Control server and control system for controlling traffic signals based on information from pressure sensors placed on a roadway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10249187-B2
Application number	US-201715788592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

Provided are a control server and a control system both capable of preventing traffic accidents more effectively. The control server is configured to control multiple traffic signals installed on a road, and includes: a pressure information obtainer configured to obtain pressure information which is outputted from a pressure sensor installed at a stop position on the road corresponding to each of the multiple traffic signals, and which includes a value representing pressure received from a vehicle running on the road; an abrupt braking information obtainer configured to, based on the pressure information, obtain abrupt braking information on an abrupt braking operation performed by the vehicle running on the road; and a traffic signal controller configured to, based on the abrupt braking information, generate a control signal for controlling the multiple traffic signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control server configured to control a plurality of traffic signals installed on a road, comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller functions as:
a pressure information obtainer configured to obtain pressure information which is output from a pressure sensor installed at a stop position on the road corresponding to each of the plurality of traffic signals, and which includes a value representing pressure received from a vehicle running on the road, and configured to store the pressure information in a storage unit; and
a braking information obtainer configured to, based on the pressure information stored in the storage unit, obtain braking information on a braking operation performed by the vehicle running on the road, and configured to store the braking information in the storage unit; and

a traffic signal controller configured to, based on the braking information stored in the storage unit, generate a control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals; and

an accident information storage unit configured to store the number of accidents which have occurred in the past in an area where any of the plurality of traffic signals are installed, and further configured to store the number of accidents and timing of occurrence of the accidents in association with each other;
wherein the controller functions as the traffic signal controller to generate the control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals in a case where the number of accidents, stored in association with the timing corresponding to a range of dates and a period of time within the range of dates, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

2. A control system comprising:
a data server configured to obtain pressure information, which includes a value representing pressure received from a vehicle running on a road, from a pressure sensor installed in a stop position on the road corresponding to each of a plurality of traffic signals;
a control server configured to:
obtain the pressure information from the data server;
based on the pressure information, obtain braking information on a braking operation performed by the vehicle running on the road; and
based on the braking information, generate a control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals; and

an accident information storage unit configured to store the number of accidents which have occurred in the past in an area where any of the plurality of traffic signals are installed, and further configured to store the number of accidents and timing of occurrence of the accidents in association with each other;
wherein the control server functions as a traffic signal controller to generate the control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals in a case where the number of accidents, stored in association with the timing corresponding to a range of dates and a period of time within the range of dates, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

3. A control system configured to control a plurality of traffic signals installed on a road, comprising:
a plurality of pressure sensors installed at stop positions on the road corresponding to the plurality of traffic signals, and configured to output pressure information which includes a value representing pressure received from a vehicle running on the road;
a control server, wherein the control server functions as:
a pressure information obtainer configured to obtain the pressure information, and to store the pressure information in a storage unit;
a braking information obtainer configured to, based on the pressure information stored in the storage unit, obtain braking information on a braking operation performed by the vehicle running on the road, and configured to store the braking information in the storage unit; and
a traffic signal controller configured to, based on the braking information stored in the storage unit, generate a control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals; and

an accident information storage unit configured to store the number of accidents which have occurred in the past in an area where any of the plurality of traffic signals are installed, and further configured to store the number of accidents and timing of occurrence of the accidents in association with each other;
wherein the control server functions as the traffic signal controller to generate the control signal for controlling the plurality of traffic signals in a case where the number of accidents, stored in association with the timing corresponding to a range of dates and a period of time within the range of dates, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Assignees

• Nihon Micronics Kk

Inventors

• Kamiya Hiroshi
• Sasaki Kenji
• Arai Osamu

Classifications

• G08G1/0145

  for active traffic flow control · CPC title

• G08G1/0116

  from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons · CPC title

• G08G1/08

  according to detected number or speed of vehicles · CPC title

• G08G1/07 Primary

  Controlling traffic signals · CPC title

• G08G1/081 Primary

  Plural intersections under common control · CPC title