Apparatus and method for vehicle counting, tracking and tagging

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles in operation on selected and alternative routes;
• providing information and advisories on real and predicted traffic conditions based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• dynamically updating said step of automatically counting vehicles and thereby dynamically updating said step of providing information and advisories.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles via electronic sensing such that an infrastructure processor can differentiate between vehicles, wherein each of the vehicles includes an electronic tag having identification information on said vehicle, wherein said electronic tag is sensed by an infrastructure sensor;
• and
• tracking, warning, controlling, predicting and communicating based on said step of automatically counting;
• wherein said step of tracking comprises the step of tracking each of the vehicles and differentiating between vehicles;
• wherein said step of warning comprises the step of warning drivers of said vehicles;
• wherein said step of controlling comprises the step of controlling timing of traffic signals;
• wherein said step of predicting comprises the step of predicting traffic patterns;
• and
• wherein said step of communicating comprises the step of communicating with drivers of said vehicles.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• illuminating vehicles;
• and
• automatically counting vehicles based on said step of illuminating vehicles;
• wherein said step of illuminating comprises the step of using radar to illuminate and thereby count said vehicles.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles;
• relating a number of vehicles to undesirable emissions levels, wherein said number of vehicles is derived from said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• controlling emissions levels based on said step of relating said number of vehicles to said undesirable emissions levels.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles and establishing a baseline from said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• detecting a traffic incident by an abnormal change in said baseline;
• and
• providing information and rerouting instructions to vehicles based on said step of detecting a traffic incident, wherein said step of providing information to vehicles includes the step of instructing drivers of said vehicles to reduce speed.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• sending a first signal to a number of vehicles;
• receiving a second signal from said vehicle in response to said first signal, wherein said second signal includes identification information;
• automatically counting said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle;
• automatically identifying said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle;
• and
• automatically locating at least one of said vehicles based on said step of receiving said second signal from said vehicle.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles;
• determining real or predicted traffic volume based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• ascertaining real or predicted traffic delays based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• preempting local traffic signals based on said steps of determining and ascertaining.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles;
• determining real or predicted traffic volume based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• ascertaining real or predicted traffic delays based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• displaying predetermined messages on local variable message signs;
• displaying predetermined messages on in-vehicle displays;
• displaying predetermined messages on video monitors;
• and
• sending predetermined messages to interactive voice response systems.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• effecting traffic control and incident management based on said step of automatically counting vehicles, wherein said step of facilitating traffic control and incident management comprises the steps of:
• a) displaying appropriate messages on local variable message signs based on said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• b)displaying appropriate messages on in-vehicle displays;
• and
• c) producing audible communications for drivers of said vehicles.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles both on freeways and freeway entrances by infrastructure sensors;
• processing information derived from said step of automatically counting vehicles;
• and
• regulating and managing flow of traffic from freeway entrances to freeways based on said step of processing information;
• wherein said step of regulating and managing comprises the step of employing control lights adjacent to said freeway entrances;
• wherein said step of regulating and managing comprises the step of employing in-vehicle displays in said vehicles.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically and dynamically counting vehicles;
• automatically preempting local traffic signals based on said step of automatically and dynamically counting vehicles;
• and
• automatically dispatching at least one of an emergency and service vehicle based on said step of automatically and dynamically counting vehicles;
• whereby traffic control and incident management is facilitated.

A traffic control method comprising the steps of:

• automatically counting vehicles;
• sensing, identifying and classifying types and levels of vehicle emissions by infrastructure emissions sensors, wherein the infrastructure emissions sensors have data relating to undesirable emissions levels and data relating the number of vehicles to said undesirable emissions levels;
• and
• automatically rerouting traffic using in-vehicle displays and in-vehicle interactive voice response communications to issue instructions and warnings, wherein said step of automatically rerouting traffic is based on said step of sensing, identifying and classifying;
• whereby emissions are kept within emissions standards.