INTERACTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN URBAN AND EXTRA-URBAN ROAD NETWORK SUBJECTED TO SAFETY AND FEATURE-RELATED STANDARDS AND/OR RESTRICTIONS

• US 20100328102A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saulle Mattei
• Original Assignee: Saulle Mattei
• Inventors: Mattei, Saulle
• Application Number:
  US12/866,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328102A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

The present invention generally concerns the technical field of road engineering and road safety and relates to an interactive control system (1) for controlling an urban and extra-urban road network (R) subjected to standards and/or restrictions, comprising: road signage means (2) distributed throughout the network (R) for indicating such standards and restrictions; a plurality of remote devices (3) designed to be installed on motor vehicles (A); first detection means (4) for collecting first data about traffic conditions; a main control unit (5) connected to the first detection means (4) and to the road signage means (2) for processing the first data and providing pieces of information to users; transceiver means (6) associated with the road signage means (2) for reception/transmission of the first data from the road signage means (2) to the remote devices (3); the road signage means (2) and the remote devices (3) include first and second interactive means (8, 9) respectively for displaying images and/or words to provide information to the users.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An interactive control system for controlling an urban and extra-urban road network subjected to safety and feature-related standards and restrictions, comprising:

road signs distributed all over the network for indicating said safety and feature-related standards and restrictions;

a plurality of remote devices designed to be installed on motor vehicles, each being equipped with electronic devices for detecting and storing first data, which concern static and dynamic parameters of the vehicle on which it is provided, such as current speed, average speed, parking time, turns, roadway changes and the like;

at least one central control unit connected to said road signs for providing information to users over at least part of the road network, said road signs including first interactive devices for displaying images and/or words to provide said information to said users, and said remote devices having second interactive devices for displaying said information to each user;

transceiver electronic circuits associated with said road signs for reception/transmission of at said information between said road signs and said remote devices;

at least one electronic processing unit in each of said remote devices for processing and comparing said first data concerning static and dynamic parameters of the vehicles with said information to generate second data to be transmitted to said central control unit, said second data including data concerning the behavior of said user in response to said features such as the parking duration of the motor vehicle in a restricted parking zone, access to a restricted traffic zone and the like.

17. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein it comprises first detection units for acquiring third data about traffic conditions along the road network.

18. A control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said central control unit is connected to said first detection units for processing at least said third data and providing relevant information to users over at least part of the road network.

19. A control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said third data includes data concerning current conditions such as the presence of obstacles, traffic delays, tailbacks, bad weather conditions, temporary no parking areas, limited access zones, restricted parking zones and the like.

20. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second data includes data concerning events in which said standards and restrictions have been exceeded, such as exceeded speed limits, a passing event in a no passing zone, a prohibited turn, unauthorized access to restricted or prohibited traffic zones, parking beyond authorized times and the like.

21. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said remote devices comprises devices for storage of at least said first and said third data.

22. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first data also comprises second information concerning the manufacturer, the model and number plate of the vehicle in which said remote devices are installed.

23. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said electronic processing unit has devices for identifying the user that uses the motor vehicle, said first data also including an indication of the user'"'"'s identity.

24. A control system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said identification devices include one or more fingerprint detectors or detectors of similar anthropologic parameters and/or one or more alphanumeric keypads.

25. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said remote devices comprises second detection units for acquiring said first data.

26. A control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said second detection units include one or more of speed sensors of the vehicle, position sensors for detecting the position of the vehicle in the roadway, proximity sensors for detecting the proximity of the vehicle to obstacles or other vehicles, devices for locating the vehicle.

27. A control system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said devices for locating the position of the vehicle include a GPS receiver.

28. A control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first detection units include one or more cameras distributed along said road network and operably connected to one of more displays available to an operator.

29. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said information data comprise one or more of the following indicatons:

the current speed limit in the road section in which said road signs are located;

a temporarily narrowed roadway in the road section in which said road signs are located;

the presence of tailbacks in the road section in which said road signs are located;

the presence of temporary obstacles in the road section in which said road signs are located;

the presence of a currently prohibited access to the road section covered by the motor vehicle;

the presence of access to a zone having at least temporary traffic restrictions;

the presence of the current disk parking duration admitted in a parking lot within the road section covered by the motor vehicle;

the presence of the current parking rate in a parking lot within the road section covered by the motor vehicle.

30. A control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein it comprises electronic devices for connection to a mobile-telephony network.