Integrated accessible pedestrian system

Abstract

An integrated pedestrian access system configured to communicate with one or more traffic controllers that control a plurality of pedestrian signal heads to convey pedestrian signal indications to a pedestrian proximate a pedestrian crosswalk is provided. The integrated pedestrian access system includes at least one first receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers and includes at least one first pedestrian pushbutton for receiving a pedestrian signal request from the pedestrian and at least one second receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers including at least one second pedestrian pushbutton. At least one first receiver wirelessly transmits the pedestrian signal request and wirelessly receives an acknowledgment responsive to the pedestrian signal request. The receivers each wirelessly transmit and receive information related to a status of the pedestrian crosswalk or a status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one pedestrian signal head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated pedestrian access system configured to communicate with one or more traffic controllers that control a plurality of pedestrian signal heads to convey pedestrian signal indications to a pedestrian proximate a pedestrian crosswalk, the integrated pedestrian access system comprising:
 at least one first receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the at least one first receiver including at least one first pedestrian pushbutton for receiving a pedestrian signal request from the pedestrian; and   at least one second receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the at least one second receiver including at least one second pedestrian pushbutton;   wherein the at least one first receiver wirelessly transmits the pedestrian signal request and subsequently wirelessly receives an acknowledgment responsive to the pedestrian signal request; and   wherein the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver each wirelessly transmits and wirelessly receives information related to a status of the pedestrian crosswalk or a status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads to decrease risk of conflict or malfunction in the integrated pedestrian access system.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to:
 communicate the pedestrian signal request; and   receive the status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         3 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver are mounted proximate the pedestrian crosswalk. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to:
 communicate the pedestrian signal request; and   receive the status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         5 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first pedestrian pushbutton and the at least one second pedestrian pushbutton each provide audible and vibro-tactile signal indications to the pedestrian. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to assess occurrence of any conflict or malfunction in the pedestrian signal indications displayed on the plurality of pedestrian signal heads. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to assess occurrence of any conflict or malfunction in the pedestrian signal indications displayed on the plurality of pedestrian signal heads. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote pedestrian pushbutton for receiving a pedestrian signal request from the pedestrian remotely using a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first receiver and at least one second receiver are communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers using a communication pathway that is at least partially wireless. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first receiver and at least one second receiver are communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers using a communication pathway that is at least partially wireless. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated pedestrian access system configured to communicate with one or more traffic controllers that control a plurality of pedestrian signal heads to convey pedestrian signal indications to a pedestrian proximate a pedestrian crosswalk, the integrated pedestrian access system comprising:
 at least one first receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the at least one first receiver including at least one first pedestrian pushbutton configured to receive a tactile selection by the pedestrian, the selection constituting a pedestrian signal request; and   at least one second receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the at least one second receiver including at least one second pedestrian pushbutton;   wherein the at least one first receiver wirelessly transmits the pedestrian signal request and subsequently wirelessly receives an acknowledgment of receipt of the pedestrian signal request; and   wherein the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver each wirelessly transmits and wirelessly receives information related to a status of the pedestrian crosswalk or a status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         12 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one first receiver is configured to interact with the one or more traffic controllers to:
 communicate the pedestrian signal request; and   receive the status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         13 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver are mounted proximate the pedestrian crosswalk. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to:
 communicate the pedestrian signal request; and   receive the status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         15 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first pedestrian pushbutton and the at least one second pedestrian pushbutton each provide audible and vibro-tactile signal indications to the pedestrian. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to assess occurrence of any conflict or malfunction in the pedestrian signal indications displayed on the plurality of pedestrian signal heads. 
     
     
         17 . An integrated pedestrian access system configured to communicate with one or more traffic controllers that control a plurality of pedestrian signal heads to convey pedestrian signal indications to a pedestrian proximate a pedestrian crosswalk, the integrated pedestrian access system comprising:
 a first receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the first receiver including at least one first pedestrian pushbutton for receiving a pedestrian signal request from the pedestrian; and   a second receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers, the second receiver including at least one second pedestrian pushbutton;   wherein the first receiver wirelessly transmits the pedestrian signal request and subsequently wirelessly receives an acknowledgment responsive to the pedestrian signal request from within the integrated pedestrian access system; and   wherein the first receiver and the second receiver each wirelessly transmits and wirelessly receives information related to a status of the pedestrian crosswalk or a status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         18 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 17 , wherein the first receiver interacts with the one or more traffic controllers to:
 communicate the pedestrian signal request; and   receive the status of the pedestrian signal indications displayed on at least one of the plurality of pedestrian signal heads.   
     
     
         19 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 17 , wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are mounted proximate the pedestrian crosswalk. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated pedestrian access system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one first receiver and at least one second receiver are communicatively coupled to the one or more traffic controllers using a communication pathway that is at least partially wireless.