DE102005022171B4 - Devices and methods for controlling traffic during a major event - Google Patents

Abstract

Switching device (12, 14, 21) for a traffic control component (9 to 11), in particular for a traffic light, comprising control means (21) for outputting a control signal (22 to 24) to the traffic control component (9 to 11) and vehicle detection means (12) for detecting a predetermined vehicle (1) at a path position (3) and for providing a corresponding detection signal (13), characterized by a comparison device (14) for receiving a target time information with respect to the predetermined vehicle (1), wherein the target time information is related to a travel time of the vehicle to reach a destination with the vehicle at a predetermined time, for receiving the detection signal (13), which is an actual time signal, from the vehicle detection means (12) and for providing a comparison signal (20) in FIG Dependence of the setpoint time information and the actual time signal on the control device (21), the output of the control i (22 to 24) by the control means (21) depending on the comparison signal (20), and wherein an output for controlling the switching device takes place when in view of the actual time, the target time is unreachable.

Description

The present invention relates to a switching device for a traffic control component, in particular for a traffic light, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, a parking guidance system according to the preamble of claim 7 is presented. Likewise, a traffic surface scanning apparatus according to the preamble of claim 8 is described. A method for controlling a traffic control component, a method for guiding a road user to a parking space, a method for finding a free parking area and a method for locating a vehicle are also content of the present invention.

At major events, such as the Olympics, trade fairs, national and international conferences, special responsibilities are assigned to an event organizer and a vehicle sponsor. The vehicle sponsor often bears the responsibility for the VIP fleet, ie for the shuttle vehicles of athletes, journalists and other important personalities. These personalities are at high risk of security and need to reach the venue of the big event in time. This poses several problems for the vehicle sponsor and the organizer. On the one hand, the vehicle sponsor must equip the vehicles of the VIP fleet quickly and inexpensively in such a way that the vehicles can be located at any time during their deployment. On the other hand, the vehicle sponsor and the organizer must ensure that the vehicles in question are piloted in traffic so that the persons chauffeured in them are on time at the destination. This is often done by controllable traffic control components, such as traffic lights, which are automatically controlled when approaching a VIP vehicle so that the vehicle in question is preferred. To supplement these systems, there are the so-called protocol routes for VIPs and government officials. In these protocol routes, the entire route of an incident axis to the big event is switched to green by the police or an operations center for that vehicle. Cross-border private transport is blocked during this time.

The pamphlets AT 343 016B and US 4914 434 reveal traffic lights that switch when approaching, depending on the distance to the traffic light. In principle, this always leads to a changeover when the vehicle arrives close to the traffic light.

A disadvantage of these switchable traffic control components and the incidence axes are therefore congestion and obstruction for the inner city residual traffic with the correspondingly high environmental impact.

In addition, an organizer of a major event faces the problem of having to provide sufficient parking space for the visitors arriving by car. Car park management systems guide the vehicles to the appropriate parking facilities near the major event. The parking guidance systems according to the prior art report according to the number of visitors full or empty parking garages. Alternate signposts can make it easier for drivers to find the predefined parking areas or the free parking garages.

There is always the problem that is occupied by temporary traffic peaks, the available parking area and for other visitors not in time new parking space is available. Due to the resulting delay in the forwarding of visitors to a parking space and the remaining traffic is affected. As a result, congestion and accidents may occur.

task

The object of the present invention is to find ways in which the problems resulting from a major event can be solved while avoiding an impairment of the overall traffic.

The object is achieved by a switching device according to claim 1. The switching device for a traffic control component, in particular for a traffic light, comprising a control device for outputting a control signal to the traffic control component and a vehicle detection device for detecting a predetermined vehicle at a path position and for providing a corresponding detection signal wherein a comparing means for receiving a target time information with respect to the predetermined vehicle, for receiving the detection signal from the vehicle detection means and for providing a comparison signal in response to the target time information and the detection signal to the control means, and wherein the output of the control signal by the control means is dependent on the comparison signal ,

Likewise, the object is achieved by a method for controlling a traffic control component according to the method claims, in particular a traffic light, by detecting a predetermined vehicle at a path position and providing a corresponding detection signal, and by receiving a target time information with respect to the given vehicle, comparing the target time information with the detection signal, providing a corresponding comparison signal, and controlling the traffic control component in response to the comparison signal.

About the switching device according to the invention, as well as the inventive method can be determined for each situation depending on the traffic and appointment situation, whether there is a risk that the given vehicle arrives too late at a destination. Only if this is the case, the switching device interrupts the normal operation of the traffic control device. As a result, an unnecessary obstruction of the residual traffic, which can lead to congestion or an accident, can be avoided. The target time information is related to the travel time required by the given vehicle to reach the target location from the road position before a predetermined time. The destination is the venue of the major event and the time is the time at which a person in the given vehicle at the major event must be present.

The detection signal may be an actual time signal. The comparator is notified in this case, at which time the vehicle was detected at the path position. The comparison device compares the actual time signal, for example, with a set time for the arrival of the vehicle at the path position.

In this case, the predetermined vehicle can be a VIP vehicle, a press vehicle, a police vehicle, a fire truck, an ambulance vehicle and / or a delivery vehicle. It is also possible here that the switching devices assign different priorities to the vehicle types listed here and switch the traffic control component accordingly.

The setpoint time information can be queried by a time data storage device by the comparison device. Likewise, the setpoint time information can be calculated by the comparator via predetermined path information and via a predefined traffic position information. For a longer route, the travel time from the road position to the destination may vary significantly depending on the current traffic situation. It is therefore advantageous if the switching device takes into account the current traffic situation when controlling a traffic control component. This is possible because the estimated travel time is calculated from the current position to the destination from a currently determined information about the traffic situation.

Advantageously, a traffic control component, in particular a traffic light, a switching device according to the invention, as described in this invention include. The above-mentioned advantages also arise in this case for the traffic control component according to the invention.

Further background information is a parking guidance system comprising a data device for monitoring a first parking area and providing a corresponding information signal and a traffic control device for directing a first traffic participant in response to the information signal to a parking lot of the first parking area, wherein the data device with respect to a provision of a second parking area and that of The data device can be updated information signal outputable according to the provision of the second parking area, wherein the information signal, a second road user by the traffic control device to a parking lot of the second parking area is guided.

This is also true for a method of routing a road user to a parking lot by monitoring a first parking area, providing a first traffic participant in response to the information signal to a parking lot of the first parking area, and detecting a second parking area, updating the information signal according to detecting the second parking area and guiding a second road user in response to the updated information signal to a parking lot of the second parking area.

With the parking guidance system and the procedure, additional parking spaces can be quickly displayed to the drivers looking for parking spaces in the event of a large number of visitors. This can be done before the drivers disturb their overall traffic by driving around in search of a parking space for their vehicle. The second parking area can be detected by a shuttle vehicle, a driving service, a call bus, a traffic area scanning device, a traffic density detection device, a helicopter and / or a satellite monitoring system.

One way to quickly find free parking areas in a strong visitor rush of a major event is a Verkehrsflächenabtastvorrichtung, comprising a sensor device for detecting a location of at least one vehicle on a traffic area and for providing a corresponding sensor signal and an evaluation device, which has information about a parking area as a real part of the traffic area, to determine a Park information based on the sensor signal of the sensor device, wherein the parking information states whether the at least one vehicle is parked on the parking area, and wherein it is determined by the evaluation based on the information about the parking area and the parking information, if the parking area is at least partially free, and a corresponding free signal can be provided.

This is also ensured by a method for finding an empty parking area by detecting a location of at least one vehicle on a given traffic area, providing a corresponding sensor signal, determining parking information indicating whether the at least one vehicle is parked on a parking area based on the sensor signal and a predetermined information about the parking area, and by determining based on the information about the parking area and the parking information, whether the parking area is at least partially free and providing a corresponding release signal.

Also, a traffic density detecting device for detecting a density of moving vehicles on a given traffic area may include a traffic area scanning device. The traffic density detection device is attached to an unmanned or manned flying object. Examples of such flying objects are zeppelins, helicopters, airplanes or airships.

It is advantageous if a method is known, via which at least one predetermined vehicle can be located well in the wider environment of the large event. For this reason, a method for locating a vehicle by disposing a cellular phone in or on the vehicle and locating the cellular phone via a mobile radio location is presented.

This method provides a simple and cost-effective way to locate a vehicle, such as a VIP vehicle, and thus can serve to guide the vehicle in question through the overall traffic so that the overall traffic is affected as little as possible. The mobile phone can be located via GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System).

list of figures

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Schaltvorrichtung; und
• 2 eine Verkehrsdichteerfassungsvorrichtung .

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• 1 a switching device according to the invention; and
• 2 a traffic density detection device.

The following embodiments illustrate embodiments.

In the 1 sketched switching device is used to make sure that a VIP vehicle 1 a given destination 2 reached on time. The destination 2 is for example the venue of a major sporting event, in which a person must participate in the VIP vehicle 1. To the destination 2 to get to the VIP vehicle 1 from a path position 3 from a Restfahrweg 4 travel. This rest route 4 also leads along a highway 5 which are from three cross streets 6 , 7 and 8 is crossed. Three traffic lights 9 , 10 and 11 regulate the traffic at the respective intersections. These traffic lights 9 , Figures 10 and 11 are controlled by a switching device according to the invention.

In this case, the switching device according to the invention comprises a central office 12 , As the VIP and shuttle fleets are generally equipped with mobile telephones and / or navigation systems at major events, the head office can 12 be designed to monitor the fleet via positioning methods, such as GPS or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) positioning. The vehicle sponsor can use the VIP vehicles 1 Equip directly with navigation systems including fleet management option. Alternatively, it is also possible to flexibly connect mobile terminals to GPS-GSM and / or GSM-based including fleet management option with a power supply or to operate the terminals without wiring in battery mode alone.

Through the use of mobile devices, installation costs for additional hardware in the shuttle or VIP vehicle can 1 be minimized. The resale of the VIP and shuttle vehicles after the event can be ensured in this way, regardless of the telematics solution used.

About the head office 12 can the VIP vehicle 1 at the path position 3 be recorded. This is done by the VIP vehicle 1 a GPS GSM terminal is installed. This terminal, which is in 1 is not sketched, sends GPS positions to a control center in a configurable time interval 12 , This information is in a defined SMS protocol in the VIP vehicle 1 packed and then to a database of headquarters 12 transfer. In the VIP vehicle 1 is a Disposition software exists, which over Internet and XML protocol (Extensible Markup Language) with a central office 12 can communicate. This is the movement of the VIP vehicle 1 via the central office 12 be organized. The central office 12 is designed for old disposition tasks without orientation. This allows a dispatcher to access the VIP vehicle from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection 1 and possibly even more vehicles in view.

In the example off 1 are the headquarters 12 and the hardware base technologies of the City FCD method (Floating Cars Data), which in the VIP vehicle 1 and at the headquarters 12 is integrated. The City FCD procedure provides traffic information 18 via specified sections to a control center 12 and / or a traffic monitoring system 15 , It also makes it possible to visualize the traffic situation. In this way, it is possible via the City FCD method, the route of the VIP vehicle 1 to optimize.

Will the VIP vehicle 1 at the path position 3 recorded, so recorded the headquarters 12 as well as the time to which the VIP vehicle 1 at the path position 3 arrives. A corresponding actual time signal 13 is then connected to a time comparator 14 Posted.

The time comparison device 14 is in contact with a traffic monitoring system 15 , This traffic monitoring system 15 receives both from the control center 12 as well as directly from various traffic situation testing vehicles 16 (Floating cars) data 17 about the current traffic situation. The traffic monitoring system 15 created from this data 17 an overall picture of the current traffic situation along the remaining route 4 , A corresponding traffic situation information 18 for example, mean speed or traffic density along the remaining travel path 4 is then sent to the time comparator 14 output.

The time comparison device 14 calculated from the traffic situation information 18 the remaining travel time, which the VIP vehicle 1 expected to be needed along the rest of the road 4 to the destination 2 to get. Furthermore, the time comparison device 14 also a memory device 19, from which is readable, at what time a person within the VIP vehicle 1 at the destination 2 must arrive at the latest. The time comparison device 14 compares the respective times with the actual time signal 13 and then outputs a corresponding comparison signal 20 to a control device 21 the three traffic lights 9 , 10 and 11 off.

Meets the VIP vehicle 1 at the time at the path position 3 one in which a delay of the VIP vehicle 1 at the destination 2 does not need to be feared, so attacks the controller 21 not in the functioning of the three traffic lights 9 , 10 and 11 one. However, there is a risk that the VIP vehicle 1 too late at the destination 2 could arrive, so controls the controller 21 via appropriate control signals 22 , 23 and 24 the three traffic lights 9 , 10 and 11 so that the VIP vehicle 1 at a crossing of the cross streets 6 , 7 or 8 a green phase of the respective traffic lights 9 , 10 or 11 finds. In this way it can be prevented that the VIP vehicle 1 is unnecessarily stopped at one of the cross roads 6,7 or 8.

A similar approach is to set and geo-encode logon points for a dynamic VIP preemption on a digital map. Subsequently, these coordinates are stored in a terminal. The VIP vehicle 1 with the respective terminal then logs with his phone number at the headquarters 12 and sends a message to the control center when a defined logon point is reached 12 , It shares the VIP vehicle 1 the central office 12 automatically the estimated time of arrival depending on the traffic situation. This allows the central office 12 very flexible on a VIP vehicle 1 or a VIP fleet react and switch a traffic-adaptive "green wave". A possible delay plays the decisive role here. Recognizes the central office 12 that the VIP vehicle 1 too late its destination 2 will reach, then the light signal controlled intersections in the direction of travel of the VIP vehicle 1 switched to green and the delay is caught up.

The helicopter 25 out 2 has on its outer front a traffic density detecting device 26 appropriate. About a camera device of the traffic density detection device 26 lets take a picture of the vehicles 27 to 32 in the vicinity of a freeway 33 take up. This image is then evaluated automatically by an evaluation device of the traffic density detection device 26. In this case, information about the expressway 33 and the parking areas located on it is in the evaluation device 34 to 39 included. About this information, the evaluation can recognize that the vehicles 27 and 32 on the parking areas 34 or 37 are parked. The further vehicles 28 to 31, the evaluation device a specific lane of the freeway 33 assign. On this basis, the respective direction of travel can be determined for each of the vehicles 28 to 31. By means of this procedure, the evaluation device can control the traffic density for both directions of the expressway 33 determine.

The evaluation device of the traffic density detection device 26 additionally detects that on the parking areas 35, 36, 38 and 39 none of the vehicles 27 parked until 32. The traffic density detection device 26 then automatically sends a free signal to a parking guidance system according to the invention.

The parking guidance system can respond dynamically to temporary traffic peaks. In addition to the traffic density detection device 26 It also includes shuttle vehicles that bring visitors to the major event on predefined routes. The shuttle vehicles report the free parking space on which they pass their routes. It is also conceivable that travel services or call buses to locate free parking space around the event, sift and reserve accordingly by simple signage for the organizer. For this purpose, for example, a call bus, a position message to the headquarters 12 send and so in the central office 12 report the free parking space. The central office 12 then in turn controls, for example via navigation systems or via collective influence by variable message signs, the visitor's vehicle power to the free parking spaces. As an alternative, but in this case, only a specific vehicle, such as a VIP vehicle 1 , be piloted to one of the still free parking areas 35, 36, 38 or 39.

The particular advantage of such a dynamic parking guidance system is that no additional infrastructure is necessary and the organizer can inform about a correspondingly simple driving service free parking areas and so intercept traffic peaks. As a result, the parking guidance system differs from a conventional, which can not respond to temporary traffic peaks and in such situations has no information about it or can still record at which point is still free parking space outside the defined parking spaces available.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

VIP vehicle

2

destination

3

travel position

4

residual path

5

expressway

6

up to 8 blocks

9

to 11 traffic lights

12

headquarters

13

Istzeitsignal

14

Time comparator

15

Traffic Monitoring System

16

Verkehrslageprüffahrzeuge

17

dates

18

Traffic Information

19

memory device

20

comparison signal

21

control device

22

to 24 control signals

25

helicopter

26

Traffic density detection device

27

up to 32 vehicles

33

expressway

34

to 39 parking spaces

Claims (8)

Switching device (12, 14, 21) for a traffic control component (9 to 11), in particular for a traffic light, comprising - a control device (21) for outputting a control signal (22 to 24) to the traffic control component (9 to 11) and - a vehicle detection device (12) for detecting a predetermined vehicle (1) at a path position (3) and for providing a corresponding detection signal (13), characterized by - a comparison device (14) for receiving a target time information with respect to the predetermined vehicle (1), wherein the target time information is related to a travel time of the vehicle to reach a destination with the vehicle at a predetermined time, for receiving the detection signal (13), which is an actual time signal, from the vehicle detection means (12) and for providing a comparison signal (20) in FIG Dependence of the setpoint time information and the actual time signal on the control device (21), wherein the output of the control rsignals (22 to 24) by the control device (21) depending on the comparison signal (20), and wherein an output for controlling the switching device takes place when in view of the actual time, the target time is not achievable. Switching device (12,14,21) after Claim 1 wherein the predetermined vehicle (1) is a VIP vehicle, a press vehicle, a police vehicle, a fire truck, an ambulance vehicle and / or a delivery vehicle. Switching device (12,14,21) according to one of Claims 1 to 2 in which the setpoint time information can be interrogated by a time data storage device (19) by the comparison device (14). Switching device (12,14,21) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the setpoint time information can be calculated by the comparison device (14) via a predetermined path information and via a predefined traffic position information. Traffic control component (9 to 11), in particular traffic lights, comprising a switching device (12, 14, 21) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4 , Method for controlling a traffic control component (9 to 11), in particular a traffic light, by - detecting a given vehicle at a path position (3) and - providing a corresponding detection signal (13), characterized by - receiving a target time information relating to the given vehicle, wherein the Target time information related to a travel time; the vehicle is in order to reach a destination with the vehicle at a predetermined time, - Comparing the target time information with the detection signal (13), which is an actual time signal, - Providing a corresponding comparison signal (20) and - controlling the traffic control component (9 to 11 ) in response to the comparison signal (20), and control of the traffic control component takes place when the set time is not achievable in view of the actual time, in particular the traffic light is switched to green. Method according to Claim 6 in which a mobile telephone is located via GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). Mobile telephone in or on the vehicle (1,16) characterized by use in a method according to any one of claims 6-7, comprising means for - locating the mobile telephone via mobile telephony location and - transmitting the setpoint time information.

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