WO2012081962A1

WO2012081962A1 - Wide area traffic planning and monitoring system and method of providing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2012081962A1
Application number: PCT/MY2011/000125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hock Woon Hon
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2010-12-13
Filing date: 2011-06-22
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Also published as: MY166967A

Abstract

The present invention provides a traffic management system for monitoring and planning traffic having roads and traffic lights. The system comprises a motion-sensing device adapted to be fused on a surface of a road to detect a passing vehicle, wherein the motion-sensing device comprises four scan-bars oriented apart in parallel at a known distance between each adjacent scan bar, each of the scan-bars comprises photo- sensing elements arranged along the length of the scan-bar in line, each photo-sensing element senses light individually: a timer operationally recording timings as that the passing vehicle passes each scan bar: and a signal processor for receiving signals from the motion-sensing device that are tagged with the timings, wherein the signals are processed with and presented in a histogram illustrating the velocity and acceleration patterns of each passing vehicle. A method of monitoring and planning traffic is also provided.

Description

Wide Area Traffic Planning and Monitoring System and Method of

Providing the Same

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and system that uses timing information to derive high-level user infonnation for traffic monitoring and planning. In particular, the present invention relates to the method utilizes motion-sensing devices that resided and fused on surface of the road for detecting passing vehicles, which can be used to perform autonomous traffic light control.

Background [0002] In the countries with high vehicles populations, heavy emphasis required on the road and traffic planning. Considerations are important when accessing the current structure of the transportation systems, as roads tend to follow the structures established previously. Authorities therefore source for various methods to assist in gathering infonnation needed for up-to-date traffic planning and monitoring.

[0003] Traffic planning and monitoring also includes road traffic control. It is useful to monitor the vehicular traffic around various intersections or junctions, in hopes of improving traffic flow and decreasing the amount of accidents and other road disruptions. Traffic controls often rely on the use of security cameras in order for authorities to monitor and manage the traffic flows, thus offering various suggestions concerning traffic management. [0004] As the usage of roads by vehicles increases, traffic congestions surfaces due to the longer trip times and slower speeds of vehicles. This increases the need to control real-time traffic lights to aid the reduction of traffic congestions. Efficiencies in traffic light controls ensure that traffic runs smoothly and safely as much as possible. Various types of control systems are available in the market in order to accomplish such efficiency.

[0005] A US patent pending application, US2002/008637, is a system and method for controlling traffic and traffic lights. The invention also selectively distributes warning messages to motorists. It utilizes fuzzy logic to determine the optimum traffic light phase-split. The traffic light phase-splits is the time split between the red and green light given during a traffic light cycle. This is based on the current traffic flow patterns or predicted increases in the traffic during rush hours, just to name a few examples. The prior art also includes an intelligent controller that determines appropriate actions based on the congestion parameters and warning information gathered using the fuzzy logic calculations.

[0006] Accordingly, huge amounts of data acquisition and processing are required for wide scale traffic planning and monitoring. Various methods utilized for achieving this aim includes using helicopters to monitor and study wide area traffic from the sky. However, such method is costly and the coverage may not be satisfactory, as the coverage needs to be traded off with the clarity of the view. Similarly, another method utilizes satellite imagery that can cover wide area traffic. Then again, satellite imagery can only give static information and most of the time the road information is limited by the cloud covers issue. Conversely, other methods include the deployment of a large number of cameras in several places, hence requiring a huge amount of processing of the images taken.

Summary

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traffic management system for monitoring and planning traffic having roads and traffic lights. The system comprises a motion-sensing device adapted to be fused on a surface of a road to detect a passing vehicle, wherein the motion-sensing device comprises four scan-bars oriented apart in parallel at a known distance between each adjacent scan bar, each of the scan-bars comprises photo-sensing elements arranged along the length of the scan-bar in line, each photo-sensing element senses light individually; a timer operationally recording timings as that the passing vehicle passes each scan bar; and a signal processor for receiving signals from the motion-sensing device that are tagged with the timings, wherein the signals are processed with and presented in a histogram illustrating the velocity and acceleration patterns of each passing vehicle. [0008] In one embodiment, the motion-sensing device is operable to detect a passing vehicle when the passing vehicle is blocking the photo-sensing elements.

[0009] In another embodiment, the signal processor provides a noise reduction to prevent irregularities to be triggered by the motion-sensing device. It is possible that the noise reduction method requires a minimum length detected by the photo-sensing elements when blocked by the passing object.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the motion-sensing device detects a width of each passing vehicle for classification, the width is detected based on the number of photo-sensing elements in a line are being blocked. The vehicle can be classified as either four-wheel vehicle or two-wheel vehicle based on the width information.

[0011] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the histogram comprises a first time interval, a second time interval and a third time interval that represents time period required for the passing vehicle to drive passed from the first scan-bar to the second scan-bar, from the second scan-bar to the third scan-bar and from the third scan-bar to the forth scan bar respectively based on the timing differences tagged. When the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are constant, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at constant speed without acceleration, when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in increasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an increasing speed thereby accelerating, and when the invert the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in decreasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an decreasing speed thereby decelerating.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the signal processor is operable to provide feedback to control the relevant traffic light based on the time tagged signals received from the motion-sensing device.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing and planning traffic having roads and traffic lights. The method comprises providing a motion-sensing device adapted to be fused on a surface of a road to detect a passing vehicle, wherein the motion-sensing device comprises four scan-bars oriented apart in parallel at a known distance between each adjacent scan bar, each of the scan- bars comprises photo-sensing elements arranged along the length of the scan-bar in line, each photo-sensing element senses light individually: capturing a first timing as the passing vehicle passes the first scan-bar; capturing a second timing as the passing vehicle passes the second scan-bar; capturing a third timing as the passing vehicle passes the third scan-bar; capturing a forth timing as the passing vehicle passes the fourth scan-bar; deriving a first time interval, a second time interval and a third time interval through differences of the first and second timing, the second and the third timing and the third and forth timing respectively; deriving a speed and an acceleration of the passing vehicle. [0014] In another embodiment, the motion-sensing device is operable to detect a passing vehicle when the passing vehicle is blocking the photo-sensing elements.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a width of each passing vehicle for classification, wherein the width is detected based on the number of photo-sensing elements in a line are being blocked. It may further generate a histogram for illustrating a velocity and acceleration patterns of each passing vehicle based on the inverts of the first time interval, the second time interval and the third time interval. When the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are constant, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at constant speed without acceleration, when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in increasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an increasing speed thereby accelerating, and when the invert the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in decreasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an decreasing speed thereby decelerating.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates the overall architecture of a data feeder system as one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 A illustrates a motion-sensing device that is connected to a microcontroller as one embodiment of the present invention:

[0019] FIG. 2B illustrates the motion-sensing device that is connected to a line-scan sensor via optical fibers to the microcontroller;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of the information derivation process;

[0021] FIG. 4A illustrates a pulse detected from the motion-sensing device;

[0022] FIG. 4B illustrates the pulse detection plotted onto a histogram:

[0023] FIG. 4C illustrates the histogram as shown in FIG. 4B in greater detail:

[0024] FIG. 4D represents a noise reduction method;

[0025] FIG. 5A illustrates an example of the motion-sensing device placed on a road; and [0026] FIG. 5B illustrates another example of the motion-sensing device placed on the road.

Detailed Description

[0027] The following descriptions of a number of specific and alternative embodiments are provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described in length so as to not obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to same or similar features common to the figures.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall architecture of a traffic management system

100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The traffic management system 100 comprises a plurality of motion-sensing devices 101, a timer 102 and a processor 103. The traffic management system 100 is further connected to respective traffic light controllers 105 and a high level timing processor 106. The traffic management system 100 connects to the traffic light controllers 105 to control a respective traffic light 104. The high-level timing processor 106 is also provided to receive information processed by the processor 103 and generates high-level timing information for traffic monitoring and planning. The high-level timing information is presented in a histogram form to indicate mainly speed and acceleration information of each vehicle passing though the respective motion-sensing device 101. [0029] The traffic management system 100 utilizes the plurality of motion- sensing devices 101 to detect vehicles passing through. Each of the detected vehicles is also tagged with time information via the timer 102. The time tagged information is sent to the processor 106 for further processing to obtain the traffic information. The traffic information allows traffic light controllers 105 to be carried out efficiently and also provides the high-level timing information used for traffic monitoring and planning. The traffic management system 100 derives the high-level timing information via low-level timing information.

[0030] The motion-sensing devices 101 can be any type of sensing devices such as light sensitive, pressure sensor, proximity sensor. It is desired that the motion sensing devices 101 are installed at the road on-site for the necessary detection. Examples of the suitable motion-sensing devices 101 of various embodiments will be explained in further details, in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The example given in the present invention as the motion-sensing device 101 utilizes photosensitive sensors to detect vehicles.

[0031] The motion-sensing devices 101 are typically fused on the surface of the roads to be monitored. For example, when the motion-sensing devices 101 are installed around the road junctions or intersections, it can be used in conjunction with the traffic light controllers 105 to carryout traffic controls through the traffic lights automatically. In another example, the motion-sensing device 101 may also be installed on the expressway to determine the traffic flow conditions. As a vehicle passes through the motion-sensing devices 101. the timer 102 gathers and collects time information to derive the traffic information. [0032] To facilitate the traffic planning and monitoring, the traffic information may include velocity of the vehicle, acceleration of the vehicle, road utility rate based on the volume of the vehicle, average interval between vehicles (i.e. frequency of vehicles passing the respective motion-sensing device 101), vehicle classification (or road user profile, such as the population of a 4-wheel vehicle or a 2-wheel vehicle), peak and off-peak hour traffic, driving safety range compliance and efficiency of the current traffic light system.

[0033] Still referring to FIG. 1, after the traffic information is obtained, the traffic information is utilized to control the traffic light 104 through the respective traffic light controller 105. Typically, the traffic light controller 105 may be integrated in the respective traffic light 104 for controlling the individual traffic light 104. It is also possible that the traffic light controller 105 may be controlling a group of traffic lights 104. The traffic light controller 105 may further connected to a centralizing controller (not shown) for controlling the traffic lights 104 in a large area. It is understood that the traffic light controller system is well know in the art and the traffic management system 100 is adapted to communicate with the traffic light 104 or traffic light system to provide the necessary controls without departing the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, based on the traffic information obtained, the traffic management system 100 is able to provide the necessary information to control the signals of the traffic light 104 in a real-time basis. The art of controlling or adjusting the traffic lights 104 in a real-time basis is dependent on the traffic conditions, various safety regulations and requirements, and it may further require regular reviews and changes to suit the traffic situation in the specific location. The traffic management system 100 is a system facilitating such traffic planning and management and it is largely user specific, and therefore the traffic planning and management is not further discussed further herein.

[0034] In another aspect, the traffic information may also be used in safety research etc. The traffic information not only allows fine-tuning of the waiting time at the intersections or junctions of the traffic lights 104, but also assist in smoothening the traffic especially during peak hours or areas that tends to be highly congested. The traffic information collected through the motion-sensing devices 101 and processed through the processor 103 may be channelled into one remote centralized system for the necessary planning. [0035] FIG. 2A illustrates a motion-sensing device 101 that is connected to a microcontroller 201 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The motion-sensing device 101 comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements 202, lining up to form an elongated photosensitive bar 203. an electronic circuitry 204 and a microcontroller 201. The motion-sensing device 101 is connected to the electronic circuitry 204 for signal conversion. The signals obtained from the electronic circuitry 204 are then processed by the microcontroller 201.

[0036] Preferably, each motion-sensing device 101 comprises four photosensitive bar 203 aligned in parallel and attached at both ends to a frame 205. The four photosensitive bars 203 are apart with a prescribed distance 206. Each of the photosensitive elements 202 functions individually, and it is set normally on when the photosensitive elements 202 are receiving light, and it is triggered off when an object (i.e. vehicle) passes by and blocks the light. As each of the photosensitive elements 202 detects light individually, it is possible to determine or estimate the width of the passing object by detecting the number of photosensitive elements 202 in a bar that are turned off. Accordingly, the motion-sensing device 101, not only can detect a passing object, but also determines at least a width of the object.

[0037] Still referring to FIG. 2A, the electronic circuitry 204 comprises generally an amplifier, a voltage converter and an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) for signal conversion arranged in a known manner to convert the light to electrical signals. The signal information generated is transmitted and processed in the microcontroller 201. The four photosensitive bars 203 are oriented perpendicularly relative to the direction of the road of which it is fused. In normal circumstances, a moving object would pass through the photosensitive bar 203 one after another. Hence, with the factor of time information and distance between each photosensitive bar 203, the speed and the acceleration of the passing object can be determined.

[0038] FIG. 2B illustrates a motion-sensing device 101 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The motion-sensing device 101 having a scan station that comprises four scan-bars 207 that are arranged in parallel similar to that of the FIG. 2A. Each of the scan-bars 207 has a bundle of fiber-optic cables 210 with a cutout surface 208 of one end upwardly arranged in-line along the length of the scan-bar 207. The bundles of fiber-optic cables 210 are connected to a line scan sensor 209 that is further connected to the microcontroller 201. The line-scan sensor 209 is mainly used for sensing light levels of the fiber-optic lining along the length of the scan-bar 207. The bundles of fiber-optic cables 210 provide flexibility for the light sensing capability of the line-scan sensor 209 to the motion-sensing device 101. The line-scan sensor 209 uses the light level information and converts the infonnation into digital intensity values. The digital intensity values are then used as an input to the microcontroller 201 for motion detection.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method for an infonnation derivation process 300 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The microcontroller 201 begins the information derivation process 300 at stage 301 to detect passing vehicles. When a vehicle passes through the motion-sensing device 101, a 1^st detector station or scan-bar 207 will first sense it at stage 303. This will initiate the microcontroller 201 to store a starting time at stage 302, thus a 1^st tuning, tj, is obtained. When the vehicle passes through a 2^nd detector station or scan-bar 207 at stage 304, a 2^nd timing, fc, is obtained. When the vehicle passes through a 3"¹ detector station or scan-bar 207 at stage 305, a 3^rd timing, t], is obtained. When the vehicle passes through a 4* detector station or scan-bar 207 at stage 306, the 4^th timing, fc, is obtained. [0040] When ti and /_· are obtained from stage 303 and stage 304. the difference of the two timings can be calculated to obtain the 1^st time interval at stage 307. Likewise, when t_: and t_} are obtained at stage 304 and stage 305. the difference of the two timings can be calculated to obtain the 2^nd time interval at stage 308. The difference of two timings obtained from stage 305 and stage 306. t} and is calculated to provide the 3^rd time interval at stage 309. As mentioned above, the distance between each scan-bar 207 is known; hence it is possible to determine the velocity of the vehicle at each time interval via the time interval information gathered at stage 307. stage 308 and stage 309. To calculate the velocity, the known distance is divided over the time interval obtained. At stage 310, the 1^st velocity (Vi) can be obtained by calculating the distance over the difference of the 1^st time interval and the 2^nd time interval. At stage 311, the 2^nd velocity (V2) can be obtained by calculating the distance over the difference of the 2^nd time interval and the 3^rd time interval.

[0041] With the first and second velocity information, acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle passing through the motion-sensing device 101 can also be determined. If Vi and V₂ are different, the difference of the two velocities over the difference in times obtained can be calculated to provide the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. This is shown at stage 312.

[0042] After the vehicle passes through four detector stations (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and

4^th), an increment counter is triggered at the microcontroller 201 at stage 313. As the vehicle crosses the end of the motion-sensing device 101, a current vehicle count at stage 314 is taken and its current time is tagged at stage 315. The current vehicle count is incremented by 1 at stage 316 to provide the utility rate of a particular road where the motion-sensing device 101 is situated. At stage 314, the current vehicle count information is also available for future reference.

[0043] As each vehicle is time tagged at stage 315, the time difference between two consecutive vehicles can be calculated at stage 317 to give the average time interval at stage 318. V-nme current - 1 is the time taken from the previous vehicle that passes the motion-sensing device 101. V_Tim(. _cunent is the time taken from the current vehicle right after the previous vehicle's time is taken. The average time interval taken at stage 318 allows one to keep track of the average time between two consecutive vehicles and it is stored in the microcontroller 201 for future reference.

[0044] Additionally, as the vehicle is time tagged and recorded, this information can also provide reference of the road usage during peak and off-peak hour traffic. The peak and off-peak hour traffic can be determined at stage 319 based on the current vehicle count information at stage 314 and the current time tagged of the vehicle at stage 315.

[0045] Still referring to FIG. 3. as the motion-sensing device 101 is placed on the road, the microcontroller 201 is able to determine if the vehicle passing the motion-sensing device 101 is a 4-wheel or 2-wheel vehicle through determining or estimating the width of the vehicles. Further, the type of vehicle can be differentiated as the vehicle passes through the various detection stations first and therefore the motion-sensing device 101 is able to detect the length of the vehicle at stage 320 and the width of the vehicle at stage 321. Preferably, the velocity of the vehicle Vi and V2 has to be constant to acknowledge that the vehicle did not accelerate or decelerate as it passes through the motion-sensing device 101. This ensures that the vehicle will not be classified as a longer-length vehicle even if it has been calculated as a decelerating vehicle or vice versa. But in an alternative embodiment, a more comprehensive algorithm can be adapted to determine or estimate the length of the passing vehicle based on the time passes each scan-bar. the velocities, and the accelerations. After which, as the distance between each detector station is known, the microcontroller 201 is able to determine an average of the length of the vehicle at the stage 320 by calculating the total time taken for the vehicle to pass through or by determining a pulse-width 322 of the detector at stage 323. The method of the pulse- width 322 of the detector will be explained in further details in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. The width of the vehicle at stage 324 can be determined by calculating the number of photosensitive elements 202 that is covered or shaded by the vehicle passing though the motion-sensing device 101. The information gathered from the stage 320 and stage 321 can be differentiated and classified in the microcontroller 201 at the stage 325, also known as the vehicle classifier. The vehicle classifier at the stage 325 can be stored for future reference in the microcontroller 201.

[0046] With the current vehicle count at stage 314 and vehicle being time tagged at stage 315, the time information gathered helps to achieve higher level of information such as the safe driving distance compliance collected at stage 326. The information can also be kept for future reference.

[0047] As the utility rate and the peak and off-peak hour traffic is determined at stage 316 and stage 319 accordingly. With time information tagged along the information determined at stage 316 and 319, it provides the rate of congestion and traffic flow of the vehicles passing through the particular intersection or junction. This therefore detennines the efficiency of the traffic light 104 at that particular intersection or junction where the motion-sensing device 101 is placed.

[0048] Based on all the traffic information that can be gathered and stored in the microcontroller 201 in FIG. 3, these information can be used for traffic monitoring and planning purposes. The traffic information is also represented in a high-level timing information as all the information gathered or derived in the method shown in the information derivation process originates from the various times (tj. t2, ts and taken as the vehicle passes through the detector station from the motion-sensing device 101. The same traffic information will be collected in the database and provides the vital planning information for traffic panning and management. [0049] The traffic information is also used to control the traffic lights 104 on a real-time basis and is able to detect vehicles exceeding a speed limit stipulated in the particular intersection or junction. An example, an intersection or junction has a speed limit of 80km/h. A vehicle exceeding this speed limit is considered a traffic violation, or red light. As the distance between the photosensitive bars 203 is known, the time detected from the motion-sensing device 101 triggers an alert in the microcontroller 201 once the time detected is less than the allowed time within the speed limit. Calculation of the allowed time based on the example of the 80km/h speed limit is. Allowed time = (Distance between the photosensitive bars 203)/(Speed limit = 80). [0050] FIG. 4A illustrates the pulse 322 detected from the motion-sensing devices 101. The pulse 322 detection aids in representing the velocity and acceleration information attained from FIG. 3 in a graphical form. The time information obtained from FIG. 3 can be used to plot a histogram in the graph. When the vehicle passes through each of the detector station, the motion-sensing device 101 receives a signal when there is a shaded area 401 on the photosensitive bar 203. Each shaded area 401 produces the pulse 322 that represents the time taken to a point 402 shown on the graph. The pulse is only generated when the photosensitive bar 203 is blocked or shaded as the motion-sensing device 101 detects a change in the light level intensity. The pulse 322 detected will be subjected to the plurality of photosensitive bar 203 attached in the motion-sensing device 101. As an example solely for describing the present invention, only four photosensitive bars 203 are utilized, hence only four pulses 322 will be detected and plotted. [0051] FIG. 4B illustrates the pulses 322 detected and values of the various timing detected from the pulse 322 plotted onto a histogram. Three different examples are illustrated to provide three possible scenarios that may occur. The pulse 322 is shown on a pulse detection graph 403 with four different timings taken. t;. t} and t4. The pulse 322 is alike the shape of a square-wave. The 1^st time interval is computed by taking the difference of f/ and as shown by an arrow 404, the 2^nd time interval is computed by taking the difference of /_? and as shown by an arrow 405 and lastly, the 3^rd time interval is computed by taking the difference of tj and /.* as shown by an arrow 406. The corresponding reciprocal of the time intervals calculated as shown by arrow 404, arrow 405 and arrow 406 are calculated at stage 407. The corresponding reciprocals of the time intervals are then plotted on a histogram for at stage 408. Similarly, the difference between the 1^st time interval and 2^nd time interval is first computed as shown by an arrow 409, and the difference between the 2^nd time interval and 3^rd time interval is computed as shown by an arrow 410. The corresponding reciprocal of the difference in time intervals calculated as shown by the arrow 409 and arrow 410 are calculated at stage 407 and plotted on the histogram at stage 411. The plotted histogram for stage 408 and stage 411 will be described in greater details in FIG. 4C. [0052] FIG. 4C illustrates the histograms as shown in FIG. 4B in greater detail. A graph A 412 denotes a graph with a vehicle traveling across the motion- sensing device 101 with constant time intervals. At stage 408, the histogram plots the reciprocals of the 1^st time interval, the 2^nd time interval and the 3^rd time interval as shown by the three bar graphs (arrow 404, arrow 405 and arrow 406 as shown in FIG. 4B). At stage 411, the histogram plots the reciprocals of the difference between the l" and 2^nd time interval, and the difference between the 2^nd and 3^rd time interval as shown by the two bar graphs (arrow 409 and arrow 410 as shown in FIG. 4B). Similarly, a graph B 413 denotes a vehicle traveling across the motion-sensing device 101 with decreasing time intervals. The reciprocals of the following decreasing time intervals are then calculated and shown as increasing in the corresponding stage 408 and stage 411. A graph C 414 denotes a vehicle traveling across the motion-sensing device 101 with increasing time intervals. Accordingly, the corresponding reciprocals of the increasing time intervals will be calculated and shown as decreasing during the stage 408 and stage 411.

[0053] Still referring to FIG. 4C. the plotted histogram is purely based on the time infonnation attained from each of the photosensitive bar 203. The velocities and accelerations are not deduced from the histogram, as it is determined in the microcontroller 201 as mentioned in FIG. 3. The distance between each of the photosensitive bar 203 may vary among different users of the traffic management system 100 (i.e., the distance is only known to the specific users). Graph A 412, graph B 415 and graph C 418 are three such examples of three possible scenarios that the motion-sensing device 101 can detect from the varying speeds of a vehicle and of the information that can be obtained from the traffic management system 100. [0054] FIG. 4D represents a noise reduction method 415. The noise reduction method 415 eliminates the possibility of the traffic management system 100 attaining time infonnation of other objects (non other than a vehicle) passing through the motion-sensing device 101. Accordingly, the infonnation stored in the database of the traffic management system 100 will not include irregularities of time infonnation attained from other objects.

[0055] Still referring to FIG. 4D. the pulse 322 detected from the first shaded area 401 will be shown on the pulse detection graph 403. The pulse 322 detected must fulfill a minimum length 417 in order for the time infonnation to be sent to the microcontroller 201 and stored in the database. A shaded area alike area 416 will only cover a few (or none) of the photosensitive elements 202 does not fulfill the minimum length 417 and therefore the time detected will not be stored in the database. Accordingly, only shaded areas alike shaded area 401 will be detected by the motion-sensing device 101 and therefore trigger the pulse 322 in the pulse detection graph 403.

[0056] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrates examples of the motion-sensing device 101 placed on two T-junctions respectively. The traffic lights 104 systems are simated along the corners of the junctions and the motion-sensing device 101 is placed at different intersections on the roads. FIG. 5A shows an example of the motion-sensing device 101 with the photosensitive bars 203 oriented in equal distance from the adjacent bar. Each motion-sensing device is installed on the road surface leading the respective traffic light 104. As shown in FIG. 5A. a car A is travelling on the main road of the T-junction and approaching the junction with the joining road on its right. Two other cars B, C are also heading towards the T- junction but have not driven past the respective motion-sensing device 101. Accordingly, the traffic lights 104 corresponding to car C and B may red to allow the car A to turn into the joining road. When either car B or C is driving past the motion-sensing device 101, and the respective motion-sensing device determines the car is approaching the junction soon. Depending on the situation on the other side of the T-junction, the traffic management system 100 may turn the corresponding traffic light to green allowing the approaching car proceed further. In this case, the traffic management system 100 can efficiently control the traffic lights 104 through prioritizing the traffic flow.

[0057] FIG. 5B shows another example of the motion-sensing device 101 with the photosensitive bars 203 placed further apart from the adjacent bar as compared to the motion-sensing device 101 in FIG. 5A. The two motion-sensing device 101 are installed on each side of the main road. When cars A, B are detected by the motion-sensing device 101 to be approaching the T-junction while car C f om the opposing direction has not been detected by the corresponding motion-sensing device 101, the traffic management system 100 may turn give green light allowing the cars A, B to turn into the joining road on the right, when give a red light to stop the car C. [0058] As illustrated in the above examples, the traffic management system

100 can flexibly control the traffic light 104 to smoothen the traffic, rather than relying on the conventional time-interval based traffic light 104. [0059] The above description illustrates various embodiments of the present invention along with examples of how aspects of the present invention may be implemented. While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated it is understood that many charges, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above examples, embodiments, instructions semantics, and drawings should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by the following claims:

Claims

1. A traffic management system for monitoring and planning traffic having roads and traffic lights, the system comprising: a motion-sensing device adapted to be fused on a surface of a road to detect a passing vehicle, wherein the motion-sensing device comprises four scan-bars oriented apart in parallel at a known distance between each adjacent scan bar. each of the scan- bars comprises photo-sensing elements arranged along the length of the scan-bar in line, each photo-sensing element senses light individually; a timer operationally recording timings as that the passing vehicle passes each scan bar; and a signal processor for receiving signals from the motion-sensing device that are tagged with the timings, wherein the signals are processed with and presented in a histogram illustrating the velocity and acceleration patterns of each passing vehicle.

2. The traffic management system according to claim 1, whereby the motion- sensing device is operable to detect a passing vehicle when the passing vehicle is blocking the photo-sensing elements.

3. The traffic management system according to claim 1, whereby the signal processor provides a noise reduction to prevent irregularities to be triggered by the motion-sensing device.

4. The traffic management system according to claim 3, wherein the noise reduction method requires a minimum length detected by the photo-sensing elements when blocked by the passing object.

5. The traffic management system according to claim 1. wherein the inotion- sensing device detects a width of each passing vehicle for classification, the width is detected based on the number of photo-sensing elements in a line are being blocked.

6. The traffic management system according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle can be classified as either four-wheel vehicle or two-wheel vehicle based on the width information.

7. The traffic management system according to claim 1. wherein the histogram comprises a first time interval, a second time interval and a third time interval that represents time period required for the passing vehicle to drive passed from the first scan-bar to the second scan-bar, from the second scan-bar to the third scan-bar and from the third scan-bar to the forth scan bar respectively based on the timing differences tagged.

8. The traffic management system according to claim 7, wherein when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are constant, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at constant speed without acceleration, when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in increasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an increasing speed thereby accelerating, and when the invert the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in decreasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an decreasing speed thereby decelerating.

9. The traffic management system according to claim 1. wherein the signal processor is operable to provide feedback to control the relevant traffic Ught based on the time tagged signals received from the motion-sensing device.

10. A method of managing and planning traffic having roads and traffic lights, the method comprising: providing a motion-sensing device adapted to be fused on a surface of a road to detect a passing vehicle, wherein the motion-sensing device comprises four scan-bars oriented apart in parallel at a known distance between each adjacent scan bar. each of the scan-bars comprises photo-sensing elements arranged along the length of the scan- bar in line, each photo-sensing element senses light individually; capturing a first timing as the passing vehicle passes the first scan-bar: capturing a second timing as the passing vehicle passes the second scan-bar; capturing a third timing as the passing vehicle passes the third scan-bar; capturing a forth timing as the passing vehicle passes the fourth scan-bar; deriving a first time interval, a second time interval and a third time interval through differences of the first and second timing, the second and the third timing and the third and forth timing respectively; deriving a speed and an acceleration of the passing vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the motion-sensing device is operable to detect a passing vehicle when the passing vehicle is blocking the photo- sensing elements.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising detecting a width of each passing vehicle for classification, wherein the width is detected based on the number of photo-sensing elements in a line are being blocked.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising generating a histogram for illustrating a velocity and acceleration patterns of each passing vehicle based on the inverts of the first time interval, the second time interval and the third time interval.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are constant, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at constant speed without acceleration, when the invert of the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in increasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an increasing speed thereby accelerating, and when the invert the first time interval, and second time interval and the third time interval are in decreasing manner, it represents that the passing vehicle is moving at an decreasing speed thereby decelerating.