Remote activation of a vehicle priority system
First Claim
1. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
- a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation message;
a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message;
a mobile data terminal associated with the vehicle, wherein the activation message is a portion of data transmitted from the control center to the mobile data terminal;
at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and
a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely-activated vehicle priority system includes a control center, a vehicle-priority communication device, at least one receiver, and a phase selector. The control center transmits an activation message. The vehicle-priority communication device is mounted to a vehicle and is communicatively coupled to the control center. In response to the activation message, the vehicle-priority communication device transmits a priority preemption request. Transmission of the priority preemption request in response to the activation message prevents improper activation, either intentional or unintentional, of the vehicle priority system by an operator of the vehicle. The receiver is situated at a traffic signal and receives the priority preemption request. The phase selector issues, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal. The command selects a phase for the traffic signal.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
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a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation message; a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message; a mobile data terminal associated with the vehicle, wherein the activation message is a portion of data transmitted from the control center to the mobile data terminal; at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
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a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation and deactivation message; a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message and terminate the transmission of the priority preemption request in response to the deactivation message; at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
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a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation message; a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message; a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver associated with the vehicle, wherein the vehicle-priority communication device is further adapted to transmit coordinates of the vehicle from the GPS receiver to the control center; at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
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a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation message and a firmware update message; a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message and to update firmware controlling the operation of the vehicle-priority communication device in response to the firmware update message; at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal.
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13. A remotely-activated vehicle priority system, comprising:
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a control center comprising a dispatch center adapted to transmit an activation message and a diagnostic retrieval message; a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the control center, the vehicle-priority communication device adapted to transmit a priority preemption request in response to the activation message and diagnostic data to the control center in response to the diagnostic retrieval message; at least one receiver situated at a traffic signal and adapted to receive the priority preemption request; and a phase selector coupled to the at least one receiver and adapted to issue, responsive to the priority preemption request, a command to a controller of the traffic signal, wherein the command selects a phase for the traffic signal.
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14. A method for remotely activating a vehicle priority system, comprising:
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transmitting an activation message from a remote dispatch control center; receiving the activation message at a vehicle-priority communication device mounted to a vehicle; transmitting a priority preemption request from the vehicle-priority communication device in response to the activation message; receiving the priority preemption request at a receiver situated proximate to a traffic signal; requesting a phase for the traffic signal in response to the priority preemption request; transmitting a deactivation message from the remote dispatch control center; receiving the deactivation message at the vehicle-priority communication device; and terminating the transmission of the priority preemption request from the vehicle-priority communication device in response to the deactivation message. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification