Intelligent public transit system using dual-mode vehicles
First Claim
1. A computer system for controlling a mass transport roadway system having internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicles with both manual controls enabling an operator to drive the vehicles on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system in individual ones of the vehicles enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity, and a controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicles run on their own internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets, the computer system comprising:
- a master computer managing access to and movement of vehicles on the controlled roadway; and
individual on-board computers (OBCs) in individual ones of the transport vehicles;
an Internet connection enabling the master computer to host a Web page accessible to the users of the transport vehicles for negotiating trip Itineraries for transport vehicles on the controlled roadway;
characterized in that, while traveling on surface streets transport vehicles are controlled by operator input to the OBC, and while traveling on the controlled roadway, the transport vehicles are under control of the master computer, and in that the master computer controls a destination for transport vehicles based on the association of itineraries negotiated on the Web page with vehicles on the controlled roadway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unique transit system incorporates at least one internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicle having both manual controls enabling a user to drive the vehicle on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity. A controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicle runs on its internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets is provided as well. On surface streets off the controlled roadway the manual controls are active, and on the controlled roadway the software controls are active. Manual or computer control depends on whether the vehicle is on the controlled roadway or surface streets. The OBC communicates with a Master computer for the controlled roadway, providing a range of functions. The transport vehicles operate at a fixed and constant speed on the controlled roadway system.
35 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer system for controlling a mass transport roadway system having internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicles with both manual controls enabling an operator to drive the vehicles on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system in individual ones of the vehicles enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity, and a controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicles run on their own internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets, the computer system comprising:
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a master computer managing access to and movement of vehicles on the controlled roadway; and
individual on-board computers (OBCs) in individual ones of the transport vehicles;
an Internet connection enabling the master computer to host a Web page accessible to the users of the transport vehicles for negotiating trip Itineraries for transport vehicles on the controlled roadway;
characterized in that, while traveling on surface streets transport vehicles are controlled by operator input to the OBC, and while traveling on the controlled roadway, the transport vehicles are under control of the master computer, and in that the master computer controls a destination for transport vehicles based on the association of itineraries negotiated on the Web page with vehicles on the controlled roadway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for managing traffic on a controlled roadway having entrance and exit ramps and vehicles enabled to travel on and off the controlled roadway, comprising steps of:
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(a) mapping, by a master computer, a dynamic stream of a fixed number of virtual packets onto the controlled roadway, the virtual packets moving continuously at constant speed on the controlled roadway;
(b) merging vehicles from entrance ramps onto the controlled roadway into virtual packets, marking the merged packets as occupied; and
(c) moving vehicles from the controlled roadway onto exit ramps, marking the vacated virtual packets as unoccupied.
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Specification