Traffic management device and system

• US 9,812,009 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Publicover
• Inventors: Publicover, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/878,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160027301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• 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 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.

Claims

1. A traffic management method that employs a traffic control device, the method comprising:

determining the locations and speeds of a plurality of vehicles; and

transmitting recommended speeds to at least some of the vehicles, the recommended speeds including

a. a first speed for a first subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the first subset to change speed and

b. a second speed for a second subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the second subset to change speed;

the transmitted recommended speeds being such that vehicles are instructed to accelerate or decelerate so that the first and second subsets of vehicles are separated and spaced apart in first and second pods of vehicles and such that the vehicles in each pod travel at a common speed, and

the transmitting recommended speeds comprising

a. instructing at least one of the first subset and the second subset to stop at a specified distance from an intersection and

b. providing to the subset that is stopped a recommended intersection approach speed and instructing vehicles in the stopped subset to accelerate prior to a traffic signal device changing from a stop signal to a go signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted recommended speeds are such that the first and second pods are instructed to pass through an intersection at their respective speeds without a change in the speeds of the pods.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the vehicles in the first and second subsets are on the same road.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting a signal to instruct vehicles to give priority to an emergency vehicle approaching an intersection controlled by the traffic control device.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first speed is such that at least a first vehicle in the first subset is instructed to increase speed.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second speed is such that at least a first vehicle in the second subset is instructed to decrease speed.

8. The method according to claim 2 wherein the transmitting recommended speeds comprises instructing traffic between the first subset and the second subset to stop.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting recommended speeds comprises instructing traffic traveling in the same direction as the stopped subset to also stop.

4. A traffic management method that employs a traffic control device, the method comprising:

determining the locations and speeds of a plurality of vehicles;

transmitting recommended speeds to at least some of the vehicles, the recommended speeds including

a. a first speed for a first subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the first subset to change speed and

b. a second speed for a second subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the second subset to change speed,

the transmitted recommended speeds being such that vehicles are instructed to accelerate or decelerate so that the first and second subsets of vehicles are separated and spaced apart in first and second pods of vehicles and such that the vehicles in each pod travel at a common speed;

transmitting a first signal to a vehicle entering the road, which first signal instructs the vehicle to stop and wait for a pod to approach; and

transmitting a second signal to the vehicle, which second signal instructs the vehicle to accelerate and take a specified position in the pod.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the transmitted recommended speeds are such that the first and second pods are instructed to pass through an intersection at their respective speeds without a change in the speeds of the pods.

11. The method according to claim 4 wherein the vehicles in the first and second subsets are on the same road.

12. The method according to claim 4 further comprising transmitting a signal to instruct vehicles to give priority to an emergency vehicle approaching an intersection controlled by the traffic control device.

13. The method according to claim 4 wherein the first speed is such that at least a first vehicle in the first subset is instructed to increase speed.

14. The method according to claim 4 wherein the second speed is such that at least a first vehicle in the second subset is instructed to decrease speed.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the transmitting recommended speeds comprises instructing at least one of the first subset and the second subset to stop.

16. The method according to claim 10 wherein the transmitting recommended speeds comprises instructing traffic between the first subset and the second subset to stop.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the transmitting recommended speeds comprises instructing traffic traveling in the same direction as the stopped subset to also stop.