Traffic management

• US 8,847,788 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Borland, Brad K., Funke, Brian G., Chacko, Mathew
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/677,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/905, 340/906, 340/907, 340/915, 340/917, 340/929, 340/933, 340/935, 340/916, 340/918, 701/123, 701/300, 701/302
• US Class Current: 340/906
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Methods and systems for traffic management are disclosed. Location information and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle are received. A current status of the vehicle is determined. Further, it is determined whether the vehicle is located within a defined distance from a lane intersection. A traffic indicator is generated when the vehicle is located within the pre-defined distance from the lane intersection. The traffic indicator is one of a Right of Way (ROW), Stop, Yield or Null. The generated traffic signal is transmitted back to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for traffic management comprising:

receiving location information and a vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle;

determining a current status of the vehicle, wherein the current status comprises a payload status of the vehicle;

determining if the vehicle is located within a defined distance from a lane intersection;

generating a traffic indicator based on the current status of the vehicle, when the vehicle is located within the defined distance from the lane intersection, wherein the traffic indicator is one of a Right to Way, Stop, Yield and Null; and

transmitting the traffic indicator to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information associated with the vehicle is received from a Global Positioning Satellite device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identifier further comprises at least a type of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current status of the vehicle is determined based on the location information associated with the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the current status of the vehicle further comprises a destination of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, the destination of the vehicle is at least one of a quarry, a dump zone, a workshop or a bench.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the destination of the vehicle is determined based on the location information associated with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving status updates associated with the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information associated with the vehicle is received for at least one of a lane, a lane intersection or a lane end.

10. A traffic management system comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive location information and a vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle, and further configured to transmit a traffic indicator to the vehicle;

a status module configured to;

determine a current status of the vehicle, wherein the current status comprises a payload status of the vehicle; and

determine if the vehicle is located within a defined distance from a lane intersection; and

a traffic management module configured to;

generate the traffic indicator based on the current status of the vehicle, when the vehicle is located within the defined distance from the lane intersection, wherein the traffic indicator is one of a Right to Way, Stop, Yield and Null.

11. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive the location information associated with the vehicle from a Global Positioning Satellite device.

12. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle identifier comprises at least a type of the vehicle.

13. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the status module is configured to determine the current status of the vehicle based on the location information associated with the vehicle.

14. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the current status of the vehicle further comprises a type of the vehicle and a destination of the vehicle.

15. The traffic management system of claim 14, wherein the destination of the vehicle is at least one of a quarry, a dump zone, a workshop or a bench.

16. The traffic management system of claim 15, wherein the destination of the vehicle is determined based on the location information associated with the vehicle.

17. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the status module is further configured to receive status updates associated with the vehicle.

18. The traffic management system of claim 10, wherein the receiving module receives the location information associated with the vehicle for at least one of a lane, a lane intersection or a lane end.