COMPREHENSIVE AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR MANAGING TRAFFIC AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

• US 20140063196A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Isaac S. Daniel
• Original Assignee: Isaac S. Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac S.
• Application Number:
  US14/113,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20140063196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate 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 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00

Abstract

A comprehensive and intelligent system for managing traffic and emergency services, which includes a plurality of 3D cameras positioned throughout a city, specifically at traffic intersections, which are capable of determining traffic conditions throughout the city'"'"'s roads and transmitting it to emergency service providers so that better emergency response routes may be planned, and live video from an emergency scene may be transmitted to the emergency service providers, a plurality of 3D cameras positioned on vehicles driving on the city'"'"'s roads, which are operative to alert drivers to an imminent accident so that drivers may respond accordingly and avoid the accident, and a plurality of location determination means positioned on or near traffic signals and vehicles, which are used to determine the relative speed and position of vehicles from traffic signals, and inform drivers as to whether or not they should proceed through an intersection given the time until a traffic signal turns red and the position and speed of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A comprehensive and intelligent traffic and emergency services management system comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. a first location determination means electronically connected to the processor, positioned on or near a traffic signal at an intersection, and operative to determine the location of the traffic signal;

c. a second location determination means electronically connected to the processor, positioned on a first vehicle, and operative to determine a location and velocity of the first vehicle;

d. a first 3D camera electronically connected to the processor and positioned on or near the traffic signal, wherein the first 3D camera'"'"'s field of view encompasses all or part of the intersection, and wherein the first 3D camera is operative to capture an image or video of the intersection and detect the presence of a vehicle or pedestrian near the intersection;

e. a second 3D camera electronically connected to the processor, and positioned on the first vehicle, wherein the second 3D camera is operative to detect the presence, velocity, and position of an object in front of the first vehicle;

f. a first display means electronically connected to the processor, and positioned within the first vehicle, wherein the first display means is visible to a driver of the first vehicle;

g. a second display means electronically connected to the processor, and positioned within an emergency services vehicle, wherein the second display means is visible to a driver of the emergency services vehicle;

h. a means to control the first 3D camera electronically connected to the processor, wherein the means to control the first 3D camera is positioned within the emergency services vehicle; and

i. computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to;

i. use the first location determination means and the second location determination means to determine how long it will take the first vehicle to reach the intersection;

ii. display a count-down until the traffic signal shows a red light, wherein the count-down is displayed on the first display means;

iii. determine whether the first vehicle will pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light based on the locations of the first vehicle and the traffic signal and the first vehicle'"'"'s velocity;

iv. use the first display means to alert the driver of the first vehicle to stop at the intersection if it is determined that the first vehicle will not pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light, or to pass through the intersection if it is determined that the first vehicle will pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light;

v. use the second 3D camera to determine whether the first vehicle will collide with the object in front of the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first vehicle and the position and velocity of the object in front of the first vehicle;

vi. use the first display means to alert the driver of the first vehicle to stop if it is determined that the first vehicle will collide with the object in front of the first vehicle;

vii. use the second display means to display the video or image captured by the first 3D sensor;

viii. allow a driver or passenger of the emergency services vehicle to use the means to control the first 3D camera to control the first 3D camera;

ix. use the first 3D camera to determine a traffic condition at the intersection, and display the determination on the second display means;

x. based on the traffic condition at the intersection determine a best route for the emergency services vehicle to take to an emergency; and

xi. use the second display means to display the best route.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of processors, first location determination means, second location determination means, first 3D cameras, second 3D cameras, first display means, second display means, means to control the first 3D cameras, and computer executable instructions positioned throughout a plurality of vehicles, emergency services vehicles, and intersections in a city.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first location determination means and the second location determination means each comprise global positioning system receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first 3D camera and the second 3D camera each comprise a structured light camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions comprise object recognition software.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wireless communications means, wherein the processor, the first and second location determination means, the first and second 3D cameras, and the first and second display means, and the means for controlling the first 3D camera are each connected to one of the plurality of wireless communications means, and wherein the wireless communications means are operative to facilitate electronic inter-communication between the processor, the first and second location determination means, the first and second 3D cameras, and the first and second display means, and the means for controlling the first 3D camera.

7. A comprehensive and intelligent traffic and emergency services management system comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. a first location determination means electronically connected to the processor, positioned on or near a traffic signal at an intersection, and operative to determine the location of the traffic signal;

c. a second location determination means electronically connected to the processor, positioned on a vehicle, and operative to determine a location and velocity of the vehicle;

d. a 3D camera electronically connected to the processor, and positioned on first vehicle, wherein the 3D camera is operative to detect the presence, velocity, and position of an object in front of the vehicle;

e. a display means electronically connected to the processor, and positioned within the vehicle, wherein the display means is visible to a driver of the vehicle; and

f. computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to;

i. use the first location determination means and the second location determination means to determine how long it will take the vehicle to reach the intersection;

ii. display a count-down until the traffic signal shows a red light, wherein the count-down is displayed on the display means;

iii. determine whether the vehicle will pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light based on the locations of the vehicle and the traffic signal and the vehicle'"'"'s velocity;

iv. use the display means to alert the driver of the vehicle to stop at the intersection if it is determined that the vehicle will not pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light, or to pass through the intersection if it is determined that the vehicle will pass through the intersection before the traffic signal shows a red light;

v. use the 3D camera to determine whether the vehicle will collide with the object in front of the vehicle based on the position and velocity of the vehicle and the position and velocity of the object in front of the vehicle; and

vi. use the display means to alert the driver of the vehicle to stop if it is determined that the vehicle will collide with the object in front of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system comprises a plurality of processors, first location determination means, second location determination means, 3D cameras, display means, and computer executable instructions positioned throughout a plurality of vehicles and intersections in a city.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first location determination means and the second location determination means each comprise global positioning system receiver.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the 3D camera comprises a structured light camera.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer executable instructions comprise object recognition software.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of wireless communications means, wherein the processor, the first and second location determination means, the 3D camera, and the display means are each connected to one of the plurality of wireless communications means, and wherein the wireless communications means are operative to facilitate electronic inter-communication between the first and second location determination means, the 3D camera, the processor and the display means.

13. A comprehensive and intelligent traffic and emergency services management system comprising:

a. at least one processor;

b. a 3D camera electronically connected to the processor and positioned on or near the traffic signal, wherein the 3D camera'"'"'s field of view encompasses a part of or an entire intersection associated with the traffic signal, and wherein the 3D camera is operative to capture an image or video of the intersection and detect the presence of a vehicle or pedestrian near the intersection;

c. a display means electronically connected to the processor, and positioned within an emergency services vehicle, wherein the display means is visible to a driver of the emergency services vehicle;

d. a means to control the 3D camera electronically connected to the processor, wherein the means to control the 3D camera is positioned within the emergency services vehicle; and

e. computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to;

i. use the display means to display the video or image captured by the first 3D sensor;

ii. allow a driver or passenger of the emergency services vehicle to use the means to control the 3D camera to control the 3D camera;

iii. use the 3D camera to determine whether an accident has occurred at the intersection, and display the determination on the display means; and

iv. use the 3D camera to determine a traffic condition at the intersection;

v. based on the traffic condition at the intersection, determine a best route for the emergency services vehicle to take to an emergency; and

vi. use the display means to display the best route.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a plurality of processors, 3D cameras, display means, and computer executable instructions positioned throughout a plurality of emergency services vehicles and intersections in a city.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the 3D camera comprises a structured light camera.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions comprise object recognition software.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of wireless communications means, wherein the processor, the 3D camera, and the display means are each connected to one of the plurality of wireless communications means, and wherein the wireless communications means are operative to facilitate electronic inter-communication between the 3D camera, the processor and the display means.

18. The system of claim of claim 13, wherein allowing a driver or passenger of the emergency services vehicle to use the means to control the 3D camera to control the 3D camera comprises allowing a driver or passenger of the emergency services vehicle to use the means to control the 3D camera to zoom the 3D camera, change the position of the 3D camera, or chance the direction in which the 3D camera is pointing.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein using the 3D camera to determine whether an accident has occurred at the intersection comprises using object recognition software to analyze an image or video captured by the 3D camera and determine whether any vehicles are irregularly positioned in the intersection.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein using the 3D camera to determine a traffic condition at the intersection comprises using object recognition software to analyze an image or video captured by the 3D camera and determine the speed and number of vehicles passing through the intersection.