Control of traffic signal due to obstructed view
First Claim
1. A method for altering traffic signal timing as a function of occluded signal viewing, the method comprising:
- determining via a processing unit that a view of a traffic signal by a person is obstructed by a large vehicle located on a first ingress path to a roadway intersection with a second ingress path, wherein the traffic signal controls the right of way of the first ingress path, and wherein the person is travelling along the first ingress path toward the intersection and is located behind the large vehicle relative to a view sightline of the person to the traffic signal;
in response to the occluded view determination, delaying a transition of the traffic signal for a delay period from a current visual display of a proceed signal to the person to a subsequent visual display of a stop signal to the person, wherein the current proceed signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person has right of way through the intersection, and wherein the subsequent stop signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person must stop from proceeding into or through the intersection; and
transitioning the traffic signal from visually displaying the proceed signal to visually displaying the stop signal to the person via the view sightline at an end of the delay period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Traffic signal timing may be altered as a function of determining occluded signal viewing. More particularly, processing units may determine that a view of a traffic signal by a person is obstructed by a large vehicle located on a first ingress path to a roadway intersection with a second ingress path. The traffic signal controls the right of way of the first ingress path, and the person with the obstructed view is travelling along the first ingress path toward the intersection and is located behind the large vehicle relative to a view sightline of the person to the traffic signal. In response to the occluded view determination, a transition of the traffic signal may be delayed from a current visual display of a proceed signal to a subsequent visual display of a stop signal, until an end of a delay period.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for altering traffic signal timing as a function of occluded signal viewing, the method comprising:
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determining via a processing unit that a view of a traffic signal by a person is obstructed by a large vehicle located on a first ingress path to a roadway intersection with a second ingress path, wherein the traffic signal controls the right of way of the first ingress path, and wherein the person is travelling along the first ingress path toward the intersection and is located behind the large vehicle relative to a view sightline of the person to the traffic signal; in response to the occluded view determination, delaying a transition of the traffic signal for a delay period from a current visual display of a proceed signal to the person to a subsequent visual display of a stop signal to the person, wherein the current proceed signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person has right of way through the intersection, and wherein the subsequent stop signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person must stop from proceeding into or through the intersection; and transitioning the traffic signal from visually displaying the proceed signal to visually displaying the stop signal to the person via the view sightline at an end of the delay period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a processing unit in communication with a computer readable memory and a tangible computer-readable storage medium; wherein the processing unit is in communication with a sensor and with a traffic signal, and when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory; determines via signals from the sensor that a view of the traffic signal by a person is obstructed by a large vehicle located on a first ingress path to a roadway intersection with a second ingress path, wherein the traffic signal controls the right of way of the first ingress path, and wherein the person is travelling along the first ingress path toward the intersection and is located behind the large vehicle relative to a view sightline of the person to the traffic signal; in response to the occluded view determination, delays a transition of the traffic signal for a delay period from a current visual display of a proceed signal to the person to a subsequent visual display of a stop signal to the person, wherein the current proceed signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person has right of way through the intersection, and wherein the subsequent stop signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person must stop from proceeding into or through the intersection; and signals the traffic signal to transition from visually displaying the proceed signal to visually displaying the stop signal to the person via the view sightline at an end of the delay period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer readable tangible storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer processing unit, cause the computer processing unit to; determine via signals from the sensor that a view of the traffic signal by a person is obstructed by a large vehicle located on a first ingress path to a roadway intersection with a second ingress path, wherein the traffic signal controls the right of way of the first ingress path, and wherein the person is travelling along the first ingress path toward the intersection and is located behind the large vehicle relative to a view sightline of the person to the traffic signal; in response to the occluded view determination, delay a transition of the traffic signal for a delay period from a current visual display of a proceed signal to the person to a subsequent visual display of a stop signal to the person, wherein the current proceed signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person has right of way through the intersection, and wherein the subsequent stop signal visually conveys via the view sightline to the person that the person must stop from proceeding into or through the intersection; and signal the traffic signal to transition from visually displaying the proceed signal to visually displaying the stop signal to the person via the view sightline at an end of the delay period. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification