Signal light priority system utilizing estimated time of arrival

• US 9,916,759 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Original Assignee: STC Incorporated (STC)
• Inventors: Cross, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US15/043,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20160163193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/082 Controlling the time between beginning of the same phase of a cycle at adjacent intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

Systems and methods for requesting modification of traffic flow control systems that combine satellite position navigation systems and dead reckoning technology with secure radio communications to accurately report a vehicle'"'"'s real-time location and estimated arrival times at a series of signal lights within a traffic grid or at a distant signal light, while enabling signal controllers to accommodate priority requests from these vehicles, allowing for these vehicles to maintain a fixed schedule with minimal interruption to other grid traffic.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable memory comprising:

computer readable instructions for identifying one or more vehicles within a traffic grid, each vehicle having its own schedule with a specified scheduled arrival time at each of a plurality of specified destinations;

computer readable instructions for determining a first vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival at a next one of said specified destinations located within the traffic grid; and

computer readable instructions for requesting modification of one or more traffic light signals between said first vehicle'"'"'s current location and said next one of said specified destinations within the traffic grid based upon said first vehicle'"'"'s estimated time of arrival at said next one of said specified destinations so that said first vehicle arrives at said next one of said specified destinations closer to said specified scheduled arrival time for said next one of said specified destinations than if said modification did not occur.

2. The memory of claim 1, wherein said first vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

3. The memory of claim 1 further comprising:

computer readable instructions for determining if a certain set of defined pre-conditions have been met; and

computer readable instructions for only executing said computer readable instructions for requesting modification if said certain set of defined pre-conditions have been met.

4. The memory of claim 3 wherein said preconditions comprise that a second vehicle has not already requested modification of traffic light signals between said first vehicle'"'"'s current location and said next one of said specified destinations.

5. The memory of claim 4 wherein said second vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

6. The memory of claim 4 wherein said second vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

7. The memory of claim 6 wherein said first vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

8. The memory of claim 3 wherein said preconditions comprise that said current location is another specified destination in said plurality of specified destinations.

9. The memory of claim 3 wherein said preconditions comprise that an exit request has not been made for another specified destination between said current location and said next destination.