Method and arrangement for controlling a system of multiple traffic signals

• US 20030063015A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rohling, Hermann, Schulz, Egon, Halfmann, Ruediger, Lott, Matthias, Ebner, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common 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 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A method and arrangement for controlling a system of multiple traffic signals for regulating the traffic of vehicles is described. Traffic data is transmitted by wireless transmission to traffic data processing units assigned individually to a locally limited group of traffic signals, and each traffic data processing unit performs an analysis of the local traffic situation for the environment of the locally limited group of traffic signals up to, at the maximum, the neighboring locally limited groups of traffic signals.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a system of multiple traffic signals for regulating the traffic of motor vehicles, comprising:

acquiring traffic data using vehicles;

transmitting traffic data at least partially by wireless transmission to traffic data processing units;

analyzing the traffic situation in the traffic data processing units; and

controlling the traffic signals on the basis of the result of the analysis,

wherein the traffic data is transmitted by wireless transmission to the traffic data processing units being assigned individually to a locally limited group of traffic signals, and an analysis of the local traffic situation for the environment of the respective locally limited group of traffic signals up to, at the maximum, the neighboring locally limited groups of traffic signals is performed in each traffic data processing unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein analysis of the local traffic situation is performed within the reception range of a transceiver unit of the traffic data processing units.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein analysis of the local traffic situation is performed within a region which extends beyond the reception range of a transceiver unit of the traffic data processing unit, the traffic data required for the analysis being relayed from the transmitting vehicles to the transceiver units of the traffic data processing unit via additional transceiver units.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the traffic data is relayed by transceiver units of other vehicles.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquisition or transmission of traffic data of a vehicle to a traffic data processing unit is triggered when the vehicle reaches a defined position, the defined position being determined by the corresponding traffic data processing unit, and the corresponding information is transmitted by wireless transmission to at least one vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the defined position is set dynamically as a function of the current traffic situation.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein traffic data is transmitted continuously by all vehicles and all the received traffic data is processed in the traffic data processing units for analysis of the local traffic situation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle types are prioritized in the traffic data processing units on the basis of the received traffic data, and the locally limited group of traffic signals is controlled by taking into account the priority of the vehicles in the environment of the locally limited group of traffic signals.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic data processing units generate and transmit driver assistance information and vehicle control information to the vehicles, the information being based on the analysis of the local traffic situation or the status of the control of the locally limited group of traffic signals.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein acquisition or transmission of traffic data of a vehicle to a traffic data processing unit is triggered when the vehicle reaches a defined position, the defined position being determined by the corresponding traffic data processing unit, and the corresponding information is transmitted by wireless transmission to at least one vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein acquisition or transmission of traffic data of a vehicle to a traffic data processing unit is triggered when the vehicle reaches a defined position, the defined position being determined by the corresponding traffic data processing unit, and the corresponding information is transmitted by wireless transmission to at least one vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein acquisition or transmission of traffic data of a vehicle to a traffic data processing unit is triggered when the vehicle reaches a defined position, the defined position being determined by the corresponding traffic data processing unit, and the corresponding information is transmitted by wireless transmission to at least one vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein traffic data is transmitted continuously by all vehicles and all the received traffic data is processed in the traffic data processing units for analysis of the local traffic situation.

18. The method according to claim 3, wherein traffic data is transmitted continuously by all vehicles and all the received traffic data is processed in the traffic data processing units for analysis of the local traffic situation.

19. The method according to claim 4, wherein traffic data is transmitted continuously by all vehicles and all the received traffic data is processed in the traffic data processing units for analysis of the local traffic situation.

20. The method according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle types are prioritized in the traffic data processing units on the basis of the received traffic data, and the locally limited group of traffic signals is controlled by taking into account the priority of the vehicles in the environment of the locally limited group of traffic signals.

10. An arrangement for controlling a system of multiple traffic signals on the basis of traffic data acquired by vehicles, comprising:

individual traffic data processing units being assigned to a locally limited group of traffic signals, and each traffic data processing unit being designed for analysis of the local traffic situation for the environment of the respective locally limited group of traffic signals up to, at the maximum, the neighboring locally limited groups of traffic signals.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein each traffic data processing unit has devices for establishing defined vehicle positions as the triggering technology for acquisition and transmission of traffic data of a vehicle to a traffic data processing unit.

12. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the traffic data processing units have a device for prioritizing different types of vehicle on the basis of received traffic data as well as a device for controlling the locally limited group of traffic signals taking into account a priority of the vehicles in the environment of the locally limited group of traffic signals.

13. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the traffic data processing units have a device for generating driver assistance information and vehicle control information for the vehicles.

21. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the traffic data processing units have a device for prioritizing different types of vehicle on the basis of received traffic data as well as a device for controlling the locally limited group of traffic signals taking into account a priority of the vehicles in the environment of the locally limited group of traffic signals.