Systems and methods for vehicle traffic management in a network of moving things

• US 10,122,790 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Original Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Inventors: Cardote, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Biagini, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/215,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and methods for traffic management in a network of moving things. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide systems and methods for utilizing vehicles, vehicle sensors, and/or vehicle-based networks of the Internet of moving things for traffic control optimization.

Claims

1. A mobile access point (MAP) comprising:

at least one module comprising a microprocessor and memory and being operable to, at least;

provide wireless Local Area Network (LAN) access to personal electronic devices;

provide Internet connectivity to the personal electronic devices via a communication network exclusive of a cellular communication network;

receive data collection control information from a central traffic controller (CTC), wherein the received data collection control information comprises;

first information indicating a manner in which the MAP is to collect traffic-related sensor data from sensors along a travel route of the MAP; and

second information indicating whether the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated to the CTC immediately or is to be communicated to the CTC within a particular amount of time;

as the MAP travels along the travel route, at least;

establish wireless communication links with the sensors along the travel route;

collect the traffic-related sensor data from the sensors via the established communication links; and

communicate the collected traffic-related sensor data to the central traffic controller (CTC) in accordance with the first information of the received data collection control information.

2. The mobile access point of claim 1, wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated immediately via a cellular network.

3. The mobile access point of claim 1, wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic related sensor data is to be communicated via a vehicle network.

4. The mobile access point of claim 1, wherein the data collection control information comprises third information that identifies a fixed geographical location of the sensors and communication network address information for the sensors.

5. The mobile access point of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to:

receive traffic control command information from the CTC, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic gate control system; and

communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic gate control system.

6. The mobile access point of claim 5, wherein the at least one module is operable to communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic gate control system in a multi-hop wireless communication link comprising at least one other mobile access point.

7. The mobile access point of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to:

receive traffic control command information from the CTC, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic control system; and

communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic control system in a direct wireless communication link of the wireless LAN between the MAP and the identified local traffic control system.

8. A traffic control system comprising:

at least one module comprising a microprocessor and memory and being operable to, at least;

establish communication links with a mobile access point (MAP) of a vehicle communication network via the Internet and via the vehicle communication network exclusive of a cellular network, wherein the MAP is operable to provide wireless Local Area Network (LAN) service to personal electronic devices;

communicate data collection control information to the MAP, wherein the data collection control information comprises;

first information indicating a manner in which the MAP is to collect traffic-related sensor data from sensors along a travel route of the MAP; and

second information indicating whether collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated to the CTC immediately or is to be communicated to the CTC within a particular amount of time;

receive traffic-related sensor data from the MAP; and

determine whether to command operation of a local traffic control system, based at least in part on the received traffic-related sensor data.

9. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein the second information of the communicated data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated immediately via a cellular network.

10. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic related sensor data is to be communicated via a vehicle network.

11. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein the data collection control information comprises third information that identifies a fixed geographical location of the sensors and communication network address information for the sensors.

12. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein the at least one module is operable to communicate traffic control command information to the MAP, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic gate control system.

13. The traffic control system of claim 12, wherein the traffic control command information comprises information identifying a geographical location of the local traffic control system.