Storing trajectory

1. A method of compressing trajectory data comprising a plurality of trajectory points and corresponding arrival times, the trajectory data corresponding to a plurality of road segments, the road segments comprising at least a first road segment and a last road segment different from the first road segment that is traversed last among the road segments, the method comprising:

for each road segment, identifying, by a processor of a computer, an entry point from among the trajectory points and an entry time among the arrival times;

calculating, by the processor, an entry distance between a known point along a first road segment of the road segments and the entry point of the first road segment;

for each road segment, identifying, by the processor, an exit point from among the trajectory points;

identifying, by the processor, a single exit time of only the last road segment of the road segments using the arrival times;

calculating, by the processor, a single exit distance between a known point along the last road segment and the exit point of the last road segment; and

storing, by the processor, a compressed version of the trajectory data on a computer that comprises the entry times, the entry distance, the single exit time, and the single exit distance,

wherein the trajectory data is received from a navigation device and corresponds to movements of an entity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entity is a vehicle or a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the navigation device is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the entry point is a point where the entity starts traveling along the corresponding road segment, the entry time is a time instant when the entity starts the travelling, the exit point is a point where the entity ends the travelling, and the single exit time is a time instant when the entity ends the travelling.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein for each road segment further comprising:

identifying a point of interest on the corresponding road segment;

obtaining data related to the point of interest; and

storing the data in the compressed version of the trajectory data.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the identifying of the point of interest on the road segment includes at least one of: analyzing a road characteristic associated with the corresponding road segment; or analyzing a behavior characteristic of the entity when traveling along the corresponding road segment.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the point of interest includes at least one of a turn point, an intersection point, a critical point, a point with a predetermined traffic condition, or a point where the entity performs a predetermined behavior.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the data includes at least one of: an arrival time instant of the entity; or speed of the entity.

9. A computer system for compressing trajectory data comprising a plurality of trajectory points and corresponding arrival times, the trajectory data corresponding to a plurality of road segments, the road segments comprising at least a first road segment and a last road segment different from the first road segment that is traversed last among the road segments, the system comprising:

a processor configured to for each road segment, identify, an entry point from among the trajectory points and an entry time among the arrival times; calculate an entry distance between a known point along a first road segment of the road segments and the entry point of the first road segment; for each road segment, identify, an exit point from among the trajectory points; identify a single exit time of only the last road segment of the road segments using the arrival times; calculate a single exit distance between a known point along the last road segment and the exit point of the last road segment; and generate a compressed version of the trajectory data that comprises the entry times, the entry distance, the single exit time, and the single exit distance; and

a storage device configured to store the compressed version of the trajectory data,

wherein the trajectory data is received from a navigation device and corresponds to movements of an entity.

10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the entity is a vehicle or a mobile device.

11. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the navigation device is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

12. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the entry point is a point where the entity starts traveling along the corresponding road segment, the entry time is a time instant when the entity starts the travelling, the exit point is a point where the entity ends the travelling, and the single exit time is a time instant when the entity ends the travelling.

13. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the processor, for each road segment, identifies a point of interest on the corresponding road segment; obtains data related to the point of interest; and stores the data in the compressed version of the trajectory data.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the processor identifies the point of interest on the road segment by analyzing a road characteristic associated with the corresponding road segment; or analyzing a behavior characteristic of the entity when traveling along the corresponding road segment.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the point of interest includes at least one of a turn point, an intersection point, a critical point, a point with a predetermined traffic condition, or a point where the entity performs a predetermined behavior.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the data includes at least one of: an arrival time instant of the entity; or speed of the entity.