Optimization of vehicular traffic flow through a conflict zone

US7969324B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Dan Shmuel Chevion · Haifa, IL
• Dov Ramm · Gdera, IL
• Yuval Shimony · Haifa, IL
• Ron Sivan · Haifa, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2008
• Grant date: Jun 28, 2011
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G1/164
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An automatic vehicular traffic flow control technique defines a controlled area, wherein vehicles belonging to different traffic streams contend for occupancy of a conflict zone. A traversal order is computed for the vehicles in the controlled area, wherein the ordered vehicles are assigned to traverse the conflict zone sequentially in accordance with their respective positions in the traversal order. Tracking and tracked vehicles are designated, wherein a respective tracked vehicle immediately precedes each of the tracking vehicles in the traversal order. The tracking vehicles maintain a specified physical relationship with their respective tracked vehicles until the tracked vehicle has traversed the conflict zone. The speed of the traffic streams is increased as necessary so as to achieve a desired throughput through the conflict zone.