System and method for managing traffic at a worksite

• US 10,249,186 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Site 2020 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Site 2020 Incorporated
• Inventors: Campbell, Cole Benjamin, Hollohan, Mitchell Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): DSouza, Adolf
• Application Number:
  US15/455,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20170263119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable

Abstract

An system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium are provided. The system includes a traffic control signal, a wireless interface, a mast, a support base, a wireless control device, and a base station for communicating between the wireless interface and the wireless control device. The method involves receiving input from the wireless control device, generating a control signal for operating the traffic control signals, and transmitting the control signal to the traffic control signals.

Claims

1. A system for managing traffic at a worksite, the system comprising:

a traffic control signal;

a wireless interface in communication with the traffic control signal, the wireless interface configured to receive control signals to operate the traffic control signal;

a mast for supporting the traffic control signal;

a support base for supporting the mast on a surface;

a wireless control device configured to receive input, the input for controlling the traffic control signal; and

a base station in communication with the wireless control device via a wide area network and the wireless interface via a local area network, the base station is to receive the input from the wireless control device, generate the control signals and transmit the control signals to the traffic control signal,

wherein the base station operates in one of an automatic mode or a manual mode, wherein the control signals are generated automatically by a control module in the automatic mode, and wherein the control signals are generated based on the input received from the wireless control device in the manual mode.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor mounted on the mast, the sensor configured to collect traffic data proximate to the traffic control signal and to transmit the traffic data to the base station.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a camera.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the base station is configured to generate the control signals automatically in response to the traffic data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control signals are generated in response to the traffic data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional traffic control signal, the additional traffic control signal in communication with the base station.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the additional traffic control signal operates as a slave of to the traffic control signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is connected to a remote traffic control center external of the worksite via a cellular data connection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mast is collapsible.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the support base is configured to store the mast and the traffic control signal.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a moveable gate arm connected to the mast, wherein in the moveable gate arm is configured to raise and lower to control traffic.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery disposed in the support base, the battery for powering the traffic control signal.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a solar panel, the solar panel for charging the battery.

14. A method of managing traffic at a worksite, the method comprising:

receiving input, at a base station, from a wireless control device via a wide area network, wherein the input is for controlling a traffic control signal, wherein the traffic control signal is supported by a mast, the mast supported by a support base, wherein the base station operates in one of an automatic mode or a manual mode;

generating control signals based at least partially on the input received, wherein the control signals are for operating the traffic control signal, wherein the control signals are generated automatically by a control module of the base station in the automatic mode, and wherein the control signals are generated based on the input received from the wireless control device in the manual mode; and

transmitting the control signals to the traffic control signal via a wireless interface across a local area network, the wireless interface in communication with the traffic control signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising collecting traffic data proximate to the traffic control signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting traffic data to the base station.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating control signals automatically in response to the traffic data.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with codes, the codes for directing a processor to:

receive input, at a base station from a wireless control device via a wide area network, wherein the input is for controlling a traffic control signal, wherein the traffic control signal is supported by a mast, the mast supported by a support base, wherein the base station operates in one of an automatic mode or a manual mode;

generate control signals based at least partially on the input received, wherein the control signals are for operating the traffic control signal, wherein the control signals are generated automatically by a control module of the base station in the automatic mode, and wherein the control signals are generated based on the input received from the wireless control device in the manual mode; and

transmit the control signals to the traffic control signal via a wireless interface across a local area network, the wireless interface in communication with the traffic control signal.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further directing the processor to receive traffic data proximate to the traffic control signal.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising directing the processor to transmit traffic data from the traffic control signal to the base station to generate control signals automatically in response to the traffic data.