Apparatus and method for two-way signaling with traffic controllers over a wireless link

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one access point configured to increase pavement lifetime near a traffic light thereby lowering maintenance expense for said pavement compared to an automobile, each of said at least one access point, communicating with at least one associated traffic controller to direct a said traffic light in response to a wireless message received from a cell phone without being delayed by a cellular data link for at least one minute initiated by an application, for said cell phone being moved by a vehicle near an intersection controlled by said traffic light;
• wherein said wireless message designates the location and speed of said vehicle;
• wherein said cell phone receives a second response from said access point sent to said vehicle near said intersection authentically confirming to a driver of said vehicle that said vehicle has been detected;
• and
• wherein said traffic light responds to said wireless message by lengthening a green light when said vehicle is a truck that shortens said pavement lifetime when stopped in response to said traffic light thereby lowering maintenance expense for said pavement compared to said automobile;
• wherein said apparatus further comprises
• a second vehicle is a bicycle driven by a driver operating a second application on a second cell phone to send a third wireless message to at least one of said access points, wherein said third message designates a second location and a second velocity of said second vehicle;
• wherein said second cell phone receives said second message and a fourth message informing said second application that said second vehicle being detected is authentic, to give said second driver assurance that said traffic light is correct.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one access point configured to increase pavement lifetime near a traffic light compared to an automobile, each of said at least one access point, communicating with at least one associated traffic controller to direct said traffic light in response to a wireless message received from a cell phone without being delayed by a public cellular data link for at least one minute initiated by an application, for said cell phone being moved by a vehicle near an intersection controlled by said traffic light;
• and
• a second vehicle is a bicycle driven by a driver operating a second application on a second cell phone to send a third wireless message to at least one of said access points, wherein said second message designates a second location and a second velocity of said second vehicle;
• wherein said wireless message designates the location and speed of said vehicle;
• wherein said cell phone receives a second response from said access point sent to said vehicle near said intersection confirming to a driver of said vehicle that said vehicle has been detected and said second response is authentic;
• wherein said traffic light responds to said wireless message by lengthening a green light when said vehicle is a truck that shortens said pavement lifetime when stopped in response to said traffic light compared to said automobile;
• and
• wherein said at least one access point communicates with said cell phone without relying upon said public cellular data link to receive said wireless message;
• and
• wherein said second cell phone receives said second message and a fourth message informing said second application that said second vehicle is being detected and said lengthening of said traffic light is authentic, to give said second driver assurance that said traffic light is correct.