Automotive traffic flow control in the absence of smart infrastructure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12249237-B2
Application number	US-202318150947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2023
Priority date	Jan 6, 2023
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed are techniques for traffic flow control. In an aspect, an on-board computer (OBC) of a vehicle of a secondary traffic flow determines that a primary traffic flow is passing through an intersection associated with a traffic light, wherein the determination that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection is based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, or any combination thereof, and reduces a speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping a traffic light sensor associated with the traffic light until after the primary traffic flow has passed through the intersection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of traffic flow control performed by an on-board computer (OBC) of a vehicle of a secondary traffic flow, comprising:
determining that a primary traffic flow is passing through an intersection associated with a traffic light, wherein the determination that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection is based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, or any combination thereof; and
reducing a speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping a traffic light sensor associated with the traffic light until after the primary traffic flow has passed through the intersection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection comprises:
receiving at least one notification from at least one vehicle of the primary traffic flow via V2V communication, the notification indicating that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection comprises:
receiving at least one notification from roadside infrastructure associated with the intersection via V2X communication, the notification indicating that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one notification is relayed from at least one vehicle of the primary traffic flow.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection comprises:
detecting the primary traffic flow based on the sensor data from the one or more sensors of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors of the vehicle comprise:
one or more cameras,
radar,
lidar, or
any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary traffic flow is determined to be the primary traffic flow based on:
a number of vehicles in the primary traffic flow being greater than a threshold,
a priority of at least one vehicle in the primary traffic flow being greater than a priority of the vehicle, or
any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the speed of the vehicle comprises:
stopping the vehicle before the vehicle reaches the traffic light sensor; or
reducing the speed of the vehicle to a reduced speed before the vehicle reaches the traffic light sensor, wherein the reduced speed is selected to prevent the vehicle from stopping and from tripping the traffic light sensor until after the primary traffic flow has passed through the intersection.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a location of the traffic light sensor is determined based on:
geographic coordinates of the location of the traffic light sensor,
a visual indication of the location of the traffic light sensor,
map data indicating the location of the traffic light sensor,
a database of locations of traffic light sensors, or
any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the visual indication of the location of the traffic light sensor comprises:
a marking on a surface of a road at the location of the traffic light sensor,
a sign at the location of the traffic light sensor,
the traffic light sensor, or
any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the vehicle is a lead vehicle of the secondary traffic flow, wherein the determination that the vehicle is the lead vehicle is based on second sensor data from the one or more sensors of the vehicle, V2V communication with one or more other vehicles of the secondary traffic flow, V2X communication with infrastructure associated with the intersection, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining that a second vehicle is a second lead vehicle of a different lane of the secondary traffic flow; and
coordinating with the second vehicle to reduce a speed of the second vehicle to prevent the second vehicle from tripping the traffic light sensor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein coordinating with the second vehicle comprises:
transmitting one or more notifications to the second vehicle via V2V signaling;
transmitting the one or more notifications to the second vehicle via roadside infrastructure via V2X signaling;
flashing lights of the vehicle according to a pattern; or
a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling any vehicles behind the vehicle that the vehicle is reducing the speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping the traffic light sensor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the signaling comprises:
transmitting one or more notifications;
flashing lights of the vehicle according to a pattern; or
a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an override command to stop the vehicle from reducing the speed of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the override command is received from a driver of the vehicle, or
the override command is received based on a determination that the vehicle is a high priority vehicle.

18. An on-board computer (OBC) of a vehicle of a secondary traffic flow, comprising:
a memory;
at least one transceiver; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:
determine that a primary traffic flow is passing through an intersection associated with a traffic light, wherein the determination that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection is based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, or any combination thereof; and
reduce a speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping a traffic light sensor associated with the traffic light until after the primary traffic flow has passed through the intersection.

19. The OBC of claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
signal any vehicles behind the vehicle that the vehicle is reducing the speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping the traffic light sensor.

20. An on-board computer (OBC) of a vehicle of a secondary traffic flow, comprising:
means for determining that a primary traffic flow is passing through an intersection associated with a traffic light, wherein the determination that the primary traffic flow is passing through the intersection is based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, or any combination thereof; and
means for reducing a speed of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from tripping a traffic light sensor associated with the traffic light until after the primary traffic flow has passed through the intersection.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Scigliano Scott
• Stephen James

Classifications

• G08G1/096783

  where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G08G1/09626

  where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map · CPC title

• G08G1/09623 Primary

  Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle (G08G1/0967 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/093

  Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output · CPC title