Traffic control system and method for use in international border zones
First Claim
1. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at a border crossing and border inspection station, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the international border and border inspection station, and the virtual traffic lane comprises a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic control system and method, for expediting traffic flow across international border crossings, includes a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane. The traffic control center is spaced apart from the border crossing, and monitors traffic flow through a border zone. The traffic control center receives border-bound traffic, or electronic information from such traffic, and evaluates it to determine a vehicle'"'"'s preparedness level. The traffic control center includes facilities for temporarily holding vehicles, and assists vehicles preparing to cross the border. The virtual traffic lane is a preferred route between the traffic control center and the border crossing, and is changeable depending upon traffic conditions. The virtual traffic lane is selected from a number of available monitored routes. The traffic control center monitors traffic conditions in the border zone, and determines which preferred travel route is most appropriate for selection as the virtual lane at any given time.
33 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at a border crossing and border inspection station,
the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the international border and border inspection station, and the virtual traffic lane comprises a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border.
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12. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at a border crossing,
the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the border crossing, the traffic control center capable of receiving traffic bound for the border crossing, the traffic control center monitoring traffic flow between the traffic control center and the border crossing, and the virtual traffic lane comprising a selected route of travel between the traffic control center and the border crossing.
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22. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow across a border which is located adjacent a city,
the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the border such that at least a portion of the city resides between the traffic control center and the border, the traffic control center monitoring traffic flow as it passes through at least a portion of the city and approaches the border, and the virtual traffic lane comprising a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border.
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28. A method of processing vehicles traveling toward an international border;
- said method comprising the steps of;
a) providing a traffic control center which is situated a distance apart from an international border;
b) communicating between selected vehicles of border-bound traffic and the traffic control center to determine whether individual vehicles are prepared to cross the border according to a set of guidelines;
c) sorting the vehicles of the selected border-bound traffic into prepared and unprepared vehicles according to said guidelines;
d) arranging a series of the prepared vehicles into a queue;
e) directing the vehicles in the queue to travel along an assigned route defining a virtual lane; and
f) monitoring the vehicles in the queue as they travel along the virtual lane using a plurality of monitoring stations. - View Dependent Claims (29)
- said method comprising the steps of;
Specification