Wireless traffic control system

• US 7,397,390 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arriver Software LLC
• Original Assignee: M/A Com
• Inventors: DiPiazza, Gerald Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/891,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/901, 340/906, 340/916, 340/917
• US Class Current: 340/905
• 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 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A wireless traffic control system and method for wirelessly communicating information using traffic control signs are provided. The method includes wirelessly transmitting at least one of traffic control information and vehicle information from a traffic control sign and wirelessly receiving the information transmitted from the traffic control sign by at least one other traffic control sign.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information using traffic control signs, said method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting at least one of traffic control information and vehicle information from a traffic control sign; and

wirelessly receiving the information transmitted from the traffic control sign by at least one other traffic control sign, and wherein wirelessly transmitting further comprises wirelessly transmitting information on at least one of a first plurality of frequencies within a predetermined range when transmitting to other traffic control signs and wirelessly transmitting information on at least one of a second plurality of frequencies within a predetermined range when transmitting to vehicles.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one of (i) processing the received information to determine response information to wirelessly transmit, (ii) storing the received information and (iii) communicating the information to at least one of another traffic control sign and a vehicle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising wirelessly receiving the transmitted information in at least one vehicle.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly broadcasting the information to a at least one of (i) a plurality of other traffic control signs and (ii) a plurality of vehicles.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting comprises transmitting the information to a single vehicle using a focused transmission beam.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising accessing stored information to determine a response to transmit based on the received information.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising determining at Least one of a source and destination of the received information based on a unique identifier.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting vehicle information from at least one vehicle to at least one traffic control sign.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising determining information to transmit to at least one other traffic control sign based on the received vehicle information.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising transmitting notification information from a traffic control sign to a vehicle based on information received by another traffic control sign from another vehicle.

11. A method for controlling traffic, said method comprising:

wirelessly receiving vehicle information relating to a vehicle by at least one traffic control sign from at least one vehicle;

determining response information to communicate to the at least one vehicle based on the received vehicle information and information received from at least one other traffic control sign; and

wirelessly communicating the response information to the at least one vehicle.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising wirelessly communicating the response information to at least one other traffic control sign.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein determining response information further comprises using one of stored vehicle information or traffic control information.

14. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising wirelessly communicating the response information to at least one other vehicle.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising wirelessly communicating at least one of the received vehicle information and traffic control information to at least one other traffic control sign.

16. A wireless traffic control system comprising:

a plurality of traffic control signs configured to wirelessly communicate information therebetween, the information including at least one of traffic control information and vehicle information, and wherein the plurality of traffic control signs are further configured to wirelessly transmit information on at least one of a first plurality of frequencies within a predetermined range when transmitting to other traffic control signs and to wirelessly transmit information on at least one of a second plurality of frequencies within a predetermined range when transmitting to vehicles.

17. A wireless traffic control system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising at least one vehicle receiver configured to receive the information communicated from at least one of the plurality of traffic control signs.

18. A wireless traffic control system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising at least one vehicle transmitter for transmitting vehicle information to at least one of the traffic control signs.

19. A wireless traffic control system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the plurality of traffic control signs comprise at least one of a regulatory sign, warning sign, marker sign, guide and information sign, recreational and cultural interest sign, construction sign, railroad crossing sign and school sign.

20. A wireless traffic control system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the plurality of traffic control signs include a housing and wherein the housing comprises an antenna integrally formed therein.