SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRAFFIC RELATED INFORMATION DISPLAY, TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL
First Claim
1. A system for traffic related information display and traffic surveillance, comprising:
- a plurality of display units, each of said display units positioned at a respective one of a plurality of predetermined locations associated with traffic flow,each of said plurality of display units including at least one sensor continuously monitoring the traffic flow and at least one camera continuously recording audio and visual rapid sequence images of the traffic flow at said respective predetermined location, said each display unit having a “
STOP”
state, “
GO”
state, and “
WAIT”
state; and
a processing unit coupled to said plurality of the display units, said processing unit including a first unit operable responsive to information acquired by said sensor for predicting imminent accidents based on sensed deceleration rates of vehicles approaching said respective predetermined location, said processing unit triggering to selectively initiate combined storage of the audio and visual rapid sequence images responsive to said predictions of imminent accident based on deceleration rate, whereby the audio and visual rapid sequence images for a select time period immediately before, during, and after occurrence of an actual accident event are selectively captured.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system and method for traffic surveillance, control, and traffic related information display uses display units each having display element sensors and cameras where the operation is controlled by a processor. Anticipatory sensor systems continuously measure speed and deceleration of approaching vehicles, sends signals to the processor which in turn analyzes the incoming signals. A rapid sequence camera continuously records audio-video images. When the rate of deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, which may be indicative of an imminent accident, the processor activates a store regime of the audio visual images on-site or transmitted to an off-site location for further actions. The information on the traffic flow condition which may affect the vehicle travel is displayed on the display unit. The system provides for the detection of pedestrians about to cross an intersection and controls the traffic light pattern accordingly. The display unit utilizes shapes, motions, and color to provide for easily understandable messages to vehicle occupants and pedestrians.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for traffic related information display and traffic surveillance, comprising:
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a plurality of display units, each of said display units positioned at a respective one of a plurality of predetermined locations associated with traffic flow, each of said plurality of display units including at least one sensor continuously monitoring the traffic flow and at least one camera continuously recording audio and visual rapid sequence images of the traffic flow at said respective predetermined location, said each display unit having a “
STOP”
state, “
GO”
state, and “
WAIT”
state; anda processing unit coupled to said plurality of the display units, said processing unit including a first unit operable responsive to information acquired by said sensor for predicting imminent accidents based on sensed deceleration rates of vehicles approaching said respective predetermined location, said processing unit triggering to selectively initiate combined storage of the audio and visual rapid sequence images responsive to said predictions of imminent accident based on deceleration rate, whereby the audio and visual rapid sequence images for a select time period immediately before, during, and after occurrence of an actual accident event are selectively captured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for traffic surveillance, control and traffic related information display, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a plurality of electronic display units at predetermined locations along a traffic trajectory; connecting said plurality of electronic display units to a processor unit for analyzing thereat data transmitted from said plurality of electronic display units; receiving therefrom signals corresponding to information to be displayed on said electronic display units; providing each of said plurality of electronic display units with a plurality of sensors, a plurality of image sensing devices, a plurality of light emitting elements, and a color display area, said color display area indicating “
GO”
, “
STOP”
, and “
WAIT”
states of said each electronic display unit;continuously monitoring traffic flow by said plurality of sensors; continuously recording audio and visual rapid sequence images of the traffic flow by said plurality of image sensing devices; calculating at said processor unit responsive to information acquired by at least one said sensor, a deceleration rate of vehicles approaching said predetermined locations; triggering to selectively initiate combined storage of the audio and visual rapid sequence images recorded by the image sensing device responsive to prediction of an imminent accident based upon the calculated deceleration rate exceeding a predetermined threshold, whereby the audio and visual rapid sequence images for a select time period immediately before, during, and after occurrence of an actual accident event are selectively captured; and displaying the accident alert message at respective ones of said plurality of display units positioned at respective predetermined locations. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification