System and Method for Self-Optimizing Traffic Flow Using Shared Vehicle Information

• US 20130013179A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Lection, David B., Masselle, Eric L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control

Abstract

A system and method for self-optimizing traffic flow using shared vehicle information that utilizes multiple controllers in dynamic communication to optimize the flow of traffic. The system and method utilizes one or more traffic synchronization controllers (TSCs) (receivers) that receive information from one or more vehicle based transmitters called vehicle information agents (VIAs) and/or a network of traffic control devices (TCDs) associated with the traffic synchronization controllers to determine a variety of information related to traffic within a geographic region, including volume, speed, destination, intended route of the vehicle, as well as other vehicle related information, in order to determine the optimal flow of traffic within the region. The system and method then transmits traffic control signals to the various traffic control devices within the region or adjacent regions in order to optimally control the flow of traffic. The system and method may also share information amongst traffic synchronization controllers within the network in order to optimize the flow of traffic over a larger region.

Claims

1. A system for optimizing traffic flow based on information transmitted from one or more vehicle information agents, comprising:

at least one traffic synchronization controller in communication with at least one vehicle information agent, wherein said at least one traffic synchronization controller;

receives information transmitted by said at least one vehicle information agent, and

calculates an optimal traffic flow within a region based on the received information; and

,

at least one traffic control device in communication with said at least one traffic synchronization controller, wherein said at least one traffic control device;

receives the calculated optimal traffic flow from said at least one traffic synchronization controller, and

dynamically maintains or changes states in order to facilitate the calculated optimal traffic flow within the region.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information related to said automobile is selected from the group comprising:

vehicle position, direction, speed, vehicle type, planned route, gas level, and number of occupants.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central facility in communication with said at least one traffic synchronization controller, wherein said central facility receives the information related to said automobiles and the calculated optimal traffic flow from each of said at least one traffic synchronization controllers.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said central facility calculates an updated optimal traffic flow based on the vehicle information and calculated optimal traffic flows.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said central facility propagates the updated optimal traffic flow calculation to traffic control devices within the region or in adjacent regions in order to further improve traffic flow.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle information agent includes:

a user interface, wherein said user interface allows users to set and adjust the settings of the vehicle information agent;

a position module, wherein said position module is capable of providing a variety of information related to the geospatial position of the vehicle;

a vehicle information module, wherein said vehicle information module stores information related to the vehicle; and

,

a communication module, wherein said communication module enables the transmission and receipt of information from one of a traffic synchronization controller and/or a traffic control device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said vehicle information agent further includes a database capable of storing a variety of information and settings.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said traffic synchronization controller includes:

a vehicle information module, wherein said vehicle information module receives and aggregates the vehicle information;

a traffic control device module, wherein said traffic control device module stores information related to the state and settings of each of said at least one traffic control device;

a calculation module, wherein said calculation module determines a traffic control signal that includes the appropriate state for each of said one or more traffic control device;

a communication module, wherein said communication module enables communication with said at least one vehicle information agent and said at least one traffic control device; and

,

a database capable of storing a variety of information and settings.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said traffic control device includes:

a signal module, wherein said signal module receives a traffic control signal setting from said traffic synchronization controller;

a communication module, wherein said communication module enables communication with said traffic synchronization controller; and

,

a display, wherein said display is capable of providing and dynamically changing a traffic control signal.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said traffic control device further includes a database capable of storing a variety of information and settings.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said traffic control device further includes a sensor module capable of:

receiving and aggregating a variety of vehicle and traffic related information, and,

making gross vehicle counts.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said traffic synchronization controller utilizes said received information to identify clusters of vehicles.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said traffic synchronization controller maintains or changes the state of said at least one traffic control device in order to form a cluster of vehicles.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said traffic synchronization controller maintains or changes the state of said at least one traffic control device in order to divide a cluster of vehicles.

15. A method for optimizing traffic flow based on information transmitted by one or more vehicle information agents, comprising:

providing one or more traffic synchronization controllers within a region, wherein said one or more traffic synchronization controllers is capable of receiving and transmitting information related to one or more vehicles;

providing one or more traffic control devices within the region, wherein said one or more traffic control devices is capable of dynamically changing control states;

receiving on said one or more traffic synchronization controllers information transmitted by one or more vehicle information agents;

calculating an optimal traffic flow within the region based on the information received; and

,

dynamically maintaining or changing the state of one or more traffic control devices within the region to facilitate the calculated optimal traffic flow within the region.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said information transmitted by said one or more vehicle information agents is first received by a traffic control device and then transmitted by said traffic control device to said one or more traffic synchronization controllers.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said traffic synchronization controller utilizes said received information to identify clusters of vehicles.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein dynamically maintaining or changing the state of one or more traffic control devices includes forming clusters of vehicles.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein dynamically maintaining or changing the state of one or more traffic control devices includes dividing clusters of vehicles.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting said information related to said vehicles and the calculated optimal traffic flow from each of said at least one traffic synchronization controllers to a central facility; and

calculating an updated optimal traffic flow based on the vehicle information and calculated optimal traffic flows.

21. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

propagating the updated optimal traffic flow calculation to one or more traffic control devices within the region or in adjacent regions in order to further improve traffic flow.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a recommended route to vehicles based at least in part upon the optimal traffic flow calculation.

23. A system for optimizing traffic flow comprising:

at least one vehicle information agent capable of being disposed on a vehicle, wherein said at least one vehicle information agent is capable of transmitting information;

at least one traffic synchronization controller in communication with said at least one vehicle information agent, wherein said at least one traffic synchronization controller includes;

means for transmitting various information related to the progress of at least one vehicle within a traffic region;

means for receiving said transmitted information related to the progress of at least one vehicle within a traffic region,

means for calculating an optimal traffic flow within the region based on the received information; and

,

means for dynamically maintaining or changing at least one traffic control signal in response to the calculated optimal traffic flow in order to facilitate said optimal calculated traffic flow within the region.

24. A system for optimizing traffic flow comprising:

at least one vehicle information agent capable of being disposed on an automobile, wherein said at least one vehicle information agent transmits information related to said automobile;

at least one traffic synchronization controller in communication with said at least one vehicle information agent, wherein said at least one traffic synchronization controller;

receives information transmitted by said at least one vehicle information agent, and

calculates an optimal traffic flow within a region based on the received information; and

,

at least one traffic control device in communication with said at least one traffic synchronization controller, wherein said at least one traffic control device;

receives the calculated optimal traffic flow from said at least one traffic synchronization controller, and

dynamically maintains or changes states in order to facilitate the calculated optimal traffic flow within the region.