IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,380,801
Granted Patent B2
US 12,380,801 · App. 18/280,585 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Traffic signal control apparatus, control method of traffic signal machine and program recording medium

Inventor: Kazuki Ogata (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
G08G1/0145G08G1/081
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,380,801
App. No.
18/280,585
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A traffic signal control apparatus comprises a determination part determining whether or not to stop the vehicle based on behavior of the vehicle entering a predetermined intersection; and a selection part selecting a traffic signal machine(s) that performs signal control for stopping the vehicle from among control target traffic signal machines. The selection part selects a traffic signal machine(s) that is located in a traveling direction of the vehicle and that may eliminate traffic jam by the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

Claims (32)

1. A traffic signal control apparatus comprising:

at least a processor; and

a memory in circuit communication with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions stored in the memory to perform processing comprising:

determining whether or not to stop a vehicle based on behavior of the vehicle detected by a sensor or sensors installed at a predetermined location or locations; and

selecting a traffic signal machine that performs signal control for stopping the vehicle from among control target traffic signal machines,

wherein the processor selects a traffic signal machine that is located in a traveling direction of the vehicle and that may eliminate traffic jam by the signal control for stopping the vehicle, and

wherein the processor determines whether or not to stop the vehicle based on past behavior of the vehicle detected by the sensor or sensors.

2. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where a vehicle waiting to turn right stays at an intersection where the traffic signal is installed, the processor selects the traffic signal machine at the intersection as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

3. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in case where there is a vehicle or pedestrian waiting for signal change at a location where the traffic signal is installed, the processor selects the traffic signal machine as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

4. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor selects a traffic signal machine or machines located one or more ahead in the traveling direction of the vehicle as a candidate or candidates of the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

5. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor selects a vehicle that disregards a traffic signal or signals or exceeds a speed limit as a stop target.

6. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor selects a vehicle entering an intersection during signaling of a yellow signal as a stop target.

7. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor stays the signal control for stopping the vehicle in a case where the speed of the vehicle is a predetermined value or more.

8. A control method of a traffic signal machine performed by a computer and comprising:

determining whether or not to stop a vehicle based on behavior of the vehicle entering a predetermined intersection; and

selecting a traffic signal machine or machines that are located in a traveling direction of the vehicle and that may eliminate traffic jam by the signal control for stopping the vehicle as a traffic signal machine or machines that perform signal control for stopping the vehicle from among control target traffic signal machines,

wherein determining whether or not to stop the vehicle comprises determining whether or not to stop the vehicle based on past behavior of the vehicle detected by the sensor or sensors.

9. A non-transitory program recording medium storing a program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute:

determining whether or not to stop a vehicle based on behavior of the vehicle entering a predetermined intersection; and

selecting a traffic signal machine or machines that are located in a traveling direction of the vehicle and that may eliminate traffic jam by the signal control for stopping the vehicle as a traffic signal machine or machines that perform signal control for stopping the vehicle from among control target traffic signal machines,

wherein determining whether or not to stop the vehicle includes determining whether or not to stop the vehicle based on past behavior of the vehicle detected by the sensor or sensors.

10. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein, in a case where a vehicle waiting to turn right stays at an intersection where the traffic signal is installed, further comprising selecting the traffic signal machine at the intersection as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

11. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein, in case where there is a vehicle or pedestrian waiting for signal change at a location where the traffic signal is installed, further comprising selecting the traffic signal machine as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

12. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein selecting a traffic signal machine or machines comprises selecting a traffic signal machine or machines located one or more ahead in the traveling direction of the vehicle as a candidate or candidates of the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

13. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein selecting a traffic signal machine or machines comprises selecting a vehicle that disregards a traffic signal or signals or exceeds a speed limit as a stop target.

14. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein selecting a traffic signal machine or machines comprises selecting a vehicle entering an intersection during signaling of a yellow signal as a stop target.

15. The control method according to claim 8 , wherein the method comprises staying the signal control for stopping the vehicle in a case where the speed of the vehicle is a predetermined value or more.

16. The non-transitory program recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where a vehicle waiting to turn right stays at an intersection where the traffic signal is installed, the program causes a computer to execute selecting the traffic signal machine at the intersection as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

17. The non-transitory program recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein, in case where there is a vehicle or pedestrian waiting for signal change at a location where the traffic signal is installed, the program causes a computer to execute selecting the traffic signal machine as the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

18. The non-transitory program recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein, the program causes a computer to execute selecting a traffic signal machine or machines located one or more ahead in the traveling direction of the vehicle as a candidate or candidates of the traffic signal machine that performs the signal control for stopping the vehicle.

19. The traffic signal control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor determines to not stop the vehicle, in case where the vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: OGATA, KAZUKI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066511/0973 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240144814A1 · May 2, 2024
References Cited (13)
US 10192433B1 · Agarwal · 2019 [cited by examiner]
JP H07230595A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011096143A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012108664A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012133760A · 2012 [cited by examiner]
JP 2018022304A · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP 2019067249A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019148905A · 2019 [cited by examiner]
JP 2020021305A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 7578140B2 · 2024 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2017126379A1 · 2017 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report for PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/009624, mailed on May 25, 2021. [cited by applicant]
JP Office Action for JP Application No. 2023-504991, mailed on Jun. 4, 2024 with English Translation. [cited by applicant]