Toyota Motor (TMC) has announced the development and upcoming launch in Japan of the “Big Data Traffic Information Service”, a new kind of traffic-information service utilising ‘big data’ including vehicle locations and speeds, road conditions, and other parameters collected and stored via telematics services.
Based on such data, traffic information, statistics and other related information can be provided to local governments and businesses to aid traffic flow improvement, provide map information services, and assist disaster relief measures.
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Applications by local governments and businesses across Japan to use the service will be accepted starting 3 June.
Concurrently, the existing smart G-Book telematics service for smartphones will be upgraded to allow private users access to Big Data Traffic Information Service content.
1. Big Data Traffic Information Service
Not only will local governments and businesses be able to utilise Toyota’s proprietary T-Probe traffic information, route history, traffic volume maps, and other map information derived from big data, the platform will also allow users to display system information together with their own content, opening up a wide range of uses, such as for emergency and disaster relief operations and for traffic and logistics systems.
2. New smart G-Book service for smartphones
For the first time, T-Probe traffic information will be available for systems other than Toyota navigation systems, and the newly established, cloud-based Toyota Smart Centre will provide a voice recognition agent function for processing spoken (Japanese language) queries.
TMC sees the Big Data Traffic Information Service and the linked smart G-Book service as comprehensive lifestyle services that contribute to environment-friendly, safe and disaster-resilient communities.
Big Data Traffic Information Service
Main Features
The cloud-based service allows use of Toyota’s proprietary T-Probe traffic information, route history, traffic volume map, deployment locations of ABS or other on-board emergency safety systems, and other map information data via PC, smartphone or tablet.
Information about facilities owned or operated by local governments and businesses and locations of commercial vehicles can be shown on the map, while information and images can be submitted by users via smartphones.
In disaster situations, information about evacuation sites, shelters, and other facilities can be shown, with the location of rescuers (equipped with smartphones) and emergency and relief vehicles also indicated on the map.
To facilitate damage assessment and relief efforts during times of emergency, rescue personnel can submit damage information and make relief requests via smartphone, with this information being shown along with T-Probe traffic information, route history, and hazard maps provided by local governments.
At other times, the service can be used for traffic and logistics systems. Suitable processing of T-Probe traffic information enables map-based route planning for effective guidance to multiple destinations, along with location tracking and travel history management.
Target users
Local governments and businesses across Japan (display and service contents can be flexibly customised according to requests)
New smart G-Book service for smartphones
Service description
1) Car navigation utilising T-Probe traffic information
The upgraded service features full support for a range of mobility options, from driving to walking and features T-Probe traffic information (available for the first time on systems other than official Toyota on-board navigation systems) that enables tailored route calculation taking traffic congestion in account.
Usability has been enhanced with a complete range of functions, including enlarged views of intersections, 3D display of landmarks and voice announcement of place names. Linking with smartphone-compatible navigation displays (dealer-installed option) is also supported (iPhone 4, 4S, others).
2) Agent: Toyota Smart Centre-based voice-recognition service (Japanese language)
Queries for desired destinations can be open and expressed naturally, for example: “Find the nearest convenience store”, or “An open sushi bar on Harumi Street”. If the agent is unable to answer adequately, the query is handed over to a human operator for follow-up.
3) Route history
User-accumulated travelled route history can be displayed at any time. During disaster or emergency situations, guidance can be provided to evacuation sites. By linking to traffic information provided from local governments, evacuation and disaster information can also be provided to users.
4) Traffic information SNS
If a user encounters a road hazard, or encounters an accident or traffic jam, the information can be reported with a simple touch with stamps. Such information can also be viewed by other users of the Big Data Traffic Information Service.
Target users
– smart G-Book: User registration available to all smart G-Book users
– G-Book: User registration available to owners of G-Book compatible models
Supported devices and schedule
– Android smartphones: From 3 June 2013 (planned)
– iOS smartphones: From the middle of June 2013 (planned)
