Advanced vehicle traffic management and control

• US 8,723,687 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex Thomas
• Original Assignee: Alex Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/330,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340901-903, 340/907, 340/928, 340/932, 340/988, 340/937, 340/933, 340/938, 340/916, 340/921
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system for intelligent transport communication includes at least one transmitter, and at least one in-vehicle mobile receiver for use within a mobile road vehicle. The transmitter broadcasts, by wireless communication, dedicated data for each of a plurality of heading directions of the mobile road vehicle, on a corresponding plurality of multiplexed channels. The receiver receives the dedicated data on one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle. A multiple-redundant vehicle heading direction identification system for use within the mobile road vehicle includes a GPS direction identification system, a multiple digital compass system that identifies a heading direction of the mobile road vehicle based on input from multiple digital compasses, and a central processing unit that selects the heading direction produced by the GPS direction identification system only when an output of the GPS direction identification system is healthy.

Claims

1. A system for intelligent transport communication, comprising:

at least one transmitter; and

at least one in-vehicle mobile receiver for use within a mobile road vehicle;

wherein the at least one transmitter is programmed to broadcast simultaneously, by wireless communication, a plurality of different sets of dedicated data for each of a corresponding plurality of heading directions of the mobile road vehicle, on a corresponding plurality of multiplexed channels; and

the receiver is programmed to tune selectively to one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle, and to receive the dedicated data on the one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to the actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is programmed to communicate with the receiver, and the receiver is programmed to receive communications from the transmitter, by spread-spectrum short-range wireless communication.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of multiplexed channels corresponds to 360 degrees of vehicle heading directions sectionalized in a standardized manner into multiple discrete sectors, each of which has a unique one of the pre-assigned multiplexed access codes.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the dedicated data includes speed limit and traffic warnings.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the dedicated data includes data indicating a status of a traffic signal light.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is programmed to broadcast, by wireless communication, general non-dedicated data on an additional multiplexed channel for reception by any mobile road vehicle within range of the transmitter regardless of heading direction of the mobile road vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the general non-dedicated data includes a local message number for local emergency or violation reporting.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the general non-dedicated data includes details of junctions and intersections.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is also programmed to receive other dedicated data on at least one secondary multiplexed channel for the at least one of the heading directions, and to receive general non-dedicated data on an additional multiplexed channel for reception regardless of heading direction of the mobile road vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter includes at least one low-range satellite transmitter, and the low-range satellite transmitter is programmed to broadcast, by wireless communication, dedicated instructions on a priority channel for at least one of the heading directions of the mobile road vehicle, the dedicated instructions instructing the receiver to receive other dedicated data on a secondary multiplexed channel for the at least one of the heading directions, the low-range satellite transmitter also being programmed to broadcast the other dedicated data on the at least one secondary multiplexed channel for the at least one of the heading directions.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is programmed to receive, under ordinary conditions, the dedicated data on the one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle, and to receive, upon instruction, other dedicated data on a secondary multiplexed channel for the at least one of the heading directions.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the receiver is programmed to receive the dedicated data on the secondary multiplexed channel in a high road density area, during approach of the mobile road vehicle to a traffic control light, and during a temporary period of traffic management by a local authority.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters each of which is programmed to broadcast a set of dedicated data for a corresponding heading direction of the mobile road vehicle on a corresponding one of the multiplexed channels.

14. A multiple-redundant vehicle heading direction identification system, comprising:

a GPS direction identification system for use within a mobile road vehicle; and

a multiple digital compass system for use within the mobile road vehicle programmed to identify a heading direction of the mobile road vehicle based on input from multiple digital compasses; and

a central processing unit programmed to select the heading direction produced by the GPS direction identification system when an output of the GPS direction identification system is healthy during travel of the mobile road vehicle, and to select the heading direction produced by the multiple digital compass system when an output of the GPS direction identification system lacks signal integrity during travel of the mobile road vehicle.

15. An integrated multifunction unit for intelligent transport communication, for use within a mobile road vehicle, comprising:

a receiver capable of multiple channel reception, for receiving road-side-to-vehicle wireless communications from at least one road-side transmitter on one of a plurality of multiplexed channels having a corresponding plurality of different sets of simultaneously broadcast dedicated data for each of a corresponding plurality of heading directions of the mobile road vehicle;

a vehicle heading direction identification system; and

a central processing unit programmed to cause the receiver to tune selectively to at least one of the multiplexed channels that corresponds to an actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle, and to receive dedicated data on the at least one of the multiplexed channels, the at least one of the multiplexed channels corresponding to the actual heading direction of the mobile road vehicle.

16. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15 further comprising a mobile communication system for use within the mobile road vehicle to send and receive messages to and from the mobile road vehicle, a gyro for detecting roll-over of the mobile road vehicle, and a vehicle airbag activation detector, and wherein the central processing unit is programmed to cause the mobile communication system to send an emergency message in response to detection of a roll-over by the gyro and in response to detection of airbag activation by the airbag activation detector, the emergency message including vehicle coordinates and a vehicle unique emergency call number, by use of which traffic authorities can call or page the mobile road vehicle.

17. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15 further comprising a mobile communication system for use within the mobile road vehicle to send and receive messages to and from the mobile road vehicle, and wherein the central processing unit is programmed to cause the mobile communication system to transmit real-time traffic management reports and real-time traffic violation reports to a local traffic authority in order to enable centralized traffic management.

18. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15 further comprising:

a speedometer, and

a mobile communication system;

wherein the central processing unit is programmed to compare a speed limit received from a road-side transmitter with a speed received from the speedometer and to provide a warning to a driver of the mobile road vehicle that a speed of the mobile road vehicle exceeds the speed limit, and to cause the mobile communication system to send a message to a traffic violation center on a real-time basis when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit by a defined grace speed for a defined time.

19. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit is programmed to cause a status of traffic signal lights or ramp meters to be indicated to a driver of the mobile road vehicle in response to data received from the road-side transmitter.

20. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15, wherein the dedicated data includes data indicating a status of a traffic signal light, the integrated multifunction unit further comprising a mobile communication system for use within the mobile road vehicle, and wherein the central processing unit is programmed to cause the mobile communication system to send a message to a traffic violation center when the mobile road vehicle crosses a red traffic signal light.

21. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15, further comprising an in-vehicle transmitter programmed for communication with the receiver of an integrated multifunction unit of a second mobile road vehicle, the in-vehicle transmitter being programmed to transmit using a frequency and bandwidth different from a frequency and bandwidth used by the road-side transmitter.

22. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15, further comprising an in-vehicle transmitter programmed for communication with the receiver of an integrated multifunction unit of a second mobile road vehicle, the in-vehicle transmitter being programmed to transmit a message containing coordinates of the first mobile road vehicle to the second mobile vehicle.

23. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15, wherein the receiver is programmed to receive a communication from an in-vehicle transmitter of an integrated multifunction unit of a second mobile road vehicle, and the receiver is programmed to verify that the second mobile road vehicle is located ahead by verifying coordinates of the second mobile road vehicle included in the communication from the in-vehicle transmitter of the second mobile road vehicle.

24. The integrated multifunction unit of claim 15 wherein the central processing unit is programmed to cause the receiver to scan for vehicle-to-vehicle transmissions from mobile road vehicles on approach roads to an intersection, based on intersection details received by the receiver from the road-side transmitter, to plot coordinates of mobile road vehicles on approach roads, to compute possibility of collision, and to provide a warning to a driver of the mobile road vehicle based on the possibility of collision.

25. An integrated multifunction unit, further for use within a first mobile road vehicle, comprising:

a receiver;

a central processing unit; and

an in-vehicle transmitter programmed for communication with the receiver of an integrated multifunction unit of a second mobile road vehicle, the in-vehicle transmitter being programmed to re-transmit, in relay fashion, a message received by the receiver of the first mobile road vehicle from a transmitter of an integrated multifunction unit of a third mobile road vehicle;

the central processing unit being programmed to cause the message transmitted in relay fashion to be transmitted in a lowest available time slot for retransmission, in a frequency of the message received from the third mobile road vehicle plus a frequency increment of one.

26. An integrated multifunction unit for intelligent transport communication, for use within a mobile road vehicle, comprising:

a subscriber identity module for use within the mobile road vehicle;

a mobile communication system, for use within the mobile road vehicle, for receiving a coded message from a vehicle registering authority; and

for sending intermittent messages to a licensing office number identified in the subscriber identity module;

a central processing unit, for use within the mobile road vehicle, programmed to cause the subscriber identity module, in response to receipt by the subscriber identity module of a coded message from the vehicle registering authority, to send the intermittent messages to the licensing office number identified in the subscriber identity module;

the intermittent messages containing vehicle coordinates and vehicle details based on information in the subscriber identity module.