# US 2014/0191882 A1 · Intelligent Traffic Alerting and Control System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191882 A1 - Document ID: US20140191882A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/416,861 - Filed: 2012-03-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-09 - Inventors: Maya Varma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191882A1 ## CPC - G08G 1/096783: {where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element} - G08G 1/0104: {Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions} - G08G 1/0108: {based on the source of data} - G08G 1/096716: {where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control} - G08G 1/096725: {where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control} - G08G 1/096758: {where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information} - 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 to alert drivers approaching a traffic intersection controlled by a traffic signal light. The system may alert about an impending change in the state of the signal from green to red, to allow them to plan ahead and stop the vehicle safely. The system can be used to slow down and stop an autonomous vehicle (driven by a robot) safely at an intersection. It can also be used to implement “active” or “intelligent” stop signs that warn the driver if the vehicle does not slow down when it has crossed the safe stopping distance at an intersection. It may be used as a virtual hazard warning system to warn motorists of temporary hazards or bottlenecks on the roadway; or as an aid for visually impaired drivers (drivers with color blindness, partially or fully blind drivers). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traffic alerting and control system comprising a transmitter module associated with a traffic alerting device to generate messages containing information about the traffic alerting device and transmitting the messages in direction of vehicles approaching the traffic alerting device; and a receiver module associated with a vehicle to receive messages from the transmitter module, extract the information about the traffic alerting device, determine location, direction and speed of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is on path of the traffic alerting device, and determine if alerts associated with the traffic alerting device should be provided to the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter module includes a location sensing module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 2, wherein the location sensing module includes a GPS receiver and/or a digital compass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 2, wherein the messages generated by the transmitter module include location and orientation of the traffic alerting device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the messages generated by the transmitter module include a current state of the traffic alerting device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 5, wherein the messages generated by the transmitter module include a time to change (TTC) from the current state to a new state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the traffic alerting device is a traffic light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the traffic alerting device is a stop sign. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the traffic alerting device is a dynamic traffic alerting system that can dynamically generate alerts based on current situation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver module includes at least some subset of a GPS receiver, a digital compass, an acceleration sensing module and a speed sensing module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver module maintains a time to change state counter internally. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver module determines alert zones for the traffic alerting device based on location and speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver module predicts where the vehicle will be when the state of the traffic alerting device changes based on location and speed of the vehicle and time to change counter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 13, wherein the receiver module determines if the predicted location of the vehicle will be in one of the alert zones. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a robot driven vehicle. ### Claim 16 A traffic alerting and control system comprising a transmitter module associated with a traffic alerting device to generate messages containing information about the traffic alerting device and transmitting the messages in direction of vehicles approaching the traffic alerting device; and a receiver module associated with a vehicle to receive messages from the transmitter module, extract the information about the traffic alerting device, determine location, direction and speed of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is on path of the traffic alerting device, and if the vehicle is on the path of the traffic alerting device to determine one or more alert zones for the traffic alerting device based on location and speed of the vehicle; determine when the vehicle is in any of the one or more alert zones; and initiate an appropriate alert for the one or more alert zones. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The traffic alerting and control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver module is further to determine if the traffic alerting device has multiple states, determine which of the multiple states the traffic alerting device is currently in, capture a time to change to a different state that would require action be taken by the vehicle from the messages, track the time to change between receipt of messages, predict where the vehicle will be when the state of the traffic alerting device changes based on location and speed of the vehicle and time to change; and determine if the predicted location of the vehicle will be in one of the one or more alert zones. ### Claim 18 A traffic alerting and control device in communication with a vehicle, the device including a receiver to receive messages associated with a traffic alerting device, wherein the messages include information about the traffic alerting device; a location sensing module to determine location and direction of the vehicle; a speed sensing module to determine the speed of the vehicle; and a controller to extract the information about the traffic alerting device; determine if the vehicle is on path of the traffic alerting device, determine one or more alert zones for the traffic alerting device based on location and speed of the vehicle; determine when the vehicle is in any of the one or more alert zones; and initiate an appropriate alert for the one or more alert zones. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The traffic alerting and control device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further to determine if the traffic alerting device has multiple states, determine which of the multiple states the traffic alerting device is currently in, capture a time to change to a different state that would require action be taken by the vehicle from the messages, track the time to change between receipt of messages, predict where the vehicle will be when the state of the traffic alerting device changes based on location and speed of the vehicle and time to change; and determine if the predicted location of the vehicle will be in one of the one or more alert zones. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The traffic alerting and control device of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is a robot driven vehicle and the controller is further to provide appropriate sensory inputs to the robot driving the vehicle.