Driver Safety Enhancement Using Intelligent Traffic Signals and GPS

• US 20120274481A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZERO Infrastructure Mobility Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: On Time Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Ginsberg, Matthew L., Kinion, Pamela D., Mones, Stewart L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,083,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A safety system determines a correspondence between a vehicle and an upcoming traffic signal, and predicts a state of the traffic signal when the vehicle is expected to reach the signal'"'"'s location. Based on proximity to the signal and speed of the vehicle, the system provides a warning if it determines that the vehicle is likely to proceed contrary to the signal (e.g., a driver is likely to run a red light). The warning is issued to the vehicle about to illegally enter the intersection, to other nearby vehicles and pedestrians, and to the traffic signal itself.

Claims

1. A safety system, comprising:

a vehicle route subsystem configured to predict a time of arrival of a vehicle at a traffic control;

a database configured to store traffic control data;

a traffic control interaction subsystem in operative communication with the database, the traffic control interaction subsystem configured to predict a state of the traffic control at the time of arrival responsive to the traffic control data; and

a user device interaction subsystem configured to provide a warning responsive to a current dynamic of the vehicle, a current distance from the vehicle to the traffic control, and the state of the traffic control at the time of arrival as predicted by the traffic control interaction subsystem.

2. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a subsystem configured to determine a correspondence between the vehicle and the traffic control.

3. The safety system of claim 2, wherein the correspondence is determined responsive to location of the traffic control and location and direction of travel of the vehicle.

4. The safety system of claim 2, wherein the correspondence is determined responsive to a route for the vehicle.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein responsiveness of the warning to the current distance varies based on at least one of vehicle speed, applicable speed limits, presence of blind curves, time of day, and weather conditions.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the traffic control is a traffic light.

7. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning varies over time responsive to a certainty of prediction.

8. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the current dynamic is at least one of speed, acceleration, deceleration, and activation of a braking system.

9. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning is provided to a driver in a second vehicle.

10. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning is provided to a pedestrian.

11. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning is provided to the traffic control.

12. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning triggers a countermeasure.

13. The safety system of claim 12, wherein the countermeasure includes at least one of:

a vehicle control signal, application of brakes, activation of lights, activation of a horn, deactivation of a cruise control system, and change of state of the traffic control.

14. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the warning is further responsive to a driver-specific parameter.

15. The safety system of claim 14, wherein the driver-specific parameter is at least one of:

a measure of driver aggressiveness, a driver history-based parameter, and a locally (in-vehicle) processed parameter.

16. A safety system, comprising:

a vehicle route subsystem configured to predict arrival of a vehicle at a stop sign;

a database configured to store stop sign data;

a traffic control interaction subsystem in operative communication with the database, the traffic control interaction subsystem configured to predict a speed of the vehicle when it arrives at the stop sign; and

a user device interaction subsystem configured to provide a warning responsive to a current dynamic of the vehicle, a current distance from the vehicle to the stop sign, and the speed of the vehicle when it arrives at the stop sign as predicted by the traffic control interaction subsystem.

17. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the warning is further responsive to a driver-specific parameter.

18. An automated vehicle response system, comprising:

a detection subsystem configured to determine an external situation relating to a traffic control;

a user device in operative communication with the detection subsystem, the user device being operable both when located within the vehicle and when located remote from the vehicle; and

a vehicle control subsystem in operative communication with the detection subsystem and configured to alter operation of the vehicle responsive to the external situation via a command from the user device.

19. The automated vehicle response system of claim 18, wherein the external situation relates to a predicted state of the traffic control and wherein the vehicle control subsystem is configured to change engine operation of the vehicle responsive to the predicted state of the traffic control requiring the vehicle to be stopped.

20. The automated vehicle response system of claim 18, wherein the external situation relates to a detected traffic control to be encountered by the vehicle and wherein the vehicle control subsystem is configured to change engine operation of the vehicle responsive to the detected traffic control requiring the vehicle to be stopped.

21. A computer-implemented method for providing a warning that a vehicle is predicted to violate a traffic control, the computer-implemented method comprising:

predicting, via a user device within the vehicle, a time of arrival of the vehicle at a traffic control;

predicting a state of the traffic control at the time of arrival responsive to traffic control data stored in a database; and

providing a warning responsive to a current dynamic of the vehicle, a current distance from the vehicle to the traffic control, and the state of the traffic control at the time of arrival as predicted by the traffic control interaction subsystem.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising determining, via the user device, a correspondence between the vehicle and the traffic control.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the correspondence is determined responsive to location of the traffic control and location and direction of travel of the vehicle.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the correspondence is determined responsive to a route for the vehicle.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein responsiveness of the warning to the current distance varies based on at least one of vehicle speed, applicable speed limit, presence of a blind curve, time of day, and weather conditions.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the traffic control is a traffic light.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning varies over time responsive to a certainty of prediction.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the current dynamic is at least one of speed, acceleration, deceleration, and activation of a braking system.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning is provided to a driver in a second vehicle.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning is provided to a pedestrian.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning is provided to the traffic control.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning triggers a countermeasure.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the countermeasure includes at least one of:

a vehicle control signal, application of brakes, activation of lights, activation of a horn, deactivation of a cruise control system, and change of state of the traffic control.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the warning is further responsive to a driver-specific parameter.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the warning triggers a countermeasure.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein the countermeasure includes at least one of:

a vehicle control signal, application of brakes, activation of lights, activation of a horn, and deactivation of a cruise control system.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein the driver-specific parameter is at least one of:

a measure of driver aggressiveness, a driver history-based parameter, and a locally (in-vehicle) processed parameter.

36. A computer-implemented mobile traffic safety method, comprising:

predicting arrival of a vehicle at a stop sign;

determining, based on stop sign data stored in a database, a predicted speed of the vehicle at a location proximate to the stop sign; and

providing a warning responsive to a current dynamic of the vehicle, a current distance from the vehicle to the stop sign, and the predicted speed of the vehicle.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the current dynamic is at least one of speed, acceleration, deceleration, and activation of a braking system.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the warning is provided to a driver in a second vehicle.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the warning is provided to a pedestrian.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the warning is further responsive to a driver-specific parameter.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein the driver-specific parameter is at least one of:

a measure of driver aggressiveness, a driver history-based parameter, and a locally (in-vehicle) processed parameter.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, wherein the stop sign data include data inferred from prior observation of other vehicles at the location proximate to the stop sign.

45. An automated vehicle response method, comprising:

determining, by a detection subsystem, an external situation relating to a traffic control;

sending a communication from a user device responsive to the external situation, the user device being operable both when located within the vehicle and when located remote from the vehicle; and

altering, via a vehicle control subsystem, operation of the vehicle responsive to the communication from the user device.

46. The automated vehicle response method of claim 45, wherein the external situation relates to a predicted state of the traffic control and wherein the altering includes changing engine operation of the vehicle responsive to the predicted state of the traffic control requiring the vehicle to be stopped.