Traffic signal control system and application therefor

Abstract

A traffic signal control system having a program running thereon to monitor and control operations of a traffic light at a road intersection, the traffic signal control system including at least one traffic signal controller executing the program to control the traffic light to prevent a traffic bottleneck of a plurality of vehicles on a heavy traffic street with respect to a cross street, and at least one traffic management device executing the program to determine automated responses of the at least one traffic signal controller based on a flow of traffic.

1 . A traffic signal control system having a program running thereon to monitor and control operations of a traffic light at a road intersection, the traffic signal control system comprising:
 at least one traffic signal controller executing the program to control the traffic light to prevent a traffic bottleneck of a plurality of vehicles on a heavy traffic street with respect to a cross street; and   at least one traffic management device executing the program to determine automated responses of the at least one traffic signal controller based on a flow of traffic.   
     
     
         2 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic management device sends a command to the at least one traffic signal controller to increase a duration of time the heavy traffic street moves through the road intersection. 
     
     
         3 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller calculates a hold time for the cross street based on a predetermined hold time in response to at least one other vehicle approaching or waiting at the road intersection on the cross street. 
     
     
         4 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller changes the traffic light in response to the hold time exceeding the predetermined hold time. 
     
     
         5 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller changes the traffic light in response to the flow of traffic on the heavy traffic street decreasing. 
     
     
         6 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller changes the traffic light in absence of the traffic bottleneck. 
     
     
         7 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller determines a count of a number of the plurality of vehicles moving through the road intersection. 
     
     
         8 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller communicates to another at least one traffic signal controller to adjust the setting of another traffic light in response to the count of the number of the plurality of vehicles. 
     
     
         9 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic signal controller communicates to another at least one traffic signal controller to facilitate continuous movement of the plurality of vehicles on the heavy traffic street. 
     
     
         10 . The traffic signal control system of  claim 9 , wherein the another at least one traffic signal controller performs at least one of adjusting a red light to a green light and keeping the green light for a predetermined period of time.