CELLULAR-BASED PREEMPTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for controlling traffic for allowing passage of an emergency vehicle through an intersection controlled by traffic signals, the system comprising:
- means for placing the emergency vehicle in an emergency mode;
means for transmitting a trigger signal responsive to the emergency vehicle being placed in the emergency mode;
a cellular unit in the emergency vehicle receiving the trigger signal and in response, generating position data for the cellular unit; and
means coupled to the cellular unit for transmitting the generated position data for forwarding to the intersection controlled by the traffic signals, wherein the traffic signals are configured to be controlled based on an estimated time of arrival of the emergency vehicle, the estimated time of arrival being calculated based on the position data.
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Abstract
A cellular-based preemption system that uses existing cellular infrastructure to transmit preemption related data to allow safe passage of emergency vehicles through one or more intersections. A cellular unit in an emergency vehicle is used to generate position reports that are transmitted to the one or more intersections during an emergency response. Based on this position data, the one or more intersections calculate an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the emergency vehicle, and transmit preemption commands to traffic signals at the intersections based on the calculated ETA. Additional techniques may be used for refining the position reports, ETA calculations, and the like. Such techniques include, without limitation, statistical preemption, map-matching, dead-reckoning, augmented navigation, and/or preemption optimization techniques, all of which are described in further detail in the above-referenced patent applications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling traffic for allowing passage of an emergency vehicle through an intersection controlled by traffic signals, the system comprising:
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means for placing the emergency vehicle in an emergency mode; means for transmitting a trigger signal responsive to the emergency vehicle being placed in the emergency mode; a cellular unit in the emergency vehicle receiving the trigger signal and in response, generating position data for the cellular unit; and means coupled to the cellular unit for transmitting the generated position data for forwarding to the intersection controlled by the traffic signals, wherein the traffic signals are configured to be controlled based on an estimated time of arrival of the emergency vehicle, the estimated time of arrival being calculated based on the position data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for controlling traffic for allowing passage of an emergency vehicle through an intersection controlled by traffic signals, the system comprising:
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means for placing the emergency vehicle in an emergency mode; means for transmitting a trigger signal responsive to the emergency vehicle being placed in the emergency mode; and a cellular unit in the emergency vehicle receiving the trigger signal and in response, transmitting a location request to a cellular station, wherein, the cellular station is configured to receive the location request, generate position data of the cellular unit in response to the location request, and transmit the position data for forwarding to the intersection controlled by the traffic signals, wherein, the traffic signals are configured to be controlled based on an estimated time of arrival of the emergency vehicle, the estimated time of arrival being calculated based on the position data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling traffic for allowing passage of an emergency vehicle through an intersection controlled by traffic signals, the method comprising:
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placing the emergency vehicle in emergency mode; transmitting a trigger signal to a cellular unit in the emergency vehicle responsive to the emergency vehicle being placed in the emergency mode; generating position data for the cellular unit responsive to the trigger signal; and transmitting the generated position data for forwarding to the intersection controlled by the traffic signals, wherein the traffic signals are configured to be controlled based on an estimated time of arrival of the emergency vehicle, the estimated time of arrival being calculated based on the position data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification