TRAFFIC INFORMATION GATHERING VIA CELLULAR PHONE NETWORKS FOR INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

A system and method for controlling traffic flow is disclosed. Location information is obtained and continuously updated from vehicular-based cellular phones. This information is processed and used as an input to Intelligent Transportation Systems, in particular to Real Time Urban Traffic Guidance for Vehicular Congestion and Intelligent Traffic Control Systems. Position information records of vehicle based phone coordinates, timing, etc, are collected from the cellular networks, updated and stored in a database. Those records together with digital maps are fed into mathematical models and algorithms to construct lists of vehicles traveling on various road sections, traffic loads at particular road sections, real time travel times along all road sections resulting from traffic congestion in particular areas, turning loads for signal intersections, for ral time functioning of Intelligent Transportation System, in particular of Intelligent Traffic Control Systems, and Route Guidance Systems.