Abstract: A traffic monitoring system that provides vehicular traffic information is described. A plurality of motion sensors for detecting speed of traffic information are placed along one or more roadways. The motion sensors transmit the detected information over a wireless network at periodic intervals. The information is received and communicated to a database, which is accessible for providing speed of traffic information detected by a selected portion of the motion sensors. Users can request and receive traffic information through mobile communications units such as mobile cellular telephones, personal display assistants, or interactive pagers, or through an internet connection. Traffic information can be combined with mapping and routing information to determine optimal commuting routes.

Abstract: A travel information system broadcasts a stream of traffic event information relative to a given road network and a information collecting devices carried in vehicles travelling within the road network each filter among the stream of traffic event information to display only those traffic events relative to a selected travel route of the host vehicle. Each stored travel route is defined by placing the information device in a learn mode to collect a sequence of current vehicle position values during travel along the route. The information device need not include a costly and difficult to maintain large scale database representing the road network. The device thereby constructs and maintains a collection of frequent travel routes specific to the vehicle carrying the device and need not be updated to reflect changes in the road network, but rather allows the user to simply redefine the stored travel routes in light of current road usage and route selection.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling traffic and traffic lights and selectively distributing warning messages to motorists includes a controller to determine appropriate action based on traffic congestion parameters. Fuzzy logic is used to determine optimum traffic light phase split based on the traffic information from the traffic information units. 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, a method, and a computer usable medium that includes a program, for generating navigation instructions for a vehicle. This may be done by determining whether a first proximity area associated with a first maneuver point overlaps with a second maneuver proximity area associated with a second maneuver point and determining whether a first vehicle location is within the first proximity area. It may also be done by determining a first distance between the first vehicle location and a zero point associated with the first maneuver point and determining a second distance between a second vehicle location and the zero point associated with the first maneuver point. It may also be one by truncating the first proximity area based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance.

Abstract: A traveling support information processing unit which can prevent willful assessment of information by a device installed on a road or loaded in a vehicle and makes it possible for the device to always issue a demand for acquisition of required information or a demand for consultation for cooperated determination, and which does not require any specific and additional device for acquisition of positional information for each vehicle and also can improve safety and efficiency in road utilization. In a computer system, vehicles 114A to 114C, 115C, and 115D with the behaviors on a road such as acceleration, deceleration, and lane change projected are made to run on a road 113 simulating the road structure. Communication is performed between a function 101 for tracking or projecting behaviors of the vehicle and the vehicles 115A, 115B having a communicating function.

Abstract: A traffic light control and information transmission device compromising a microprocessor on the cross road, the microprocessor further connects to a traffic light controller, an electronic display board, a video camera, a compression circuitry, an I/O interface, a traffic flow detector and connected to the central traffic control computer through the DSL (Digital Subscriber Loop). The control signals, traffic, public information or news of the central traffic control computer can go through the DLS to the microprocessor; the microprocessor can control the traffic light and display all the information on the electronic display board. The traffic flow data of the cross roads can be accessed by the traffic flow detector and the video camera and transmitted back to the central traffic control computer.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of traffic intersections comprising (a) storing traffic flow data and related time data at each traffic intersection in a data storage unit; (b) periodically downloading the traffic flow data and the time data to a computer; (c) using the computer to generate a new set of operating parameters based upon the traffic flow data and the time data; and (d) controlling the plurality of traffic intersections with the new set of operating parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing the repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining of railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a railcar maintenance management system and method for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar maintenance management system and method allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queueing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: The traffic control system uses global positioning system information from a variety of vehicles, analyzes that information and uses it to provide control signals to traffic control devices. For example, a base station may use information about vehicle patterns and vehicle speeds to control traffic signals, speed limit indicators, and traffic metering lights. In turn, the base station can provide information back to the vehicle about traffic patterns. This enables the driver to make his or her own determination about vehicle patterns. The traffic pattern information may also be used with a GPS navigator to automatically plot a preferred path around adverse traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicular and pedestrian traffic, which combines a variety of concepts into an integrated operating system for traffic management in cities. The design elements of this system include a combination of the dynamic checkerboard arrangements of alternating bands in paired sets of two or three bands for one-way and two-way streets respectively, the recessed crosswalks, the configuration of the flow pattern for bikeways on one-way grid, the opening of crosswalks on the left side of moving green bands at two-way grid intersections, the placement of bikeways between the sidewalk and the parking lane, and the creation of a separate phase for the movement of bicycle traffic on one-way streets.

Abstract: A navigation system that provides guidance information if more than three guide intersections are successively located adjacent each other. The vehicle navigation system's guidance information output is controlled on the basis of the successive relationships between respective intersections and is stored as programs in a memory medium.

Abstract: In a traffic signal control apparatus that can correspond to sudden change in the traffic status, traffic information is collected from a sensor provided at the road to obtain the status of a street intersection from the past to the future as profile data. By the rolling horizon scheme, optimization of the signal timing is carried out. The collect cycle of traffic information and the cycle of optimization are defined independently, and the cycle of optimization is set variable according to the cycle of signal control or the traffic status.

Abstract: An efficient and trouble-proof location referencing of information transmitted from a information provider to the terminal unit is made possible by a method for spatial allocation of information, referring to a location in a terminal unit, wherein the information is sent from an information provider (6) to the terminal unit together with location coordinate data which is associated with this information and which concerns the geographic coordinates (geographic longitude and latitude) of the location and with supplemental location data the allocation of the information to a location is carried out in the terminal unit: based on a comparison of the transmitted location coordinate data relating to the information with location coordinate data in a reference file in the terminal unit; and based on a comparison of the transmitted supplemental location data relating to the information (1, 2) with supplemental location data (4, 5) in the reference file (10) in the terminal unit (8), and by means of a terminal uni

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.

Abstract: An information system for informing users of a bus network about waiting times for buses at stops in the network. The system includes a system for locating buses coupled to a central point which broadcasts said positions at successive instants &thgr; to receivers adapted to calculate waiting times for the buses on the basis of their positions, which positions reach the receivers after a certain average length of “transit” time T. In order to ensure that calculated waiting times as are accurate as possible, the central computer point broadcasts to the receivers estimated positions that the buses are expected to occupy at instant &thgr;+T.

Abstract: A commucations navigation system in which data is transmitted and received between a navigation base apparatus provided at a navigation base and a vehicle navigation apparatus provided in a vehicle using communication. The vehicle navigation apparatus is adapted to transmit at least data concerning the current position of the vehicle and the destination thereof to the navigation base apparatus, and the navigation base apparatus stores navigation data in its data base and is adapted to determine a recommended route based on the transmitted data of the current position of the vehicle and the destination thereof and then extract data of the recommended route from the navigation data stored in the data base and transmit the extracted data to the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: A system for correlating the route of travel of an emergency vehicle with a railroad crossing by, when the crossing is blocked, sensing the presence of a train and communicating between the railroad crossing, police stations, fire stations, and an emergency vehicle dispatch center.

Abstract: A system for instantaneously monitoring traffic congestion including a plurality of monitoring electronic devices located in motor vehicles traveling on roadways in a selected region. Each monitoring electronic device is coupled to a GPS receiver that provides physical location to a wireless modem capable of connecting to a wireless communication network. The system also includes a central computer connected to a wide area network that is able of continuously downloading physical location information from a plurality of monitoring electronic devices also connected to the wide area network. The central computer uses a traffic monitoring software program and a mapping database containing roadway information for a region and the movement information from the monitoring electronic devices to create a continuously updated traffic congestion database. Authorized users of the system are able to log onto the central computer to a portion of the database that contains specific traffic flow and congestion information.

Abstract: A method of monitoring traffic flow comprises reading registration plates of the vehicles of a multiplicity of series of vehicles passing respective locations on a road network, if necessary selecting samples of readings from the readings relating to the vehicles of the series, and determining whether readings of the samples are deemed to contain matching readings. The samples are used as probes or targets to measure average journey times which are compared with reference journey times. The selecting of the samples at the respective reading locations is performed according to an algorithm common to all of the locations.

Abstract: An interface device between a computer running a traffic simulation program and any number of traffic signal controllers. The traffic simulation program simulates traffic in a road network including signal-controlled intersections. There are many signal manufacturers and they do not release the details of the control algorithms used in their controllers, hence it is impractical if not impossible to merely insert the control algorithm for a given controller into the program. The interface of the present invention allows any controller from any manufacturer to be used with the simulation program so that traffic flow in any network including signal-controlled intersections can be simulated. An assumed traffic network and demand traffic is input into the program; the program sends detector actuations to the signal controllers via the interface device and the controllers's phase indication states are sent back into the program also via the controller.

Abstract: A local traffic signal controller (3) is interfaced to a satellite subscriber unit (10) to provide for centralized control of the traffic signals (1) controlled by the local controller (3). A central controller (7) provides central control and can download program control information to local controller (3). Dial-up access to local controller (3) is provided to central controller (7) with the subscriber unit (10). The resultant communication path may be utilized to provide for accessing information from the local traffic signal controller (3). Such information may include indications of lamp failures, traffic pattern information and other status or traffic related information.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive composition comprising (1) a phosphor; (2) an organic polymer binder comprising a combination of at least one alkali-soluble resin and at least one cellulose ether; (3) a photo-crosslinkable compound; and (4) a photo-radical generating agent.

Abstract: An intersection information supply apparatus includes a table indicating relationships between approaching directions of a vehicle to an intersection and signal forms, an approaching direction detecting unit detecting an approaching direction in which the vehicle is approaching the intersection, a transmission unit transmitting a signal having a signal form indicated in the table so as to correspond to the approaching direction detected by the approaching direction detecting unit, a signal obtaining unit selectively obtaining, from among signals externally arriving at the vehicle, a signal having a signal form indicated in the table so as to correspond to an approaching direction relevant to the approaching direction detected by the approaching direction detecting unit and an information output unit outputting information about presence of another vehicle when the signal obtaining unit obtains the signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling traffic signals on existing grid-like systems of avenues and crossing streets. Two phase traffic signals, red and green, wherein both phases are equal in duration and the amber interval is a part of the green interval. The coordinated two-dimensional progression traffic signal system requires simultaneous changes of the signal cycle at three levels of the designated grid plan. The duration of each phase of the signal cycle is determined by the time required to traverse two contiguous lengths of the optimum grid rectangle. A band length is determinable from the calculation of the duration of the phases and corresponds to the integral number of roadway intersections to be crossed by a vehicle. Between bands, adjacent band widths are in the reciprocal phase from one another. Between avenues, parallel band widths on adjacent avenues and streets are also in reciprocal phases from one another, and between interphases.

Abstract: A lane change detecting system includes an emission unit for emitting a predetermined signal, the emission unit being provided in a boundary between lanes of a road so that the predetermined signal emitted by the emission unit is affected by a mobile body which crosses the boundary between the lanes, a receiving unit which is provided in the boundary between the lanes for receiving the predetermined signal emitted by the emission unit and outputting a receiving signal corresponding to the received signal, and a determination unit for determining, based on a state of the receiving signal from the receiving unit, whether a mobile body crossed across the boundary between the lanes.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for sensing an object or vehicle in proximity to a sensing zone, wherein the device is exposed to an environment temperature. The object sensing device comprises a sensor, such as an inductive loop having a characteristic, such as the inductance of the inductive loop, responsive to the proximity of the object is to the sensor; a signal generator, such as an oscillator, coupled to the sensor for producing a first periodical signal cycling at a first frequency dependent on the sensor characteristic and the environment temperature.

Abstract: A wide area surveillance system for application to large road networks is described. The system employs smart sensors to identify plural individual vehicles in the network. These vehicles are tracked on an individual basis, and the system derives the behavior of the vehicle. Furthermore, the system derives traffic behavior on a local basis, across roadway links, and in sections of the network. Processing in the system is divided into multiple processing layers, with geographical separation of tasks.

Abstract: An intersection determination process determines the state of intersection of adjacent segments in a display such as one for a vehicle navigation system, and if it is determined that there is an is an intersection between the segments, an orientation-intersection point transformation value table is referred to for computation of the intersection transformation value. This table shows the relationship of the combination of the orientations of the previous segment and the present segment with an intersection point transformation value. This intersection point transformation value is added to the coordinates of the end point of the previous segment to obtain the intersection. The intersection point derived in this way is generated as data for traffic display.

Abstract: Digitally-effectuated, automatic control over the message or messages displayed on one or more programmable display mediums in response to changing conditions, or anticipated changing conditions, in the vicinity of the display mediums is disclosed.

Abstract: A road traffic control method is provided which can continue to maximize the number of vehicles allowed to run on a road and shorten time required for a vehicle to reach a destination, by preventing and relieving congestion. The method controls traffic of vehicles running on each of a plurality of parallel running roads. Each road is made connected at an interval of a predetermined distance, and at least one of the plurality of roads has a plurality of lanes. The method includes the steps of: detecting traffic of vehicles running in two counter directions on each road, at a position before at least one connected point of each of the plurality of roads; and changing ratio between the numbers of lanes of at least one of the plurality of roads, in accordance with the detected traffic of vehicles running in the two counter directions.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the flow of vehicle traffic. The system of the invention includes a grid of one-way streets, and a one-way ramp near each street intersection. Each ramp allows only a right-turn at an intersection. Preferably, each intersection is an overpass intersection, so that each street directs vehicles not making a right-turn at an intersection over or under the intersecting street. Preferably, the system also includes a traffic monitoring subsystem, including one or more velocity sensor stations positioned along the streets, and a processor for processing the output of each velocity sensor station to determine the average speed of vehicles translating past the velocity sensor station. Preferably, each velocity sensor station includes at least two magnetic sensors embedded in the street surface. Each magnetic sensor outputs a signal in response to proximity of a passing vehicle.

Abstract: Traffic information is gathered by traffic centres (TC) and quite frequently it is desired to alert drivers to the presence of a hazard which can be avoided if an early warning can be given. However as most hazards are of local interest then in order to avoid transmitting the early warning nationally, a system is used to transmit the early warning to suitably equipped vehicles using the digital cellular radio network. In view of the fact that the location of the network's base stations (BS1 to 3, BS20 and BS21) and their contemporaneous coverage areas may be unknown to the traffic centres it is necessary for the traffic centres to relay a description of the geographical area over which an early warning should be given to the control computer (C) of the cellular network so that the control computer can decide which of the base stations provide a combined coverage area most closely matching the description of the geographical area and activate the transmitters of the selected base stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing vehicular traffic information using presently existing cellular telephone system technology. Traffic sensors monitor the control and voice channel transmissions of cellular units within a cellular telephone system. Data from these transmissions is extracted and analyzed according to a statistical model and derived vehicle geolocating information to generate vehicular traffic information that is transmitted to a central control center. By combining the information from all of the traffic sensors and each individual cell within a cellular telephone system, a picture of the traffic conditions existing along major thoroughfares may be determined.

Abstract: A series of image sensors is spaced along a roadway at particular intervals to provide images of the traffic and an identification signal associating those images with the location of the particular sensor providing the images. A main station receives the images from all cameras and broadcasts an information signal comprising segments of those images and the identifications in a particular sequence in accordance with the predominant direction of travel on the roadway. User units include a receiver which displays the images so that the user may preview the roadway ahead to make route choices. In systems covering multiple roadways, the user may select images of the particular roadway to view. The receiver is also responsive to a local broadcast of the camera's identification signal to thereby determine the geographical location of the user and alert the user when particularly pertinent images are being displayed and when decision points are reached where the user must make a route change choice.

Abstract: The central version of the road traffic control system maintains nonstop flow of traffic on selected lanes of fastroads (1A, 1B, 1C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 31A, 31B, 31C, 32A, 32B, 32C) all the time by grouping the vehicles in closed columns in moving travel zones alternating with empty zones, marked by fixtures (6) emitting zone marker signals controlled by central processor (7). Columns of vehicles are grouped in travel zones (21A, 21B, 33A, 33B) alternating with empty (vacate) zones (211, 331), and are laid out in a centrally controlled grid pattern of fastroads (1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B). The control system guides the moving travel zones through the empty zones of the cross roads without stopping. In local version having light traffic, stopping is reduced and quasi-nonstop traffic flow is introduced on locally controlled crossings (41, 42) by sensor ( 45A, 45B, 46A, 64B, 46C) controlled traffic lights operated by local processor (47).

Abstract: A method for compiling and evaluating local traffic data based on a real time evaluation of Doppler echoes on a digital basis, wherein initially the frequency spectrum of the Doppler echo is formed, then the frequency of the maximum amplitude in this spectrum is identified, and the speed of the vehicle is determined from this frequency. The length of the vehicle can also be determined from the speed of the vehicle and from the Doppler echo signal duration. An apparatus for implementing the method includes a millimeter wavelength radar sensor, a transmission unit, and an evaluation unit operating with digital signal processing.

Abstract: The route bus operation controlling system of this invention includes mobile radio units, ground radio unit and central processor, wherein the central processor is provided with a memory for storing the actual running time of buses in specific section of each bus service route and other service information and a processing unit which reads out the service information stored in the memory to calculate coefficient data which allows comparison among delays in each bus route, applies a weight to the calculated result basing on the old and new actual values, calculated as sample values the average movement values of buses which have run in the specified section, calculates as sample values the expected values of the bus under forecast, and cumulates the expected running time for each specified section, and wherein the mobile radio units and ground radio units are provided with display units for displaying service information of a specific section of route and the entire route.

Abstract: A route bus service controlling system comprising ground radio unit installed at a terminal or start-and-end point of bus service routes, a turn point of each route and a plurality of passage points therebetween and serving to detect the passage time of each route bus at every point, the ground radio units being further capable of sending the detected time signal to a central service controller and, after receiving service information from the central service controller, transmitting such information to each route bus; the central service controller for first receiving the actual run information of each route bus from the ground radio units, then making up, on the basis of the received service information, modified service schedules for the buses in the individual route sections so as to realize an optimal time interval service of all the buses running on the respective routes, and transmitting via the ground radio units to the corresponding buses the modified service schedules with various conditions added t

Abstract: A method of and an arrangement for controlling a traffic control system comprising at least two measuring points located at a mutual distance along a traffic lane. It is determined whether the speed of a vehicle detected at one of the measuring points is less than a predetermined part of a running weighted average speed of vehicles detected in at least both measuring points. This has, inter alia, the disadvantage that a number of alarm signals are unnecessarily generated, which does not promote safety on the road. To obviate this it is determined at a measuring point, located downstream in the traffic direction, of the two above-mentioned measuring points, whether or not the speed of a vehicle detected there is less than a predetermined part of a running weighted average speed, which is exclusively determined from the vehicle speed detected at the upstream measuring point of these two measuring points.