Method for analyzing traffic flow at an intersection

• US 8,718,906 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Alex Maurice, Trombley, Roger Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOTT, GENNA M
• Application Number:
  US13/470,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 340/907, 340/933
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

A method for advising a driver of a host vehicle on traffic conditions at a road intersection. It is determined that a host vehicle is approaching the intersection. Information is received from a plurality of other vehicles via a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication system indicating respective positions and timing of the other vehicles approach to and/or arrival at the intersection. The times at which the other vehicles have stopped at the intersection are detected, and the times at which the other vehicles have proceeded through the intersection are detected. A past order-of-progression of vehicles through the intersection is determined based upon the stopping times and the proceeding times. The driver of the host vehicle is then advised whether it is the host vehicle'"'"'s turn to proceed through the intersection in view of the past order-of-progression.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a host vehicle, a first vehicle, and a second vehicle are approaching an intersection on at least two different road segments;

determining times at which the first and second vehicles have stopped at the intersection;

determining times at which the first and second vehicles have proceeded through the intersection after stopping;

operating a processor to identify an order-of-progression of the first and second vehicles through the intersection based on the determined stopping and proceeding times of the first and second vehicles; and

advising a driver of the host vehicle that the order-of-progression is one of a clockwise order and a counter-clockwise order.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stopping and proceeding times for at least one of the first and second vehicles is received by the host vehicle via a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein information regarding the intersection and the road segments is obtained from an on-board map database.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle as a lead vehicle in their respective road segment.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of identifying the lead vehicle comprises comparing a distance from the intersection of at least one of the first and second vehicles to a threshold distance value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the time at which at least one of the first and second vehicles have stopped comprises comparing a velocity of the at least one of the first and second vehicles to a threshold velocity value.

7. A method for advising a driver of a host vehicle on traffic conditions at a road intersection comprising:

determining that the host vehicle is approaching the intersection;

receiving information from a plurality of other vehicles via a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication system indicating respective positions and timing of the other vehicles'"'"' approaches to and/or arrivals at the intersection;

detecting stopping times when the other vehicles have stopped at the intersection;

determining proceeding times when the other vehicles proceed through the intersection;

identifying a past order-of-progression of vehicles through the intersection based upon the stopping times and the proceeding times, the past order-of-progression being one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise order; and

advising the driver whether it is the host vehicle'"'"'s turn to proceed through the intersection in view of the past order-of-progression.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein information regarding the intersection and road segments entering the intersection is obtained from an on-board map database in conjunction with a vehicle navigation system.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising identifying one of the plurality of vehicles as a lead vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of identifying the lead vehicle comprises comparing a distance from the intersection of at least one of the vehicles to a threshold distance value.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising communicating to the driver of the host vehicle whether the past order progression is clockwise or counter-clockwise.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of detecting the stopping times comprises comparing a velocity of at least one of the plurality of vehicles to a threshold velocity value.

13. A method for advising a driver of a host vehicle on traffic conditions at a road intersection comprising:

determining that the host vehicle is approaching the intersection;

determining a configuration of the intersection;

determining that a first vehicle and a second vehicle are approaching the intersection on a first and a second road segment respectively;

determining stopping times at which the first and second vehicles have stopped at the intersection;

determining proceeding times at which the first and second vehicles have proceeded through the intersection;

operating a processor to identify a past order-of-progression a past order-of-progression of the first and second vehicles through the intersection based upon the stopping times and proceeding times;

advising the driver of the host vehicle that the past order-of-progression is one of a clockwise order and a counter-clockwise order; and

advising the driver of the host vehicle whether it is the host vehicle'"'"'s turn to proceed through the intersection based upon the past order-of-progression.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the steps of determining the stopping times and proceeding times of the first and second vehicles comprise recording time stamps for each of the vehicles.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of determining the stopping times and proceeding times of the first and second vehicles further comprise recording respective headings for each of the vehicles.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising identifying one of the first and second vehicles as a lead vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of identifying the lead vehicle comprises comparing a distance from the intersection of at least one of the vehicles to a threshold distance value.