Traffic safety system

• US 8,344,864 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mahmoud E. T. H. Al-Mutawa
• Original Assignee: Mahmoud E. T. H. Al-Mutawa
• Inventors: Al-Mutawa, Mahmoud E. T. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/536,839
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/502, 340/901, 340/907, 340/933, 340/936, 340/988, 340/995.13, 701/117
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

The traffic safety system includes a comprehensive control server with a mass storage unit, a main data collector with a main data collection mass storage unit, and a sub data collector with a sub-data storage unit. Also included are vehicle embedded sensors and embedded sensors disposed in various infrastructure components such as roadways, traffic lights street lamps, and the like. All sensors are in network communication with the control server, main and sub data collectors. The control server, main and sub data collectors are all in operable communication with each other via the same network communications infrastructure. This networked system monitors and controls vehicle activity on roads equipped with the embedded sensors. The system generates alerts, which are sent to drivers warning them of laws, which are applicable to the controlled roadways. Without human intervention, the control system autonomously enforces road activity that is compliant with the applicable roadway laws.

Claims

1. A traffic safety system, comprising:

at least one comprehensive control server connected to an existing network communications infrastructure;

first means for data storage connected to the at least one comprehensive control server;

at least one main data collector connected to said existing network communications infrastructure, said at least one main data collector relaying data it receives to said at least one comprehensive control server;

second means for data storage connected to the at least one main data collector;

at least one sub data collector connected to said existing network communications infrastructure;

third means for data storage connected to the at least one sub data collector;

infrastructure sensors embedded in infrastructure components of a roadway, said infrastructure components including traffic lights, street lamps, and said roadway, said infrastructure sensors being connected to said existing network communications infrastructure, said infrastructure sensors sensing information about a vehicle operable on said roadway, said vehicle information including whether said vehicle is operating on said roadway in a manner consistent with laws applicable to said roadway, said infrastructure sensors sending said vehicle information to said at least one sub data collector, said at least one sub data collector reporting said vehicle information to said at least one main data collector;

vehicle embedded sensors embedded in said vehicle operable on said roadway, said vehicle embedded sensors being operable to communicate via said existing network communications infrastructure, said vehicle embedded sensors being in operable communication with mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic subsystems of said vehicle, said vehicle embedded sensors reporting to said at least one sub data collector speed, direction of travel, roadworthiness information, and occupant information of said vehicle, said at least one sub data collector reporting said vehicle speed, direction of travel, roadworthiness information, and occupant information to said at least one main data collector;

said vehicle including means for receiving data from said at least one comprehensive control server, wherein said comprehensive control center data received by said vehicle alerts occupants of said vehicle of whether said vehicle is being operated in compliance with said laws applicable to said roadway.

2. The traffic safety system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller on board said vehicle, said controller accepting vehicle speed, braking, and steering commands from said at least one comprehensive control server wherein said vehicle is controlled according to said commands from said at least one comprehensive control server.

3. The traffic safety system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic I.D. card registered with said at least one comprehensive control server;

authentication circuitry in said vehicle, said authentication circuitry permitting operation of said vehicle by the holder of said electronic I.D. card only upon verification from said at least one comprehensive control server that said electronic I.D. card holder is authorized to drive said vehicle.

4. The traffic safety system according to claim 3, further comprising means for denying operation of said vehicle by said electronic I.D. card holder if said electronic I.D. card holder has a predetermined number of outstanding traffic violations.

5. The traffic safety system according to claim 4, further comprising means for controlling traffic density on said roadway based on traffic information forwarded to said at least one comprehensive control server by said at least one main data collector.

6. The traffic safety system according to claim 5, further comprising means for adaptively issuing minimum and maximum speed limits to an operator of said vehicle based on said traffic information forwarded to said at least one comprehensive control server.

7. The traffic safety system according to claim 6, further comprising means for alerting said vehicle operator when to use headlights and turn signals on said vehicle.

8. The traffic safety system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for measuring heartbeat of said vehicle operator; and

means for warning said vehicle operator when a heartbeat irregularity is detected.

9. The traffic safety system according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for measuring oxygen consumption rate of said vehicle operator; and

means for warning said vehicle operator when said oxygen consumption rate of said vehicle operator falls below a predetermined threshold.

10. The traffic safety system according to claim 9, wherein said existing network infrastructure consists of one of, GPRS, GSM, ETHERNET.

11. The traffic safety system according to claim 9, wherein said existing network infrastructure comprises a combination of, GPRS, GSM, ETHERNET.

12. The traffic safety system according to claim 9, further comprising a voice alert that based on registration information stored and accessible to said at least one central control server, informs said vehicle operator when the vehicle is approaching a school.

13. The traffic safety system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for alerting the vehicle operator when an assured clear legal distance between the vehicle and other vehicles on the roadway is not being maintained;

means for alerting the vehicle operator when the vehicle has an overweight load; and

means for alerting the vehicle operator when the vehicle'"'"'s height may obstruct vision of vehicle operators in low profile vehicles traveling in the same traffic lane.

14. The traffic safety system according to claim 13, further comprising means for alerting said vehicle operator when said vehicle is carrying a weight load exceeding a predetermined maximum weight load for said vehicle.

15. The traffic safety system according to claim 14, further comprising means for generating traffic and roadway analytic reports based on traffic information stored in said first, said second, and said third means for data storage.

16. The traffic safety system according to claim 15, further comprising means for alerting said vehicle operator of an approaching car around a blind section of said roadway.

17. The traffic safety system according to claim 16, further comprising means for alerting said vehicle operator same path avoidance instructions when an emergency/police mobile unit is proximate said operator'"'"'s vehicle.

18. The traffic safety system according to claim 17, further comprising means for determining whether a third vehicle caused an accident between a first and second vehicle, said determining means being based on said roadway analytic reports.

19. The traffic safety system according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for locating said operator'"'"'s vehicle when it has been stolen; and

means for identifying a thief of said operator'"'"'s vehicle, said identifying means being based on sensor data from said vehicle embedded sensors.

20. The traffic safety system according to claim 19, further comprising means for automatically renewing license of said vehicle operator when said vehicle and said operator have a clean driving/operating record.