Mobile event triggering function for transit management system using traffic signal priority

• US 7,269,502 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Its USA LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McLaren, Timothy V., Zhang, Kee
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/758,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-119, 340901-902, 340/907, 455/152.1, 455/344, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A traffic signal control method and system reduces the delay time of a transit vehicle at an intersection by incorporating an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system to trigger a traffic signal priority (TSP) strategy with a chain of mobile events to determine the correct timing, location, conditions, and/or other mobile events that may trigger a TSP action. The traffic signal control can also be used to notify vehicle status in passenger/traveler information systems such as street signs, to monitor the wait time at an intersection or bus stop, and in any application that relates to vehicle entry into a given location and a consequence of actions that may be associated with the location.

Claims

1. A mobile computer for use in a traffic signal priority control system, comprising:

a storage device containing at least one event defnition data block, wherein said at least one event definition data block contains mobile event criteria defining at least one mobile event, wherein the mobile event criteria defines a parent event and at least one child event depending on the parent event; and

a processor containing an algorithm that evaluates a vehicle status with respect to the mobile event criteria and activates the mobile event if the mobile event criteria are met, wherein the processor evaluates the vehicle status with respect to a sequence of mobile events containing a parent event and at least one child event, and wherein the processor activates the mobile event if the mobile event criteria for the parent event and said at least one child event are met.