Method and system for traffic resource allocation

• US 8,629,785 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AEIO Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jiantong Ni
• Inventors: Ni, Jiantong
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/486,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/909, 340916-919, 340/925, 404/1, 404/72
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

A traffic resource allocation method is provided for allocating traffic resources around an intersection formed by a first road and a second road. The method includes dividing the first road into two or more first lanes at a first direction and two or more second lanes at a second direction opposite but parallel to the first direction. The method also includes dividing the second road into two or more third lanes at a third direction and two or more four lanes at a fourth direction opposite but parallel to the third direction. Further, the method includes controlling traffic movements in the intersection by allocating traffic permit to both pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic on the first road and the second road. The method also include, when permitting pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, permitting through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and prohibiting turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

Claims

1. A traffic resource allocation method for allocating traffic resources around an intersection formed by a first road and a second road, the method comprising:

dividing the first road into two or more first lanes at a first direction and two or more second lanes at a second direction opposite but parallel to the first direction;

dividing the second road into two or more third lanes at a third direction and two or more fourth lanes at a fourth direction opposite but parallel to the third direction; and

controlling traffic movements in the intersection by allocating traffic passing permit to both pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic on the first road and the second road, when permitting pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, permitting through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and prohibiting turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

2. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 1, further including:

prohibiting through vehicle traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction; and

prohibiting pedestrian traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction.

3. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 1, when permitting through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, permitting pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and prohibiting turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

4. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 3, further including:

prohibiting through vehicle traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction; and

prohibiting pedestrian traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction.

5. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 1, when permitting turn traffic from the first direction and turn traffic from the second direction, prohibiting pedestrian traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

6. The traffic allocation method according to claim 5, further including:

prohibiting through vehicle traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions, and prohibiting turn traffic from the third direction and turn traffic from the fourth direction.

7. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 1, wherein:

only two colors, a first color and a second color, of traffic light are used to respectively signal permitting and prohibiting traffic at the intersection.

8. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 7, further including:

allocating a controlled zone from the intersection at each of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction.

9. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 8, wherein:

the first color of traffic light is in one of a stable state and a flashing state; and

when the first color of traffic light is in the flashing state, vehicles in corresponding controlled zones are permitted to proceed, and vehicles not in the corresponding controlled zones are required to stop behind the controlled zones.

10. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 8, wherein:

the second color of traffic light is in one of a stable state and a flashing state; and

when the second color of traffic light is in the flashing state, vehicles behind the corresponding controlled zones are required to enter the corresponding controlled zones.

11. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 1, further including:

marking the first lanes, the second lanes, the third lanes, and the fourth lanes, respectively, as one or more through lanes and one or more turn lanes, wherein the turn lanes combine the functions of at least two of a left turn, a right turn, and a U turn through the intersection.

12. The traffic resource allocation method according to claim 11, wherein:

the one or more through lanes are innermost lanes of the first lanes, the second lanes, the third lanes, or the fourth lanes.

13. A traffic system for allocating traffic resources around an intersection formed by a first road and a second road, wherein the first road is divided into two or more first lanes at a first direction and two or more lanes at a second direction opposite but parallel to the first direction and the second road is divided into two or more third lanes at a third direction and two or more lanes at a fourth direction opposite but parallel to the third direction, the traffic system comprising:

a set of traffic lights; and

a controller controlling the set of traffic lights being configured to control traffic movements in the intersection by allocating traffic passing permit to both the pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic, when the controller is configured to permit pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, the controller being configured to permit through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and to prohibit turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

14. The traffic system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to prohibit through vehicle traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction;

and

pedestrian traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction.

15. The traffic system according to claim 13, when the controller is configured to permit through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, the controller being configured to permit pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and to prohibit turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

16. The traffic system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to prohibit through vehicle traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction;

and

pedestrian traffic along the third direction and the fourth direction.

17. The traffic system according to claim 13, when the controller is configured to permit turn traffic from the first direction and turn traffic from the second direction, the controller being configured to prohibit the pedestrian traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.

18. The traffic system according to claim 17, the controller is further configured to:

prohibit through vehicle traffic at any of the first, second, third and fourth directions; and

prohibit turn traffic from the third direction and turn traffic from the fourth direction.

19. The traffic system according to claim 13, wherein:

the traffic light set only uses two colors, a first color and a second color, of traffic light are used to respectively signal permitting and prohibiting traffic at the intersection.

20. The traffic system according to claim 19, wherein:

a controlled zone is allocated from the intersection at each of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction.

21. The traffic system according to claim 20, wherein:

the first color of traffic light is in one of a stable state and a flashing state; and

when the first color of traffic light is in the flashing state, the controller signals vehicles in corresponding controlled zones as being permitted to proceed, and vehicles not in the corresponding controlled zones as being required to stop behind the controlled zones.

22. The traffic system according to claim 20, wherein:

the second color of traffic light is in one of a stable state and a flashing state; and

when the second color of traffic light is in the flashing state, the controller signals vehicles behind the corresponding controlled zones as being required to enter the corresponding controlled zones.

23. The traffic system according to claim 13, wherein,

the first lanes, the second lanes, the third lanes, and the fourth lanes are configured to have one or more through lanes and one or more turn lanes, wherein the turn lanes combine the function of at least two of a left turn, a right turn, and U turn.

24. The traffic system according to claim 23, wherein:

innermost lanes of the first lanes, the second lanes, the third lanes, or the fourth lanes are configured as the one or more through lanes.