Systems and methods for vehicle traffic management in a network of moving things

1. A mobile access point (MAP) comprising:

at least one module comprising a microprocessor and memory and being operable to, at least:

provide wireless Local Area Network (LAN) access to personal electronic devices;

provide Internet connectivity to the personal electronic devices via a communication network exclusive of a cellular communication network;

receive data collection control information from a central traffic controller (CTC), wherein the received data collection control information comprises:

first information indicating a manner in which the MAP is to collect traffic-related sensor data from sensors along a travel route of the MAP; and

second information indicating whether the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated to the CTC immediately or is to be communicated to the CTC within a particular amount of time;

as the MAP travels along the travel route, at least:

establish wireless communication links with the sensors along the travel route;

collect the traffic-related sensor data from the sensors via the established communication links; and

communicate the collected traffic-related sensor data to the central traffic controller (CTC) in accordance with the first information of the received data collection control information.

2. The mobile access point of claim 1 , wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated immediately via a cellular network.

3. The mobile access point of claim 1 , wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic related sensor data is to be communicated via a vehicle network.

4. The mobile access point of claim 1 , wherein the data collection control information comprises third information that identifies a fixed geographical location of the sensors and communication network address information for the sensors.

5. The mobile access point of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is operable to:

receive traffic control command information from the CTC, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic gate control system; and

communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic gate control system.

6. The mobile access point of claim 5 , wherein the at least one module is operable to communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic gate control system in a multi-hop wireless communication link comprising at least one other mobile access point.

7. The mobile access point of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is operable to:

receive traffic control command information from the CTC, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic control system; and

communicate the received traffic control command information to the identified local traffic control system in a direct wireless communication link of the wireless LAN between the MAP and the identified local traffic control system.

8. A traffic control system comprising:

at least one module comprising a microprocessor and memory and being operable to, at least:

establish communication links with a mobile access point (MAP) of a vehicle communication network via the Internet and via the vehicle communication network exclusive of a cellular network, wherein the MAP is operable to provide wireless Local Area Network (LAN) service to personal electronic devices;

communicate data collection control information to the MAP, wherein the data collection control information comprises:

first information indicating a manner in which the MAP is to collect traffic-related sensor data from sensors along a travel route of the MAP; and

second information indicating whether collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated to the CTC immediately or is to be communicated to the CTC within a particular amount of time;

receive traffic-related sensor data from the MAP; and

determine whether to command operation of a local traffic control system, based at least in part on the received traffic-related sensor data.

9. The traffic control system of claim 8 , wherein the second information of the communicated data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic-related sensor data is to be communicated immediately via a cellular network.

10. The traffic control system of claim 8 , wherein the second information of the received data collection control information indicates that the collected traffic related sensor data is to be communicated via a vehicle network.

11. The traffic control system of claim 8 , wherein the data collection control information comprises third information that identifies a fixed geographical location of the sensors and communication network address information for the sensors.

12. The traffic control system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is operable to communicate traffic control command information to the MAP, wherein the traffic control command information identifies a local traffic gate control system.

13. The traffic control system of claim 12 , wherein the traffic control command information comprises information identifying a geographical location of the local traffic control system.