US 6,317,058 B1 · Intelligent traffic control and warning system and method

Abstract

A system and method for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists is described. Traffic information is obtained from various traffic information units. The traffic information units have intelligent controllers. The traffic information is transmitted to at least one central controller. The central controller is used to determine congestion parameters and warning information. The congestion parameters and the warning information are transmitted from the central controller to the intelligent controllers. The intelligent controllers are used to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters and the warning information. Fuzzy logic is used to determine optimum traffic light phase split based on the traffic information from the traffic information units. The optimum traffic light phase split is determined for each of the intelligent controllers. Fuzzy logic controllers are used to execute fuzzy logic inference rules from a fuzzy rule base in determining the congestion parameters and the warning information and the appropriate action. Input variables and output variables are defined as members of fuzzy sets having degrees of membership determined by membership functions. The fuzzy rule base is used to define a fuzzy inference system wherein the fuzzy rule base is based on expert knowledge for system control based on observed values of control variables. The input variables are used to define the membership functions used by the fuzzy rule base. A reasoning mechanism is used to execute the fuzzy rule base and the fuzzy inference system. The membership functions are used to convert the input variables to output variables that define the control variables. Membership functions may be a fuzzy membership for traffic flow or for traffic light phase split. The input variables may be a level of avoidance variable, a length of warning radius variable, or a distance to dangerous situation variable. The output variables may be an output danger index or a radius of concern parameter. Global Positioning System technology is used by the system and method in order to track moving vehicles and signs and be able to communicate with them.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A method of using at least one central controller, at least one intelligent traffic light controller and at least one other intelligent controller for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists comprising the acts of:

(a) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units,
(b) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,
(c) using the central controller to determine traffic congestion parameters and warning information,
(d) further using the derived congestion and warning information as input variables to a fuzzy logic controller to derive traffic light phase split control signals,
(e) transmitting traffic light phase split control information to one or more intelligent traffic light controllers,
(f) setting the traffic light phase splits at at least one traffic light and transmitting a confirmation message back to the central controller,
(g) further broadcasting traffic warning information signals from at least one central controller, said traffic warning information signals defining the nature of at least one traffic situation to be avoided, geographic coordinates of the traffic situation and a level of avoidance indication for the identified traffic situations,
(h) receiving said broadcast warning information signals at at least one other intelligent traffic controller,
(i) determining the geographic coordinates of at least one other receiving intelligent traffic controller,
(j) comparing the coordinates of the receiving intelligent traffic controller with the coordinates of the traffic situation to be avoided and computing the distance between that intelligent controller and the situation,
(k) using the received level of avoidance indication and the derived distance as fuzzy variable inputs to a second fuzzy logic controller located in the receiving intelligent controller to derive a danger warning message for the traffic situation to be avoided relative to the location of the receiving intelligent controller, and
(i) intelligibly indicating the danger warning message to motorists.

9 more elements

A method of using at least one central controller and at least one intelligent controller for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists comprising the acts of:

(a) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units, wherein the traffic information units are vehicle warning units wherein each of the vehicle warning units further comprises:
(i) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the at least one central controller,
(ii) a satellite receiver that receives and analyzes communications signals from a satellite positioning system and determines current geographic location of each of the warning units,
(iii) a transmitter that generates and transmits data to the at least one central controller,
(iv) an alarm indicator that indicates a relevant traffic situation or emergency, and
(v) a fuzzy logic processor,
(vi) a communication system that communicates with the fuzzy logic processor which determines and calculates if received warning messages are relevant to the each of the vehicle warning units and communicates vehicle warnings based on the received warning messages and the current geographic location of the each of the vehicle warning units,
(b) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,
(c) using the central controller to determine congestion parameters and warning information,
(d) transmitting the congestion parameters and the warning information from the at least one central controller to the intelligent controller, and
(e) using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters and the warning information.

8 more elements

A method of using at least one central controller and at least one intelligent controller, the intelligent central controller comprises a plurality of central controllers and wherein each of the vehicle warning units is capable of determining from which one of the plurality of central controllers is to receive data transmission based on the current geographic location of the each of the vehicle warning units for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists comprising the acts of:

(a) providing the vehicle warning units with audio and speech recognition capabilities,
(b) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units, wherein the traffic information units are vehicle warning units wherein each of the vehicle warning units further comprises:
(i) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the at least one central controller,
(ii) a satellite receiver that receives and analyzes communications signals from a satellite positioning system and determines current geographic location of each of the warning units,
(iii) a transmitter that generates and transmits data to the at least one central controller,
(iv) an alarm indicator that indicates a relevant traffic situation or emergency, and
(c) determining if recognized audio or speech is indicative of an emergency or dangerous situation,
(d) transmitting warning messages to the central controller when the audio or speech indicative of an emergency or dangerous situation are detected,
(e) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,
(f) using the central controller to determine congestion parameters, warning information, and warning messages,
(g) transmitting the congestion parameters, warning information and the warning messages from the at least one central controller to the intelligent controller, and
(h) using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters, warning information and the warning messages.

9 more elements

(a) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units,
(b) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,
(c) using the central controller and fuzzy logic controllers to execute fuzzy logic inference rules from a fuzzy rule base in determining the congestion parameters and the warning information and the appropriate action,
(d) transmitting the congestion parameters and the warning information from the at least one central controller to the intelligent controller, and
(e) using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters and the warning information, and
(f) using fuzzy logic controllers to execute fuzzy logic inference rules from a fuzzy rule base in determining the congestion parameters and the warning information and the appropriate action.

3 more elements

(a) obtaining traffic information from various traffic information units,
(b) transmitting the traffic information to at least one central controller,
(c) using the central controller to determine congestion parameters,
(d) using fuzzy logic to derive the warning information based on avoidance level of dangerous situation and distance to dangerous situation and detection of abnormal phase splits of traffic lights,
(e) transmitting the congestion parameters and the warning information from the at least one central controller to the intelligent controller, and
(f) using the intelligent controllers to determine appropriate action based on the congestion parameters and the warning information.

3 more elements

A system for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists comprising:

(a) central controllers that each have:
(1) a database computer having a database storage unit;
(2) a processor and memory configured to monitor existing traffic conditions and emergency situations and distribute warning messages;
(3) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals;
(4) a transmitter that generates and transmits signals;
(b) traffic lights with intelligent controllers that each have:
(1) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the central controllers;
(2) a transmitter that generates and transmits signals;
(3) a computer controller including a processor and memory;
(c) traffic lights with intelligent warning signs that each have:
(1) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the traffic lights with intelligent controllers;
(2) a warning sign that displays the warning messages to the motorists;
(d) intelligent road-side warning signs that each have:
(1) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the traffic lights with intelligent controllers and the central controllers;
(2) a warning sign that displays the warning messages to the motorists;
(e) traffic lights with cameras that each have:
(1) a camera that monitors an intersection or road;
(2) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from traffic lights with intelligent controllers;
(2) a transmitter that generates and transmits signals to the traffic lights with intelligent controllers;
(f) road side traffic and weather sensors that each have:
(1) a transmitter that generates and transmits signals to the central controllers;
(g) vehicle warning units that each have:
(1) a receiver that receives and analyzes communication signals from the central controllers;
(2) a satellite receiver that receives and analyzes communications signals from a satellite positioning system and determines current warning unit geographic location;
(3) a transmitter that generates and transmits data to the central controllers;
(4) an alarm indicator that indicates a relevant traffic situation or emergency;
(h) wherein:
(1) the traffic lights with cameras transmit images to the traffic lights with intelligent controllers, and the traffic lights with intelligent controllers transmit the images to the central controllers;
(2) the traffic and weather sensors transmit traffic and weather data to the central controllers;
(3) the vehicles warning units transmit data to the central controllers (4) the central controllers receive and process data from the traffic lights with intelligent controllers, the vehicle warning units, and the traffic and weather sensors and determines traffic congestion parameters, (5) the central controllers transmit congestion parameters and warning information to the traffic lights with intelligent controllers, the intelligent road-side warning signs, and the vehicle warning units;
(6) the traffic lights with intelligent controllers determine if warning information is applicable to said intersection and transmit any applicable warning information to the traffic lights with intelligent warning signs and to the intelligent road-side warning signs;
(7) the intelligent road-side warning signs receives transmitted information from the central controllers and the traffic lights with intelligent controllers and determines if warning information is applicable for the signs and display any applicable warnings;
(8) the vehicle warning units receive and process transmitted information from the central controllers and determine if warning information is applicable to the controllers and alerts motorists of any relevant warnings.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Intelligent traffic control and warning system and method

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Intelligent traffic control and warning system and method

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Abstract

Claims45