Device, System and Method for Traffic Prediction

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments relate to adjusting traffic prediction. Some demonstrative embodiments relate to position related offering of an item.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method to adjust traffic prediction, the method comprising a plurality of iterations, wherein at least one iteration of the plurality of iterations comprises:
 providing by a device a traffic prediction update for route planning associated with a plurality of vehicles, wherein said traffic prediction update is based, at least in part, on route plan modifications resulting from give-up processes performed in a prior iteration, wherein said give-up process comprises modification of a route plan, in accordance with a give-up criterion, to exclude from the route plan a congested route segment, which is expected to have traffic congestion, and wherein said traffic prediction update includes a prediction, in a forward time interval, of congested traffic on a route segment that is still congested with respect to traffic predicted on said route segment in said prior iteration; and   in response to the traffic prediction update, receiving, by said device, an indication that a vehicle of said vehicles has modified its route plan from a planned route that includes said still congested route segment to a modified route that does not include said still congested route segment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the traffic prediction update is further based on statistical traffic data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including updating a statistical database according to the indication. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the give-up process comprises a give-up process utilizing one or more give-up criterion levels. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a give-up criterion level of the give-up criterion levels includes a threshold to modify a route plan to a route having lower priority than the route plan of the prior iteration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a give-up criterion level of the give-up criterion levels includes a threshold to modify a route plan to a route plan having a higher travel time than the route plan of the prior iteration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a give-up criterion level of the give-up criterion levels includes a threshold to modify a route plan to an earlier, more preferable, route. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a give-up criterion level of the give-up criterion levels includes a threshold to modify a route plan to a route having a-priori lower priority than the route plan of the prior iteration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the iterations is based on one or more random parameters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the give-up process in a successive iteration to a prior iteration modifies planned routes at a higher grade of give-up criterion level than the route plan of the prior iteration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a length of the modified route is greater than a length of the planned route. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  comprising:
 if the traffic prediction update indicates that too many mobile units gave up on said still congested route segment in the prior iteration, 
 receiving one or more signals from one or more of said vehicles, indicating that said one or more vehicles modify their current routes to routes previously-used in the previous iteration. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising:
 receiving a signal indicating that at least one of said vehicles returns to a previously-used route by re-making a prior give-up process with a lower grade of give-up level criterion. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the previously-used routes are shorter than the current routes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5  comprising:
 performing a plurality of iterations until reaching a sufficient level of convergence. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising:
 performing said plurality of iterations by taking into account a trade-off between low levels of give-up grades and high levels of give-up grades. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 5  including broadcasting said traffic prediction update to the plurality of vehicles. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 5 , including, at a vehicle of the vehicles:
 receiving positioning signals,   planning a route according to traffic updates and according to a respective give-up process,   transmitting radio signals to update a mapping system about route modification, and   receiving radio signals of traffic updates.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said route modification comprises modification to exclude from route plans one or more route segments affected by predicted traffic congestion. 
     
     
         24 . A method of position related offering of an item, the method comprising:
 transmitting query information indicative of a price-related criterion relating to a potential price of the item and a position-related criterion;   receiving one or more responses generated by one or more mobile units, wherein a response of a mobile unit is generated according to a match process between the price-related criterion and price information related to said item as stored in said mobile unit, and wherein the response is based on a match between a position related characteristic of the mobile unit and the position-related criterion;   based on said responses, estimating potential demand for the item; and   transmitting an offer to purchase the item based on said potential demand.