Amelioration of traffic gridlock conditions

• US 10,140,859 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Greenberger, Jeremy A., Greenberger, Zachary M., Pickover, Clifford A., Weldemariam, Komminist
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US15/679,889
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/21 using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A risk of at least one vehicle blocking an intersection is determined. One or more ameliorative actions are determined based on the risk. At least one of the one or more ameliorative actions are performed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a risk of at least one vehicle blocking an intersection;

determining one or more ameliorative actions based on the risk; and

performing at least one of the one or more ameliorative actions;

wherein, in response to identifying a first vehicle located behind a second vehicle, determining the risk further comprises;

receiving at least a first set of data associated with the first vehicle;

predicting an occurrence of a gridlock event at the intersection based at least on the first set of data;

identifying one or more risk factors in the first set of data;

determining one or more gridlock detection models based on one or more of the predicted occurrence of the gridlock event, the first set of data, and the one or more risk factors; and

determining a risk that the first vehicle will block the intersection based on the one or more gridlock detection models, and

wherein the one or more ameliorative actions comprise each of displaying a visualization of a status associated with the intersection to the first vehicle, transmitting an alert message to a computing device associated with the first vehicle, and transmitting a signal to control the first vehicle;

wherein the steps of the method are implemented by at least one processing device comprising a processor operatively coupled to memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the risk comprises receiving a set of data associated with the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the risk further comprises predicting an occurrence of a gridlock event at the intersection based on the set of data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the risk of blocking the intersection further comprises identifying one or more risk factors from the set of data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more risk factors comprise one or more of traffic light timings, driving speed, proximity sensor or GPS, types of vehicles near the intersection, time of day, weather and road conditions, a history of blocking the box at the intersection, a type associated with the intersection, and nearby accident conditions.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the risk of blocking the intersection further comprises determining one or more gridlock detection models based one or more of the predicted occurrence of the gridlock event, the first set of data and the one or more risk factors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the risk of blocking the intersection further comprises detecting a blockage at the intersection based at least in part on the one or more gridlock detection models.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more ameliorative actions comprise displaying a visualization associated with a status of the intersection to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the visualization is displayed on at least one a computing device associated with a dashboard of the vehicle and a computing device associated with a portion of a windshield of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted to cruise control functionality of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualization is displayed on a smart body part of the second vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more of brightness level and color of the smart body part are dynamically adjusted based on an analysis of conditions associated with visibility.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the visualization is dynamically displayed on the smart body part based on an analysis of activity in the intersection.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising learning an effectiveness of the one or more ameliorative actions in relation to one or more properties of the intersection, wherein the one or more properties comprise one or more of intersection type, terrain, and elevation.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a processor-readable storage medium for storing processor-readable program code which, when executed, causes a processor to perform the steps of:

determining a risk of at least one vehicle blocking an intersection;

determining one or more ameliorative actions based on the risk; and

performing at least one of the one or more ameliorative actions,

wherein, in response to identifying a first vehicle located behind a second vehicle, determining the risk further comprises;

receiving at least a first set of data associated with the first vehicle;

predicting an occurrence of a gridlock event at the intersection based at least on the first set of data;

identifying one or more risk factors in the first set of data;

determining one or more gridlock detection models based on one or more of the predicted occurrence of the gridlock event, the first set of data, and the one or more risk factors; and

determining a risk that the first vehicle will block the intersection based on the one or more gridlock detection models, and

wherein the one or more ameliorative actions comprise each of displaying a visualization of a status associated with the intersection to the first vehicle, transmitting an alert message to a computing device associated with the first vehicle, and transmitting a signal to control the first vehicle.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing device comprising a processor operatively coupled to a memory and configured to;

determine a risk of at least one vehicle blocking an intersection;

determine one or more ameliorative actions based on the risk; and

perform at least one of the one or more ameliorative actions,

wherein, in response to identifying a first vehicle located behind a second vehicle, to determining the risk further comprises;

receiving at least a first set of data associated with the first vehicle;

predicting an occurrence of a gridlock event at the intersection based at least on the first set of data;

identifying one or more risk factors in the first set of data;

determining one or more gridlock detection models based on one or more of the predicted occurrence of the gridlock event, the first set of data, and the one or more risk factors; and

determining a risk that the first vehicle will block the intersection based on the one or more gridlock detection models, and

wherein the one or more ameliorative actions comprise each of displaying a visualization of a status associated with the intersection to the first vehicle, transmitting an alert message to a computing device associated with the first vehicle, and transmitting a signal to control the first vehicle.