TRAFFIC CITATION DELIVERY BASED ON TYPE OF TRAFFIC INFRACTION

• US 20130076906A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ariel Inventions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Leigh M. Rothschild
• Inventors: ROTHSCHILD, Leigh M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,552,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for vehicle speed acquisition and citation. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, multiple different imaging systems can be placed individually at different locations along a route of travel, such as a highway, byway or waterway. Images of different vehicles can be captured at each of the locations and different ones of the different vehicles can be image-recognized. A time of travel between pairs of the locations can be determined for selected ones of the different vehicles in order to compute a rate of travel for the selected ones of the different vehicles. A citation signal is generated when a speed of a vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed limit such that the vehicle owner may be automatically cited for speeding.

Claims

1. A method of processing traffic information, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, data indicating a traffic violation from a vehicle data acquisition unit; and

sending, from the computing device, citation information concerning the violation to a selected destination, the selected destination depending upon a type of the traffic violation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the type of traffic violation is one of a first category of offenses, the selected destination is one of a mobile device of an owner of a vehicle involved in the traffic violation and an onboard system of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the type of traffic violation is one of a second category of offenses, the selected destination is one of a residence address and a business address of an owner of a vehicle involved in the traffic violation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the citation information is sent to the selected destination by one of regular mail, registered mail, and certified mail.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the type of traffic violation involves speeding in excess of a threshold, where the threshold is above a speed limit where the traffic violation occurred, the selected destination is one of a residence address and a business address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the type of traffic violation involves reckless driving, the selected destination is one of a residence address and a business address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data acquisition unit includes at least one of a camera and a radar gun.

8. An apparatus for processing traffic information, the apparatus comprising:

memory, the memory configured to store information concerning a traffic violation; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

determine a type of traffic violation based on the stored information; and

select a manner of delivery and a destination to send citation information concerning the traffic violation based on the type of traffic violation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor further selects a destination based on ownership of a vehicle involved in the traffic violation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selected destination is based on whether the owner is a business entity or an individual.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selected destination is an address of an insurer of a vehicle involved in the traffic violation.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a type of traffic violation is one of a traffic violation involving human injury and a traffic violation involving a collision.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selected destination is one of a residence address and a business address of an owner of a vehicle involved in the traffic violation.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the citation information is sent to the selected address by one of email and facsimile.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor further makes an assessment of fault based on the stored information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the assessment of fault is based on a right of way.

17. A method of processing traffic violation information, the method comprising:

detecting a traffic violation, the detecting including evaluating video imagery of the traffic violation obtained at a scene of the traffic violation, the evaluating being via an image analysis algorithm;

assessing fault of a vehicle based on the evaluating of the video imagery; and

sending citation information to a selected destination associated with an owner of a vehicle determined to be at fault.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein evaluating information includes determining at least one of an improper lane change and following too closely.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein content of the citation information depends upon the seriousness of the offense.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selected destination is based on a seriousness of an offense associated with the traffic violation.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein evaluating information includes determining an occurrence of a traffic accident.