Informational traffic light system that provides traffic light specific incentive information based on traffic light timing

• US 9,349,289 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kennett Paul Taylor
• Original Assignee: Kennett Paul Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Kennett Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US14/608,763
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/439, 340/907, 340/929, 701/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/065 by counting the vehicles in a section of the road or in a parking area, i.e. comparing incoming count with outgoing count
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase

Abstract

A system receives data describing a light state of a traffic light and timing status of the traffic light. The light states include a first state indicating the traffic light is displaying a stop signal, and a second state indicating the traffic light is not displaying a stop signal. The timing status describes the time remaining of current state to transition to another state. The system determines, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device. The messages include a first message to shut off an engine.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a display device that is associated with a traffic light and configured to be positioned for display next to the traffic light so that a plurality of motorists can view both the traffic light and the display device;

a communication subsystem;

a data processing apparatus in data communication with the display device and the communication subsystem and configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving data describing a light state of the traffic light and timing status of the traffic light, wherein;

the light states include a first state indicating the traffic light is displaying a stop signal, and a second state indicating the traffic light is not displaying a stop signal; and

the timing status describes the time remaining of current state to transition to another state;

receiving data describing traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light for which the data processing apparatus receives data describing the light state;

determining, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages to display on the display device, wherein the messages include a first message to shut off an engine, the determining further comprising;

determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, an incentive message that describes a saving associated with shutting off an engine as specified by the first message; and

displaying the first message with the incentive message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the messages include a second message to turn on an engine; and

the first message and the second message are displayed for respective different combinations of light states and timing status.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages to display on the display device comprise:

determining to display the first message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state exceeds a first time threshold.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages to display on the display device comprise:

determining to display the second message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state does not exceed the first time threshold.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device comprise:

determining to display the second message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state does not exceed a second time threshold that is less than the first time threshold, wherein the second time threshold is greater than zero.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the incentive message indicates at least one of fuel cost savings, fuel savings, and reduced carbon dioxide deposits over a period of time realized by a motorist turning off an engine at the traffic light.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device comprise;

determining to display the first message when the light state is the first state; and

the first message includes count down data that displays the time until the traffic light switches from the first state to a second state.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the traffic pattern statistics specify a number of motorists stopped at the traffic light for an average time and a time period that encompasses a plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state, and determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, the incentive message that describes the saving associated with shutting of an engine as specified by the first message comprises determining the cost savings based on a plurality of motorists, the average time, and the plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state.

8. A traffic information display device, comprising:

a processor and a memory, the processor being communicatively coupled to the memory, and the processor configured to perform operations including;

receiving data describing a light state of a traffic light and timing status of the traffic light, wherein;

the light states include a first state indicating the traffic light is displaying a stop signal, and a second state indicating the traffic light is not displaying a stop signal; and

the timing status describes the time remaining of current state to transition to another state;

receiving data describing traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light for which the data processor receives data describing the light state;

determining, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device, wherein the messages include a first message to shut off an engine, the determining further comprising;

determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, an incentive message that describes a saving associated with shutting of an engine as specified by the first message;

a communication device, the communication device being communicatively connected to at least one of a traffic light and a monitoring office; and

a display area in communication with the processor;

wherein the traffic information display device is associated with the traffic light and configured to be positioned for display next to the traffic light so that a plurality of motorists can view both the traffic light and the display device and the first message is displayed with the incentive message in the display area.

9. The traffic information display device of claim 8, wherein:

the messages include a second message to turn on an engine; and

the first message and the second message are displayed for respective different combinations of light states and timing status.

10. The traffic information display device of claim 9, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device comprise:

determining to display the first message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state exceeds a first time threshold.

11. The traffic information display device of claim 10, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device comprise:

determining to display the second message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state does not exceed the first time threshold.

12. The traffic information display device of claim 8, wherein the traffic information display device includes an observation component.

13. The traffic information display device of claim 8, wherein the incentive message indicates least one of fuel cost savings, fuel savings, and reduced carbon dioxide deposits over a period of time realized by a motorist turning off an engine at the traffic light.

20. The traffic information display device of claim 8, wherein the traffic pattern statistics specify a number of motorists stopped at the traffic light for an average time and a time period that encompasses a plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state, and determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, the incentive message that describes the saving associated with shutting of an engine as specified by the first message comprises determining the cost savings based on a plurality of motorists, the average time, and the plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state.

14. An information and instruction method in response to a traffic light signal, comprising:

receiving data describing a light state of the traffic light and timing status of the traffic light, wherein;

the light states include a first state indicating the traffic light is displaying a stop signal, and a second state indicating the traffic light is not displaying a stop signal; and

the timing status describes the time remaining of current state to transition to another state;

receiving data describing traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light for which the data processing apparatus receives data describing the light state;

determining, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages to display on a display device positioned for display next to the traffic light so that a plurality of motorists can view both the traffic light and the display device, wherein the messages include a first message to shut off an engine, the determining further comprising;

determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, an incentive message that describes a saving associated with shutting off an engine as specified by the first message; and

displaying the first message with the incentive message on the display device.

15. The information and instruction method of claim 14, wherein:

the messages include a second message to turn on an engine; and

the first message and the second message are displayed for respective different combinations of light states and timing status.

16. The information and instruction method of claim 15, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device further comprises:

determining to display the first message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state exceeds a first time threshold.

17. The information and instruction method of claim 15, wherein the operations to determine, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device further comprises:

determining to display the second message when the light state is the first state and the timing status indicates a time remaining for the first state does not exceed the first time threshold.

18. The information and instruction method of claim 14, wherein the incentive message indicates least one of fuel cost savings, fuel savings, and reduced carbon dioxide deposits over a period of time realized by a motorist turning off an engine at the traffic light.

21. The information and instruction method of claim 14, wherein the traffic pattern statistics specify a number of motorists stopped at the traffic light for an average time and a time period that encompasses a plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state, and determining, based on the traffic pattern statistics specific to the traffic light, the incentive message that describes the saving associated with shutting of an engine as specified by the first message comprises determining the cost savings based on a plurality of motorists, the average time, and the plurality of times that the traffic light is in the first state.