Non-violation event filtering for a traffic light violation detection system

• US 6,647,361 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nestor, Inc.
• Inventors: Small, Steven I., Laird, Mark D., Tinnemeier, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THANGAVELU, KANDASAMY
• Application Number:
  US09/444,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 340/906-938, 340/426, 348/148, 348/149, 348/37, 348/154, 701/117-119, 703/8, 703/6
• US Class Current: 703/8
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/06 Arrangements for road pricing or congestion charging of vehicles or vehicle users, e.g. automatic toll systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and filtering non-violation events in a traffic light violation prediction and recording system, including at least one violation prediction image capturing device, such as a video camera, and a violation prediction unit. The prediction unit generates a prediction reflecting a probability that the vehicle will violate a red light phase of the traffic signal. A non-violation event filter determines whether the vehicle approaching the traffic signal is actually performing a non-violation action. Non-violation events may include a variety of actions performed by the vehicle, and are fully configurable to meet the needs and policies of various specific intersections and jurisdictions. When the non-violation event filter determines that the vehicle is performing a non-violation action, resources that may have been allocated to recording the non-violating vehicle may be released, and a determination may be made that additional resources need not be allocated to such recording.

Claims

1. A traffic light violation recording system comprising:

at least one violation prediction image capturing device, said violation prediction image capturing device providing a plurality of violation images showing a vehicle approaching a traffic signal;

a violation prediction unit, responsive to said at least one violation prediction image capturing device, for generating a prediction that said vehicle approaching said traffic signal will violate a red light phase of said traffic signal; and

a non-violation event filter for determining whether said vehicle is performing a non-violation event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-violation event filter includes a virtual violation line, and wherein said non-violation event filter determines that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle does not cross said virtual violation line during said red light phase of said traffic signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-violation event filter includes a threshold speed, and wherein said non-violation event filter determines that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle is travelling at a speed not greater than said threshold speed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-violation event filter includes a grace period and a virtual violation line, and wherein said non-violation event filter determines that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle crosses said virtual violation line within said grace period after said traffic signal enters said red light phase.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein virtual violation line is defined to be located at substantially the same position in said intersection as a stop line for said traffic signal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said virtual violation line is angled such that vehicles making permitted turns do not cross said virtual violation line.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-violation event filter includes a grace period and a virtual permitted turn zone, and wherein said non-violation event filter determines that said at least one vehicle approaching said traffic signal is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle is travelling within said permitted turn zone.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said virtual violation line is configured on a lane by lane basis.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said non-violation event filter deallocates at least one resource in response to said determination that said vehicle approaching said traffic signal is performing a non-violation event.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one resource includes an image file.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said image file includes said plurality of violation images showing said vehicle approaching said traffic signal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one resource includes said violation prediction image capturing device.

13. A method of filtering non-violation events in a traffic light violation recording system comprising:

capturing, by at least one violation prediction image capturing device, a plurality of violation images showing a vehicle approaching said traffic signal;

generating, by a violation prediction unit, responsive to said plurality of violation images, a prediction that said vehicle approaching said traffic signal will violate a red light phase of said traffic signal; and

determining, by a non-violation event filter, whether said vehicle approaching said traffic signal is performing a non-violation event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step includes the steps of determining, responsive to a virtual violation line, that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle does not cross said virtual violation line during said red light phase of said traffic signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining, responsive to a threshold speed, that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle is travelling at a speed not greater than said threshold speed.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining, responsive to a grace period and a virtual violation line, that said vehicle approaching said traffic signal is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle crosses said virtual violation line within said grace period after said traffic signal enters said red light phase.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said virtual violation line is defined to be located at substantially the same position as a stop line for said traffic signal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said virtual violation line is angled such that vehicles making permitted turns do not cross said virtual violation line.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining, responsive to a grace period and a virtual permitted turn zone, that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event in the event that said vehicle is travelling within said permitted turn zone.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said virtual violation line is configured on a lane by lane basis.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising deallocating at least one resource in response to said determination that said vehicle is performing a non-violation event.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one resource includes an image file.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said image file includes said plurality of violation images showing said vehicle approaching said traffic signal.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one resource includes said violation prediction image capturing device.