Method and system for allowing vehicles to negotiate roles and permission sets in a hierarchical traffic control system

• US 6,609,061 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wikeshire IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MacPhail, Margaret Gardner, Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/965,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/200, 701/210, 701/213, 340/905, 340/906, 340/907, 340/924
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

A traffic control system is described. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The traffic control system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. The at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role.

Claims

1. A traffic control system comprising:

a primary controller, the primary controller being associated with an area and for receiving information about traffic in the area; and

a plurality of subsidiary controllers for providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers being associated with a cell within the area;

each of the subsidiary controllers receiving and providing information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell, wherein the primary controller is capable of determining best path information for the at least one vehicle based upon traffic conditions in the area, and wherein each subsidiary controller is capable of monitoring and controlling traffic in the associated cell, wherein the best path information is communicated to the at least one vehicle.

2. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein each of the subsidiary controllers can determine position of a vehicle in its associated cell.

3. The traffic control system of claim 1 wherein each of the subsidiary controllers can change the route of a vehicle based upon communications with the primary controller.

4. The traffic control system of claim 3 wherein the at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role, and wherein the communications with the primary controller includes roles and permissions for the at least one vehicle.

5. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein the at least one vehicle automatically sends information to one of the subsidiary controllers concerning location, vehicle operation and vehicle information.

6. The traffic control system of claim 5 wherein the at least one vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the at least one vehicle operation system.

7. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

8. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a suspension system.

9. The traffic control system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a fuel indication system.

10. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to the traffic control system via a trip plan.

11. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

12. The traffic control system of claim 4 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and factors associated with the traffic conditions.

13. A traffic control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary controller receives information relating to the at least one vehicle, the information including a trip plan determined by one or more users of the at least one vehicle.

14. A traffic control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the best path information and traffic information provided to other vehicles is based on status information obtained from a different vehicle.

15. A traffic control system as recited in claim 1 wherein each subsidiary controller is capable of determining best path information for the at least one vehicle based upon traffic conditions in the associated cell, wherein the best path information is communicated to the at least one vehicle from at least one of the subsidiary controllers.

16. A traffic control system as recited in claim 15 wherein when a vehicle travels within one of the cells, the associated subsidiary controller determines a best path for the vehicle, and wherein when a vehicle travels between two cells, the primary controller determines the best path for the at least one vehicle.

17. A traffic control system as recited in claim 16 wherein the primary controller or secondary controller determines the best path information for the at least one vehicle based upon the trip plan and current traffic conditions.

18. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) assigning one of a plurality of roles to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role assigned by the traffic control system relative to roles assigned to other vehicles and based on traffic conditions; and

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the vehicle provides identification information to the traffic control system via a trip plan from which the permissions are determined.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the granting of permissions is provided by a controller capable of monitoring and controlling traffic in an associated cell, and wherein the vehicle is granted the permissions at the time the vehicle enters a cell.

21. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the permissions and the violations thereof can be defined by a user.

22. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the permissions are granted also based on at least one of the group consisting of time of day and weather conditions.

23. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the routing of the vehicle is also based on current traffic conditions and the status of other vehicles.

24. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising providing a corrective action if one or more of the permissions is violated by the vehicle.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the corrective action includes notifying a person or department of the violation.

26. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the corrective action includes controlling the violating vehicle to become inoperative or stopped.

27. A traffic control system comprising:

a primary controller, the primary controller for receiving information about traffic in an area, the primary controller including a first plurality of participant objects, wherein the primary controller is capable of determining efficient routing information for at least one vehicle based upon traffic conditions in the area; and

a plurality of subsidiary controllers for providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers including a second plurality of participant objects, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers being associated with a cell within the area, each cell being represented as a plurality of segment objects;

each of the subsidiary controllers receiving and providing information to the at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell and capable of determining efficient routing information for the at least one vehicle based upon traffic conditions in its associated cell and providing the efficient routing information to the at least one vehicle, and wherein the primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions.

28. The traffic control system of claim 27 wherein each of the subsidiary traffic controllers can determine position of a vehicle in its associated cell via a communication from a vehicle area network.

29. The traffic control system of claim 27 wherein each of the subsidiary controllers can change the route of a vehicle based upon a change of the appropriate participant object of the primary controller.

30. A traffic control system as recited in claim 27 wherein when a vehicle travels within one of the cells, the associated subsidiary controller provides the most efficient routing information for the vehicle, and wherein when a vehicle travels between two cells, the primary controller provides the most efficient routing information for the at least one vehicle.

31. The traffic control system of claim 29 wherein the at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role and wherein the communications within a participant object of the primary controller includes roles and permissions for the vehicle.

32. The traffic control system of claim 31 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to a participant object of the traffic control system via a trip plan.

33. The traffic control system of claim 31, wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

34. The traffic control system of claim 31 wherein the permissions are based on the vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and based on traffic conditions.

35. The traffic control system of claim 31 wherein the vehicle automatically sends information to one of the subsidiary controllers concerning location, vehicle operation and vehicle information.

36. The traffic control system of claim 35 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the at least one vehicle operation system.

37. The traffic control system of claim 36 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

38. The traffic control system of claim 36 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a suspension system.

39. The traffic control system of claim 36 wherein the vehicle operation system comprises a fuel indication system.

40. A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) assigning one of a plurality of roles to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role assigned by a participant object of the traffic control system;

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions; and

(d) providing a corrective action if one or more of the permissions is violated by the vehicle.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permission to a participant object of the traffic control system via a trip plan.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the at least one vehicle provides the permissions at the time of entering a cell.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the permissions are based on the at least one vehicle role relative to other vehicles'"'"' roles and based on traffic conditions.

44. A method as recited in claim 40 wherein the corrective action includes notifying a person or department of the violation.

45. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the corrective action includes controlling the violating vehicle to become inoperative or stopped.

46. A method as recited in claim 40 wherein the permissions are granted also based on at least one of the group consisting of time of day, weather conditions, and functional status of the vehicle.

47. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

the program instructions for;

(a) assigning one of a plurality of roles to a vehicle;

(b) granting a changeable set of permissions to the vehicle based upon the role assigned by the traffic control system relative to roles assigned to other vehicles and based on traffic conditions; and

(c) routing the vehicle based upon the role and the permissions.