Traffic control method for multiple intersections

• US 6,617,981 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Basinger
• Original Assignee: John Basinger
• Inventors: Basinger, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/876,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 340/909, 340/907, 340/917, 340/916, 340/918, 340/924, 340/933, 340/934, 340/940, 340/943, 340/941, 340/942, 701/117, 701/118
• US Class Current: 340/909
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control

Abstract

A method for controlling a plurality of traffic intersections comprising (a) storing traffic flow data and related time data at each traffic intersection in a data storage unit; (b) periodically downloading the traffic flow data and the time data to a computer; (c) using the computer to generate a new set of operating parameters based upon the traffic flow data and the time data; and (d) controlling the plurality of traffic intersections with the new set of operating parameters.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of traffic intersections, each traffic intersection being defined by the intersection of at least two streets and each traffic intersection comprising (i) an alternating traffic control signal for controlling the flow of traffic through the intersection, (ii) at least one traffic flow sensor and one clock for sensing the flow of traffic on at least one of the two streets as a function of time and for generating time-related traffic flow data derived therefrom, (iii) a data storage unit for storing the time-related traffic flow data and (iv) a traffic signal controller for controlling the traffic control signal pursuant to a set of one or more time-related operating parameters, neither the traffic flow sensor, the clock, the data storage unit or the controller at any of the individual intersections being networked with that of any other intersection, the method comprising:

(a) continuously gathering and storing the time-related traffic flow data at each intersection;

(b) downloading the time-related traffic flow data from the data storage device at each intersection to a computer;

(c) using the computer to generate a new set of time-related operating parameters for each of the traffic controllers, the new set of operating parameters being derived from the time-related traffic flow data;

(d) installing the new set of time-related operating parameters into each of the traffic controllers;

(e) controlling the plurality of traffic intersections with the traffic controllers after the new sets of operating parameters have been installed in the traffic controllers in step (d); and

(f) repeating steps (b)-(e) at least as often as every 180 days.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each set of time-related operating parameters comprises a table having a plurality of operating instructions and wherein each traffic signal controller controls one of the traffic intersections in step (e) using the operating instructions from its respective table, the table being indexed by the traffic signal controller at least as often as twice every second.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

(f) monitoring a first street within a first traffic intersection with the traffic flow sensors to identify when the first street is unduly congested;

(g) communicating the fact that the first street is unduly congested to the traffic signal controller at the first traffic intersection; and

(h) controlling the first traffic intersection with the traffic signal controller at the first traffic intersection to allow increased traffic through the first traffic intersection along the first street so as to decongest the first street.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of traffic intersections comprises a first traffic intersection defined by a first street and a second street and having a first traffic flow sensor, the method comprising the additional steps of:

(f) emitting a first wireless transmission signal from the first traffic signal controller to a first portion of the first street;

(g) emitting a second wireless transmission signal from the first traffic signal controller to a second portion of the first street;

(h) receiving the first wireless transmission signal at the first portion of the first street by a mobile transponder;

(i) transmitting a first corresponding wireless transmission signal from the mobile transponder to the first traffic signal controller, the first corresponding wireless transmission signal being a reflection of the first wireless transmission signal;

(j) moving the mobile transponder to the second portion of the first street;

(k) receiving the second wireless transmission signal at the second portion of the first street by a mobile transponder; and

(l) transmitting a second corresponding wireless transmission signal from the mobile transponder to the first traffic signal controller, the second corresponding wireless transmission signal being a reflection of the second wireless transmission signal, whereby the first traffic signal controller senses that the mobile transponder in step (j) has moved from the first portion of the first street to the second portion of the first street.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of traffic intersections comprises (i) a first traffic intersection defined by the intersection of a first street and a second street, the first traffic intersection having a first traffic signal controller, and (ii) a second traffic intersection defined by the intersection of the second street and a third street, the second traffic intersection having a second traffic signal, the method further comprising the steps of:

(f) sensing signal changes at the second traffic signal by a video camera disposed proximate to the first traffic intersection and emitting a corresponding output signal from the video camera to the first traffic signal controller; and

(g) controlling the traffic flow at the first traffic intersection by the first traffic signal controller.