Apparatus and method for vehicle counting, tracking and tagging

• US 20030154017A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christ G.
• Application Number:
  US10/379,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9318 Controlling the steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

The present apparatus and method for vehicle counting, tracking and tagging can determine if dynamic traffic assignment will be executed, with automatic, predetermined rerouting instructions, based on real or predicted traffic conditions, as measured by automatic vehicle counts. Further, with the present apparatus and method, information and advisories on real and predicted traffic conditions are dynamically updated and measured by the number of vehicles in operation on selected and alternative routes. Such is provided in part by electronic tags. When equipped with electronic tags, each vehicle has an address whereby infrastructure sensors and processors can differentiate between vehicles and count, track, warn, control, predict, and communicate with each vehicle. Electronic tags include identification information.

Claims

1. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles;

determining if dynamic traffic assignment will be executed based on said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

sending automatic, predetermined rerouting instructions to one or more vehicles based on said step of determining.

2. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles in operation on selected and alternative routes;

providing information and advisories on real and predicted traffic conditions based on said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

dynamically updating said step of automatically counting vehicles and thereby dynamically updating said step of providing information and advisories.

3. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles via electronic sensing such that an infrastructure processor can differentiate between vehicles, wherein each of the vehicles includes an electronic tag having identification information on said vehicle, wherein said electronic tag is sensed by an infrastructure sensor; and

tracking, warning, controlling, predicting and communicating based on said step of automatically counting;

wherein said step of tracking comprises the step of tracking each of the vehicles and differentiating between vehicles;

wherein said step of warning comprises the step of warning drivers of said vehicles;

wherein said step of controlling comprises the step of controlling timing of traffic signals;

wherein said step of predicting comprises the step of predicting traffic patterns; and

wherein said step of communicating comprises the step of communicating with drivers of said vehicles.

4. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

illuminating vehicles; and

automatically counting vehicles based on said step of illuminating vehicles;

wherein said step of illuminating comprises the step of using radar to illuminate and thereby count said vehicles.

5. The traffic control method according to claim 4, wherein said step of illuminating comprises the steps of employing semiconductor tracer-diode surveillance utilizing one or two carrier frequencies and looking for reflections of the third harmonic.

6. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles;

relating a number of vehicles to undesirable emissions levels, wherein said number of vehicles is derived from said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

controlling emissions levels based on said step of relating said number of vehicles to said undesirable emissions levels.

7. A traffic control method of claim 6, wherein said step of controlling emissions levels comprises the step of automatically rerouting traffic to manage emissions levels.

8. A traffic control method of claim 6, wherein said step of controlling emissions levels comprises the step of temporarily modifying stop light timing to manage emissions levels.

9. The traffic control method of claim 7, wherein said step of automatically rerouting traffic comprises the step of communicating with drivers of said vehicles by employing in-vehicle displays and interactive voice response systems.

10. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles and establishing a baseline from said step of automatically counting vehicles;

detecting a traffic incident by an abnormal change in said baseline; and

providing information and rerouting instructions to vehicles based on said step of detecting a traffic incident, wherein said step of providing information to vehicles includes the step of instructing drivers of said vehicles to reduce speed.

11. The traffic control method of claim 10, wherein said traffic incident is selected from the group consisting of accident incidents, flat tire incidents, disabled vehicle incidents, and road construction incidents.

12. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

detecting vehicles absorbing, reflecting and emitting energy, wherein said step of detecting vehicles comprises the step of employing electromagnetic sensing devices and characteristic spectral signatures and images;

automatically counting vehicles based on said step of detecting.

13. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

sending a first signal to a number of vehicles;

receiving a second signal from said vehicle in response to said first signal, wherein said second signal includes identification information;

automatically counting said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle;

automatically identifying said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle; and

automatically locating at least one of said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle.

14. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles;

determining real or predicted traffic volume based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;

ascertaining real or predicted traffic delays based on said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

preempting local traffic signals based on said steps of determining and ascertaining.

15. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles;

determining real or predicted traffic volume based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;

ascertaining real or predicted traffic delays based on said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

displaying predetermined messages on local variable message signs;

displaying predetermined messages on in-vehicle displays;

displaying predetermined messages on video monitors; and

sending predetermined messages to interactive voice response systems.

16. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles; and

effecting traffic control and incident management based on said step of automatically counting vehicles, wherein said step of facilitating traffic control and incident management comprises the steps of;

a) displaying appropriate messages on local variable message signs based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;

b)displaying appropriate messages on in-vehicle displays; and

c) producing audible communications for drivers of said vehicles.

17. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles both on freeways and freeway entrances by infrastructure sensors;

processing information derived from said step of automatically counting vehicles; and

regulating and managing flow of traffic from freeway entrances to freeways based on said step of processing information;

wherein said step of regulating and managing comprises the step of employing control lights adjacent to said freeway entrances;

wherein said step of regulating and managing comprises the step of employing in-vehicle displays in said vehicles.

18. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically and dynamically counting vehicles;

automatically preempting local traffic signals based on said step of automatically and dynamically counting vehicles; and

automatically dispatching at least one of an emergency and service vehicle based on said step of automatically and dynamically counting vehicles;

whereby traffic control and incident management is facilitated.

19. A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

automatically counting vehicles;

sensing, identifying and classifying types and levels of vehicle emissions by infrastructure emissions sensors, wherein the infrastructure emissions sensors have data relating to undesirable emissions levels and data relating the number of vehicles to said undesirable emissions levels; and

automatically rerouting traffic using in-vehicle displays and in-vehicle interactive voice response communications to issue instructions and warnings, wherein said step of automatically rerouting traffic is based on said step of sensing, identifying and classifying;

whereby emissions are kept within emissions standards.