Forwarding system for long-range preemption and corridor clearance for emergency response
First Claim
1. A traffic signal controller, comprising;
- a microcontroller configured to receive forwarded preemption requests from a network; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to evaluate information included in a preemption request against a predetermined set of criteria; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to preempt a sequence of traffic signals when the information forwarded in a preemption request satisfies the predetermined set of criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for and methods of preempting intersections by forwarding preemption requests from one intersection to another are described. In one aspect of the invention, congestion can be cleared from the path of a preempting vehicle by facilitating the flow of traffic in front of the vehicle. In another aspect of the invention a preemption corridor is created. Additionally, the preemption corridor can be further cleared by preempting side streets to the preemption corridor. One embodiment of the invention includes a microcontroller configured to receive forwarded preemption requests from a network. In addition, the microcontroller is configured to evaluate information included in a preemption request against a predetermined set of criteria and the microcontroller is configured to preempt a sequence of traffic signals when the information forwarded in a preemption request satisfies the predetermined set of criteria.
97 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A traffic signal controller, comprising;
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a microcontroller configured to receive forwarded preemption requests from a network; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to evaluate information included in a preemption request against a predetermined set of criteria; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to preempt a sequence of traffic signals when the information forwarded in a preemption request satisfies the predetermined set of criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A traffic signal controller, comprising:
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means for receiving forwarded preemption requests;
means for evaluating the appropriateness of a forwarded preemption request; and
means for preempting traffic signals in response to an appropriate forwarded preemption request. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A traffic signal control system, comprising:
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a plurality of traffic signal controllers;
wherein at least one traffic signal controller includes a preemption device that can be preempted by a vehicle equipped with hardware capable of communicating a preemption request to the preemption device;
wherein the traffic signal controller is configured to send a forwarded preemption requests via a network;
wherein at least one of the traffic signal controllers is configured to receive the forwarded preemption request via the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of preempting an intersection, comprising:
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receiving a preemption request forwarded from another intersection;
determining whether the forwarded preemption request satisfies at least one predefined criteria;
determining whether the forwarded preemption request conflicts with any preemption request currently being honored by the intersection;
when the preemption request satisfies the predefined criteria and does not conflict with other preemption requests, preempting the intersection and forwarding the preemption request to neighboring intersections. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification