Method and system for allowing vehicles to negotiate roles and permission sets in a hierarchical traffic control system

• US 20030060968A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wikeshire IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, MacPhail, Margaret Gardner
• Granted Patent: US 6,609,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

A traffic control system is described. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The traffic control system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. The at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role.

Claims

1. A traffic control system comprising:

a primary controller, the primary controller for receiving information about traffic in an area; and

a plurality of subsidiary controllers for providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers being associated with a cell within the area;

each of the subsidiary controllers receiving and providing information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell, wherein the primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions, wherein the at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role.

2. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein each of the subsidiary traffic controllers can determine position of a vehicle in its associated cell.

3. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein each of the subsidiary controllers can change the route of a vehicle based upon communications with the primary controller.

4. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the communications within the primary controller includes roles and permissions for the vehicle.

5. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein the vehicle automatically sends information to one of the subsidiary controllers concerning location, vehicle operation and vehicle information.

6. The traffic control system of claim 5 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the at least one vehicle operation system.

7. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

8. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a suspension system.

9. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a fuel indication system.

10. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to the traffic control system via a trip plan.

11. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

12. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and factors associated with the traffic.

13. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) assigning a role to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role by the traffic control system; and

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to the traffic control system via a trip plan.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and factors associated with the traffic.

17. A traffic control system comprising:

a primary controller, the primary controller for receiving information about traffic in an area, the primary controller including a first plurality of participant objects; and

a plurality of subsidiary controllers for providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers including a second plurality of participant objects, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers being associated with a cell within the area, each cell being represented as a plurality of segment objects;

each of the subsidiary controllers receiving and providing information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell, wherein the primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions, wherein the at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role.

18. The traffic control system of claim 17 wherein each of the subsidiary traffic controllers can determine position of a vehicle in its associated cell via a communication from a vehicle area network.

19. The traffic control system of claim 17 wherein each of the subsidiary controllers can change the route of a vehicle based upon a change of the appropriate participant object of the primary controller.

20. The traffic control system of claim 19 wherein the communications within a participant object of the primary controller includes roles and permissions for the vehicle.

21. The traffic control system of claim 20 wherein the vehicle automatically sends information to one of the subsidiary controllers concerning location, vehicle operation and vehicle information.

22. The traffic control system of claim 21 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the at least one vehicle operation system.

23. The traffic control system of claim 22 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

24. The traffic control system of claim 22 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a suspension system.

25. The traffic control system of claim 22 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a fuel indication system.

26. The traffic control system of claim 17 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to a participant object of the traffic control system via a trip plan.

27. The traffic control system of claim 17 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

28. The traffic control system of claim 17 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and factors associated with the traffic.

29. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) assigning a role to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role by a participant object of the traffic control system; and

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to a participant object of the traffic control system via a trip plan.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and factors associated with the traffic.

33. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the program instructions for;

(a) assigning a role to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role by the traffic control system; and

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions.