Method, evaluating computer, and on-board computer for influencing a traffic light signal system

• US 9,818,298 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INIT Innovative Informatikanwendungen In Transport- Verkehrs- und Leitsystemen GmbH
• Original Assignee: INIT Innovative Informatikanwendungen In Transport- Verkehrs- und Leitsystemen GmbH
• Inventors: Loffl, Karlheinz, Mrder, Andreas, Khn, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US13/393,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 340906, 340907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for influencing a traffic light system provided with an evaluating computer by a vehicle, in particular in public transportation, the vehicle sending a data telegram to the evaluating computer at a sending position in order to request a green phase and the data telegram and/or the sending position depending on predefined reporting points, characterized in that the data telegram is transmitted to the evaluating computer by means of a packet-oriented, in particular IP-based (Internet-Protocol-based) radio network and in that the sending position is moved forward according to the current speed of the vehicle and a maximum assumed data telegram propagation time as the vehicle approaches a reporting point.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a vehicle to influence a traffic light signal system provided with an evaluation computer, said method comprising:

sending, via the vehicle, a data telegram to an evaluation computer to request a green phase at a sending position, at least one of the data telegram or the sending position depending on predefined reporting points,

wherein the predefined reporting points are location points,

wherein the data telegram is transmitted to the evaluation computer over a packet-oriented radio network and wherein in an approach of the vehicle to a reporting point the sending position is advanced as a function of a current speed of the vehicle and a maximum assumed data telegram transit time,

wherein the evaluation computer calculates the transit time of the data telegram based on a difference between a reception time and a sending time on reception of the data telegram, and when the calculated transit time is smaller than the maximum assumed data telegram transit time, further processing or forwarding of the data telegram is delayed by a time difference according to the difference between the maximum assumed data telegram transit time and the calculated transit time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a reporting point is defined by the target address of the evaluation computer and a reporting point number.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum assumed data telegram transit time is defined globally.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reporting point, a sending time and a maximum assumed data telegram transit time are transmitted with the data telegram.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data telegram is sent multiple times.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an acknowledgement mechanism is used for transmitting the data telegram.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data telegram is discarded when the transit time of the data telegram is greater than the maximum assumed data telegram transit time.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein data telegrams to be triggered without delay are provided with a certain identifier.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending position is moved forward so that a higher speed of the vehicle and a data telegram subject to the maximum assumed data telegram transit time are taken into account.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein local time is synchronized in the vehicle and in the evaluation computer, in particular via NTP (network time protocol), SNTP (simple network time protocol), GPS (global positioning system), UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) or a server available in the network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data telegram is forwarded via a central application-router to the evaluation computer.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packet-oriented radio network is an IP based radio network.

13. An evaluation computer for enabling a vehicle to influence a traffic light signal system, said evaluation computer comprising:

a send or receive unit, for receiving a data telegram,

wherein the evaluation computer is configured to receive the data telegram from the vehicle that requests a green phase at a sending position, at least one of the data telegram or the sending position depending on predefined reporting points,

wherein the predefined reporting points are location points,

wherein the data telegram is transmitted over a packet-oriented radio network to the evaluation computer,

wherein in an approach of the vehicle to a reporting point the sending position is advanced as a function of a current speed of the vehicle and a maximum assumed data telegram transit time, and

wherein the evaluation computer calculates the transit time of the data telegram based on a difference between a reception time and a sending time on reception of the data telegram, and when the calculated transit time is smaller than the maximum assumed data telegram transit time, further processing or forwarding of the data telegram is delayed by a time difference according to the difference between the maximum assumed data telegram transit time and the calculated transit time.

14. The evaluation computer according to claim 13, wherein the evaluation computer can be operated by means of a relay interface in parallel with an analog evaluation unit.

15. The evaluation computer according to claim 13, wherein the send or receive unit is configured for GPRS (general packet radio service), EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution), UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system), TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio), WLAN (wireless local area network) or WIMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access).

16. The evaluation computer according to claim 13, wherein the packet-oriented radio network is an IP (Internet protocol) based radio network.

17. An on-board computer for enabling a vehicle to influence a traffic light signal system, said on-board computer comprising:

a send or receive unit, for sending a data telegram,

wherein the on-board computer is configured to send the data telegram to an evaluation computer to request a green phase at a sending position, at least one of the data telegram or the sending position depending on predefined reporting points,

wherein the predefined reporting points are location points,

wherein the data telegram is transmitted over a packet-oriented radio network to the evaluation computer,

wherein the on-board computer is further configured in such a way that in an approach of the vehicle to a reporting point the sending position is advanced as a function of a current speed of the vehicle and a maximum assumed data telegram transit time, and

wherein the evaluation computer calculates the transit time of the data telegram based on a difference between a reception time and a sending time on reception of the data telegram, and when the calculated transit time is smaller than the maximum assumed data telegram transit time, further processing or forwarding of the data telegram is delayed by a time difference according to the difference between the maximum assumed data telegram transit time and the calculated transit time.

18. The on-board computer according to claim 17, wherein the on-board computer has a module for automatic position determination.

19. The on-board computer according to claim 17, wherein the send or receive unit is configured for GPRS (general packet radio service), EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution), UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system), TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio), WLAN (wireless local area network) or WIMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access).

20. The on-board computer according to claim 17, wherein the packet-oriented radio network is an IP (Internet protocol) based radio network.