Method and system for wireless signaling of vehicular traffic

• US 20070142037A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Toole, James, Bornstein, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A method, a system, and an apparatus are provided for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network. A message comprising data related to the traffic signal is received. Thereafter, the forwardability of the message is detemined. If forwardable, the message is forwarded. The validity of the message is checked and if found to be valid, information in the data is communicated to a vehicle controller. The message is discarded, if it is found to be invalid.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the method comprising

receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

if the message is forwardable,

forwarding the message; and

else

discarding the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is encoded.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising decoding the encoded message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises information on type of the traffic signal, status of the traffic signal, positioning of the traffic signal, and, validity of the message.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the information on the type, status and positioning of the traffic signal to a vehicle operator, if the message is valid.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the information on positioning of the traffic signal comprises information on an area, the area including bounding polygons of predefined vertices specified by a Global Positioning System (GPS).

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the area is divided into an active zone and a warning zone.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the message is forwardable if the message is received within the bounding polygons.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the message is forwardable if the message is received in the warning zone.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein information on validity of the message comprises a signature of an authorised source, a timestamp, a message validity time, a forwarding count and a checksum.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is forwardable if difference between time of receiving the message and the timestamp is less than the message validity time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is forwardable if the forwarding count is more than zero.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the signature of the authorized source is encoded.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is valid if the signature contained in the information on validity of the message is from the authorized source.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is valid if difference between the time of receiving the message and the timestamp is less than the message validity time.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is valid if a checksum calculated for the data is same as the checksum contained in the information on validity.

17. A method for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the method comprising

receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

decoding the message;

determining the forwardability of the message;

forwarding the message, if the message is forwardable;

if the message is valid,

communicating information on type, status and positioning of the traffic signal to a vehicle controller; and

else,

discarding the message.

18. A system for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the system comprising

a receiving unit, the receiving unit receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

a forwarding-control unit; and

a forwarding unit, wherein the forwarding unit forwards the message, if the message is forwardable.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising

a decoding unit, wherein the decoding unit decodes the message;

a validating unit, wherein the validating unit checks the validity of the message

communicating unit, wherein the communicating unit communicates the information on the type, status and positioning of the traffic signal, to a vehicle controller.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the forwarding control unit comprises

a forwarding-count-checking unit, wherein the forwarding count checking unit checks if the forwarding count is greater than zero;

and

a time-validity-checking unit, if the message is valid at the time of receiving.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the forwarding-control-unit comprises

a forwarding-region-checking unit, wherein the forwarding-region-checking-unit checks if the message is received in a predefined region.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the validating unit comprises

a checksum decoder, wherein the checksum decoder compares a given checksum and a calculated checksum;

a signature decoder, wherein the signature decoder decodes the signature contained in the information on validity; and

a time-validity-checking unit, wherein the time validity checking unit checks the time validity of the message.

23. A system for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the system comprising

means for receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

means for determining the forwardability of the message;

means for forwarding the message, if the message is forwardable; and

means for discarding the message, if the message is not forwardable.

24. An apparatus for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the apparatus comprising

a processor for executing instructions, the processor coupled to a voice/display unit;

and

a machine readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising

one or more instructions for receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

one or more instructions for determining the forwardability of the message,

one or more instructions for forwarding the message, if the message is forwardable; and

one or more instructions for discarding the message, if the message is not forwardable.

25. A machine-readable medium including instructions for wireless communication of a traffic signal over a network, the instructions executable by the machine-readable medium comprising

one or more instructions for receiving a message, wherein the message comprises data related to the traffic signal;

one or more instructions for detemining the forwardability of the message;

one or more instructions for forwarding the message, if the message is forwardable; and

one or more instructions for discarding the message, if the message is not forwardable.