Override Of Traffic Control Indicator By Command Transmitter Patents (Class 340/906)
  • Patent number: 12167440
    Abstract: Use of a mobile user device to identify the individual operating a vehicle, which, either alone or in conjunction with a vehicle control unit (VCU), may be used to establish vehicle priority in connection with traffic control systems. This provides for a system that provides priority for the individual based on their individual and current need for priority, as opposed to providing priority generally for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Patent number: 12140962
    Abstract: The technology relates to developing a highly accurate understanding of a vehicle's sensor fields of view in relation to the vehicle itself. A training phase is employed to gather sensor data in various situations and scenarios, and a modeling phase takes such information and identifies self-returns and other signals that should either be excluded from analysis during real-time driving or accounted for to avoid false positives. The result is a sensor field of view model for a particular vehicle, which can be extended to other similar makes and models of that vehicle. This approach enables a vehicle to determine when sensor data is of the vehicle or something else. As a result, the detailed modeling allowing the on-board computing system to make driving decisions and take other actions based on accurate sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Armstrong-Crews, Christian Lauterbach, Scott McCloskey, Peter Morton
  • Patent number: 12089131
    Abstract: A method for journey management is disclosed. The method includes retrieving, from a geographical information system (GIS), journeyer contact information and scheduled check-in time of a journeyer who is dispatched on a journey, determining, based on a current time, a tiered late check-in status of the journeyer with respect to the scheduled check-in time, identifying, based on the tiered late check-in status, a notification entity, retrieving, from the GIS, notification contact information of the notification entity, and sending, based on the journeyer contact information and the notification contact information, an alert to the journeyer and the notification entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Faisal Yousef Alhammad, Fawaz Kadannam Patta, Hussain M. Alnasser
  • Patent number: 11964672
    Abstract: A passenger transportation system includes: an abnormality determination unit configured to determine whether or not a passenger feeling unwell is present in a vehicle; a transportation planning unit configured to determine, when it is determined that the passenger feeling unwell is present, a medical facility to which the passenger feeling unwell is transported and a via-point where normal passengers are dropped off; and a vehicle control unit configured to control the vehicle to travel so as to transport the passenger feeling unwell to the medical facility via the via-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota Tomizawa, Shozo Takaba, Ayako Shimizu, Hojung Jung, Daisuke Sato, Yasuhiro Kobatake
  • Patent number: 11954896
    Abstract: A driving support device include an imaging device for capturing an image of at least a front of the vehicle, and a control device for, detecting that the vehicle is approaching a merging section where a first road on which the vehicle is traveling and a second road having a height difference with respect to the first road merge with each other, identifying an image of a road surface of the merging section from the image when it is detected that the vehicle is approaching the merging section, for detecting that the road surface is irradiated with light emitted from another vehicle traveling on the second road based on luminance in the image, and performing a processing of avoiding contact between the vehicle and the other vehicle when it is detected that the road surface is irradiated with the light emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kurata
  • Patent number: 11955005
    Abstract: A system for adaptively controlling traffic control devices having a traffic signal system, a computing network, and a communication system is configured to restrict traffic in one or more directions through a junction and to selectively allow traffic through the restricted directions based, in part, on an identity or action of certain traffic. The traffic signal system is configured to be in communication with the computing network through the communication system. The mobile device is also configured to be in communication with the computing network through the communication system. Then the computing network adaptively controls the traffic signal system using a location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THRUGREEN, LLC
    Inventor: David H Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11908327
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a vehicle to utilize vehicle external sensor data, vehicle internal sensor data, vehicle capabilities and external V2X input to determine, send, receive and utilize V2X information and control data, sent between the vehicle and a road side unit (RSU) to determine intersection access and vehicle behavior when approaching the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Dan Vassilovski, Hong Cheng, Zhibin Wu, Shailesh Patil, Richard Hovey
  • Patent number: 11887423
    Abstract: A display unit for a passage control device, having a housing that has a front side, a rear side and an encircling circumferential side connecting the front side and rear side to one another. A display surface is integrated in the front side of the housing. The housing has an optical signaling apparatus that consists of front and rear light bands that are able to be actuated by a computing unit of the passage control device. The front light strip is arranged between the front and circumferential sides and the rear light strip is arranged between the rear and circumferential sides such that the front light strip is visible in a plan view of the front side and the rear light strip is visible in a plan view of the rear side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Magnetic Autocontrol GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Steiert, Timo Rauer
  • Patent number: 11881103
    Abstract: A method for providing vehicle information, which is carried out using a server, includes steps of: receiving vehicle attribute information including a vehicle type and GPS trajectory information from a vehicle, storing the vehicle attribute information and the GPS trajectory information for each vehicle type based on the vehicle attribute information, generating specialized traffic information associated with a specialized vehicle type needing the specialized traffic information and generating normal traffic information associated with a normal vehicle type, and providing the specialized vehicle type with directions information based on the specialized traffic information, when a current situation is a special situation, and otherwise providing the normal vehicle type with directions information based on the normal traffic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Autoever Corp
    Inventors: Sang Woo Lee, Seung Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11758579
    Abstract: Use of a mobile user device to identify the individual operating a vehicle, which, either alone or in conjunction with a vehicle control unit (VCU), may be used to establish vehicle priority in connection with traffic control systems. This provides for a system that provides priority for the individual based on their individual and current need for priority, as opposed to providing priority generally for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Patent number: 11741831
    Abstract: An intersection warning system based on information fusion and a method thereof, the system includes an intersection sensing device, an intersection computing device, a user device and a cloud server. The cloud server receives and stores on-site sensing information output from the intersection computing device and determines whether user positioning coordinates are received from the user device, if so, the cloud server reads the on-site sensing information and at least one background information, and calculates a fusion risk assessment value based on the on-site sensing information, the at least one background information, and multiple weightings; when the cloud server determines the fusion risk assessment value is greater than a threshold value, a warning command is output to the user device which sends out warning messages according to the warning command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH & TESTING CENTER
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Wu, You-Sian Lin, Chih-Neng Liang
  • Patent number: 11710405
    Abstract: A method for determining a communications scenario corresponding to an action for producing, by a first movable element situated in a traffic lane, a response to an event. The method includes: determining an event in a vicinity of the first movable element, depending on at least one neighbouring element from a list of neighbouring elements positioned in the vicinity; determining a series of actions able to be performed in response to the event, by consulting a lookup table between at least one event and at least one series of actions; for at least one action of the series of actions, determining a communications scenario associated with the action, the determining a scenario including a sub-step of selecting, in the list of elements, for at least one communications scenario message, at least one neighbouring element receiving the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventor: Ghislain Moncomble
  • Patent number: 11693423
    Abstract: The technology relates to developing a highly accurate understanding of a vehicle's sensor fields of view in relation to the vehicle itself. A training phase is employed to gather sensor data in various situations and scenarios, and a modeling phase takes such information and identifies self-returns and other signals that should either be excluded from analysis during real-time driving or accounted for to avoid false positives. The result is a sensor field of view model for a particular vehicle, which can be extended to other similar makes and models of that vehicle. This approach enables a vehicle to determine when sensor data is of the vehicle or something else. As a result, the detailed modeling allowing the on-board computing system to make driving decisions and take other actions based on accurate sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Armstrong-Crews, Christian Lauterbach, Scott McCloskey, Peter Morton
  • Patent number: 11652602
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for secure communication in a traffic control network. An embodiment includes a memory, and circuitry configured to receive a traffic control public key from a traffic control device, wherein the traffic control public key is received in response to providing, to the traffic control device, a request to modify content of the traffic control device, encrypt data corresponding to vehicle information using the traffic control public key, provide, to the traffic control device, the encrypted data to store the data in the traffic control device, and access a network of traffic control devices, including the traffic control device, via the data stored in the traffic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Troia, Antonino Mondello
  • Patent number: 11636757
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing traffic flow through an intersection are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving positional data indicating a current location of a first vehicle intending to pass through the intersection, receiving directional data indicating an intended direction of the first vehicle through the intersection from the current location, determining, based on the positional data and the directional data, whether an intended path of the first vehicle through the intersection interferes with an alternative path through the intersection, and adjusting a traffic signal at the intersection to decrease an amount of time to pass through the intersection via the alternative path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhide Kobashi, Christopher Ostafew, Stefan Witwicki
  • Patent number: 11615696
    Abstract: An emergency vehicle notification system, including at least one illumination device disposed on at least a portion of a traffic light to illuminate at least one illumination setting, and a control unit removably disposed within and removably connected to an emergency vehicle to change the at least one illumination setting in response to changing an operation status using an alert signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Julious Basden
  • Patent number: 11562647
    Abstract: A traffic detection device for sending a call signal to a traffic signal controller, the traffic detection device having a receiver to receive information sent from a mobile device, the information including identity information and/or location information of the mobile device, a traffic control device (TCD) interface to connect the traffic detection device to the traffic signal controller, and a processor to define a dynamic approach based on one or more of the identity information, speed limit, time of day, or speed of the mobile device. The device may determine whether to send a calf signal to the traffic signal controller via the TCD interface to prompt the traffic signal controller, when the processor determines that the mobile device is in the dynamic approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ThruGreen, LLC
    Inventor: David H Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11551553
    Abstract: An on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicle receives one or more data messages indicative of intersection geometry for an upcoming intersection along a roadway being traversed by the vehicle and traffic control status of a traffic control of the intersection. An outbound direction for the vehicle through the intersection is identified. A first traffic message is sent to preempt the traffic control to allow the vehicle to perform a maneuver to traverse the intersection in the outbound direction. The maneuver is indicated as complete and a second traffic message is sent to discontinue the preempt of the traffic control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Bandi, Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda, Swetha Shailendra, John Walpuck
  • Patent number: 11462111
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a vehicle to utilize vehicle external sensor data, vehicle internal sensor data, vehicle capabilities and external V2X input to determine, send, receive and utilize V2X information and control data, sent between the vehicle and a road side unit (RSU) to determine intersection access and vehicle behavior when approaching the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Dan Vassilovski, Hong Cheng, Zhibin Wu, Shailesh Patil, Richard Hovey
  • Patent number: 11458891
    Abstract: A secondary horn system for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor and storing a secondary horn system control module. The control module may include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to determine a presence of an alert space along a projected path of the vehicle and, responsive to a determination of the presence of an alert space, control operation of a secondary horn system to transmit a sound into the alert space. The system may provide for autonomous operation of the secondary horn system in certain driving situations, thereby easing demands on the driver and enhancing driver safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Hiroshi Yasuda, Jaime Camhi
  • Patent number: 11433861
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune Kakeshita, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Kohei Morotomi
  • Patent number: 11380196
    Abstract: A traffic warning system for first responders, such as the police, firefighters, and paramedics, that allows a first responder to wirelessly communicate their pending approach to an intersection with a multimedia warning system mounted and hardwired to a conventional traffic light and operated via an integrated remote control device or mobile phone application (“mobile app”) using radio frequencies, BLUETOOTH® technology, wireless digital technology, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Clay Robinson Dorsey
  • Patent number: 11373525
    Abstract: A method includes determining that a prioritized vehicle plans to traverse an intersection and receiving sensor data from a plurality of sources in a vicinity of the intersection. The method also includes, based on the sensor data, determining a traffic solution to enable the prioritized vehicle to traverse the intersection, the traffic solution identifying a traffic lane and, based on the traffic solution, controlling a traffic light to cause traffic in the traffic lane to disperse and controlling a second traffic light to instruct traffic in an adjacent traffic lane to stop. The method includes instructing the prioritized vehicle to travel via the traffic lane. The traffic in the traffic lane and the traffic in the adjacent traffic lane are traveling in a same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McEnroe, Sanjiv Singh, James Pratt
  • Patent number: 11355008
    Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating an environment, the lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting modules (111, 112, 113), the lighting modules comprising a light source (111a) for emitting light, illuminating an area, an acoustic sensor (111b) arranged for sensing noise in the area, a network interface configured to allow the lighting module to send noise data via a network, and a vehicle routing device (120) comprising: a first network interface (121) configured to receive noise data from the plurality of lighting modules via the network, a processor circuit arranged to calculate noise metrics for different regions (341-344) in the environment from the received noise data, compare the calculated noise metric with noise metric threshold values, dependent upon the calculated noise metric exceeding a noise metric threshold value for a particular region, generating a traffic rerouting signal, said traffic rerouting signal causing a traffic routing system to reroute traffic away from said particular regi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Gertruda Hubertus Voncken, Dominika Lekse, Alexandre Georgievich Sinitsyn, Judith Hendrika Maria De Vries, Tom Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 11257367
    Abstract: Provided are system and method for controlling traffic lights. The system includes a traffic light device and a smart roadside device. The smart roadside device includes a roadside sensing module including: a camera assembly configured to collect information of an image for traffic lights of the traffic light device and a radar configured to acquire first surrounding environment information of a road junction monitored by the smart roadside device, and a roadside processing module configured to determine traffic flow information of a red light lane according to the first surrounding environment information and the information of the image for the traffic lights, determine a duration of a green light according to the traffic flow information, and control a duration displaying the green light in a next cycle of the traffic light device according to the duration of the green light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apollo Intelligent Driving Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huo Cao, Xing Hu, Sheng Tao, Haisong Wang
  • Patent number: 11232707
    Abstract: Controlling traffic signal preemption includes inputting to a conditional preemption circuit, values of incident parameters that include at least a vehicle unit identifier of a vehicle unit and an incident priority that describes an incident. The conditional preemption circuit determines a vehicle class based on one or more of the plurality of incident parameters. In response to a preemption request communicated from the vehicle unit, the conditional preemption circuit determines whether or not the vehicle unit qualifies for preemption at one or more intersections based at least on the vehicle class, location of the vehicle, and heading of the vehicle unit specified in the preemption request. Phase selection signals are communicated to traffic signal control circuitry at the one or more intersections in response to determining that the vehicle unit qualifies for preemption at the one or more intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Global Traffic Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Kulus, Chad Mack, Jared Moore
  • Patent number: 11210945
    Abstract: An infrastructure system includes at least one sensor, a transceiver, and a computer communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and to the transceiver. The computer is programmed to receive data from the at least one sensor indicating respective locations and motions of objects in an environment surrounding the at least one sensor; in response to one of (a) the data from the at least one sensor or (b) a request from a user, generate a virtual traffic marker at a first location in the environment; and instruct the transceiver to broadcast the virtual traffic marker to vehicles in the environment. The first location is based on the data from the at least one sensor, and the virtual traffic marker is data including the first location and traffic instructions corresponding to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Helen Kourous-Harrigan, Linjun Zhang, John Anthony Lockwood
  • Patent number: 11202302
    Abstract: Use of a mobile user device to identify the individual operating a vehicle, which, either alone or in conjunction with a vehicle control unit (VCU), may be used to establish vehicle priority in connection with traffic control systems. This provides for a system that provides priority for the individual based on their individual and current need for priority, as opposed to providing priority generally for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: STC, Inc
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Patent number: 11200802
    Abstract: According to the disclosed approaches, a server system receives vehicle messages having information transmitted from vehicle processors. Each vehicle message specifies published geographical coordinates that indicate a geographical location of a vehicle. For each vehicle message, the server system determines one or more virtual phase selectors associated with the published geographical coordinates; determines whether each virtual phase selector is active or inactive; starts execution of each virtual phase selector determined to be in inactive; and communicates the vehicle message to the one or more virtual phase selectors. Each virtual phase selector determines traffic signal control data based on the vehicle message and transmits the traffic signal control data to a traffic signal controller associated with the virtual phase selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Global Traffic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David John Edwardson
  • Patent number: 11170642
    Abstract: Systems and methods that allow use of simple priority VCUs (those that can only request an increased priority) to operate in a manner that simulates much more sophisticated schedule-adherence or ETA-type traffic control systems without the need to upgrade vehicle hardware. Instead, tracking of the vehicle, whether provided by other systems or by the VCU operating in conjunction with certain prepared points or zones is used to determine if the VCU equipped vehicle is ahead or behind schedule and operation of the VCU itself is altered to modify the expected arrival time of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Nick Freed
  • Patent number: 11158189
    Abstract: According to the disclosed approaches, a first processor receives location messages from second processors. Each location message specifies published geographical coordinates that indicate a geographical location, and the published geographical coordinates are a version of actual geographical coordinates truncated from a first level of precision to a second level of precision. The first processor accesses subscriptions to location topics in response to the location messages. Each location topic specifies in the second level of precision, subscribed-to geographical coordinates of a location. The first processor determines whether or not the published geographical coordinates match any of the subscribed-to geographical coordinates. Non-matching location messages are discarded, and matching location messages are transmitted to one or more third processors identified by the subscriptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Global Traffic Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Edwardson, Samantha Edwardson
  • Patent number: 11145199
    Abstract: Several implementations of an access point, an application server, and instances of an application operating upon a cell phone are disclosed. These implementations support the cell phone and its application traveling on a vehicle, which wirelessly communicates through a wireless router, such as a Bluetooth router with an access point situated in a cabinet to direct a traffic controller driving a traffic light. The wireless router responds to a cell phone initiated by the app, by reporting the location and speed of the vehicle, often further including the vehicle type, such as a bicycle or heavy truck. The traffic controller may lengthen a green light in response to a heavy truck, to reduce wear on roadways. The access point may respond to a bicycle, by confirming its presence to the bicycle driver as well as adjust the traffic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SENSYSNETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Kavaler, Amine Haoui, Sophia Haoui
  • Patent number: 11120685
    Abstract: A map information system includes a database management device that manages a map database used for driving support control of a vehicle. The map database includes traffic signal map information that indicates a position of a traffic signal. The traffic signal map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating certainty of the traffic signal map information for each traffic signal. The database management device recognizes a signal indication of the traffic signal at a verification position, based on camera image information indicating an image around the vehicle. The database management device recognizes behavior of the vehicle with respect to the verification position, based on vehicle state information and vehicle position information. Then, the database management device sets the evaluation value regarding the traffic signal at the verification position according to whether or not the behavior of the vehicle is consistent with the signal indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Hayashi, Keisuke Hokai
  • Patent number: 11113961
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide, implement, and use using a computer-vision based methods of context-sensitive monitoring and characterization of driver behavior. Additional systems and methods are provided for unsupervised learning of action values, monitoring of a driver's environment, and transmitting visual information from a client to a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NETRADYNE, INC.
    Inventors: David Jonathan Julian, Avneesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 11088821
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for secure communication in a traffic control network. An embodiment includes a memory, and circuitry configured to receive a traffic control public key from a traffic control device, wherein the traffic control public key is received in response to providing, to the traffic control device, a request to modify content of the traffic control device, encrypt data corresponding to vehicle information using the traffic control public key, provide, to the traffic control device, the encrypted data to store the data in the traffic control device, and access a network of traffic control devices, including the traffic control device, via the data stored in the traffic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Troia, Antonino Mondello
  • Patent number: 11069234
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for improving traffic safety and efficiency. The system includes various signal transmitters and receivers positioned throughout roadways, within automobiles, in smartphones, or supported by a cellular network backbone, for distributing traffic related information to users and traffic controller equipment. Embodiments of the present disclosure allow for vehicles and/or pedestrians to initiate a dual-transmission of cellular and RF signals for changing a traffic light state, where the first signal received at a traffic intersection controller unit is processed for changing the traffic light state (e.g., changing a light from red to green on-demand). Other embodiments of the present disclosure allow for users to receive visible and/or audible traffic related alerts on mobile devices, where the alerts are based on data shared between nearby drivers, pedestrians, and the traffic controlling equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Information, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Mulligan, Iain Jeffrey Mulligan
  • Patent number: 11062597
    Abstract: An intersection information distribution apparatus includes a plurality of image capturers, one or more first wireless communicators, a position estimator, and a controller. The plurality of image capturers capture images in and around an intersection. The one or more first wireless communicators perform directional communication with a second wireless communicator mounted on a vehicle. The position estimator estimates a position of the vehicle in and around the intersection from a communication state of the directional communication. The controller selects a piece of data from among pieces of data of the images captured by the plurality of image capturers on the basis of the estimated position of the vehicle. The one or more first wireless communicators transmit the selected piece of data to the second wireless communicator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Naganori Shirakata, Koji Takinami, Kenichi Ono, Noboru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11055990
    Abstract: Several implementations of an access point, an application server, and instances of an application operating upon a cell phone are disclosed. These implementations support the cell phone and its application traveling on a vehicle, which wirelessly communicates through a wireless router, such as a Bluetooth router with an access point situated in a cabinet to direct a traffic controller driving a traffic light. The wireless router responds to a cell phone initiated by the app, by reporting the location and speed of the vehicle, often further including the vehicle type, such as a bicycle or heavy truck. The traffic controller may lengthen a green light in response to a heavy truck, to reduce wear on roadways. The access point may respond to a bicycle, by confirming its presence to the bicycle driver as well as adjust the traffic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sensys Networks, Inc
    Inventors: Robert Kavaler, Amine Haoui, Sophia Haoui
  • Patent number: 11030895
    Abstract: Controlling traffic signal preemption includes inputting to a conditional preemption circuit, values of a plurality of incident parameters that include at least a vehicle unit identifier of a vehicle unit and an incident priority that describes an incident. The conditional preemption circuit determines a preemption mode for a vehicle associated with the vehicle unit identifier based on one or more of the plurality of incident parameters. The preemption mode is one of a first mode or a second mode. Traffic signal preemption is enabled for the vehicle unit in response to the conditional preemption circuit determining the first mode. Traffic signal preemption is disabled for the vehicle unit in response to the conditional preemption circuit determining the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Global Traffic Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Kulus, Chad Mack, Jared Moore
  • Patent number: 11004336
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electronic device comprises a communication module comprising communication circuitry, a processor, and a memory operatively connected with the communication module and the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions configured to, when executed, enable the processor to obtain driving-related information from each of a plurality of vehicles positioned within a designated distance from a roundabout using the communication module, determine driving expectation information about a time and direction in which each of the plurality of vehicles enters or exits the roundabout based on the obtained driving-related information, and transmit driving guide information produced based on the determined driving expectation information to each of the plurality of vehicles through the communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinyoung Choi, Yongjun Lim, Kyusung Kim, Dohyoung Kim, Soojung Bae, Juyeon You, Yeonee Choi
  • Patent number: 10971004
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system receives vehicle information from one or more ADVs. The system determines a location and a heading of each ADV from the vehicle information of the ADV. For each of the ADVs, the system determines if the ADV is approaching a traffic light junction based on the location and the heading of the ADV. The system sends the vehicle information of the ADVs to a traffic light control system in response to determining the ADV is approaching the traffic light junction, where the vehicle information is used by the traffic light control system to direct a traffic flow at the traffic light junction, including adjusting a time duration of a light signal at one or more traffic lights disposed at the traffic light junction in advance of the ADVs arriving at the traffic light junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Jiaming Tao, Yifei Jiang, Liangliang Zhang, Dong Li, Jiangtao Hu, Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10962985
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle to navigate a vehicle transit surface in a warehouse environment including a navigation subsystem configured to cooperate with a traction control unit, a braking system, a steering assembly, and an obstacle detection subsystem to: determine whether the materials handling vehicle is approaching, or has arrived at, a potentially contested intersection; associate with the intersection pre-positioned warehouse object data, a set of road rules, and obstacle data; and navigate the materials handling vehicle through the intersection utilizing warehouse navigation maneuvers in combination with the associated set of road rules, obstacle avoidance maneuvers, or both, the warehouse navigation maneuvers accounting for the associated pre-positioned warehouse object data and the obstacle avoidance maneuvers accounting for the obstacle data derived from the obstacle detection subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Toby Collett, Sam McArdle, Sian Phillips, Greg Sumner
  • Patent number: 10916130
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system displays a priority sign for a first road and a yield sign for a second road as a default right of way for a road intersection. The system receives signals from one or more X2X sensors detecting a traffic flow for a predetermined segment of road for each of the first and the second roads before the road intersection. If it is determined the traffic flow of the first road has no vehicle and the traffic flow of the second road includes at least one vehicle, the system initiates a first timer to count a predetermined time duration. If the traffic flow of the first road is determined to remain with no vehicle for the predetermined time duration, the system reverses the default right of way for the intersection so traffic signs for the first road displays yield and the second road displays priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10902722
    Abstract: A method for providing incident specific information at a vehicle computer. In operation, the vehicle computer receives an incident assignment including information related to a current incident from a dispatch computer. The vehicle computer further receives an information request and in response, identifies a first context parameter by co-relating the information request with information related to the current incident and a second context parameter by co-relating the information request with information not related to the current incident. The vehicle computer generates a response to the information request based on the first context parameter when the current incident status identifies that the vehicle is responding to the current incident. Otherwise, the vehicle computer generates a response to the information request based on the second context parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 10896606
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically controlling a set of platooning vehicles travelling on a roadway to respond to a presence of a non-platooning emergency vehicle based on situational factors such as roadway configuration, emergency vehicle status, and a location of the platooning vehicle as being approaching from ahead or from behind. An emergency vehicle sensor unit senses a presence and an urgency status of the emergency vehicle near a platooning vehicle. A roadway configuration sensor unit generates roadway configuration data representative of a sensed configuration of the roadway. A control unit generates an emergency vehicle avoidance platoon control command signal based on the roadway configuration, presence, and urgency data for use by the set of platooning vehicles to maneuver the platoon away from a path of the emergency vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hayes, Michael D. Cremona
  • Patent number: 10817956
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for generation of a vehicle repair plan. Implementations include actions of receiving vehicle damage data including an image of a damaged vehicle. The vehicle damage data is processed to determine a damaged area and a damage type of a portion of the damaged vehicle. A repair plan is generated for the damaged vehicle based on the damaged area and the damage type. The repair plan is initiated for the damaged vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Haitao Zhang, Juan Xu, Jinlong Hou, Jian Wang, Xin Guo, Danni Cheng, Yue Hu, Bokun Wu, Yanqing Chen
  • Patent number: 10805763
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for tracking a vehicle's course using geolocation data is provided. The method comprises obtaining a set of predetermined GPS locations representing a closed course; tracking movements of a user using a GPS controller; authenticating the movements of the user against the set of predetermined GPS locations while the client terminal is within a predetermined distance of at least one of the set of predetermined GPS locations; and presenting consolidated timing information about the user's movements along the set of predetermined GPS locations. The system comprises a central processing server in communication with a computer network and configured to obtain information from a central database; and one or more client terminals in communication with the central processing server via the computer network, and configured to provide a graphical user interface for user interaction with the central processing server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: LapKing Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent G. Monteleone, Jerry Lee Chappell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10755565
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor, and a memory storing instructions such that the processor. The processor is programmed to detect a plurality of objects proximate to an infrastructure node. The processor is further programmed to determine respective priorities for each of the objects based on respective characteristics of the objects; and include the objects in a wireless message to a vehicle based on the priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Linjun Zhang, Helen Elizabeth Kourous-Harrigan
  • Patent number: 10730540
    Abstract: A system for selectively disabling highway crossing equipment includes a timer for controlling a maximum out of service time for the highway crossing equipment, a switch for controlling disablement of the highway crossing equipment, and control circuitry responsive to the timer and the switch. The control circuitry disables the highway crossing equipment in response to an input received from the switch before the maximum out of service time has been reached and re-enables the highway crossing equipment in response to a subsequent input from the switch received before the maximum out of service time has been reached. The control circuitry places the highway crossing equipment in a failsafe condition when the maximum out of service time has been reached without receiving the subsequent input from the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventor: Joseph Daniel Schnell
  • Patent number: 10671087
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle to navigate a vehicle transit surface in a warehouse environment including a navigation subsystem configured to cooperate with a traction control unit, a braking system, a steering assembly, and an obstacle detection subsystem to: determine whether the materials handling vehicle is approaching, or has arrived at, a potentially contested intersection; associate with the intersection pre-positioned warehouse object data, a set of road rules, and obstacle data; and navigate the materials handling vehicle through the intersection utilizing warehouse navigation maneuvers in combination with the associated set of road rules, obstacle avoidance maneuvers, or both, the warehouse navigation maneuvers accounting for the associated pre-positioned warehouse object data and the obstacle avoidance maneuvers accounting for the obstacle data derived from the obstacle detection subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Toby Collett, Sam McArdle, Sian Phillips, Greg Sumner