Methods and systems for coordinating vehicular traffic using in-vehicle virtual traffic control signals enabled by vehicle-to-vehicle communications

• US 8,972,159 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University, Universidade D.O. Porto
• Original Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University, Universidade D.O. Porto
• Inventors: Tonguz, Ozan, DaConceicao, Hugo Marcelo Fernandes, Viriyasitavat, Wantanee, Ferreira, Michel Celestino Paiva, Fernandes, Ricardo Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US13/809,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-120, 701/301
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

Systems, methods, software, and apparatuses for coordinating traffic proximate to a potential conflict zone, such as a roadway intersection, where travel conflicts, such as crossing traffic, can arise. Coordination involves forming an ad-hoc network in a region containing the conflict zone using, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and developing a dynamic traffic control plan based on information about vehicles approaching the conflict zone. Instructions based on the dynamic traffic control plan are communicated to devices aboard vehicles in the ad-hoc network, which display one or more virtual traffic signals to the operators of the vehicles and/or control the vehicles in accordance with the dynamic traffic control plan.

Claims

1. A method of coordinating vehicular traffic proximate to a potential travel-priority conflict zone, the vehicular traffic including a plurality of vehicles each including on-board a dynamic traffic control system, comprising:

communicating, by a first dynamic traffic control system of a first one of the plurality of vehicles, with at least one second dynamic traffic control system located on-board at least one second one of the plurality of vehicles proximate to the potential travel-priority conflict zone to determine whether or not a travel-priority conflict is likely to be present within the potential travel-priority conflict zone between the first one of the plurality of vehicles and the at least one second one of the plurality of vehicles;

if the travel-priority conflict is determined to be likely, then;

establishing a dynamic traffic control plan for avoiding the travel-priority conflict in the potential travel-priority conflict zone; and

coordinating, via said communicating, to elect from among the plurality of vehicles a temporary coordinator vehicle responsible for temporarily coordinating the dynamic traffic control plan.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating includes using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system includes using a dedicated short-range communication protocol.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system includes using a mobile communications device removable from the first one of the plurality of vehicles by a user.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating includes using the first dynamic traffic control system as a transponder to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication beyond the as-designed operating range of a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting an instruction from the dynamic traffic control plan to an operator of any vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said presenting the instruction includes displaying the instruction on a display built into the vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said presenting the instruction includes displaying the instruction on a heads-up display.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein said presenting the instruction includes displaying the instruction on a mobile communications device.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein said presenting the instruction includes displaying a virtual traffic signal.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes displaying a virtual traffic light.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes displaying a travel-directional indicator.

13. A method according to claim 6, wherein said presenting instructions includes presenting the instruction as an audible instruction.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using an on-board-vehicle processor to establish the dynamic traffic control plan.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said using the on-board processor includes using a processor dedicated to establishing the dynamic traffic control plan and/or facilitating establishing the dynamic traffic control plan.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using an on-board processor designed and configured to establish the dynamic traffic control plan and/or facilitate establishing the dynamic traffic control plan with at least one other dynamic traffic controller, and designed and configured to perform at least one other vehicular function unrelated to establishing or facilitating establishing the dynamic traffic control plan.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said establishing the dynamic traffic control plan includes using a travel-route database to inform the dynamic traffic control plan as to route-specific conditions.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising using vehicle-beaconing to anticipate a travel-priority conflict by determining a location of at least one vehicle in the context of the route-specific conditions.

19. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using data communicated by the first dynamic traffic control system to facilitate establishing the dynamic traffic control plan, the data including vehicle location.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said coordinating includes electing a temporary coordinator vehicle based on proximity to the potential travel-priority conflict zone.

21. A method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating with a central coordinator, the central coordinator providing traffic information to the at least one dynamic traffic control system so as to further inform the development of the dynamic traffic control plan.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said communicating with a central coordinator is facilitated using an intersection-based communication device/sensor.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said communicating includes providing traffic information to the central coordinator.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating includes receiving instructions from a central coordinator, the instructions used by the temporary coordinator as at least a portion of the dynamic traffic control plan.

25. A machine-readable physical memory containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of coordinating vehicular traffic proximate to a potential travel-priority conflict zone, the vehicular traffic including a plurality of vehicles each including on-board a dynamic traffic control system, said machine-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of machine-executable instructions for communicating, by a first dynamic traffic control system of a first one of the plurality of vehicles, with at least one second dynamic traffic control system located on-board at least one second one of the plurality of vehicles proximate to the potential travel-priority conflict zone so as to determine whether or not a travel-priority conflict is likely to be present within the potential travel-priority conflict zone between the first one of the plurality of vehicles and the at least one second one of the plurality of vehicles;

a second set of machine-executable instructions for establishing a dynamic traffic control plan for avoiding the travel-priority conflict in the potential travel-priority conflict zone when the travel-priority conflict is determined to be present; and

a third set of machine-executable instructions for coordinating, via the communicating and when the travel-priority conflict is determined to be present, to elect from among the plurality of vehicles a temporary coordinator vehicle responsible for temporarily coordinating the dynamic traffic control plan.

26. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

27. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 26, wherein said machine-executable instructions for using the vehicle-to-vehicle communications system includes machine-executable instructions for using a dedicated short-range communication protocol.

28. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 26, wherein said machine-executable instructions for using a vehicle-to-vehicle communications system includes machine-executable instructions for using a mobile communications device removable from the first one of the plurality of vehicles by a user.

29. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using the first dynamic traffic control system as a transponder to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication beyond the as-designed operating range of a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

30. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, further comprising machine-executable instructions for presenting an instruction from the dynamic traffic control plan to an operator of any vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

31. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 30, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a display built into the vehicle.

32. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 30, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a heads-up display.

33. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 30, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a mobile communications device.

34. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 30, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a virtual traffic signal.

35. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 34, wherein said machine-executable instructions for displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a virtual traffic light.

36. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 34, wherein said machine-executable instructions for displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a travel-directional indicator.

37. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 30, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting instructions includes machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction as an audible instruction.

38. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, wherein said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using a travel-route database to inform the dynamic traffic control plan as to route-specific conditions.

39. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 38, further comprising machine-executable instructions for using vehicle-beaconing to anticipate a travel-priority conflict by determining a location of at least one vehicle in the context of the route-specific conditions.

40. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, further comprising machine-executable instructions for using data communicated by the first dynamic traffic control system to facilitate establishing the dynamic traffic control plan, the data including vehicle location.

41. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for electing a temporary coordinator vehicle based on proximity to the potential travel-priority conflict zone.

42. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, further comprising a set of machine-executable instructions for communicating with a central coordinator, the central coordinator providing traffic information to the at least one dynamic traffic control system so as to further inform the development of the dynamic traffic control plan.

43. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 42, wherein said set of machine-executable instructions for communicating with a central coordinator includes using an intersection-based communication device/sensor to facilitate the communicating.

44. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 43, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes instructions for providing traffic information to the central coordinator.

45. A machine-readable physical memory according to claim 25, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes receiving travel instructions from a central coordinator, the travel instructions used by the temporary coordinator to further establish the dynamic traffic control plan.

46. A system for coordinating vehicular traffic proximate to a potential travel-priority conflict zone, the vehicular traffic including a plurality of vehicles each including on-board a dynamic traffic control system, the system comprising:

a vehicle-to-vehicle communications system on-board a first one of the plurality of vehicles;

a first dynamic traffic controller on-board the first one of the plurality of vehicles;

a processor in operative communication with said vehicle-to-vehicle communication system; and

memory in operative communication with said processor, said memory containing machine-executable instructions for execution by said processor and comprising;

a first set of machine-executable instructions for communicating, by said first dynamic traffic controller of the first one of the plurality of vehicles, with at least one second dynamic traffic controller located on-board at least one second one of the plurality of vehicles proximate to the potential travel-priority conflict zone so as to determine whether or not a travel-priority conflict is likely to be present within the potential travel-priority conflict zone between the first one of the plurality of vehicles and least one second one of the plurality of vehicles;

a second set of machine-executable instructions for establishing a dynamic traffic control plan for avoiding the travel-priority conflict in the potential travel-priority conflict zone when the travel-priority conflict is determined to be present; and

a third set of machine-executable instructions for coordinating, via the communicating and when the travel-priority conflict is determined to be present, to elect from among the plurality of vehicles a temporary coordinator vehicle responsible for temporarily coordinating the dynamic traffic control plan.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein said vehicle-to-vehicle communications system includes a dedicated short range communication system.

48. A system according to claim 46, wherein said first dynamic traffic controller includes at least one mobile communications device.

49. A system according to claim 46, wherein said processor is designed and configured to be in operative communication exclusively with said first dynamic traffic controller.

50. A system according to claim 46, wherein said processor is designed and configured to establish the dynamic traffic control plan and/or facilitate establishing the dynamic traffic control plan with the at least one second dynamic traffic controller and configured to perform at least one vehicular function unrelated to establishing or facilitating establishing the dynamic traffic control plan.

51. A system according to claim 50, wherein said processor is an as-installed vehicle-based processor re-programmed to be in operative communication with said first dynamic traffic controller.

52. A system according to claim 46, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using said vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

53. A system according to claim 52, wherein said machine-executable instructions for using said vehicle-to-vehicle communications system includes machine-executable instructions for using a dedicated short-range communication protocol.

54. A system according to claim 46, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using the system as a transponder to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication beyond the as-designed operating range of said vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

55. A system according to claim 46, wherein said memory further contains machine-executable instructions for presenting an instruction from the dynamic traffic control plan to an operator of the first one of the plurality of vehicles.

56. A system according to claim 55, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a display built into the first one of the plurality of vehicles.

57. A system according to claim 55, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a heads-up display.

58. A system according to claim 55, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying the instruction on a mobile communications device.

59. A system according to claim 55, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a virtual traffic signal.

60. A system according to claim 59, wherein said machine-executable instructions for displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a virtual traffic light.

61. A system according to claim 59, wherein said machine-executable instructions for displaying the virtual traffic control signal includes machine-executable instructions for displaying a travel-directional indicator.

62. A system according to claim 55, wherein said machine-executable instructions for presenting instructions includes machine-executable instructions for presenting the instruction as an audible instruction.

63. A system according to claim 46, wherein said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for using a travel-route database to inform the dynamic traffic control plan about route-specific conditions.

64. A system according to claim 46, wherein said memory further contains machine-executable instructions for using vehicle-beaconing to anticipate a travel-priority conflict by determining a location of at least one vehicle in the context of the route-specific conditions.

65. A system according to claim 46, wherein said memory further contains machine-executable instructions for using data communicated by the system to facilitate establishing the dynamic traffic control plan, the data including vehicle location.

66. A system according to claim 46, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for electing a temporary coordinator vehicle based on proximity to the potential travel-priority conflict zone.

67. A system according to claim 46, further comprising a central coordinator, said central coordinator in operative communication with said processor through said vehicle-to-vehicle communication system so as to further establish the dynamic traffic control plan.

68. A system according to claim 67, wherein said vehicle-to-vehicle communication system includes an intersection-based communication device/sensor.

69. A system according to claim 68, wherein the operative communication between said central coordinator and said processor includes providing traffic information to the central coordinator.

70. A system according to claim 46, wherein said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for receiving travel instructions from a central coordinator, the travel instructions used by the temporary coordinator vehicle to further establish the dynamic traffic control plan.

71. A system according to claim 46, further comprising the first one of the plurality of vehicles.

72. A system according to claim 71, further comprising a central coordinator.

73. A system according to claim 72, further comprising an intersection-based communication device/sensor.