Method and system for automatically directing traffic on a site

• US 8,103,438 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Petrie, Robert William, Walton, Paul, Santamaria, Juan Carlos, Opdenbosch, Augusto, Darby, George Derrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/135,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 701/119, 701/301, 701/300, 701/96, 701/50, 340/995.13, 340/905, 340/540, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 701/119
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

In a method for automatically directing traffic on a site, information is received regarding a plurality of selected entities on the job site. An indication of a first priority assigned to a first of the plurality of selected entities is received. An indication of a second priority assigned to a second of the plurality of selected entities is received. It is then determined that the first of the plurality of selected entities has a right of way over the second of the plurality of selected entities based upon a comparison of the first priority and the second priority.

Claims

1. A method for automatically directing traffic on a site, said method comprising:

receiving information regarding a plurality of selected entities on a site;

receiving an indication of a first priority assigned to a first of said plurality of selected entities;

receiving an indication of a second priority assigned to a second of said plurality of selected entities;

determining that said first of said plurality of entities has a right of way over said second of said plurality of entities based upon a comparison of said first priority and said second priority;

generating a collision alert message for causing said second of said plurality of selected entities to yield right of way to said first of said plurality of selected entities;

receiving said collision alert message in a collision avoidance action implementer disposed within said second of said plurality of selected entities; and

implementing an action in response to receiving said collision alert message, wherein said action comprises displaying said collision avoidance action via said collision avoidance action implementer in said second entity as a color signal of a virtual stoplight.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiving an indication further comprises:

receiving an indication of at least one characteristic of said first of said plurality of selected entities and said second of said plurality of selected entities.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a ranking of said first priority and said second priority.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

receiving an indication of said at least one characteristic which is selected from the group consisting of;

a vehicle type of one of said plurality of selected entities, an operation being performed by one of said plurality of selected entities, a speed of one of said plurality of selected entities, a weight of one of said plurality of selected entities, an estimated braking distance of one of said plurality of selected entities, a destination of one of said plurality of selected entities, a road upon which one of said plurality of selected entities is located, a cargo carried by one of said plurality of selected entities, and a location of one of said plurality of selected entities.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein implementing said action further comprises:

implementing an action selected from the group of actions consisting of;

an operator notification, displaying an additional visual notification, and an intervention into the operation of said second of said plurality of selected entities.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein causing said second of said plurality of selected entities further comprises:

generating a message for causing said second of said plurality of selected entities to come to a stop; and

generating a message for causing said second of said plurality of selected entities to reduce speed.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a message to at least one of said first of said plurality of selected entities and said second of said plurality of selected entities indicating a maximum speed.

8. A system for automatically directing traffic on a site, said system comprising:

a collision avoidance action implementer disposed within a first entity on a site, said collision avoidance action implementer configured for displaying a virtual stoplight within said first entity, said collision avoidance action implementer configured for wirelessly receiving an alert message to yield right of way to a second entity on said site and for visually displaying a warning to implement an action based upon receiving said alert message, said warning displayed as a color signal of said virtual stoplight.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer receives said alert message from a collision avoidance system which determines that said second entity has right of way over said first entity based upon a first priority assigned to said first entity and a second priority assigned to said second entity.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said collision avoidance system is configured to rank said first priority and said second priority.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said ranking is based at least in part upon at least one characteristic which is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle type of one of said first entity and said second entity, an operation being performed by one of said first entity and said second entity, a speed of one of said of said first entity and said second entity, a weight of one of said first entity and said second entity, an estimated braking distance of one of said first entity and said second entity, a destination of one of said first entity and said second entity, a road upon which one of said first entity and said second entity is located, a cargo carried by one of said first entity and said second entity, and a location of one of said first entity and said second entity.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said collision avoidance system is located independent from said first entity.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer is further configured for receiving a second message from said collision avoidance system for causing said collision avoidance action implementer to display a maximum speed for operating said first entity.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer displays a message for causing said first entity to come to a stop.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer displays a message for causing said first entity to reduce its speed.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer is further configured for generating an audible message.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein said collision avoidance action implementer is further configured for intervening into the operation of said first entity.