OPTIMIZING TRAFFIC SPEEDS TO MINIMIZE TRAFFIC PULSES IN AN INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC SYSTEM

• US 20110121993A1
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DAVIS, WILLIAM S., MCGINLEY, ROBERT C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/911
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

According to a method of vehicular traffic management, a computer system receives, from devices distributed in a plurality of roadway segments of a physical roadway system, real-time traffic information individually describing vehicular traffic in each the plurality of roadway segments. The computer system determines from the real-time traffic information an advised speed for a particular roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments. The computer system transmits, via a communication network, a speed advisory command specifying the advised speed to a device in the particular roadway segment for presentation.

Claims

1. A method of vehicular traffic management, comprising:

a computer system receiving, from devices distributed in a plurality of roadway segments of a physical roadway system, real-time traffic information individually describing vehicular traffic in each of the plurality of roadway segments;

the computer system determining from the real-time traffic information an advised speed for a particular roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments; and

the computer system transmitting, via a communication network, a speed advisory command specifying the advised speed to a device in the particular roadway segment for presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining the advised speed for the particular roadway segment from real-time traffic information in another roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and real-time weather information for the particular segment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said method further comprises simulating traffic flow in the physical roadway system utilizing a simulation model of the physical roadway system;

said determining comprises determining the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and simulation results obtained by simulating the traffic flow.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the speed advisory command to a variable speed advisory sign in the particular roadway segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the speed advisory command to a vehicle in the particular roadway segment.

7. A program product for vehicular traffic management, comprising:

a data storage medium; and

program code stored within the data storage medium that, when processed by a computer system, causes the computer system to;

receive, from devices distributed in a plurality of roadway segments of a physical roadway system, real-time traffic information individually describing vehicular traffic in each of the plurality of roadway segments;

determine from the real-time traffic information an advised speed for a particular roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments; and

transmit, via a communication network, a speed advisory command specifying the advised speed to a device in the particular roadway segment for presentation.

8. The program product of claim 7, wherein program code causes the computer system to determine the advised speed for the particular roadway segment from real-time traffic information in another roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments.

9. The program product of claim 7, wherein program code causes the computer system to determine the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and real-time weather information for the particular segment.

10. The program product of claim 7, wherein:

said program code further comprises a simulator that when processed by the computer system causes the computer system to simulate traffic flow in the physical roadway system utilizing a simulation model of the physical roadway system;

wherein program code causes the computer system to determine the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and simulation results obtained by simulating the traffic flow.

11. The program product of claim 7, wherein program code causes the computer system to transmit the speed advisory command to a variable speed advisory sign in the particular roadway segment.

12. The program product of claim 7, wherein program code causes the computer system to transmit the speed advisory command to a vehicle in the particular roadway segment.

13. A data processing system for vehicular traffic management, comprising:

a hardware processing unit;

a data storage medium coupled to the hardware processing unit; and

program code stored within the data storage medium that, when processed by the hardware processing unit, causes the hardware processing unit to;

receive, from devices distributed in a plurality of roadway segments of a physical roadway system, real-time traffic information individually describing vehicular traffic in each of the plurality of roadway segments;

determine from the real-time traffic information an advised speed for a particular roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments; and

transmit, via a communication network, a speed advisory command specifying the advised speed to a device in the particular roadway segment for presentation.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein program code causes the hardware processing unit to determine the advised speed for the particular roadway segment from real-time traffic information in another roadway segment among the plurality of roadway segments.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein program code causes the hardware processing unit to determine the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and real-time weather information for the particular segment.

16. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein:

said program code further comprises a simulator that when processed by the hardware processing unit causes the hardware processing unit to simulate traffic flow in the physical roadway system utilizing a simulation model of the physical roadway system;

wherein program code causes the hardware processing unit to determine the advised speed based upon the real-time traffic information and simulation results obtained by simulating the traffic flow.

17. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein program code causes the hardware processing unit to transmit the speed advisory command to a variable speed advisory sign in the particular roadway segment.

18. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein program code causes the hardware processing unit to transmit the speed advisory command to a vehicle in the particular roadway segment.