ADJUSTMENT OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL PLAN BASED ON LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• US 20150243164A1
• Filed: 02/27/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Collum, Brian, Collar, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• 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 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

Embodiments include a method for adjusting a signal control plan for a traffic signal at an intersection based on local environmental conditions is provided. The method includes operating the traffic signal based on a standard signal control plan, receiving an indication of an adverse environmental condition, and determining if the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition. Based on determining that the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition, the method includes creating a modified signal control plan based on the adverse environmental condition and the standard signal control plan and operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a signal control plan for a traffic signal at an intersection based on local environmental conditions, the method comprising:

operating the traffic signal based on a standard signal control plan;

receiving an indication of an adverse environmental condition;

determining if the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition;

based on determining that the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition, creating a modified signal control plan based on the adverse environmental condition and the standard signal control plan; and

operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the adverse environmental condition concluded;

based on determining that the adverse environmental condition concluded, operating the traffic signal based on the standard signal control plan; and

based on determining that the adverse environmental condition has not concluded, operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on determining that the standard signal control plan should not be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition operates the traffic signal based on the standard signal control plan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a sensor connected to roadside equipment disposed at the intersection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a vehicle in range of roadside equipment disposed at the intersection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a traffic management system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adverse environmental condition comprises at least one of rain, fog, snow or ice in a vicinity of the traffic signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of whether the signal control plan should be adjusted based on the adverse environmental condition is based on one or more of:

a severity of the adverse environmental condition;

a location of the adverse environmental condition;

a number of indications received of for the adverse environmental condition; and

a source of the indication of an adverse environmental condition.

9. A traffic signal controller comprising:

a processor configured to operate a traffic signal, the processor configured to perform a method comprising;

receiving a standard signal control plan;

operating the traffic signal based on the standard signal control plan;

receiving an indication of an adverse environmental condition;

determining if the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition;

based on determining that the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition, creating a modified signal control plan based on the adverse environmental condition and the standard signal control plan; and

operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.

10. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the adverse environmental condition concluded;

based on determining that the adverse environmental condition concluded, operating the traffic signal based on the standard signal control plan; and

based on determining that the adverse environmental condition has not concluded, operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.

11. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

based on determining that the standard signal control plan should not be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition operates the traffic signal based on the standard signal control plan.

12. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a sensor connected to roadside equipment disposed at the intersection.

13. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a vehicle in range of roadside equipment disposed at the intersection.

14. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition is received from a traffic management system.

15. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the adverse environmental condition comprises at least one of rain, fog, snow or ice in a vicinity of the traffic signal.

16. The traffic signal controller of claim 9, wherein the indication of the adverse environmental condition includes one or more of:

a severity of the adverse environmental condition;

a location of the adverse environmental condition; and

a source of the indication of an adverse environmental condition.

17. The traffic signal controller of claim 16, wherein the determination of whether the signal control plan should be adjusted based on the adverse environmental condition is based on one or more of:

the severity of the adverse environmental condition;

the location of the adverse environmental condition;

a number of indications received of for the adverse environmental condition; and

the source of the indication of an adverse environmental condition.

18. A roadside equipment for operating a traffic signal at an intersection, the roadside equipment comprising:

a traffic signal controller that operates a traffic signal for the intersection, the traffic signal controller performs a method comprising;

receiving an indication of an abnormal condition of a road in a vicinity of the intersection;

storing the abnormal condition in a memory of the roadside equipment;

broadcasting a warning message notifying connected devices in the vicinity of the intersection of the abnormal condition based on a type of the abnormal condition.

19. The roadside equipment of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises transmitting a notification of the abnormal condition to a traffic management system based on the type of the abnormal condition.

20. The roadside equipment of claim 18, wherein broadcasting the warning message notifying connected devices in the vicinity of the intersection of the abnormal condition is further based on a source of the indication of the abnormal condition.