Traffic signal prediction

• US 9,558,408 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas R., Miller, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Chan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Mia M
• Application Number:
  US14/053,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20150104071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/182 Network patterns, e.g. roads or rivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

An aerial image relates to a geographic area. The aerial image is analyzed to identify at least one traffic signal in the geographic area. Based at least in part on analyzing the aerial image, a timing prediction is determined for the at least one traffic signal.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer server, the computer server including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the server is configured to:

receive, from an image capture device mounted on an aircraft, an aerial image relating to a geographic area;

analyze the aerial image to identify at least one traffic signal in the geographic area, as well as times at which traffic at the signal is slowed, stopped, and moving; and

based at least in part on the times determined for the aerial image at which the traffic is slowed, stopped, and moving, as well as stored data concerning the traffic signal, determine a prediction of at least one time at which the at least one traffic signal will change color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to transmit the prediction to a remote device associated with a vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote device is configured to determine a recommended velocity for the vehicle based on the prediction.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the remote device is further configured to provide the recommended velocity to an autonomous driving module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to:

determine a recommended velocity for a vehicle based on the prediction, and

transmit the recommended velocity to a remote device associated with the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic area is based on one of a planned route and a predicted route of a vehicle specified in a request for the prediction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic area is based on a location the vehicle that is one of specified in a request for the prediction and determined from the aerial image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to determine the prediction based in part on stored data relating to the traffic signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored data is at least one of timing information about the traffic signal and historical data relating to traffic flow through the traffic signal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to determine the prediction based in part on signals received from vehicles traveling past or through the traffic signal.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, from an image capture device mounted on an aircraft, an aerial image relating to a geographic area;

analyzing the aerial image to identify at least one traffic signal in the geographic area, as well as times at which traffic at the signal is slowed, stopped, and moving; and

based at least in part on the times determined for the aerial image at which the traffic is slowed, stopped, and moving, as well as stored data concerning the traffic signal, determining a prediction of at least one time at which the at least one traffic signal will change color.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the prediction to a remote device associated with a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote device is configured to determine a recommended velocity for the vehicle based on the prediction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the remote device is further configured to provide the recommended velocity to an autonomous driving module.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a recommended velocity for a vehicle based on the prediction, and

transmitting the recommended velocity to a remote device associated with the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the geographic area is based on one of a planned route and a predicted route of a vehicle specified in a request for the prediction.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the geographic area is based on a location the vehicle that is one of specified in a request for the timing prediction and determined from the aerial image.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the prediction based in part on stored data relating to the traffic signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the stored data is at least one of information about the traffic signal and historical data relating to traffic flow through the traffic signal.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the prediction based in part on signals received from vehicles traveling past or through the traffic signal.