Traffic preemption system and related methods
First Claim
1. A traffic preemption system comprising:
- a vehicle preemption unit mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle preemption unit comprising;
an optical transmitter adapted to identify to an intersection preemption unit coupled with an intersection system controller the presence of the vehicle, and a vehicle radio transceiver adapted to communicate with the intersection preemption unit, wherein the optical transmitter and the vehicle radio transceiver are each coupled with a vehicle controller adapted to process signals sent and received by the vehicle preemption unit and generate a vehicle identifying characteristic unique to the vehicle, the vehicle identifying characteristic having a time delay unique to the vehicle;
wherein the intersection preemption unit comprises;
an optical receiver adapted to receive an optical signal from the optical transmitter of the vehicle preemption unit, and an intersection radio transceiver adapted to communicate with the vehicle radio transceiver of the vehicle preemption unit, wherein the optical receiver and the intersection radio transceiver are each coupled with an intersection controller adapted to process signals sent and received by the intersection preemption unit; and
wherein the intersection preemption unit is adapted to change a traffic light in favor of the vehicle to which the vehicle preemption unit is mounted in response to one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a combination of optical and radio signals from the vehicle preemption unit, wherein the one of the optical signal, the radio signal, and the combination of the optical and radio signals includes the time delay of the vehicle identifying characteristic.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic preemption system and related methods. Implementations may include a vehicle preemption unit mounted to a vehicle including an optical transmitter adapted to identify to an intersection preemption unit coupled with an intersection system controller the presence of the vehicle. The vehicle preemption unit may include a vehicle radio transceiver and the optical transmitter and the vehicle radio transceiver may be coupled with a vehicle controller. The intersection preemption unit may include an optical receiver and an intersection radio transceiver. The optical receiver and the intersection radio transceiver may each be coupled with an intersection controller. The intersection preemption unit may be adapted to change a traffic light in favor of the vehicle to which the vehicle preemption unit is mounted in response to an optical signal, a radio signal, or a combination of optical and radio signals from the vehicle preemption unit.
30 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A traffic preemption system comprising:
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a vehicle preemption unit mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle preemption unit comprising; an optical transmitter adapted to identify to an intersection preemption unit coupled with an intersection system controller the presence of the vehicle, and a vehicle radio transceiver adapted to communicate with the intersection preemption unit, wherein the optical transmitter and the vehicle radio transceiver are each coupled with a vehicle controller adapted to process signals sent and received by the vehicle preemption unit and generate a vehicle identifying characteristic unique to the vehicle, the vehicle identifying characteristic having a time delay unique to the vehicle; wherein the intersection preemption unit comprises; an optical receiver adapted to receive an optical signal from the optical transmitter of the vehicle preemption unit, and an intersection radio transceiver adapted to communicate with the vehicle radio transceiver of the vehicle preemption unit, wherein the optical receiver and the intersection radio transceiver are each coupled with an intersection controller adapted to process signals sent and received by the intersection preemption unit; and wherein the intersection preemption unit is adapted to change a traffic light in favor of the vehicle to which the vehicle preemption unit is mounted in response to one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a combination of optical and radio signals from the vehicle preemption unit, wherein the one of the optical signal, the radio signal, and the combination of the optical and radio signals includes the time delay of the vehicle identifying characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of identifying a vehicle for a traffic preemption system, the method comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal adapted to identify the existence of a vehicle to an intersection preemption unit using an optical transmitter comprised in a vehicle preemption unit mounted to the vehicle; receiving the optical signal at an optical receiver supported by a traffic light support fixture, the optical receiver included in the intersection preemption unit, the intersection preemption unit adapted to distinguish between two or more vehicles each equipped with one of the vehicle preemption units; transmitting a radio signal from an intersection radio transceiver in response to receiving the optical signal, the radio signal comprising information adapted to allow the vehicle preemption unit to uniquely identify the vehicle to the intersection preemption unit, wherein the intersection radio transceiver is comprised in the intersection preemption unit; receiving the radio signal using a vehicle radio transceiver included in the vehicle preemption unit; generating a vehicle identifying characteristic unique to the vehicle using a vehicle controller comprised in the vehicle preemption unit, the vehicle identifying characteristic having a time delay unique to the vehicle and adapted to allow an intersection controller included in the intersection preemption unit to distinguish between the two or more vehicles; sending the vehicle identifying characteristic to the intersection preemption unit from the vehicle preemption unit through one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a combination of an optical signal and a radio signal, wherein the one of the optical signal, the radio signal, and the combination of the optical and radio signals includes the time delay of the vehicle identifying characteristic; receiving one of the optical signal, the radio signal, and the combination of the optical signal and the radio signal at the intersection preemption unit; and uniquely identifying the two or more vehicles using the vehicle identifying characteristic and the intersection controller. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of identifying a vehicle for a traffic preemption system, the method comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from a optical transmitter comprised in a vehicle preemption unit, the optical signal comprising an optical communication pattern, and the optical signal adapted to optically identify the existence of a vehicle to an intersection preemption unit; receiving the optical signal at an optical receiver supported by a traffic light support fixture, the optical receiver included in the intersection preemption unit, the intersection preemption unit adapted to distinguish between two or more vehicles each equipped with a vehicle preemption unit; transmitting a radio signal from a vehicle radio transceiver comprised in the vehicle preemption unit, the radio signal comprising a corresponding optical communication pattern and a vehicle identifying characteristic adapted to allow an intersection controller included in the intersection preemption unit to distinguish between two or more vehicles each equipped with one of the vehicle preemption units and to receive vehicle status information adapted to communicate an operating condition or status of the vehicle; receiving the radio signal at an intersection radio transceiver comprised in the intersection preemption unit; and uniquely identifying the two or more vehicles using the vehicle identifying characteristic and the intersection controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of identifying a vehicle for a traffic preemption system, the method comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from an optical transmitter comprised in a vehicle preemption unit, the optical signal comprising an optical communication pattern, the optical signal adapted to optically identify the existence of a vehicle to an intersection preemption unit; receiving the optical signal at an optical receiver supported by a traffic light support fixture, the optical receiver included in the intersection preemption unit, the intersection preemption unit adapted to distinguish between two or more vehicles each equipped with one of the vehicle preemption units; transmitting a switching radio signal to the vehicle preemption unit using the intersection radio transceiver; receiving the switching radio signal at the vehicle radio transceiver; altering a characteristic of the optical signal in response to receiving the switching radio signal by processing the optical signal with a vehicle controller included in the vehicle preemption unit; and uniquely identifying the two or more vehicles using the altered characteristic of the optical signal and the intersection controller. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of identifying a vehicle for a traffic preemption system, the method comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from an optical transmitter comprised in a vehicle preemption unit, the optical signal comprising an optical communication pattern, the optical signal adapted to optically identify the existence of a vehicle to an intersection preemption unit; receiving the optical signal at an optical receiver supported by a traffic light support fixture, the optical receiver included in the intersection preemption unit, the intersection preemption unit adapted to distinguish between two or more vehicles each equipped with one of the vehicle preemption units; transmitting a radio signal from a vehicle radio transceiver comprised in the vehicle preemption unit, the radio signal comprising a corresponding optical communication pattern and where the radio signal is transmitted on a default operating frequency or channel; receiving the radio signal on the default operating frequency or channel at an intersection radio transceiver comprised in the intersection preemption unit; transmitting a switching radio signal to the vehicle preemption unit using the intersection radio transceiver; receiving the switching radio signal at the vehicle radio transceiver; altering a characteristic of the radio signal in response to receiving the switching radio signal by processing the radio signal with a vehicle controller included in the vehicle preemption unit; and uniquely identifying the two or more vehicles using the altered characteristic of the radio signal and the intersection controller. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification