Proactive Mechanism for Supporting the Global Managment of Vehicle Traffic Flow

Abstract

The invention addresses the disadvantage of automated vehicle traffic management systems by providing a solution for predicting and avoiding traffic congestion before the congestion is experienced. The invention includes a decentralized mechanism for predicting congestion. An exemplary embodiment of the invention uses a system of sensors to determine current traffic flow; the sensors communicate their state to a network of servers and then an algorithm is applied to the collected data to predict traffic congestion; upon detection of congestion, signals are communicated to the system controllers to prevent the traffic congestion.

1 . A method of managing traffic flow in a transportation system, said method comprising:
 creating an abstract representation of said transportation system that includes decision nodes representing intersections of paths within said transportation system and that includes links representing paths between said decision nodes,   receiving current traffic flow rates for each of said links from a plurality of sensors located within said links;   predicting future traffic flow rates for each outgoing link of each node based on current traffic flow rates for each incoming link of each said node and based on current traffic flow rates of each said outgoing link;   comparing predicted traffic flow rates for each said outgoing link of each node to determine which of said outgoing links have the lowest traffic flow rates;   routing users of said transportation system to outgoing links that have said lowest traffic flow rates; and   after routing said users, adding users routed to a link to a predicted traffic flow rate for said link.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a link as being congested if either of a current traffic flow level or a predicted traffic flow level exceeds a predetermined maximum; and   routing users of said transportation system away from congested links.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a final destination from a user of said transportation system, wherein said routing only considers links that will allow said user to reach said final destination. 
   
   
       4 . A method of managing vehicle traffic flow in a vehicle transportation system, said method comprising:
 creating an abstract representation of said transportation system that includes decision nodes representing intersections of roads within said transportation system and that includes links representing roads between said decision nodes,   receiving current vehicle traffic flow rates for each of said links from a plurality of sensors located within said links;   predicting future vehicle traffic flow rates for each outgoing link of each node based on current vehicle traffic flow rates for each incoming link of each said node and based on current vehicle traffic flow rates of each said outgoing link;   comparing predicted vehicle traffic flow rates for each said outgoing link of each node to determine which of said outgoing links have the lowest vehicle traffic flow rates;   routing vehicles of said transportation system to outgoing links that have said lowest vehicle traffic flow rates; and   after routing said vehicles, adding vehicles routed to a link to a predicted vehicle traffic flow rate for said link.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 identifying a link as being congested if either of a current vehicle traffic flow level or a predicted vehicle traffic flow level exceeds a predetermined maximum; and   routing vehicles of said transportation system away from congested links.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising receiving a final destination from a vehicle of said transportation system, wherein said routing only considers links that will allow said vehicle to reach said final destination.