Use of vehicle permissions to control individual operator parameters in a hierarchical traffic control system

• US 6,885,935 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot IOT LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MacPhail, Margaret Gardner, Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/351,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 701201-213, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 340/933, 340/934, 340/935, 340/936
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In this system, at least one vehicle within the traffic includes a third-party permission for operation.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) communicating a permission for the vehicle to the traffic control system, wherein the permission comprises parameters of operation for the vehicle; and

(b) taking appropriate action if the permission is violated, wherein the appropriate action restricts use of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the permission is provided by a trip plan for the vehicle to the traffic control system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative, notifying an agency or notifying entity responsible for the at least one vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the permission is provided by a trip plan for the vehicle to the participant object of the traffic control system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative via the vehicle operating system, notifying an agency or notifying an entity responsible for the at least one vehicle via a controller.

4. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) communicating a permission for the vehicle to at least one participant object of the traffic control system, wherein the permission comprises parameters of operation for the vehicle; and

(b) taking appropriate action if the permission is violated, wherein in the appropriate action restricts use of the vehicle.

7. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the program instructions for;

(a) communicating a permission for the vehicle to the traffic control system, wherein the permission comprises parameters of operation for the vehicle; and

(b) taking appropriate action if the permission is violated, wherein the appropriate action restricts use of the vehicle.