Internet based highway traffic advisory system

• US 20060167617A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter C. Krikelis
• Original Assignee: ASTI Transportation Systems Incorporated (New Enterprise Stone & LIME Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krikelis, Peter C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A real time traffic control system that includes a plurality of roadside sensors and variable message displays arrayed along the highway connected to the Internet, and communicating with a central computer using the Internet. Each roadside device includes a modem and has a unique internet address. The central computer is programmed to create on demand a plurality of individual virtual communication ports, each of the ports corresponding to each of the unique device addresses, whereby said computer communicates in a quasi-simultaneous manner with all of the roadside devices.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining real time traffic related information on a highway location using a plurality of roadside devices said roadside devices comprising traffic sensors, the method comprising:

i. providing a plurality of roadside devices comprising at least one traffic sensor along said highway for detecting traffic flow past said highway location and connecting said roadside devices to the Internet;

ii. providing a central control computer also connected to the Internet via a modem, wherein said central control computer is programmed to provide a plurality of active virtual ports connected to the Internet through said modem,

iii. obtaining a device Internet address for said central control computer and for each of said plurality of roadside devices and assigning a virtual port in said central control computer to each of said devices address;

iv. establishing an Internet connection between each of said at least one roadside device and said central control computer whereby said central control computer accesses said each of said roadside devices through said assigned virtual port.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of connecting said plurality of roadside devices to the Internet is performed using digital cellular modems.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of roadside devices further comprises means to communicate a message to a passing motorist.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said message communicating means comprises a variable message board (VMS) also connected to the Internet.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said Internet connection is performed using a digital cellular modem.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of roadside devices comprises a plurality of roadside traffic sensors and at least one variable message board, each of said roadside traffic sensors having a unique Internet address and each of said at least one variable message board also having a unique Internet address and wherein the central control computer communicates with each of said roadside devices using a plurality of software generated unique virtual port, and wherein said communication occurs quasi-simultaneously.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said central computer is connected to the Internet using an Ethernet port.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein said Internet address is an IP address.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein said Internet address is a URL address.

10. A real time traffic control system comprising:

a plurality of roadside sensors arrayed along the highway and connected to the Internet and each having a unique Internet address;

a central control computer also having a unique Internet address and connected to the Internet, said control computer programmed to create on demand a plurality of individual virtual communication ports, each of said virtual communication ports corresponding to each of said unique device addresses, whereby said computer communicates in a quasi-simultaneous manner with said plurality of roadside devices.

11. The control system according to claim 10 further comprising at least one information communicating means also having a unique address and also connected to the Internet.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein said roadside sensors and said information communication means are connected to the Internet through a digital cellular modem.