Method and apparatus for traffic light state alerts

• US 10,565,868 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Neubecker, Cynthia M., Bennie, Brian, MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Mohammed, Noorulla
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolourchi, Nader
• Application Number:
  US15/047,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20170243481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 340929
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a wireless light-state notification as a vehicle approaches a traffic light. The processor is also configured to determine an appropriate vehicle action based on at least the light-state, a vehicle speed and a vehicle proximity to the traffic light and recommend the appropriate action to the vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light;

determine an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and

recommend, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the processor is further configured to determine a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, via a first vehicle transceiver, a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light;

determining, via a first vehicle computer, an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and

recommending, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the method further includes determining a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, via a first vehicle transceiver, a wireless light-state notification, identifying a current light-state, from another vehicle broadcasting the light-state notification wirelessly, as a first vehicle approaches a traffic light;

determining, via a first vehicle computer, an appropriate vehicle action for the first vehicle, based on at least the light-state, a first vehicle speed and a first vehicle proximity to the traffic light; and

recommending, via an output of the first vehicle, the appropriate vehicle action to a driver of the first vehicle.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the appropriate action includes slowing the first vehicle if the light-state is red.

11. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the appropriate action includes maintaining a present speed if the light-state is green.

12. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the light-state includes time-to-change data, and the method further includes determining a light-state when the first vehicle reaches the traffic light.