RFID Intelligent Traffic Signaling
First Claim
1. A method for regulating the flow of traffic at a roadway intersection, comprising:
- positioning a processor in the vicinity of the roadway intersection said roadway intersection comprising a traffic signal that cycles traffic flow in a plurality of traffic flow directions through the roadway intersection, wherein the processor is configured to store adaptable cycle times for the traffic signal;
mounting an RFID reader in the vicinity of the traffic signal, wherein the RFID reader is configured to communicate with the processor;
interrogating with the RFID reader an RFID tag on each RFID-tagged vehicle at the roadway intersection to count the number of RFID-tagged vehicles present in each traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection;
calculating an unused time slice of the cycle time for a first traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection;
reducing the cycle time for the first traffic flow direction in accordance with the unused time slice; and
,increasing the cycle time for a second traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection in accordance with the unused time slice.
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Abstract
A system and method for regulating the flow of traffic at a roadway intersection having one or more traffic signals by positioning a processor in the vicinity of the intersection to store cycle times of the traffic flow directions, mounting an RFID reader in the vicinity of each traffic signal in communication with the processor, interrogating with the RFID reader an RFID tag on each RFID-tagged vehicle at the roadway intersection to count the number of RFID-tagged vehicles present in each traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection, calculating an unused time slice of the cycle time for a first traffic flow direction at the intersection; reducing the cycle time for the first traffic flow direction in accordance with the unused time slice; and, increasing the cycle time for a second traffic flow direction at the intersection in accordance with the unused time slice.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for regulating the flow of traffic at a roadway intersection, comprising:
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positioning a processor in the vicinity of the roadway intersection said roadway intersection comprising a traffic signal that cycles traffic flow in a plurality of traffic flow directions through the roadway intersection, wherein the processor is configured to store adaptable cycle times for the traffic signal; mounting an RFID reader in the vicinity of the traffic signal, wherein the RFID reader is configured to communicate with the processor; interrogating with the RFID reader an RFID tag on each RFID-tagged vehicle at the roadway intersection to count the number of RFID-tagged vehicles present in each traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection; calculating an unused time slice of the cycle time for a first traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection; reducing the cycle time for the first traffic flow direction in accordance with the unused time slice; and
,increasing the cycle time for a second traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection in accordance with the unused time slice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for regulating the flow of traffic at a roadway intersection, comprising:
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a processor positioned in the vicinity of the roadway intersection said roadway intersection comprising a traffic signal that cycles traffic flow in a plurality of traffic flow directions through the roadway intersection, wherein the processor is configured to store adaptable cycle times for the traffic signal; an RFID reader mounted in the vicinity of the traffic signal, wherein the RFID reader is configured to communicate with the processor; and
,an RFID tag mounted on a vehicle configured to be interrogated by the RFID reader when at the roadway intersection; wherein the processor, in response to data received by the RFID reader, is further configured to; count the number of RFID-tagged vehicles present in all of the traffic flow directions at the roadway intersection; calculate an unused time slice of the cycle time for a first traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection; reduce the cycle time for the first traffic flow direction in accordance with the unused time slice; and
,increase the cycle time for a second traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection in accordance with the unused time slice.
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Specification