UNIVERSAL INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL PRIORITY BETWEEN MASS TRANSIT VEHICLES AND INTERSECTION SIGNAL CONTROLLERS FOR PRIORITY REQUEST AND CONTROL
First Claim
1. An interface for a transit signal priority system, comprisinga priority request server positioned proximate to and coupled to an intersection signal controller at a traffic intersection, the priority request server providing a link between data in an incoming message transmitted from an approaching mass transit vehicle and the intersection signal controller, the priority request server configured to determine a data type, a message protocol, and a message type from one or more data packets in the incoming message and translate the incoming message into an instruction comprising at least one of a standard electrical input or a data message for the intersection signal controller so that the approaching mass transit vehicle affects traffic signal operation where a priority request is within an incoming message, for any messaging protocol used to transmit the incoming message and for any firmware configuration of the intersection signal controller.
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Abstract
A “smart” transit signal priority and control system includes a universal interface that enables incoming signals transmitted from approaching mass transit vehicles to request priority treatment at any traffic signal. The universal interface also enables a wireless communication link between traffic signal controller equipment and approaching mass transit vehicles and supports both electrical and data interfaces to initiate transit signal priority for any type of traffic signal controller, so that any messaging protocol used by an approaching mass transit vehicle is capable of communicating with any type of controller firmware.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An interface for a transit signal priority system, comprising
a priority request server positioned proximate to and coupled to an intersection signal controller at a traffic intersection, the priority request server providing a link between data in an incoming message transmitted from an approaching mass transit vehicle and the intersection signal controller, the priority request server configured to determine a data type, a message protocol, and a message type from one or more data packets in the incoming message and translate the incoming message into an instruction comprising at least one of a standard electrical input or a data message for the intersection signal controller so that the approaching mass transit vehicle affects traffic signal operation where a priority request is within an incoming message, for any messaging protocol used to transmit the incoming message and for any firmware configuration of the intersection signal controller.
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10. A method of interfacing data communications between approaching mass transit vehicles and intersection signal controllers, comprising:
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receiving incoming signals comprised of one or more data packets in messages initiated by mass transit vehicles approaching a section of roadway having a intersection signal controller, each incoming message indicative of a request for priority at a traffic signal at an intersection at the section of roadway; determining a data type, a messaging protocol, and a message type of the message in each incoming signal; and translating the incoming signals into instructions comprising one or more of standard electrical inputs or data messages for the intersection signal controller, the instructions permitting any messaging protocol communicating the incoming signal to instruct the intersection signal controller to request priority for the approaching transit vehicles so that traffic controller firmware accommodates any priority request communicated using any messaging protocol employed by an approaching mass transit vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A mass transit priority request system comprising:
a priority request server housed in a controller cabinet and forming a universal interface between incoming messages communicated by approaching mass transit vehicles and intersection signal controllers, the priority request server configured to translate priority requests in the incoming messages into instructions for an intersection signal controller to which the universal interface is coupled, so that the approaching mass transit vehicles communicate with any intersection signal controller type, the priority request server further comprising a wireless communications module configured to operate the universal interface as a wireless network client for communications with approaching mass transit vehicles and with the intersection signal controller to which the universal interface is coupled. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification