Patent Application
20160049077
Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a traffic management system and more specifically it relates to a traffic management system for effectively guiding traffic.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
In areas of high traffic density where parking is at a premium, it is often times difficult to find an available parking space. The driver of a vehicle wastes valuable time and becomes frustrated while driving around a parking lot to find a parking space. The additional searching for a parking space also compounds traffic congestion and has a negative impact on the environment by the extended operation of the vehicle.
To assist drivers in locating a parking space, conventional occupancy indicators have been recently developed that indicate whether an individual parking space is available. Conventional occupancy indicator systems are comprised of a visual indicator (e.g. a light) that is mounted in each individual parking space (typically to the ceiling or wall of an indoor vehicle parking structure) and a sensor that detects the presence of a vehicle within the individual parking spot. The occupancy indicator is directly wired to the sensor to allow for communications from the sensor to the occupancy indicator. The occupancy indicator and sensor are further wired to a central parking management system that communicates with the devices and also provides electrical power to the devices.
While conventional occupancy indicators assist in guiding drivers to available parking spaces in a parking lot, they are relatively expensive and difficult to install because of the required wiring of the devices together. Another problem with conventional occupancy indicators is that they are typically capable of only indicating the availability of individual parking spaces and are typically utilized only in indoor vehicle parking structures. In addition, a limitation of conventional occupancy indicators is that they are limited to indicating the availability of individual traffic spaces and are not adaptable for directing traffic over broader areas.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved traffic management system for effectively guiding traffic.
The invention generally relates to a traffic management system which includes a gateway device in communication with a telecommunications network, a plurality of parking sensors in wireless communication with the gateway device, a management server in communication with the parking sensors via the telecommunications network, and at least one traffic management device in wireless communication with the gateway device. The management server determines the availability of parking spaces in a parking lot and identifies which traffic management device to activate to indicate the availability of the parking spaces within a zone.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
The present invention may be utilized upon any telecommunications network 19 capable of transmitting data including voice data and other types of electronic data. Examples of suitable telecommunications networks 19 for the present invention include but are not limited to global computer networks (e.g. Internet), wireless networks, cellular networks, satellite communications networks, cable communication networks (via a cable modem), microwave communications network, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), campus area networks (CAN), metropolitan-area networks (MAN), and home area networks (HAN). The present invention may communicate via a single telecommunications network 19 or multiple telecommunications networks 19 concurrently. Various protocols may be utilized by the electronic devices for communications such as but not limited to HTTP, SMTP, FTP and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). The present invention may be implemented upon various wireless networks such as but not limited to 3G, 4G, LTE, CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, REFLEX, IDEN, TETRA, DECT, DATATAC, and MOBITEX. The present invention may also be utilized with online services and internet service providers.
The Internet is an exemplary telecommunications network 19 for the present invention. The Internet is comprised of a global computer network having a plurality of computer systems around the world that are in communication with one another. Via the Internet, the computer systems are able to transmit various types of data between one another. The communications between the computer systems may be accomplished via various methods such as but not limited to wireless, Ethernet, cable, direct connection, telephone lines, and satellite.
The present invention includes a management server 40 that is in communication with the parking sensors 30 and the traffic management devices 50. The management server 40 may be comprised of any computer, Internet-based computer, cloud based computer, virtual computer, home computer or other computer system capable of receiving and transmitting data via IP networks and the telecommunication networks. The management server 40 may be comprised of any electronic system capable of receiving, storing, calculating and transmitting information (e.g. computer data, etc.).
The management server 40 is utilized in the present invention to receive, store and transmit organization account data, user account data, parking lot data (e.g. geographical location of the parking lot), individual parking space 11 data (e.g. the location of the parking space 11, the parking lot the parking space 11 is part of, the zone the parking space 11 is located in), data to and from the parking sensors 30 (e.g. whether or not a vehicle 14 is present within the parking space 11), data to and from the traffic management devices 50 (e.g. instructions on what type of visual alert to activate for each individual traffic management device 50 if any, current weather conditions detected by the traffic management device 50) and the like.
A plurality of parking sensors 30 are in wireless communication with one or more gateway devices 32 as illustrated in
Each parking space 11 preferably includes a parking sensor 30 to detect the presence of a vehicle 14 in each respective parking space 11. The parking sensor 30 may be positioned in various locations of an individual parking space 11, however, it is preferable that the parking sensor 30 be positioned approximately 2 meters from the front end of the parking space 11 to be positioned under a parked vehicle 14. The parking sensor 30 may also detect the presence of the permit device utilizing wireless communications between the parking sensor 30 and the permit device (e.g. the permit device may emit a Bluetooth low energy signal that is detected by the parking sensor 30).
The parking sensor 30 is able to detect the presence of a vehicle 14 in the associated parking space 11 for the parking sensor 30 without mistaking a human or pet walking through the parking space 11 as a vehicle 14. Furthermore, the parking sensor 30 preferably does not notify the management server 40 of a vehicle 14 parked in the parking space 11 until after a period of time (e.g. 5 seconds or more) that a vehicle 14 is stationary within the parking space 11 and/or within a specific distance of the parking sensor 30 (e.g. less than 2 feet from the parking sensor 30 when the parking sensor 30 is positioned at the front end of the parking a space. The parking sensor 30 may detect the presence of the vehicle 14 utilizing various types of object presence detection systems such as but not limited to proximity sensors (e.g. RF radiation, light, optical, sound, capacitive, magnetic, inductive proximity sensors), motion sensors (e g infrared, ultrasonic, microwave sensors, video), a weight sensor in the parking surface 12 of the parking space 11 and the like.
The parking sensors 30 preferably communicate with the management server 40 via a telecommunications network 19 to indicate that a vehicle 14 is parked in the parking space 11. The parking sensors 30 may access the telecommunications network 19 directly or via a gateway device 32 (e.g. wireless router, general packet radio service modem a.k.a. GPRS modem). The parking sensors 30 may be in communication with the gateway device 32 via a wired connection or wireless connection (e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the like). The parking sensors 30 may include a wired connection to an electrical power supply, a battery and/or a solar power system for providing electrical power to the parking sensors 30.
Furthermore, the traffic management device 50 is capable of being driven over by a motorized vehicle 14 (e.g. a car, pickup, truck) without damaging the traffic management device 50. The traffic management device 50 is also preferably waterproof to withstand rain and other water environments.
The housing 52 preferably has a tapered first side and a tapered second side with a relatively flat upper middle portion as illustrated in
The housing 52 preferably includes a plurality of apertures 58 within the corner portions of the housing 52. The apertures 58 receive corresponding fasteners 16 (e.g. threaded bolts or masonry anchor screws) that extend into the parking surface 12 of the parking lot to secure the traffic management device 50 to the parking surface 12. In addition to or separate from the apertures 58 with fasteners 16 to secure the housing 52, the usage of an adhesive member 17 attached to the flat bottom surface of the housing 52 may be utilized to secure the housing 52 of the traffic management device 50 to the parking surface 12.
The housing 52 has an end cap 54 that is removable from the main body of the housing 52 exposing an interior cavity 56 that receives and stores the various electronic components of the traffic management device 50. The end cap 54 is preferably a shroud for the indicator light 66 to help direct the light and the end cap 54 is preferably opaque or reflective to direct the light emitted from the indicator light 66 in a specific direction. For example, the solar panel 60 is an elongated and flat structure that is preferably near the upper surface of the interior cavity 56 to provide the maximum level of exposure to sunlight for recharging the energy storage device 62 when inserted as illustrated in
The traffic management device 50 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) or other electronic device. As shown in
The traffic management device 50 further preferably includes RFID capability that allows for the RFID scanner 70 to identify the device identifier and other parking space 11 information by scanning the traffic management device 50. The RFID device 67 within the traffic management device 50 may be active or passive. Furthermore, the RFID device 67 (including the memory within the RFID device 67) is preferably in bidirectional communication with the microprocessor 63 so that the RFID memory may be reprogrammed by the microprocessor 63 as needed to update a device identifier, user information or other related data.
The traffic management device 50 further preferably includes an energy storage device 62 (e.g. battery) that is electrically connected to the microprocessor 63 and other components of the traffic management device 50 to provide electrical power. The energy storage device 62 may be removable and/or rechargeable. The energy storage device 62 is preferably electrically recharged by a solar panel 60 with a power manager 61 as further shown in
The traffic management device 50 further includes a light sensor 64 that detects the level of ambient light and communicates the light level data to the microprocessor 63. Based upon the level of ambient light, the microprocessor 63 determines the level of output light the indicator light 66 must provide to be effectively viewed by drivers while reducing the amount of electrical power used to illuminate the indicator light 66 (e.g. in dark ambient conditions, the amount of light emitted from the indicator light 66 is significantly less than in bright ambient conditions).
The traffic management device 50 also includes an RF transceiver 65 that wirelessly communicates wirelessly with the gateway device 32 and/or the telecommunications network 19 acting as a communications gateway between the traffic management device 50 and the management server 40. The RF transceiver 65 may communicate via various wireless technologies such as but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the like.
The traffic management device 50 includes at least one indicator light 66 that is directed towards the oncoming traffic within a parking light. The indicator light 66 is preferably positioned within a distal end of the housing 52 of the traffic management device 50 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The indicator light 66 is in electrical communication with the microprocessor 63 wherein the microprocessor 63 controls the illumination of the indicator light 66. The indicator light 66 is preferably comprised of a light emitting diode (LED) that may change colors (e.g. red, yellow, green, blue, orange), have different light patterns (e.g. flashing light, different flashing patterns of light, constant light), different light intensity/brightness and other characteristics of light that may be controlled and changed by the microprocessor 63 based upon the traffic conditions. The different colors may be achieved through the use of multiple single color LED's.
Each traffic management device 50 is activated (or deactivated) to provide an availability visual alert when the associated zone has at least one free parking space 11. The traffic management device 50 preferably is associated with a zone of parking spaces 11 such as 8 or more parking spaces 11 per each traffic management device 50. The installation of the traffic management devices 50 is where drivers will be able to easily view the indicator light 66, preferably in the middle of the pathway of the parking lot as illustrated in
With the traffic management device 50 mounted on the parking surface 12 (or a road surface), the sunlight during daytime hours passes through the transparent housing 52 to the solar panel 60 and the electrical power generated by the solar panel 60 is used to recharge the energy storage device 62 and operate the indicator light 66. During dark light conditions, the indicator light 66 is provided electrical power by the energy storage device 62. In addition, the traffic management device 50 may be programmed or controlled to only operate during specific times of day when needed (e.g. from the hours of 10 am to 9 pm for a parking lot in a business area where the businesses are only open from 10 am to 9 pm).
The indicator light 66 may be illuminated in various light types (e.g. color, light patterns, light intensity and the like) depending upon the availability and/or unavailability of parking spaces 11 in the associated zone of parking spaces 11. The color may be changed to reflect the approximate percentage of availability within the zone associated with the traffic management device 50 (e.g. green light for high availability, yellow light for limited availability, red light for no available parking spaces 11, no light for no available parking spaces 11). While green and red lights are the preferred visual indicators provided by the traffic management device 50, different lights may be utilized for other types of information (e.g. blue light for a reserved parking space 11 or handicapped parking space 11 being available, orange light for an emergency situation, flashing white light for high traffic areas to warn drivers). The light illuminated from the indicator light 66 may also flash differently based upon availability (e.g. no flashing for high availability, fast flashing for limited availability).
In another embodiment, to conserve electrical power stored within the energy storage device 62 it is important to not activate the traffic management device 50 and the corresponding indicator light 66 unless there is a minimum number of taken (i.e. unavailable) parking spaces 11 within the zone. It is preferable that the traffic management device 50 does not provide any visual alerts to conserve electrical power unless at least forty-percent or more of the parking spaces 11 in the zone are filled with vehicles 14. The purpose of not activating the traffic management device 50 unless a minimum number of parking spaces 11 in the zone are unavailable is to reduce power consumption when drivers of vehicles 14 can easily see there is a high percentage of availability of parking spaces 11 in the zone (e.g. greater than sixty-percent availability). It is also preferable to blink the indicator light 66 (preferably comprised of an LED) at a suitable frequency in a flashing manner to utilize less electrical power even when providing a visual indication that parking spaces 11 are available in the zone (e.g. flashing a green light with the indicator light illuminated in green light for 1 second, then turned off for 1 second, then turned on for 1 second and so forth).
The present invention may also be utilized in areas outside of parking lots such as on roads to provide hazardous conditions (e.g. icy roads, traffic congestion and delays, accident ahead, road construction ahead) thereby providing advanced warning to motorists to improve safety and reduce the risk of an accident. In these types of areas, the traffic management device 50 may be in communication with the management server 40 or since most of the roadway may be in an area without a telecommunications network 19 the traffic management device 50 may be activated, deactivated and controlled by the RFID scanner 70 instead in a manual manner by an individual. The traffic management device 50 may also be temporarily attached to the road surface.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
