# US 10,311,725 B2 · Systems and methods for detection of travelers at roadway intersections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,725 B2 - Document ID: US10311725B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/921,443 - Filed: 2018-03-14 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-20 - Assignees: Stc PLC - Applicants: STC Electronics - Inventors: Brad Cross; Terry Fryar; Nicholas Freed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311725B2 ## CPC - G08G 1/07: Controlling traffic signals - G08G 1/005: including pedestrian guidance indicator - G08G 1/056: with provision for distinguishing direction of travel - G08G 1/087: Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for assisting a flow of travelers through an intersection, the method comprising: providing an intersection managed by a plurality of traffic control signals; providing a mobile communication device to each traveler in a plurality of travelers approaching said intersection, said mobile communication device being configured to transmit its location and direction of travel; for each traveler in said plurality of travelers: evaluating said location and direction of travel of said mobile communication device for said each traveler; determining a mode of transportation for said each traveler; assigning a priority in a ladder of priorities to said each traveler for when said each traveler may go through said intersection; calculating a traffic control signal plan for each traveler in said plurality of travelers to go through said intersection, said traffic control signal plan being based at least in part on said priority assigned to each traveler in said plurality of travelers, and comprising a sequence of one or more traffic control signal configurations for said plurality of traffic control signals; and for each traffic control signal configuration in said sequence of one of more traffic control signal configurations, sequentially altering said plurality of traffic control signals to said each traffic control signal configuration according to said sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device only transmits said direction of travel information if said mobile device is in a preselected detection zone proximate said intersection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said direction of travel information comprises the direction that the mobile communication device is moving. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said direction of travel information comprises the direction that a mobile communication device is pointed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein direction of travel information comprises a direction indicated on the mobile communication device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said traveler is a pedestrian. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said traveler is a bicyclist. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said traveler is using a personal mobility device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said traveler is using a motor vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said determining a mode of transportation for said each traveler comprises determining whether said each traveler is a pedestrian or is aboard a vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a type of vehicle said each traveler is aboard if said each traveler is determined to be aboard a vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said assigning a priority is based at least in part on said determined mode of transportation for said each traveler. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said assigned priority is a higher priority if said determined mode of transportation is selected from the group consisting of: a carpool vehicle, a mass transit vehicle, a municipal vehicle, and an autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning a priority is based at least in part on a number of other travelers in said plurality of travelers determined to have a same direction of travel as said each traveler. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said calculated traffic control signal Plan minimizes the total amount of time required for all travelers in said plurality of travelers to go through said intersection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said calculated traffic control signal plan excludes any traffic control signal configuration permitting vehicular traffic to cross a pedestrian path through said intersection at the same time as pedestrian traffic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said calculated traffic control signal plan attempts to equalize the total amount of time each traveler in said plurality of travelers waits to go through said intersection. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning a priority is based at least in part on the current date. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning a priority is based at least in part on the current time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said calculated traffic signal management plan considers said assigned priority for a subplurality of travelers in said plurality of travelers as a single aggregated priority.