Overview
ISO/TS 18234-6:2006 defines the location-referencing method used by TPEG (Transport Protocol Expert Group) Traffic and Travel Information (TTI) applications. Commonly referred to as TPEG‑Loc, this Technical Specification specifies the data structures, encoding and decoding rules that allow TPEG applications (for example TPEG‑RTM and TPEG‑PTI) to carry both human-readable and machine‑readable location information within a TPEG data‑stream. TPEG‑Loc is designed to be language‑independent, flexible for single or multi‑application services, and suitable for both map‑based decoders (navigation systems) and text‑only clients.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Location container concept: grouping of location elements including a default language code, a location coordinates container and an additional location descriptions container.
- Location types and descriptors: support for points, intersection points, framed points, nodal and large areas, connected/non‑linked points and vertical (height) descriptors.
- Location coordinates: encoding of precise positions (including WGS 84 coordinate pairs) to enable map matching on client devices.
- Additional location descriptions: text‑oriented descriptors and network descriptions (nodes, links) to support thin clients and language‑independent presentation.
- Structure, coding and primitives: detailed structure of TPEG‑Loc, binary coding rules and application primitives for encoder/decoder implementations.
- Compatibility provisions: sections addressing coding for compatibility with alternative methods (e.g., ILOC) and explicit note that backward compatibility with RDS‑TMC (EN ISO 14819‑3) is not assumed.
- Normative references: integration with other parts of ISO/TS 18234 (Parts 1–5) and adherence to ISO/IEC reference models.
Practical Applications
- Service providers and broadcasters: author and transmit rich, localized traffic and travel messages that include precise location info.
- Navigation and map vendors: implement TPEG decoders that map‑match events in real time using WGS 84 coordinates and node/link descriptors.
- ITS integrators and telematics OEMs: build client devices and back‑end systems that filter, decode and present location‑aware alerts (traffic incidents, public transport updates).
- Mobile and web app developers: deliver localized travel information with consistent, language‑independent presentation across platforms.
Related Standards
- ISO/TS 18234‑1 to 5 (TPEG application suite: introduction, SSF, SNI, RTM, PTI)
- ISO/IEC 7498‑1 (OSI Basic Reference Model)
- EN ISO 14819‑3 (RDS‑TMC) - noted as functionally different; direct backward compatibility is not assumed.
Keywords: ISO/TS 18234‑6, TPEG‑Loc, TPEG, location referencing, Traffic and Travel Information, TTI, encoding, decoding, WGS 84, navigation systems, ITS.