Traffic violation detection at an intersection employing a virtual violation line
First Claim
1. A system for detecting a violation of a traffic signal at an intersection comprising the steps of:
- a virtual violation line interface for receiving from a user data defining a virtual violation line that corresponds to a location at said intersection that if crossed by a vehicle entering said intersection during a red light phase of said traffic signal, is indicative of a violation of said traffic signal by said vehicle;
a storage device for storing a representation of said intersection and said virtual violation line;
at least one camera for capturing at least one image of a vehicle at said intersection;
a processing unit operative to;
analyze said at least one image to identify a position of said vehicle with resperct to said virtual violation line, compare said position of said vehicle to said virtual violation line, and generate an indication of a violation in the event said processing unit determines that said position of said vehicle is beyond said virtual violation line and that said vehicle has traveled into said intersection during said red light phase of said traffic signal.
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Accused Products
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, it causes some number of resources that may have been allocated to recording the non-violating vehicle, and/or prevents further resources from being allocated to such recording.
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Citations
84 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a violation of a traffic signal at an intersection comprising the steps of:
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a virtual violation line interface for receiving from a user data defining a virtual violation line that corresponds to a location at said intersection that if crossed by a vehicle entering said intersection during a red light phase of said traffic signal, is indicative of a violation of said traffic signal by said vehicle;
a storage device for storing a representation of said intersection and said virtual violation line;
at least one camera for capturing at least one image of a vehicle at said intersection;
a processing unit operative to;
analyze said at least one image to identify a position of said vehicle with resperct to said virtual violation line, compare said position of said vehicle to said virtual violation line, and generate an indication of a violation in the event said processing unit determines that said position of said vehicle is beyond said virtual violation line and that said vehicle has traveled into said intersection during said red light phase of said traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting a violation of a traffic signal comprising the steps of:
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storing in a storage device a representation of a traffic intersection, said representation of said intersection including a virtual violation line corresponding to a location at said intersection that if crossed by a vehicle entering said intersection during a red light phase of said traffic signal, is indicative of a violation of said traffic signal by said vehicle, said location of said virtual violation line with respect to said intersection being user configurable;
capturing at least one image showing said vehicle at said intersection;
analyzing said at least one image of said vehicle at said intersection to ascertain a position of said vehicle with respect to said location corresponding to said virtual violation line; and
generating an output indicative of a violation of a red light phase of said traffic signal in the event said analyzing step indicates that said vehicle has traveled beyond said location corresponding to said virtual violation line and into said intersection during said red light phase of said traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A collision avoidance system for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of
at least red and green, comprising: -
at least one violation image capturing device;
a plurality of images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said images derived from an output of said violation image capturing device.a processing unit responsive to said plurality of images and an indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, for generating at least one violation prediction for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction indicating a likelihood that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate an upcoming red light phase of said first traffic signal;
a collision avoidance unit responsive to said violation prediction, for asserting at least one violation predicted signal; and
a traffic light controller for said second traffic signal for controlling said second traffic signal responsive to said violation predicted signal in order to signal traffic approaching said second traffic signal not to enter said intersection;
said processing unit further operative to, maintain a virtual violation line, derive a position of said at least one vehicle from at least one of said plurality of images, compare the position of said vehicle to said virtual violation line, and generate a confirmation signal indicative of a red light violation in response to a determination that said at least one vehicle has crossed said virtual violation line during said red light phase of said first traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of collision avoidance at an intersection for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green, comprising:
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capturing a plurality of images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said images derived from an output of a violation image capturing device;
maintaining at least one virtual violation line at an intersection for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal;
generating, responsive to said plurality of images and an indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, at least one violation prediction for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction indicating a likelihood that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate an upcoming red light phase of said first traffic signal;
asserting, responsive to said violation prediction, at least one violation predicted signal coupled to said second traffic signal;
controlling, responsive to said violation predicted signal, said second traffic signal in order to signal traffic approaching said second traffic signal not to enter said intersection;
generating from at least one of said plurality of images a location of said at least one vehicle with respect to said virtual violation line;
comparing said location of said at least one vehicle to a position defined by said virtual violation line; and
generating an output indicative of a red light violation of said first traffic signal in the event said location of said vehicle is determined to be beyond said position of said virtual violation line within said intersection during said red light phase of said first traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of avoiding collisions at an intersection, comprising:
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receiving data defining a virtual violation line from a user, the virtual violation line corresponding to a location at said intersection;
storing a representation of said intersection and said virtual violation line;
capturing images of a vehicle approaching said traffic signal at said intersection;
analyzing said images to determine whether said vehicle is likely, during an upcoming red light phase of said traffic signal, to cross said virtual violation line; and
upon determining that said vehicle is likely to cross said virtual violation line during said upcoming red light phase of said traffic signal, generating a signal operative to control an indicator to warn cross traffic approaching said intersection not to enter said intersection. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A system for avoiding collisions at an intersection, comprising:
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a virtual violation line interface for receiving data defining a virtual violation line from a user, the virtual violation line corresponding to a location at said intersection;
a storage device for storing a representation of said intersection and said virtual violation line;
at least one camera for capturing images of a vehicle approaching said traffic signal at said intersection; and
a processing unit operative;
(1) to analyze said images to determine whether said vehicle is likely, during an upcoming red light phase of said traffic signal, to cross said virtual violation line, and (2) upon determining that said vehicle is likely to cross said virtual violation line during said upcoming red light phase of said traffic signal, to generate a signal operative to control an indicator to warm cross traffic approaching said intersection not to enter said intersection. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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Specification