Traffic surveillance and report system

• US 20050033505A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Premier Wireless, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Premier Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Zatz, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/726,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

Traffic control systems, including an automated vehicle traffic assessment system. The system may measure and report on wait time and may include video cameras and image recognition software. The system may be used in connection with any flow-regulated area, including border crossings, toll roads and ports of entry.

Claims

1. A traffic assessment system comprising:

a. a vessel monitor configured to monitor vessels in one or more open traffic lanes that are waiting to pass through one or more flow regulation controls associated with the one or more open traffic lanes;

b. a flow monitor configured to monitor the flow of vessels passing through the one or more flow regulation controls; and

c. an analyzer configured to determine the likely effect of opening one or more closed traffic lanes or closing one or more of the open traffic lanes on the waiting time of a waiting vessel based on information from the vessel monitor and the flow monitor.

2. A traffic control system comprising:

a. a traffic assessment system configured to assess the waiting time a vessel entering an area controlled by one or more flow regulation controls is likely to need to wait before passing through the controlled area; and

b. a transmitter for transmitting information about the waiting time to vessels not in the controlled area.

3. A traffic assessment system comprising:

a. a camera system configured to create an image of at least a portion of an area that receives vessels and that is controlled by one or more vessel flow regulation controls;

b. a vessel recognition system configured to analyze information about vessels within a defined area of the image; and

c. a user interface configured to allow a user to define the area of the image from the camera system that should be analyzed by the vessel recognition system.