Method and apparatus generating and/or using estimates of arterial vehicular movement
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor configured to perform at least one ofgenerate a vehicular movement estimate (80) from at least one vehicle signature (26) each based upon sensor readings (22) of at least one vehicle (6) passing at least two sensor pods (20) each comprising at least one magneto-resistive sensor (144); and
/ormatch lists (27) of incoming of said vehicle signatures (26) and of outgoing of said vehicle signatures of a multiple input-output roadway node (4) to create an in-out vehicle match table (32) to aid in generating said vehicular movement estimate; and
/oruse said vehicular movement estimate to create at least one traffic feedback (92); and
/orcommunicate (24) with at least one of said sensor pods (20) that delimit at least one segment (12) to create at least one of said vehicle movement estimate for said segment; and
/orcommunicate with said sensor pods near a lane (8) in and near said lane (8) out, both included in said multiple input-output roadway node (4);
wherein said vehicular movement estimate for said segment (12) between said sensor pods of a roadway (10) upon which said vehicle travels includes a travel time (82) and a vehicle count (84).
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A roadway information system is disclosed with components generating and using vehicle signatures for vehicles passing near sensor pods located on or near lanes. These components in turn are part of and/or communicate with means and/or processors for generating an/or using Vehicle Movement Estimates based upon the vehicle signatures. The VME are used to create traffic feedback that may be presented to programmable field devices that may present at least some of the traffic feedback to drivers of the vehicles, thereby optimizing the fuel usage and travel time of the roadway.
38 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor configured to perform at least one of generate a vehicular movement estimate (80) from at least one vehicle signature (26) each based upon sensor readings (22) of at least one vehicle (6) passing at least two sensor pods (20) each comprising at least one magneto-resistive sensor (144); and
/ormatch lists (27) of incoming of said vehicle signatures (26) and of outgoing of said vehicle signatures of a multiple input-output roadway node (4) to create an in-out vehicle match table (32) to aid in generating said vehicular movement estimate; and
/oruse said vehicular movement estimate to create at least one traffic feedback (92); and
/orcommunicate (24) with at least one of said sensor pods (20) that delimit at least one segment (12) to create at least one of said vehicle movement estimate for said segment; and
/orcommunicate with said sensor pods near a lane (8) in and near said lane (8) out, both included in said multiple input-output roadway node (4); wherein said vehicular movement estimate for said segment (12) between said sensor pods of a roadway (10) upon which said vehicle travels includes a travel time (82) and a vehicle count (84). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for generating and/or using estimates of arterial vehicular movement, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a vehicular movement estimate (80) based upon at least one vehicle (6) passing at least two magnetic sensor included in each of at least two sensor pods (20), with said vehicle movement estimate including a travel time (82) for a segment (12) between said sensor pods; and
/orusing at least one of said vehicle movement estimates to create at least one traffic feedback (92); and
/oroperating a programmable field device (70) based upon said traffic feedback; wherein the step generating said vehicular movement estimate comprises at least one of the steps of; acquiring (200) said vehicle signatures for said at least two successive sensor pods based upon said sensor readings; and
/orgenerating (202) a scorecard (28, 29) of said vehicle signatures from said sensor pods; and
/ormatching (204) said vehicle signatures based upon said scorecard to create an in-out vehicle match table (32); and
/orgenerating (206) said vehicle movement estimate from said in-out vehicle match table. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification