# US 5,703,778 A · Traffic control method for relieving vehicle congestion on parallel roads > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,778 A - Document ID: US5703778A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/457,500 - Filed: 1995-06-01 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1991-07-19 - Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd. - Inventors: Kazunori Takahashi; Nobuhiro Hamada; Masao Takatoo; Tohru Nagai; Toshiko Suzuki; Souichi Furukawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703778A ## CPC - G08G 1/08: according to detected number or speed of vehicles - 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 road traffic control method is provided which can continue to maximize the number of vehicles allowed to run on a road and shorten time required for a vehicle to reach a destination, by preventing and relieving congestion. The method controls traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads. Each road is made connected at an interval of a predetermined distance, and at least one of the plurality of roads has a plurality of lanes. The method includes the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each road, at a position before at least one connected point of each of the plurality of roads; and changing ratio between the numbers of lanes of at least one of the plurality of roads, in accordance with the detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of predetermined distance, and at least one of said plurality of roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said roads, at a position before at least one connecting point of each of said plurality of roads; and changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said plurality of roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of automatically changing the position of a center line for dividing the plurality of lines into two groups of lanes corresponding to the two counter directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of displaying information of a lane change before a branch point of each road. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make each of said roads have the same vehicle running priority direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make said roads have opposite vehicle running priority directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 7 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and at least one of said plurality of roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said plurality of roads; and changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said plurality of roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of automatically changing the position of a center line for dividing the plurality of lines into two groups of lanes corresponding to the two counter directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of displaying information of a lane change before a branch point of each road. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make each of said roads have the same vehicle running priority direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make said roads have opposite vehicle running priority directions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 13 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and at least one of said first and second roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said first and second roads, at a position before a connecting point of each of said first and second roads; and changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of automatically changing the position of a center line for dividing the plurality of lines into two groups of lanes corresponding to the two counter directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of displaying information of a lane change before a branch point of each road. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 17 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and at least one of said first and second roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said first and second roads; and changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of automatically changing the position of a center line for dividing the plurality of lines into two groups of lanes corresponding to the two counter directions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said step of changing the ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction includes a step of displaying information of a lane change before a branch point of each road. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 21 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at a point positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said roads, at a position before at least one connecting point of each of said plurality of roads; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on each of said roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make each of said roads have the same vehicle running priority direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make said roads have opposite vehicle running priority directions. ### Claim 24 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at a point positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said plurality of roads; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on each of said roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make each of said roads have the same vehicle running priority direction. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, wherein said step of controlling an offset of a plurality of traffic lights includes a step of controlling so as to make said roads have opposite vehicle running priority directions. ### Claim 27 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at a point positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on both of said first and second roads, at a position before a connecting point of both of said first and second roads; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on both of said roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 28 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at a point positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on both of said first and second roads; changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on both of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 30 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, and at least one of the plurality of roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said roads, at a position before at least one connecting point of each of said plurality of roads; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on each of said roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 31 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads, each of said roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on each of said roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, and at least one of said plurality of roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each of said plurality of roads; changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said plurality of roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on each of said roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 33 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on both of said first and second roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, and at least one of said first and second roads having a plurality of lanes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on both of said first and second roads, at a position before a connecting point of said first and second roads; changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on both of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction. ### Claim 35 A method of controlling traffic of vehicles running on both of first and second parallel running roads, both of said first and second roads being connected at points positioned at an interval of a predetermined distance, and a plurality of intersections with traffic lights being installed on both roads at intervals of the predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on both of said first and second roads; changing a ratio of the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction of at least one of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions; and controlling an offset parameter of a plurality of traffic lights on both of said first and second roads, in accordance with said detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A method according to claim 35, wherein said ratio includes the number of lanes assigned to a particular direction in comparison to the number of lanes assigned to a direction counter to the particular direction.