Vehicle and non-vehicle traffic flow control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9805595-B1
Application number	US-201615335970-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 27, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Traffic flow control. A method identifies traffic in an area. The traffic includes traffic objects. The identifying obtains identifiers of traffic objects in the area. Each traffic object is identified by a respective identifier of the traffic object identifiers. The method also dynamically assigns weights to the traffic objects based on pre-established traffic criteria. Each traffic object is assigned a respective weight of the dynamically assigned weights. The pre-established traffic criteria each include at least one weight value. The weight assigned to a traffic object is based on the weight values of a set of traffic criteria, of the pre-established traffic criteria, applicable to the traffic object and reflects a level of prioritization of a right-of-way of the traffic object. The method also controls flow of the traffic in the area. The controlling the flow includes controlling at least one traffic control signal based on the dynamically assigned weights.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying traffic in an area, the traffic comprising traffic objects, and the identifying comprising obtaining traffic object identifiers of traffic objects in the area, each traffic object of the traffic objects being identified by a respective traffic object identifier, of the traffic object identifiers, received from the traffic object;
dynamically assigning traffic object weights to the traffic objects based on pre-established traffic criteria, each traffic object being assigned a respective traffic object weight of the dynamically assigned traffic object weights, the pre-established traffic criteria each comprising at least one weight value, wherein the traffic object weight assigned to a traffic object of the traffic objects is based on the weight values of a set of traffic criteria, of the pre-established traffic criteria, applicable to the traffic object and reflects a level of prioritization of a right-of-way of the traffic object, and wherein a first set of traffic criteria contributing to the traffic object weight of one traffic object of the traffic objects is different from a second set of traffic criteria contributing to the traffic object weight of another traffic object of the traffic objects; and
controlling flow of the traffic in the area, the controlling the flow comprising controlling at least one electronic traffic control signal based at least in part on the dynamically assigned traffic object weights.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the traffic object identifiers comprises using one or more sensors positioned proximate an intersection in the area to detect the traffic object identifiers as the traffic objects approach the intersection, wherein the method further comprises obtaining the dynamically assigned traffic object weights of the traffic objects together with the traffic object identifiers as the traffic objects approach the intersection, and wherein controlling the flow of the traffic controls the at least one traffic control signal to control the movement of the traffic objects through the intersection.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein controlling the movement of the traffic objects through the intersection comprises:
determining, for each direction of at least two directions through the intersection controlled by the at least one traffic signal, a total priority of traffic objects proceeding in the respective direction, based on the dynamically assigned traffic object weights of traffic objects proceeding in that direction;
determining, based on the obtained total priorities of traffic objects proceeding in the at least two directions, a traffic flow through the intersection, the traffic flow comprising a sequence of the at least two directions prioritized by total priority of traffic objects proceeding in each direction; and
controlling the traffic signal to realize the determined traffic flow, wherein right-of-way through the intersection proceeds through the prioritized sequence of the at least two directions.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving a list of traffic object identifiers of traffic objects proceeding through the intersection in a direction away from the intersection, and providing an indication of the traffic objects and traffic object weights of the traffic objects to at least one other traffic control signal of another intersection to which the traffic objects are proceeding, to facilitate pre-planning of traffic control by the at least one other traffic control signal in controlling flow of the traffic objects through the another intersection.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising obtaining information about a pending roadway condition of a roadway in a direction away from the intersection, wherein the controlling is further based on the information about the pending roadway condition, wherein the controlling lowers a level of prioritization in passing particular traffic through the intersection in the direction or diverts the particular traffic from passing through the intersection in the direction, based on a type or characteristic of that particular traffic.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring the traffic object passing through a first intersection in the area;
identifying an infraction committed by the traffic object; and
modifying the traffic object weight assigned to the traffic object based on the infraction, the modifying decreasing the level of prioritization of the right-of-way of the traffic object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the traffic objects comprise vehicle traffic objects and non-vehicle traffic objects, wherein the controlling prioritizes right-of-way of the vehicle traffic objects and of the non-vehicle traffic objects relative to each other.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a traffic object of the traffic objects comprises a motorized vehicle with one or more passengers, wherein the method further comprises dynamically assigning a weight to each passenger of the one or more passengers based on the pre-established traffic criteria, and wherein the traffic object weight of the motorized vehicle is based further on the dynamically assigned weight of each passenger of the one or more passengers.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a traffic object of the traffic objects comprises a motorized vehicle with a number of passengers, and wherein the traffic object weight of the motorized vehicle is based further on a ratio of the number of passengers of the motorized vehicle to a number of passengers the motorized vehicle is equipped to accommodate, wherein a lower ratio results in a lower traffic object weight.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring priority parameters of a roadway or route in the area to deprioritize use of the roadway or route by traffic objects subject to the priority parameters.

11. A computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium readable by a processor and storing instructions for execution by the processor for performing a method comprising:
identifying traffic in an area, the traffic comprising traffic objects, and the identifying comprising obtaining traffic object identifiers of traffic objects in the area, each traffic object of the traffic objects being identified by a respective traffic object identifier, of the traffic object identifiers, received from the traffic object;
dynamically assigning traffic object weights to the traffic objects based on pre-established traffic criteria, each traffic object being assigned a respective traffic object weight of the dynamically assigned traffic object weights, the pre-established traffic criteria each comprising at least one weight value, wherein the traffic object weight assigned to a traffic object of the traffic objects is based on the weight values of a set of traffic criteria, of the pre-established traffic criteria, applicable to the traffic object and reflects a level of prioritization of a right-of-way of the traffic object, and wherein a first set of traffic criteria contributing to the traffic object weight of one traffic object of the traffic objects is different from a second set of traffic criteria contributing to the traffic object weight of another traffic object of the traffic objects; and
controlling flow of the traffic in the area, the controlling the flow comprising controlling at least one electronic traffic control signal based at least in part on the dynamically assigned traffic object weights.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the obtaining the traffic object identifiers comprises using one or more sensors positioned pr

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Liebinger Portela Franz F
• Monge Núñez Roxana
• Phillips Jr Joseph M
• Zamora Duran Edgar A

Classifications

• G08G1/07

  Controlling traffic signals · CPC title

• G08G1/0145 Primary

  for active traffic flow control · CPC title

• G08G1/0112

  from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD] · CPC title

• G08G1/012

  from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks · CPC title

• G08G1/08

  according to detected number or speed of vehicles · CPC title