Cognitive traffic signal cycle timer

• US 10,210,755 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Franco, Diego P. R., Cavalcanti, Fernando A., Sylos, Marcos C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tun, Nay
• Application Number:
  US15/972,261
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/082 Controlling the time between beginning of the same phase of a cycle at adjacent intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/083 Controlling the allocation of time between phases of a cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

A self-learning cycle timer is disclosed. A wait time is measured between a first indication, associated with a stop, and a second indication, associated with movement following the stop, each indication received from a smart device. A geolocation is received from the smart device and a traffic signal identified at the geolocation. The traffic signal'"'"'s area of influence is determined. The wait time is determined to have occurred inside the area of influence. An average cycle time and a reference time associated with the traffic signal are retrieved from a database. A cycle time associated with the traffic signal is calculated according to the wait time and the reference time. The average cycle time is updated according to the calculated cycle time.

Claims

1. A method for a self-learning cycle timer comprising:

determining a wait time, the wait time being a time elapsed between a first indication and a second indication, the first indication associated with a traveler coming to a stop and the second indication associated with the traveler beginning to move following the stop, each of the first and second indication received from a smart device associated with the traveler;

receiving, from the smart device, a geolocation;

identifying a traffic signal associated with the geolocation;

determining an area of influence associated with the traffic signal, the area of influence establishing a distance from the traffic signal within which the traveler may be expected to be interacting with the traffic signal;

determining the wait time occurred inside the area of influence;

retrieving, from a database, an average cycle time and a reference time, each associated with the traffic signal;

calculating a cycle time associated with the traffic signal according to the wait time and the reference time; and

updating the average cycle time according to the calculated cycle time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a travel route according to the average cycle time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a recommended speed for the travel route according to the average cycle time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an intersecting traffic signal associated with the geolocation; and

retrieving a set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting the average cycle time according to the set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting an intersecting cycle time according the calculated cycle time, wherein the set of data includes the intersecting cycle time.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising syncing the first indication with the set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, in response to syncing the first indication with the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, that the first indication matches the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal; and

starting, in response to determining that the first indication matches the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, a counter to record the wait time.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, in response to syncing the first indication with the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, that the first indication does not match the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal; and

dismissing, in response to determining that the first indication does not match the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, the first indication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the wait time with an average wait time associated with the traffic signal;

determining, in response to comparing the wait time with an average wait time, the wait time is not an outlier; and

adjusting, in response to determining the wait time is not an outlier, the average wait time according to the wait time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the wait time with an average wait time associated with the traffic signal;

determining, in response to comparing the wait time with an average wait time, the wait time is an outlier; and

dismissing, in response to determining the wait time is an outlier, the wait time.

12. A computer system for a self-learning cycle timer, the computer system comprising:

a memory storing an average cycle time and a reference time, each associated with a traffic signal; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining a wait time, the wait time being a time elapsed between a first indication and a second indication, the first indication associated with a traveler coming to a stop and the second indication associated with the traveler beginning to move following the stop, each of the first and second indication received from a smart device associated with the traveler;

receiving, from the smart device, a geolocation;

identifying the traffic signal is associated with the geolocation;

determining an area of influence associated with the traffic signal, the area of influence establishing a distance from the traffic signal within which the traveler may be expected to be interacting with the traffic signal;

determining the wait time occurred inside the area of influence;

retrieving, from the memory, the average cycle time and the reference time, each associated with the traffic signal;

calculating a cycle time associated with the traffic signal according to the wait time and the reference time; and

updating the average cycle time according to the calculated cycle time.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises setting a travel route according to the average cycle time.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises providing a recommended speed for the travel route according to the average cycle time.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying an intersecting traffic signal associated with the geolocation; and

retrieving a set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises adjusting the average cycle time according to the set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises adjusting an intersecting cycle time according the calculated cycle time, wherein the set of data includes the intersecting cycle time.

18. A computer program product for a self-learning cycle timer, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a wait time, the wait time being a time elapsed between a first indication and a second indication, the first indication associated with a traveler coming to a stop and the second indication associated with the traveler beginning to move following the stop, each of the first and second indication received from a smart device associated with the traveler;

receiving, from the smart device, a geolocation;

identifying a traffic signal associated with the geolocation;

determining an area of influence associated with the traffic signal, the area of influence establishing a distance from the traffic signal within which the traveler may be expected to be interacting with the traffic signal;

determining the wait time occurred inside the area of influence;

retrieving, from a database, an average cycle time and a reference time, each associated with the traffic signal;

calculating a cycle time associated with the traffic signal according to the wait time and the reference time; and

updating the average cycle time according to the calculated cycle time.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying an intersecting traffic signal associated with the geolocation; and

retrieving a set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal;

syncing the first indication with the set of data associated with the intersecting traffic signal;

determining, in response to syncing the first indication with the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, that the first indication matches the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal;

starting, in response to determining that the first indication matches the data associated with the intersecting traffic signal, a counter to record the wait time.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the wait time with an average wait time associated with the traffic signal;

determining, in response to comparing the wait time with an average wait time, the wait time is not an outlier; and

adjusting, in response to determining the wait time is not an outlier, the average wait time according to the wait time.