Visualization of traffic patterns using GPS data
View Patent ↗Maps are created that display representations of GPS data generated from a plurality of GPS devices. The GPS data received from the GPS devices is embodied as a representation having descriptive features that visually indicate the location, direction of travel, and speed of travel of the GPS device, and the representation is associated with a road segment on the map. The display of the GPS data from a plurality of GPS devices can be used for editing information about roads on maps and determining preferred routes.
1. A computer-implemented method for visualizing traffic data on a map, comprising:
receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;
associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;
generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;
receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and
assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the generated representation is an arrow.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and
assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein associating the GPS sample to the road segment is based upon a log probability of the association of the GPS sample to the road segment.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for visualizing traffic data on a map, the computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising:
receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;
associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;
generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;
receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and
assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.
10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.
11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the generated representation is an arrow.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and
assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein associating the GPS sample to the road segment is based upon a log probability of the association of the GPS sample to the road segment.
15. A computer system for visualizing traffic data on a map, comprising:
a computer processor for executing computer program instructions; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising:
receiving a plurality of GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location, a direction of travel and a speed of travel of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;
associating selected GPS samples with respective road segments on a map based on the location and the direction of travel in each selected GPS sample;
generating, for display on the map, representations based on the GPS samples associated with the respective road segments;
receiving, from a user viewing the display, an indication of a road segment of the map as a preferred route of travel; and
assigning the road segment as the preferred route of travel.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein a generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided the GPS sample, the method further comprising assigning a graphical attribute of the representation to a physical attribute based on the GPS sample.
17. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising assigning a color to the generated representation, wherein the color represents the direction of travel.
18. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the generated representation is an arrow.
19. The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving, from the user, an indication of a turn restriction on the road segment; and
assigning the turn restriction to the road segment.
20. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein each generated representation visually indicates the direction of travel and the speed of travel for the GPS device that provided a GPS sample.