# US 10,482,763 B1 · Network-based vehicle traffic signal control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,763 B1 - Document ID: US10482763B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/976,402 - Filed: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-10 - Assignees: Systems Analysis and Integration, Inc. - Applicants: Systems Analysis & Integration, Inc. - Inventors: Lawrence Anthony Pomatto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482763B1 ## CPC - G08G 1/07: Controlling traffic signals - G08G 1/005: including pedestrian guidance indicator - G08G 1/0116: {from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons} - G08G 1/0145: {for active traffic flow control} - G08G 1/08: according to detected number or speed of vehicles - G08G 1/095: Traffic lights - G08G 1/097: Supervising of traffic control systems, e.g. by giving an alarm if two crossing streets have green light simultaneously - 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 feature-rich, improved vehicle traffic signal control system that uses network technology is provided herein. For example, the improved vehicle traffic signal control system may include a control box and light heads that include processors. The control box in the improved vehicle traffic signal control system may include fewer components and/or fewer wires extending therefrom as compared to a typical control box. In particular, the control box in the improved vehicle traffic signal control system may not include relays, a conflict monitor, or other similar components. Rather, the improved control box may simply include a controller that is coupled to various light heads via Ethernet cables. The Ethernet cables can carry electrical power, thereby providing power to the light heads. The light head processors can use network technology to control light activation, to perform conflict monitoring, to receive data from various sensors to adjust traffic flow, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a traffic control box comprising a controller; and a first light head comprising a processor, a first red light, and a first green light, wherein the first light head is coupled to the controller via a wired connection and is configured to receive electrical power from the controller, and wherein the processor is configured with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to at least: process a light head control message received from the controller; process a first status message received from a second light head via the controller, wherein the first status message indicates that a second green light is off; process a second status message received from the second light head via the controller, wherein the second status message indicates that a second red light is on; in response to reception of the second status message, determine that the first green light can be activated based on the light head control message; cause the electrical power received from the controller to pass through to the first green light to cause illumination of the first green light; generate a third status message indicating that the first green light is on; and transmit the third status message to the second light head via the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a crosswalk button coupled to the controller, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, and wherein the first light head faces a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least: process a fourth status message received from the crosswalk button via the controller, wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and in response to reception of the second and fourth status messages, determine that the first green light can be activated based on the light head control message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a crosswalk button coupled to the controller, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, and wherein the first light head faces the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the light head control message comprises an indication that the first green light is deactivated a threshold period of time after being activated, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least: process a fourth status message received from the crosswalk button via the controller, wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is enabled; determine that the threshold period of time has expired; determine that no status message indicating that the crosswalk sign is disabled has been received from the crosswalk button after reception of the fourth status message; and determine not to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least: process a fifth status message received from the crosswalk button via the controller, wherein the fifth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and cause the electrical power received from the controller to no longer pass through to the first green light to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the light head control message comprises one or more rules defining a condition under which the first light head can activate the first green light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first light head is coupled to the controller via an Ethernet cable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first light head is configured to receive the electrical power from the controller via the Ethernet cable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the vehicle sensor is configured to receive the electrical power from the controller via an Ethernet cable. ### Claim 11 A computer-implemented method comprising: as implemented by a first light head having one or more processors and a first green light, receiving a light head control message; receiving a first status message from a second light head, wherein the first status message indicates that a second green light is off; receiving a second status message from the second light head, wherein the second status message indicates that a red light is on; in response to reception of the second status message, determining that the first green light can be activated based on the light head control message; causing electrical power to pass through to the first green light to activate the first green light; generating a third status message indicating that the first green light is on; and transmitting the third status message to the second light head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining that the first green light can be activated based on the light head control message further comprises: receiving a fourth status message from a crosswalk button, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, wherein the first light head faces a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and in response to reception of the second and fourth status messages, determining that the first green light can be activated based on the light head control message. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the light head control message comprises an indication that the first green light is deactivated a threshold period of time after being activated, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises: receiving a fourth status message from a crosswalk button, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, wherein the first light head faces the first direction, and wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is enabled; determining that the threshold period of time has expired; determining that no status message indicating that the crosswalk sign is disabled has been received from the crosswalk button after reception of the fourth status message; and determining not to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a fifth status message from the crosswalk button, wherein the fifth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and causing the electrical power to no longer pass through to the first green light to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein receiving a light head control message further comprises receiving the light head control message from one of a controller or a third light head. ### Claim 16 Non-transitory, computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a first light head comprising a processor and a first green light, cause the first light head to perform operations comprising: processing a first status message received from a second light head, wherein the first status message indicates that a second green light is off; processing a second status message received from the second light head, wherein the second status message indicates that a red light is on; in response to reception of the second status message, determining that the first green light can be activated; causing electrical power received by the first light head to pass through to the first green light to activate the first green light; generating a third status message indicating that the first green light is on; and transmitting the third status message to the second light head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the first light head further performs operations comprising: processing a fourth status message received from a crosswalk button, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, wherein the first light head faces a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and in response to reception of the second and fourth status messages, determining that the first green light can be activated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the first light head is configured to deactivate the first green light a threshold period of time after activating the first light head, and wherein the first light head further performs operations comprising: processing a fourth status message received from a crosswalk button, wherein the crosswalk button, when activated, causes a crosswalk sign to signal that pedestrians can cross an intersection in a first direction, wherein the first light head faces the first direction, and wherein the fourth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is enabled; determining that the threshold period of time has expired; determining that no status message indicating that the crosswalk sign is disabled has been received from the crosswalk button after reception of the fourth status message; and determining not to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the first light head further performs operations comprising: processing a fifth status message received from the crosswalk button, wherein the fifth status message indicates that the crosswalk sign is disabled; and causing the electrical power to no longer pass through to the first green light to deactivate the first green light. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the first light head receives the electrical power from a solar panel coupled to a pole to which the first light head is coupled.