GB2445814A

GB2445814A - Data communications network for controlling traffic detection sensors.

Info

Publication number: GB2445814A
Application number: GB0716454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Stuart Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-23
Filing date: 2007-08-23
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Also published as: GB0716454D0

Abstract

A data communication apparatus for controlling traffic detection sensors comprises feeder controllers, nodes, data circuits, transceivers, encoders and decoders. The data circuit allows full duplex or bi-directional communications. Feeder controller and nodes are both connected to the data circuit via a transceiver to which are connected an encoder and decoder. The sensors are capable of detecting vehicles in a roadway, railway, tramway, cycle way, waterway, in a car park or at an airport. Connection between feeders controllers and nodes may also be wireless.

Description

Sensor Communication System This invention relates to a transpotjon

vehicle sensing system for the purpose of detecting the presence of a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to the communication apparatus used to communicate with sensors.

The prior art patent application number GB243 1272 describes the main components of the system.

The present invention mostly describes methods of communication. Examples of embodiment of the invention will now be described.

For the purposes of this invention, a communication station shall mean a feeder controller or a node. The plural communication stations shall mean any combination of feeder controller and/or node.

A data communication arrangement is described in which one or more bi-directional or duplex data circuits to which are connected any, the or each feeder controller and none, one or more than one nodes. A transceiver connects any, the or each feeder controller to the data circuits. A transceiver connects any or each node to the data circuits. Each transceiver is connected to an encoder and decoder.

An alternative data communication arrangement is described in which a transmitter :. consisting in or associated with any or the feeder controller is connected to the or each feeder :..::: transmit data circuits. Any or each node connected to said feeder transmit data circuits is connected through a node receiver. A receiver consisting in or associated with any or the feeder *... controller is connected to the or each feeder receive data circuits. Any or each node connected to said feeder receive data circuits is connected through a node transmitter. Each transmitter is * connected to an encoder and each receiver is connected to decoder.

* :. A wireless data communication system arrangement is described in which the whole or a part of the feeder system includes wireless data communication means. An antenna S 55 5 5 * arrangement, whether externally visible or concealed, is included with one or more feeder controllers and with any, one or more than one nodes. A transmitter, receiver or transceiver is connected to the antenna arrangement. An encoder is connected to each transmitter or transceiver and a decoder is connected to each receiver or transceiver.

An alternative wireless data communication arrangement in which the cable based arrangements described above are combined with the wireless arrangement. Any two communication stations may be connected through the establishment of a cable based arrangement described above, wireless arrangement or a combination consisting of wireless and cable based arrangements. Such combination may be exclusive or inclusive of any other communication arrangement.

The sensor system can also be used in non-road environments such as railways, tramways, car parks, cycle ways, water ways and airports.

Any node has a means to terminate the transmission line circuit, including the use of internal end of line resistors; and/or a means to add or modily internal end of line resistors.

A possible example of data communications will now he described, in particular the demand mode in which the feeder controller requests data from one or more nodes.

The feeder controller polls the nodes connected to the feeder system. To communicate with arbitrary node "alpha", the feeder controller transmits a data request message to said node the feeder controller waits for a reply from node alpha. If node alpha is ready and functioning correctly, then it starts to transmit data to feeder controller.

Conversely, if said node failed to reply to the feeder controller after a given period of time, then the feeder controller will retry the same request one or more times. If said node failed to reply after a given number of retries, then the feeder controller logs a fault relating to said node.

Other types of sensors, other than inductive loop sensors, can also connect into the feeder system by connecting into general purpose or specific purpose ports in the node or feeder controller. The said Various types of sensor can be connected into the feeder system and operated simultaneously For example, a video detection system and/or acoustic sensor and/or other can be connected along with, or without, inductive loop sensors. The control unit and internal connectivity and appropriate signal drivers will be adapted and/or added to manage the :..::: other types of sensors. **,.. S... * .

I

I..... * I *SIS * SI S. *

S

I..... S *

Claims

CLANS

I. A data corn, cation apparatus used for oommunjcajj with or control of SCflsOrS fat detecting vehicles in roadways, railways, bInways, car parks, cycle ways, water ways or ahports which consist ot one or more feeder cortrofleys; and/or zero or more nodes; one or more data circuits in one or more cables which allow b frecijonj coramufiicatjon and/or duplex COfllfl)UfliCSt,00; Iranscej, tO COIII each feeder cutroHer andfar each node o one or more data circnfls; one or more encoders connected to each transceiver for encoding data prior to transm in ing it onto adata circuit one or more decoders connecjeJ to each transce. for decoding data afier receiving it from a data circuit.

2. A data commujijcion appamt as in claim I in which: one or more feeder traflntjt data circuits exist in one or more cables which allow Unidircetj communjc,o front the or each feeder controller to other comflu ion stations; and/or one or more feeder receive data cixtujt exist in one or more cables which allow unidirectional communjcat,,,t0 the or each fèieder controller from other communjcj stations; feeder coflflol 1ransniU encode then transmit Outbound data onto fcedr transmit data circuits, said outbound data being received and decoded by one or more communication Stations; feeder con1yolJ. recejy receive then decode inbound data from feed receive data circuits, said inbound data having becn encoded and transmitted by one or more communjcj stations.

3. A data communlcedon appaius as in cIais I and 2 in which: any or each data cfrjt between any two commj ion stations consmts of one or more wireIes data paths; and one or more antenna a angernc,g as ociated with each communjj0 station is cn*Ji visible andfor concealed.

4. A data Communication apparatus in Claims 1,2 and 3 in which: any or each data circuit between any two comn ivato stations consistS of one or rnor cable data paths andlor one or more wireless data paths.

S. Ada mmunjaion 12,3asd4 to temj the nsj line Which COflS of: one or inure end of line vsisk, and/or a means to add or modify the oreacj end of line resistor 6. A data communjj0 apparatus as in claims 1,2,3,4 and S in which: a feeder coflirojier indicates cornmunjojon with one or more other communjcjon Stations; and/or a node iflitia scommanjjon with one or There oth stations.

7. Adatacommuni ppa inclai,r 1'23,4and5j0 WhiCh oneorer controll and/ar one or more nodes include one or more COnflectiii ports for various types of Sensor.

8. A feeder cQnVojkr and/cr node an in claim 7 in which two or more sensors are cpeiteJ simultaneously through con,lectjon ports. 9.

adaptJ to allow commijnjj with th said various types Of connej sensor.

10. A data appam as in c1ah I and Substantially as hcrci described.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

S

1. A data communication appai used for communication with or control of inductive loop sensors for detecting vehicles in roadways, railways, tramways, car parks cycle ways, water ways or afrporta which consists of: a feeder controller, any number of nodes; one or more data circuits in one or more cables which allow bi-direct,onai communication; and/or duplex communjj0; transcejve to connect each feeder controller and/or each node to one or more data circuits; one or more encoders connecJ to each transceiver for encoding data prior to transmitting it onto a data circuit; and/or one or more decoc connec to each transcej for decoding data after receiving it from a data circuit.

2. A data communication appara1u as in claim I in which: one or more feeder transmit data Circuits exist in one or more cables which allow unidirectional communiion from the or each feeder controller to other communicatinn stations; and/or one or more feeder receive data circuits exist in one or more cables which allow unidirectional comInunjjo to the or each Iheder controller fim other communj stations; feeder controller transmitters encode then transmit outbound data onto feeder transmit data circuits, said outbound data being received and decoded by one or more communion Stations * S. * S * * S. feeder controller ftcejye, receive then decode inbounti data from feeder receive data Circuits, said inbound data having been encoded and transmfttej by one or more communication stations.

::::. 3. A data cOmmunjcon apparatns as in claims I and 2 in which: any or each data circuit between any two communijo stations Consists of one or more wireless data paths; and *SS* S...

* S.** one or more antenna arrangement associated with each communication station is externally visible and/or Concealed 4. A data communication appara as in claims 1,2 and 3 in which: any or each data circuit between any two commu atn stations consists of one or more cable data paths and/or one or more Wireless data paths.

5. A data communjcatien apparatus as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 in which the feeder controjlei or any node has a means to terminate the transmission line which consists of.

one or more end of line resistors; and/or a means to add or modif, the or each end of line resistor.

6. A data commljjlication apparati as in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 in *hich: a feeder contm1 initiates commj0 with one or more other communication stations; and/or a node initiates communication with one or more other communjion stations.

7. A data commjcation apparatus as in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 in which the feeder controller and/or one or more nodes include one or more connection ports lbr Various types of sensor.

8. A feeder controller and/or node as in claim 7 in which two or more sensors aze operated simultaneo5j, through connec ports.

9. A feeder controller and/or node as in claims 7 and 8 in which signal drivers arc added or adapteij to allow communication with the said various types of connecte,J sensor.

10. A data commjcadon apparatus as in claim I and substantially as herein described. * .* ** * * *S * *S* * I. **s. ** *

S *5*

S S * S...

S

S..... * S