Traffic control system and method for use in international border zones

• US 7,336,203 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Border Gateways Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Border Gateways Incorporated
• Inventors: Ouellette, Kathy, Arquette, Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/948,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 340/917, 340/934, 340/907, 340/910, 340/928, 701/117, 705/1, 705/13, 705/404, 713/168, 212/271, 703/8, 209/552, 209/546
• US Class Current: 340/928
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/065 by counting the vehicles in a section of the road or in a parking area, i.e. comparing incoming count with outgoing count
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A traffic control system and method, for expediting traffic flow across international border crossings, includes a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane. The traffic control center is spaced apart from the border crossing, and monitors traffic flow through a border zone. The traffic control center receives border-bound traffic, or electronic information from such traffic, and evaluates it to determine a vehicle'"'"'s preparedness level. The traffic control center includes facilities for temporarily holding vehicles, and assists vehicles preparing to cross the border. The virtual traffic lane is a preferred route between the traffic control center and the border crossing, and is changeable depending upon traffic conditions. The virtual traffic lane is selected from a number of available monitored routes. The traffic control center monitors traffic conditions in the border zone, and determines which preferred travel route is most appropriate for selection as the virtual lane at any given time.

Claims

1. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at an international border crossing and border inspection station, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the international border crossing and border inspection station, and the virtual traffic lane comprises a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border, and wherein the virtual traffic lane comprises a plurality of monitoring stations, disposed between the traffic control center and the border crossing, for monitoring traffic conditions along a selected route of travel;

wherein the traffic control center receives traffic bound for the border crossing, the traffic control center monitors and stores data relating to traffic flow between the traffic control center and the border crossing;

wherein the traffic control center comprises a screening component and a queuing component;

wherein the screening component determines whether or not a vehicle is prepared to cross the border according to established guidelines, directs prepared vehicles to the queuing component, and directs unprepared vehicles to an area reserved for unprepared vehicles;

and wherein the queuing component provides a sequential ordering for vehicles to advance to the virtual traffic lane.

2. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at a border crossing and border inspection station, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the border crossing and border inspection station, and the virtual traffic lane comprises a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border,

wherein the traffic control center receives traffic bound for the border crossing, the traffic control center monitors and stores data relating to traffic flow between the traffic control center and the border crossing;

wherein the traffic control center comprises a screening component, a queuing component, and a preparation remediation component;

wherein;

the screening component determines if a vehicle is prepared to cross the border according to established guidelines, the screening component directing prepared vehicles to the queuing component, and directing unprepared vehicles to the preparation remediation component;

the preparation remediation component receives unprepared vehicles and assists in remedying deficiencies in customs information, and wherein when appropriate preparedness is subsequently achieved by a vehicle, the preparation remediation component directs the vehicle to the queuing component; and

the queuing component provides a sequential ordering for vehicles to advance to the virtual traffic lane.

3. The traffic control system of claim 2 wherein the virtual traffic lane comprises a plurality of monitoring stations for monitoring traffic conditions along a selected route of travel.

4. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein a first monitoring station is provided at the entry to the virtual lane, and a final monitoring station is provided at the exit from the virtual lane.

5. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein each monitoring station comprises a data recorder which is adapted to record data corresponding to the identity of selected vehicles, and to a sequence of said selected vehicles passing the site.

6. The traffic control system of claim 5 wherein the virtual lane comprises at least three monitoring stations.

7. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the traffic control center comprises vehicle and cargo information inspection facilities, and wherein an authorized person is available to assist a vehicle in preparing for border crossing.

8. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the traffic control center comprises a vehicle staging area sized to allow a plurality of vehicles to stop and park therein and to allow detained vehicles to be stored therein.

9. The traffic control system of claim 8 wherein the traffic control center comprises a service area for providing services and conveniences related to vehicle operation and travel.

10. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the screening component comprises a border crossing preparedness check to determine whether the vehicle operator is in possession of proper documentation for crossing an international border, the screening component authorized to facilitate a border crossing for vehicles whose operators are in possession of the proper documentation for crossing an international border.

11. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the preparation remediation component comprises providing the service of assisting a vehicle operator to obtain proper documentation and become otherwise prepared for crossing a border.

12. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at a border crossing, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the border crossing, the traffic control center capable of receiving traffic bound for the border crossing, the traffic control center monitoring traffic flow between the traffic control center and the border crossing, and the virtual traffic lane comprising a selected route of travel between the traffic control center and the border crossing;

wherein the virtual traffic lane comprises a plurality of traffic monitoring stations, wherein the control center uses information provided from the monitoring stations of the virtual traffic lane to monitor traffic flow as it approaches the border, the virtual traffic lane receiving traffic flow from the traffic control center.

13. The traffic control system of claim 12 wherein the traffic control center separates traffic bound for the border crossing into at least a first traffic stream and a second traffic stream, wherein the first traffic stream is separate from the second traffic stream.

14. The traffic control system of claim 13, wherein wherein the traffic control center separates traffic bound for the border crossing into three distinct traffic streams, and wherein one of said traffic streams is an expedited electronic processing lane for pre-registered vehicles.

15. The traffic control system of claim 13 wherein the first traffic stream comprises vehicles that are in possession of the proper documentation for approaching a border crossing and crossing a border, and wherein the second traffic stream comprises vehicles that are not in possession of the proper documentation for approaching a border crossing and crossing a border.

16. The traffic control system of claim 13 wherein vehicles in the first traffic stream are directed to a queue in preparation for passing through a border crossing, and wherein vehicles in the second traffic stream are directed to a preparation remediation area and are parked until the vehicle is prepared to cross the border.

17. The traffic control system of claim 16 wherein the traffic control center controls the release of vehicles within the queue into the virtual traffic lane, the ordering of vehicles within the queue related the vehicles'"'"' level of preparedness to cross the border.

18. The traffic control system of claim 16, wherein a rate of release of vehicles within the queue into the virtual traffic lane is affected by road availability and conditions between the traffic control center and the border crossing.

19. The traffic control system of claim 18 wherein the road availability and conditions are determined by continuous surveillance of the roads between the traffic control center and the border crossing, using the traffic monitoring stations.

20. The traffic control system of claim 18 wherein the virtual traffic lane is a selected route between the traffic control center and the border crossing, the virtual traffic lane being changeable and selected from a number of available routes, using information obtained from said traffic monitoring stations.

21. A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow across a border which is located adjacent a city, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the border such that at least a portion of the city resides between the traffic control center and the border, the traffic control center monitoring traffic flow as it passes through at least a portion of the city and approaches the border, and the virtual traffic lane comprising a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border;

and wherein the virtual traffic lane comprises a plurality of monitoring stations, disposed between the traffic control center and the border crossing, for monitoring traffic conditions along a selected route of travel,

wherein said traffic flow across the border comprises vehicles of local origin and vehicles of non-local origin, the traffic control center remotely controlling the flow of selected vehicles of local origin, and the traffic control center directly controlling the flow of selected vehicles of non-local origin, such that said selected vehicles of non-local origin pass through or physically near the traffic control center;

wherein the traffic control center separates vehicles of non-local origin entering the traffic control center into at least a first traffic stream comprising vehicles that are considered to be ready to cross an international border, and a second traffic stream comprising vehicles that are not considered to be ready to cross an international border, wherein the first traffic stream is separate from the second traffic stream.

22. The traffic control system of claim 21, wherein the control center uses information provided from the monitoring stations of the virtual traffic lane to control traffic flow as it approaches the border, the virtual traffic lane receiving traffic flow from the traffic control center.

23. The traffic control system of claim 21, wherein the virtual traffic lane is a selected route between the traffic control center and the border, the virtual traffic lane being changeable and selected from a number of available routes between the traffic control center and the border.

24. The traffic control system of claim 23, wherein each of said available routes between the traffic control center and the border comprises a plurality of traffic monitoring stations, wherein the control center uses information provided from the monitoring stations to control traffic flow as it approaches the border, the virtual traffic lane receiving the traffic flow from the traffic control center, and wherein the virtual traffic lane is changeable and selected from a number of available routes using information provided from the monitoring stations along said available routes.

25. A method of processing vehicles traveling toward an international border;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) providing a traffic control center which is situated a distance apart from an international border;

b) communicating between selected vehicles of border-bound traffic and the traffic control center to determine whether individual vehicles are prepared to cross the border according to a set of guidelines;

c) sorting the vehicles of the selected border-bound traffic into prepared and unprepared vehicles according to said guidelines;

d) arranging a series of the prepared vehicles into a queue;

e) directing the vehicles in the queue to travel along an assigned route defining a virtual lane; and

f) monitoring the vehicles in the queue as they travel along the virtual lane using a plurality of monitoring stations.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising a step of:

g) providing information about the vehicles in the queue to a border crossing authority.