Signal light priority system utilizing estimated time of arrival

• US 8,773,282 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Original Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Inventors: Cross, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/535,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/906, 340/907, 340/909, 340/911, 340/916, 340/917, 340/924, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 340/918, 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 370/254, 370/389
• US Class Current: 340/906
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/082 Controlling the time between beginning of the same phase of a cycle at adjacent intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

Systems and methods for requesting modification of traffic flow control systems that combine satellite position navigation systems and dead reckoning technology with secure radio communications to accurately report a vehicle'"'"'s real-time location and estimated arrival times at a series of signal lights within a traffic grid or at a distant signal light, while enabling signal controllers to accommodate priority requests from these vehicles, allowing for these vehicles to maintain a fixed schedule with minimal interruption to other grid traffic.

Claims

1. A method for requesting modification of signal light control of a traffic grid, the method comprising:

having one or more vehicles within a traffic grid, each vehicle having its own schedule with a specified scheduled arrival time at each of a plurality of specified destinations;

determining the one or more vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival at a one of said specified destinations located within the traffic grid;

requesting modification of one or more traffic light signals between said vehicle'"'"'s current location and said one of said specified destinations within the traffic grid based upon the one or more vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival at said one of said specified destinations in order to keep each of the vehicles on schedule by arriving at said one of said specified destinations closer to said specified scheduled arrival time for that specified destination than if said modification did not occur.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method is used to prevent bus bunching.

4. A system for requesting modification of signal light control of a traffic grid, the system comprising:

a vehicle computer unit, wherein the vehicle computer unit is installed in a vehicle and functions to determine the vehicle'"'"'s position, direction, and velocity;

a plurality of priority detector units, wherein each priority detector unit is communicatively attached to a signal light controller within the traffic grid;

a wireless network connecting the vehicle computer unit and the plurality of priority detectors;

a remote traffic control center, wherein the remote traffic control center is communicatively attached to the wireless network; and

wherein the vehicle computer unit uses the vehicle'"'"'s position, direction and velocity to calculate the vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival to one of the signal lights within the traffic grid and sends the vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival to the remote traffic control center;

wherein the remote traffic control center contains a series of user defined pre-conditions for signal priority;

wherein the remote traffic control center receives the vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival and if the series of user defined pre-conditions for signal priority are met, sends a priority signal to the priority detector unit communicatively attached to the signal light controller associated with the signal light; and

wherein the priority detector unit communicatively attached to the signal light controller associated with the signal light receives the priority signal and requests modification of the signal light controller based on the vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.