Vehicle monitoring and control system

• US 9,478,129 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premal Ashar, Vaibhavi Kothari
• Original Assignee: Premal Ashar, Vaibhavi Kothari
• Inventors: Kothari, Vaibhavi, Ashar, Premal
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/549,664
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/906, 340/907, 340/933, 340/988, 340/901, 340/902, 340/937, 340/539.1, 340/539.25, 340/904, 701/301, 701/30, 701/303
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• 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 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for monitoring a one or more vehicles are disclosed. One system includes a plurality of road transceivers located along a vehicle roadway, wherein each road transceiver is operative to at least one of communicate with or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travels along the vehicle roadway. A controller interfaced with the plurality of road transceivers or a controller within at least one of the plurality of road transceivers is operative to determined one or more operative conditions of the one or more vehicles based on the communications with or the sensing of the one or more vehicles.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a one or more vehicles, comprising:

an upstream server;

a plurality of road transceivers located along a vehicle roadway, wherein each road transceiver is connected through a network to the upstream server, and wherein each road transceiver is operative to;

at least one of communicate with or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travels along the vehicle roadway;

wherein each road transceiver is operable as a lane guide along the vehicle roadway;

wherein the upstream server is operative to;

determine one or more operative conditions of the one or more vehicles based on the communications with or the sensing of the one or more vehicles by the plurality of road transceivers;

monitor the one or more operating conditions of the one or more vehicles, wherein the operating conditions includes at least one of a speed of the one or more vehicles, lane changes of the one or more vehicles, driving performance of the one or more vehicles, proximity of the one or more vehicles with respect to other vehicles, location of the one or more vehicles over time;

communicate one or more controls of operation of the one or more vehicles to the one or more vehicles through the plurality of road transceivers based on the monitoring of the operating conditions;

wherein the communication of the one or more controls of operation include steering of the one or more vehicles, controlling a speed of the one or more vehicles, and controlling a direction of the of the one or more vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication with the one or more vehicles comprises the road transceiver receiving communication from the one or more vehicles, or communicating information to the one or more vehicles.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising the one or more vehicles responding to the information communicated from the road transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the road transceivers comprises:

a wireless transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

a road transceiver controller, wherein the road transceiver controller is operative to;

receive communications from or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles is within communication range of the wireless transceiver;

communicate with at least one of an external controller or another road transceiver.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the road transceiver includes a reflective surface and is operable to be attached to a road surface.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the road transceiver comprises a sustainable power source for powering the road transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sustainable power source comprises a kinetic energy source that is operable to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the road transceiver receives power from a wireless or magnetic source.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the road transceivers monitor progress of the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travel along the roadway.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more road transceivers communicate with the one or more vehicles allowing at least some control of operation of the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travel along the vehicle roadway, wherein the control of operation includes at least one of steering of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, direction of the one or more vehicles.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one road transceiver comprises a plurality of road transceivers, wherein the plurality of road transceivers are operable to form a wireless mesh network, wherein a subset of the plurality of road transceiver are connected to one or more backhaul networks for networking the plurality of transceivers to the upstream server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the upstream server is operative to at least one of analyze traffic conditions or traffic flow, and provide communication back to the one or more vehicles based on the analyzed traffic conditions or traffic flow.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors operative to detect a pedestrian or cyclist or animal or debris or any road sharers, and further, communicate presence of the pedestrian or animal or debris to the upstream server.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicles includes an emergency vehicle, wherein the emergency vehicle is operable to control traffic lights through the road transceivers.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising forming a mesh network between a plurality of the road transceivers and the one or more vehicles, wherein the mesh network provides distributed intelligence, and provides control even when at least a portion of the plurality of road transceivers fails.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of road transceivers includes an electromagnetic reflector, and wherein the upstream server is operative to modulate the electromagnetic reflector to reflect different colors of light to communicate messages to users of the one or more vehicles.

17. A system for monitoring a one or more vehicles, comprising:

an upstream server;

a plurality of road transceivers located along a vehicle roadway, wherein each road transceiver is connected through a network to the upstream server, and wherein each road transceiver is operative to;

receive communications from or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles travels along the vehicle roadway, and wherein each road transceiver includes a reflective surface and is operable as a lane guide along the vehicle roadway;

wherein the upstream server is operative to;

obtain information related to the one or more vehicles based on the communications received from the one or more vehicles;

monitor one or more operating conditions of the one or more vehicles from the obtained information, wherein the operating conditions includes at least one of a speed of the one or more vehicles, lane changes of the one or more vehicles, driving performance of the one or more vehicles, proximity of the one or more vehicles with respect to other vehicles, location of the one or more vehicles over time; and

communicate one or more controls of operation of the one or more vehicles to the one or more vehicles through the plurality of road transceivers based on the monitoring of the operating conditions;

wherein the communication of the one or more controls of operation include steering of the one or more vehicles, controlling a speed of the one or more vehicles, and controlling a direction of the of the one or more vehicles.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information related to the one or more vehicles includes information related to freight carried by the one or more vehicles, present and past location of the vehicle, status indication of vehicle.

19. A road transceiver comprising:

a reflective surface, wherein the road transceiver is operable to be attached to a road surface and operable as a lane guide along the vehicle roadway, wherein the road transceiver includes one or more electromagnetic reflectors;

a sustainable power source for powering the road transceiver;

a transceiver;

a controller, wherein the controller is operative to;

receive communications from or sense the one or more vehicles as the one or more vehicles passes by the transceiver;

communicate with at least one of an external controller or another road transceiver; and

modulate the one or more electromagnetic reflectors of the road transceiver to reflect different colors of light to communicate messages to users of the one or more vehicles.

20. The road transceiver of claim 19, further comprising an integrated sprinkler operative to clean a roadway.