CONFIGURABLE TRAFFIC ZONE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130158847A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Teteak, David
• Application Number:
  US13/328,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/119
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0091 Speed limiters or speed cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A configurable traffic zone control system (14) includes transmitter structure (16) associated with a traffic zone (10). The transmitter structure includes a transmitter (18) for transmitting a wireless signal (20) indicative of a speed requirement of the traffic zone. Receiver structure (24) is provided in a vehicle (26) for receiving the wireless signal such that based on the wireless signal, speed of the vehicle is automatically controlled to be at or below the speed requirement while the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle in a particular traffic zone, the method comprising:

providing transmitter structure associated with the traffic zone, the transmitter structure including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a speed requirement of the traffic zone,

receiving the wireless signal at the vehicle, and

based on the wireless signal, automatically controlling a speed of the vehicle to be at or below the speed requirement while the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic zone includes a speed limit sign, the transmitter structure being provided near the speed limit sign.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted via cellular communication.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling a cellular device while in the traffic zone based on receiving the wireless signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cellular device is controlled to place an active call on hold while the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cellular device is further controlled to send a notification message to the other party indicating that the call is on hold.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the cellular device is a telematics system of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter structure is configurable to set the required speed based on time of day and/or calendar days.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step or receiving includes providing receiver structure in the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a telematics system including a global positioning system (GPS), the method further comprising:

determining a position of the vehicle via the GPS, and

if the position of the vehicle is in the traffic zone, receiving the wireless signal.

11. A configurable traffic zone control system comprising:

transmitter structure associated with the traffic zone, the transmitter structure including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a speed requirement of the traffic zone, and

receiver structure in a vehicle for receiving the wireless signal such that based on the wireless signal, speed of the vehicle is automatically controlled to be at or below the speed requirement while the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver structure communicates with a cruise control unit, an engine control unit, and a brake control unit of the vehicle for automatically controlling the speed of the vehicle while in the traffic zone.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the traffic zone includes a speed limit sign, the transmitter structure being provided near the speed limit sign.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is constructed and arranged to transmit the wireless signal via cellular communication.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a telematics system in the vehicle capable of placing and receiving cellular calls, the telematics system being constructed and arranged, based on the wireless signal, to pace a cellular call on hold while the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the telematics system includes the receiver structure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the telematics system includes a global positioning system (GPS) constructed and arranged to determine if the vehicle is in the traffic zone.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter structure includes a processor for selectively setting the speed requirement based on time of day or calendar days.

16. The system of claim 16, wherein the telematics system is constructed and arranged to send a notification message to the other party indicating that the cellular call is on hold.