Traffic control system utilizing cellular telephone system
AssigneeLSI Logic Corporation
InventorsMichael D. Rostoker, John Daane, Sandeep Jaggi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traffic control system includes a traffic planner that communicates with a cellular telephone system to help manage the flow of traffic, especially when emergency vehicles are rushing to a destination. The cellular communication system determines the location of the emergency vehicle, and relays the location to the traffic planner. The traffic planner, in turn, controls the traffic lights to clear the traffic along the route traveled by the emergency vehicle. The cellular communication system can also determine the location of any vehicle carrying a subscriber unit and provide navigational information that helps the vehicle arrive at its destination. The navigational information includes road maps and directions.
Claims27
A traffic control system for a geographical area, comprising:
- at least one computer that controls traffic lights in the area;
- and
- a cellular communication system including a plurality of base stations covering the area, a plurality of subscriber units capable of establishing RF links with the plurality of base stations, and at least one processor that processes signals transmitted by the subscriber units to determine the locations of the subscriber units, whereby the location of a vehicle carrying a subscriber unit can be determined;
- the locations being sent by the cellular communication system to the at least one computer, wherein the locations can be processed to control the traffic lights.
A cellular communication system comprising:
- a plurality of base stations covering a geographical area;
- a plurality of subscriber units capable of establishing RF links with the plurality of base stations;
- and
- at least one processor that processes signals transmitted by the subscriber units to determine the locations of the subscriber units, and that processes the locations to generate navigational information for vehicles carrying the subscriber units;
- wherein the at least one processor determines the location of a plurality of vehicles by determining initial locations of the vehicles, determining changes in positions of the vehicles, and updates the initial locations for changes in positions of the vehicles;
- wherein the navigational information includes road directions for the vehicles;
- and
- wherein a traffic control computer provides information concerning road conditions to the at least one processor, and wherein the at least one processor optimizes the road directions in response to the road condition information.
A processor for generating navigational information obtained from a communication link between a base station and a subscriber unit, the subscriber unit being carried by a vehicle, the processor not being aboard the vehicle and being in communication with said base station, said processor comprising:
- means for determining a current location of the vehicle;
- means for generating a road map of an area including the vehicle;
- means for marking the position of the vehicle on the road map;
- wherein the processor receives from said subscriber unit a signal indicating a destination of the vehicle, and wherein the processor further comprises means for generating directions for the vehicle.
A computer for controlling traffic lights in conjunction with a cellular communication system, the communication system including a plurality of base stations covering a plurality of cells, the communication system providing locations and destinations of vehicles carrying the subscriber units, the computer comprising:
- memory for storing a database of electronic road maps;
- and
- means for accessing a map of the cell in which a vehicle is located and for marking the map with the locations and destinations of the vehicles.
A method of assisting a vehicle to navigate on the roadways, the vehicle having a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing an RF link with the cellular telephone;
- determining an initial position of the cellular telephone;
- determining changes in position of the cellular telephone during the RF link;
- utilizing a processor to receive from said cellular telephone a signal indicating a destination for the vehicle;
- it utilizing said processor to generate navigational information based on position of the cellular telephone and said destination;
- and
- transmitting the navigational information to the cellular telephone over the RF link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.