Intelligent traffic control and warning system and method

• US 6,633,238 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Robert D. Pedersen, Steven Robert Pedersen
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Robert D. Pedersen, Steven Robert Pedersen
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H., Pedersen, Steven R., Pedersen, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/871,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 340/910, 340/906, 340/909, 340/905, 340/911, 340/914, 340/917, 340/924, 701/117
• US Class Current: 340/909
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• 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 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system and method for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists includes a controller to determine appropriate action based on traffic congestion parameters. Fuzzy logic is used to determine optimum traffic light phase split based on the traffic information from the traffic information units. Global Positioning System technology is used by the system and method in order to track moving vehicles and signs and be able to communicate with them.

Claims

1. A method of using at least one central controller and at least one intelligent controller for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists comprising the acts of:

(a) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units,

(b) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,

(c) using the central controller to determine congestion parameters and warning information,

(d) transmitting the congestion parameters and the warning information from the at least one central controller to the intelligent controller, and

(e) using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters and the warning information.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are traffic lights with intelligent controllers wherein each of the traffic lights with the intelligent controllers further comprises:

(a) a computer controller including a processor and memory,

(b) a receiver coupled to the computer controller wherein the receiver receives and analyzes communication signals from at least one central controller, and

(c) a transmitter coupled to the computer controller wherein the transmitter generates and transmits signals to at least some of the other traffic information units.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are traffic lights with intelligent warning signs wherein each of the traffic lights with the intelligent warning signs further comprises:

(a) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from at least some of the other traffic information units, and

(b) a warning sign that displays the warning messages to the motorists.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are intelligent roadside warning signs wherein each of the intelligent roadside warning signs further comprises:

(a) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from at least some of the other traffic information units, and

(b) a warning sign that displays the warning messages to the motorists.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are traffic lights with cameras wherein the traffic lights with cameras further comprises:

(a) a camera that monitors an intersection or road,

(b) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from at least some of the other traffic information units, and

(c) a transmitter that at least receives signals from the camera and generates and transmits signals to at least some of the other traffic information units.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are roadside traffic and weather sensors wherein each of the roadside traffic and weather sensors further comprises a transmitter that generates and transmits signals to the at least one central controller.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the traffic information units are vehicle warning units wherein each of the vehicle warning units further comprises:

(a) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from at least one central controller,

(b) a satellite receiver that receives and analyzes communications signals from a satellite positioning system and determines current geographic location of each of the warning units,

(c) a transmitter that generates and transmits data to at least one central controller, and

(d) an alarm indicator that indicates a relevant traffic situation or emergency.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle warning units are a plurality of vehicle warning units wherein each of the vehicle warning units further comprises:

(a) a receiving circuit to receive data from the at least one central controller,

(b) a transmitter to transmit data to the at least one central controller, and

(c) a global positioning system receiver to determine exact location of each of the vehicle warning units.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the intelligent central controller comprises a plurality of central controllers and wherein each of the vehicle warning units is capable of determining from which one of the plurality of central controllers it is to receive data transmission based on the current geographic location of the each of the vehicle warning units.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one controller is one of a plurality of central controllers, wherein each of the central controllers further comprises:

(a) a database computer having a database storage unit,

(b) a processor and memory configured to monitor existing traffic conditions and emergency situations and distribute warning messages,

(c) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the traffic information units, and

(d) a transmitter that generates and transmits signals to the traffic information units.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprises the acts of:

(a) providing a plurality of traffic light controllers, and

(b) configuring the traffic light controllers to receive data from the central controller, to transmit data to the central controller, to transmit data from at least some of the traffic information units, and to receive data from the at least some of the traffic information units.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

(a) providing a plurality of traffic sensors, and

(b) configuring the traffic sensors to transmit information to at least one central controller.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the act of providing a plurality of roadside warning signs wherein each of the roadside warning signs includes a receiving circuit to receive data from the at least one central controller and at least some of the traffic information units and also includes global positioning system receivers to determine exact locations of the roadside warning signs.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the act of providing a plurality of roadside warning signs further comprises the act of providing a plurality of fixed-location roadside warning signs.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the act of providing a plurality of roadside warning signs further comprises the act of providing a plurality of movable roadside warning signs.

16. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the act of providing global positioning system location receivers and processors for the traffic information units located in emergency vehicles wherein the receivers and the processors precisely locate the emergency vehicles and report location, movement and destination to the at least one central controller for use in generating traffic management controls.

17. The method according to claim 1 wherein the act of using the intelligent controllers further comprises the act of using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate traffic control action.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the act of using the intelligent controllers further comprises the act of using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate traffic information distribution.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the traffic information is traffic warning messages.

20. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the act of integrating traffic light control operations and traffic information distribution operations in determining the appropriate action.