determined information about the traffic conditions be communicated to the user by an output element which Compile predeterminable text modules and the user as capable of transmitting this perceptible signal is, the remote query system is accessible by phone and additionally has a reporting channel, and the input element, which the User information received via the reporting channel, information about The location and type of traffic disruption takes the distinction between Message and query channel meets and a speech recognition unit Contains which keywords from an incoming phone call too recognize and in usable information about the location and type of Ability to convert traffic or the route of interest is, as well as the output element predictable announcement text blocks compile and output by phone as a voice signal is able.

The remote query system according to the invention works on the telephone Basis, with callers using the reporting channel using the database Supply information and this again via a query channel can retrieve. In addition, there is also an online query option provided on the Internet.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the Subclaims marked.

The remote query system according to the invention guides the user telephone access with an announcement from predeterminable Announcement text modules for use. These announcement texts will be acoustically transmitted to the caller by the output element. As well the information that the caller receives at a Query of traffic conditions from the database. to Operation of the remote query system according to the invention via pure Voice signals it is necessary that the remote control system the of information about the location and the type transmitted to a caller a traffic disruption (reporting channel) or the route that interests him (Query channel) recognizes. For this purpose, the input element of the Remote access system based on a speech recognition unit natural language of the caller recognizes certain key words and converts this into usable information, which then flow into the database or with the help of a database query is feasible. These keywords are preferably all Motorway and federal road names, names of localities, as well as connection points and motorway junctions. Furthermore, the Speech recognition unit the different types of traffic disruption, e.g. Traffic jam, heavy traffic, fog, slippery, ghost driver, can identify.

In order to facilitate speech recognition, the remote query system requests preferably the user in turn for input only of these keywords. If the system did not recognize a keyword, it asks the user to enter it again.

Traffic conditions are queried online via the Internet preferably using a suitable screen mask, which the User to enter the route of interest at his terminal prompts. This makes it easier to use Remote query system the user preferably the relevant Keywords to characterize the route in a list from which the user only has to select. It can continue a street map is shown on which the user route section of interest can be selected by clicking or on which current traffic disruptions are already optically marked.

Depending on the channel via which a call to the remote access system is made is received, the information formed from the keywords about the location of a traffic incident or the user route of interest stored in the database or from the Database queried.

The database can consist of a list of all motorway and Federal road segment, characterized by start and End point such as junction (s) and / or motorway junction or town, consist. These line segments are each with the property "Traffic jam", "heavy traffic", "smoothness" etc. or "none Disturbance ". Preferably, in addition to these Characteristics the number of the route segment concerned received messages and their time are saved. This makes it easier an assessment of the relevance of the existing fault reports.

Information that is older than a specified time interval, for example half an hour or an hour are preferred automatically deleted from the database. To prevent abuse and only pass on relevant fault reports becomes information released from the database for query only, if you use multiple, e.g. B. have been received at least three times.

The deletion of a fault message can also be controlled by the user the message that a reported for a certain route Fault no longer exists. Preferably, such a Deletion notification to be verified multiple times to actually get the To delete the relevant fault entry.

The database is filled by callers who use the remote access system Provide traffic information. Currently many drivers have a mobile phone with which they can easily Remote query system can report malfunctions. Such a call goes thereby via a reporting channel with the remote access system. Corresponding can provide information about the traffic situation via a query channel can be called up by telephone. Message and query channel can either by two different numbers or by one Input query can be distinguished. Access to the Query channel provided over the Internet.

When a call arrives via the reporting channel, the caller is answered First asked for street name, direction of travel, location and type to indicate the traffic disruption, preferably by specifying the relevant junctions or motorway junctions. This information are converted into usable by the speech recognition unit Information about the disturbed route is converted. The The computer uses the direction of travel and the name of the motorway or based on the respective connection points or intersections, in which route segment the fault is located. In the The database will then use the corresponding route segment with the Labeled "traffic jam" or the respective fault. Will continue the time of the call is saved. Entering the information through the user can also be done in part by keyboard commands, e.g. "Traffic jam" = number 1, "heavy traffic" = number 2, etc.

The remote query system preferably plays that of the speech recognition unit recognized and converted information from saved text modules, the caller using the Starting elements again and only takes them afterwards Confirmation in the database. This confirmation that the speech signals recognized correctly, for example by pressing a button multi-frequency coded or also by voice input. On Incoming calls via the reporting channel are preferably free of charge.

With an incoming call via the query channel or via the Internet allows the user to determine the road conditions Inquire about routes. In the case of a phone call, he will be contacted by Remote query system using the output element for specifying Street names and directions and, if applicable, the planned one Section requested. From the user's voice signal the speech recognition unit again determines the as in the event of a report Keywords and converts them into computer-usable information around. With this information, the assignment to one in the database saved route section, which consists of one or can consist of several track segments. These route segments are each marked with the characteristic "fault" or "no fault". If a route segment in the route section of interest with the marking "fault" and this for query is released, this is given to the user by specifying the start and End point of the route segment communicated. If more successive route segments are marked with "traffic jam", only the start and end point of the entire chain. The same applies to the Internet query, whereby here the conversion of natural language into computer usable Information and back in announcement texts is omitted.

If there is a fault, the remote access system preferably offers the user to determine an undisturbed alternative route and inform him of this on request.

The message sent to the caller consists of several Announcement text modules put together, e.g. from a basic building block such as "On ... between ... and ... is ... reported", with the gaps in this basic module with the also as announcement text modules saved keywords e.g. B. "A 5, junction XY, a traffic jam" be filled. If there is no fault on the route queried, then so this will be communicated in a standard message. Could the planned Route cannot be identified by the speech recognition unit, so the caller is preferably asked to re-enter.

Official police information on the traffic situation is preferred included in the database. If necessary, they are always available Query released and do not require confirmation by others Messages.

The remote inquiry system according to the invention provides a means Providing information about traffic conditions Which is flexible to existing and rapidly changing Is able to react to traffic conditions. It also offers the Possibility to selectively select these traffic conditions at any time To query routes. This enables the user to quickly and individual route planning regardless of the official Traffic news on the radio.

An example of the invention is shown in the drawing and in described below. 1 shows in the form of a Block diagram of the basic function of the remote access system.

The core of the remote query system is the database 3, in which Information about traffic conditions on individual route segments are saved. Every track segment is through its The start and end point, including the street number if necessary, are unique fixed and marked with the characteristic whether a Traffic disruption is present, preferably also the type of disruption is specified.

The remote query system according to the invention obtains its information about traffic conditions, and thus those stored in database 3 Data, mainly from reports from private users, that this Information about a reporting channel, left side of Figure 1, by telephone to transfer. Additional information, e.g. official information of Traffic services or the police can also go directly to the Database are included, which is not shown here.

As the interface between man and machine, this shows Remote query system an input element 1, on which by telephone can be accessed by dialing a specific phone number to pass information via the reporting channel or via the Query channel, right side of Figure 1, to request information. On the query channel can also be accessed online via the internet be what differentiates here from telephone access is shown in dashed lines. The remote access system also instructs Output element 2, which the user to operate the Systems guides. With telephone access to the reporting or Query channel is audible to the user by playing Predictable announcement texts. When using the Remote query system via the Internet, the instructions of the User through a suitable screen mask, which is preferred is self-explanatory.

The input unit has a speech recognition unit which is used for Recognition and conversion of speech signals into computer usable Information serves. The input unit determines when a call arrives determined from the natural speech signal via the message channel Keywords that uniquely assign traffic information to a certain route segment or a chain of Allow track segments. Likewise, when a call arrives via the query channel determines the route of interest and into computer usable Information converted. These keywords are logically the names of localities, junctions, expressways as well as certain traffic disruptions. The speech recognition unit may have learned these keywords specifically.

The information coming in via the reporting channel is stored in the database 3 included. Locations are used to identify the person (s) Route segments, the indication of the disturbance to change the Fault feature. Furthermore, with the fault characteristic Time of the notification stored in the database. Via the reporting channel can also be notified by a user that a previously reported malfunction no longer exists. Go one such a message becomes the fault characteristic of the route concerned set back to "no fault".

The messages received via the query channel become Identification of the route of interest analyzed. The filters Speech recognition unit 4 as in the case of the fault message via the Message channel certain keywords from the natural speech signal and converts this into information with which a database query can be carried out. When a request is received via the Internet a conversion into computer-usable data is not necessary, here can therefore the input element 1 without the aid of the speech recognition 4 access database 3 directly.

The fault characteristic is one or more in the query channel Route segments queried from the database. In doing so, a Disturbance feature only released for playback if it is sufficiently relevant, e.g. multiple times by independent users was entered as official police information and / or is not too old.

If there is no fault message for the route in question or if this is not released for query, the user will Output element 2 communicated that the route of interest is not is disturbed. In the event of a released error message, this will be transmitted to the user stating the location and type of the fault.

The transmission of information to the user in the query channel is acoustically by the output element 2 like the user guidance predetermined announcement text modules that are adapted to a Voice signal can be compiled, or on the Internet, which the information is displayed on the screen by the user, accomplished.

Claims (6)

1. Remote interrogation system for the making available of information on traffic conditions on high-speed roads with an input element (1) capable of recognizing user data, said input element (1) deriving information on the route of interest from the user data received via an interrogation channel, whereupon the remote interrogation system interrogates a database for the respective route and the determined information on the traffic conditions is communicated to the user by an output element (2) capable of assembling predeterminable text modules and of transmitting them to the user in the form of a signal perceivable by the user, characterized in that the remote interrogation system is accessible by telephone and additionally comprises a reporting channel, the input element (1) deriving information on the location and nature of the traffic disruption from the user data received via the reporting channel, the input element (1) making the distinction between reporting channel and interrogation channel and containing a voice recognition unit (4), said voice recognition unit (4) being capable of recognizing key words from an incoming telephone call and of converting them into computer-usable information on the location and nature of the traffic disruption and/or on the route of interest, the output element (2) being capable of assembling predeterminable announcement text modules and of outputting them by telephone in the form of a voice signal.
2. Remote interrogation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interrogation channel of the remote interrogation system is accessible via the internet, the input element (1) requesting the user to state the route of interest and preferably for this purpose offering key words for selection, the output element indicating to the user the location and nature of the traffic disruption on the respective route.
3. Remote interrogation system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that
   the key words are all motorway names and preferably also trunk road names, names of towns as well as names of junctions and intersections.
4. Remote interrogation system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the key words are stored in the form of text modules.
5. Remote interrogation system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the input element (1) checks in the reporting channel whether a reported traffic disruption still exists.
6. Remote interrogation system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   in the case of telephonic use of the remote interrogation system, the distinction between reporting channel and interrogation channel is made by means of different call numbers or by means of an input interrogation.

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