Automated highway system (AHS)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle control unit configured to communicate with plurality of highway control units;

an automated highway control system configured to interactively communicate with each of the highway control units through the proximity servers and to generate control data as a function of data received from the highway control units; and

wherein the plurality of highway control units are configured to send the control data to the vehicle control unit that is used by the vehicle control unit to cause an operational change to a vehicle system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to receive control data from each of the highway control units and to adjust one or more operational variable in response to the control data.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to provide response data to the highway control units in response to the control data.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more highway control unit is disposed at an on ramp of a controlled highway.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a lane marker of a controlled highway.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a high occupancy vehicle marker of a controlled highway.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a stop marker of a controlled intersection.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a lane use marker of a controlled intersection.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a cross walk marker of a controlled intersection.

10. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

reading a signal from one of a plurality of highway control units with a vehicle control unit;

interactively communicating with an automated highway control system using the vehicle control unit by communicating through one or more of the highway control units in response to the signal;

wherein the automated highway system is configured to transfer data stored in a database and associated with at least one vehicle to the vehicle control unit; and

wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to receive control data from at least one of the highway control units and to cause an operational change to at least one vehicle system.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving control data from one of the highway control units at the vehicle control unit and adjusting one or more operational variable in response to the control data.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring the control system of eah vehicle to provide response data to the highway control units in response to the control data.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at an on ramp of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at a lane marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at a high occupancy vehicle marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at a stop marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at a marker of a controlled intersection using the vehicle control unit.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from one of the highway control units at a cross walk marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from a plurality of intersection monitoring units at the vehicle control unit.

20. In a system comprising a vehicle control unit configured to communicate with plurality of highway control units, an automated highway control system configured to interactively communicate with each of the highway control units through the proximity servers and to generate control data as a function of data received from the highway control units, wherein the plurality of highway control units are configured to send the control data to the vehicle control unit that is used by the vehicle control unit to cause an operational change to a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to receive control data from each of the highway control units and to adjust one or more operational variable in response to the control data, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to provide response data to the highway control units in response to the control data, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more highway control unit is disposed at an on ramp of a controlled highway, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a lane marker of a controlled highway, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a high occupancy vehicle marker of a controlled highway, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a stop marker of a controlled intersection, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a lane use marker of a controlled intersection, and wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to determine whether one or more of the highway control units are disposed at a cross walk marker of a controlled intersection, a method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

reading a signal from one of the plurality of highway control units with the vehicle control unit;

interactively communicating with the automated highway control system using the vehicle control unit by communicating through one or more of the highway control units in response to the signal;

wherein the automated highway system is configured to transfer data stored in a database and associated with at least one vehicle to the vehicle control unit;

wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to receive the control data from at least one of the highway control units and to cause the operational change to the at least one vehicle system;

receiving control data from one of the highway control units at the vehicle control unit and adjusting one or more operational variable in response to the control data;

configuring the control system of each vehicle to provide response data to the highway control units in response to the control data;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at an on ramp of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at a lane marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at a high occupancy vehicle marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at a stop marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at a marker of a controlled intersection using the vehicle control unit;

receiving data from one of the highway control units at a cross walk marker of a controlled highway using the vehicle control unit; and

receiving data from a plurality of intersection monitoring units at the vehicle control unit.