Traffic management device and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A traffic management method that employs a traffic control device, the method comprising:
- determining the locations and speeds of a plurality of vehicles; and
transmitting recommended speeds to at least some of the vehicles, the recommended speeds includinga. a first speed for a first subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the first subset to change speed andb. a second speed for a second subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the second subset to change speed;
the transmitted recommended speeds being such that vehicles are instructed to accelerate or decelerate so that the first and second subsets of vehicles are separated and spaced apart in first and second pods of vehicles and such that the vehicles in each pod travel at a common speed, andthe transmitting recommended speeds comprisinga. instructing at least one of the first subset and the second subset to stop at a specified distance from an intersection andb. providing to the subset that is stopped a recommended intersection approach speed and instructing vehicles in the stopped subset to accelerate prior to a traffic signal device changing from a stop signal to a go signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.
39 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A traffic management method that employs a traffic control device, the method comprising:
-
determining the locations and speeds of a plurality of vehicles; and transmitting recommended speeds to at least some of the vehicles, the recommended speeds including a. a first speed for a first subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the first subset to change speed and b. a second speed for a second subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the second subset to change speed; the transmitted recommended speeds being such that vehicles are instructed to accelerate or decelerate so that the first and second subsets of vehicles are separated and spaced apart in first and second pods of vehicles and such that the vehicles in each pod travel at a common speed, and the transmitting recommended speeds comprising a. instructing at least one of the first subset and the second subset to stop at a specified distance from an intersection and b. providing to the subset that is stopped a recommended intersection approach speed and instructing vehicles in the stopped subset to accelerate prior to a traffic signal device changing from a stop signal to a go signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
4. A traffic management method that employs a traffic control device, the method comprising:
-
determining the locations and speeds of a plurality of vehicles; transmitting recommended speeds to at least some of the vehicles, the recommended speeds including a. a first speed for a first subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the first subset to change speed and b. a second speed for a second subset of the vehicles that causes at least a first vehicle in the second subset to change speed, the transmitted recommended speeds being such that vehicles are instructed to accelerate or decelerate so that the first and second subsets of vehicles are separated and spaced apart in first and second pods of vehicles and such that the vehicles in each pod travel at a common speed; transmitting a first signal to a vehicle entering the road, which first signal instructs the vehicle to stop and wait for a pod to approach; and transmitting a second signal to the vehicle, which second signal instructs the vehicle to accelerate and take a specified position in the pod. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification