DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See sections 10 & rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL BASED ON CROWDSOURCED DATA

2. APPLICANT (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
DIVYASAMPARK IHUB ROORKEE FOR DEVICES MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION IN Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India.
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present invention relates to the field of real-time traffic control system based on crowd data (or urban pervasive data). The present invention, in particular, relates to an adaptive traffic control system and method without using physical sensors and uses an embedded web server-based communication to eliminate the need for complex wired connections.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART:
[002] Working on traffic congestion issues in urban areas needs database predictive or real-time traffic information. This information might have originated from a variety of sources. Traditional approaches for acquiring knowledge include using sensors such as pneumatic tubes, automated traffic counter/ classifiers (ATCC), and so on. These tubes, however, not only have a limited lifespan but also lack the capacity to detect parallel vehicle movement across numerous lanes. Another form of the sensor is the induction loop, which requires installation by embedding tubes in the pavement. Moreover, it also has problems such as high installation, operating costs and limited accuracy in back-to-back traffic (slow-moving traffic).
[003] Video/ image processing used for optical number plate recognition (ONPR) can also be used; however, its low accuracy hampers it due to non-standardized number plates, mixed traffic conditions and visibility issues in foggy conditions.
[004] Many traffic light systems currently use sensor node networks, such as a WSN, to detect traffic density. Although it is widespread, deploying a WSN requires significant financial investment as well as significant maintenance costs.
[005] The traffic controllers based on these sensors are wired and have complex and perplexing wire connections for the traffic lights of an intersection. Additionally, laying the cables on all approaches to an intersection is quite expensive and cumbersome and has risks of cable failure due to road construction works being very significant.
[006] When a new technology is introduced, the complete assembly is often changed rather than reusing existing infrastructure. This results in unwelcome waste of money, time, and human resources. Typically, traffic controllers installed at each junction in metro cities often have a point-to-point RS485 serial wired communication interface and wired connection, which has many practical challenges in installation and maintenance.
[007] Some products have wireless traffic control system based on Zigbee or RF transmission, but each have its own shortcoming, like the latency issue as well as the line of sight, service range, low transmission, and low network stability. Additionally, systems based on Zigbee are not as secure as Wi-Fi-based systems.
[008] Another important component of the proposed invention is crowdsourced data. The crowdsourced data is based on so-called ‘Floating Car Data’ modern smart cars and smartphones are used to collect the data. Because of the pervasiveness of mobile devices, each of these devices can act as a mobile sensor, providing real-time information on travel time, speed, location, and traffic conditions. Navigation companies such as Google, Here, and TomTom extensively use crowdsourced data to provide real-time traffic information to their customers.
[009] Reference may be made to the following:
[010] IN Publication No. 201811032078 demonstrated the use of crowdsourced data to determine the traffic phases, which eliminates the need for physical sensing, thus making only a component of the traffic control system wireless. It is not a fully wireless traffic control system at the intersection level, i.e., the invention considers wireless communication between different intersections using GSM/ WiFi/ Ethernet. The lamps for each approach are having wired connection to the controller. The invention does not discuss any wireless-based communication protocols. The invention does not discuss the master-slave controller topology for an intersection to make it fully wireless.
[011] Publication No. CN101079772 relates to the ZigBee wireless intelligent traffic control system, which is characterised (composed of a control centre, a traffic light controller, a flow monitor, a traffic information display board, a short-distance wireless remote control, and a router). The router is composed of a single-chip microcomputer and a ZigBee wireless communication. The invention has a wired connection between traffic lamps and the controller. The ZigBee wireless communication has many shortcomings, like latency issues, service range, low transmission, and low network stability. Additionally, systems based on Zigbee are not as secure as Wi-Fi-based systems.
[012] Publication No. CN207676489 proposes a kind of intelligent traffic control system to solve the problems, such as that the existing traffic control system cannot rationally control the transit time of traffic lights according to the information of vehicle flow rate in each section. It does not use any crowd sourced data for traffic detection; moreover, it uses image processing modules for detection vehicles. The invention doesn’t have a wireless system for traffic control.
[013] Publication No. CN205566365 discloses various types of sensors like laser scanning image recognition appearance to scan the traffic and does not uses crowdsourced data to detect the traffic, and does not discuss the wireless setup at intersections.
[014] Publication No. CN106856052 discloses a kind of traffic surveillance and control system based on wireless technology, including the main control module, acquisition module, delivery module, power module and background monitoring centre. The innovation uses image capture sensors which analyse the traffic, while it does not use crowdsourced data to analyse the traffic. The cameras have their own limitation, like low light issues and line of sight issues. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[015] Publication No. CN106856055 discloses a kind of traffic surveillance and control system based on wireless technology, including the main control module, acquisition module, delivery module, power module and background monitoring centre. The invention uses an image collector to collect traffic data, and it does not rely on crowdsourced data to detect traffic; moreover, it uses ZigBee for wireless communications with the command centre. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[016] Publication No. CN105206047 provides a kind of intelligent traffic system based on a tree-form wireless communication network. The intelligent traffic system comprises a traffic wireless monitoring node module, a traffic wireless monitoring centre, the tree-form high-speed wireless communication network, a vehicle-mounted positioning module, a vehicle identification code, a traffic condition query module, a traffic flow calculation module, a data geography module, a map engine module, a flow forecasting module and a traffic light control module. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data for traffic detection moreover relies on different kinds of sensors. It uses wireless communication to connect with the traffic monitoring centre. The uses of various modules create a complex installation; moreover, it increases the cost of the installation. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[017] Publication No. CN211827568 discloses a kind of intelligent traffic control system that belongs to the technical field of control systems. The device comprises a microprocessor, a radio frequency module, a data processing module, a wireless transreceiving module, a network transmission module and a power supply. The performance of an RF module will depend on several factors like by increasing the transmitter’s power, a large communication distance will be gathered. However, which will result in a high electrical power drain on the transmitter device, which causes a shorter operating life of the battery-powered devices. Also, using this device at higher transmitted power will create interference with other RF devices. The innovation uses rF transreceiver for the wireless connection and uses a camera and traffic flow sensor as physical sensors for traffic detection. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data for traffic detection.
[018] Publication No. CN111508246 discloses a kind of traffic signal data transmission method and a traffic signal control system, belonging to the technical field of traffic signal control, the technical scheme is characterized in that the traffic signal data transmission method comprises a traffic signal device, a traffic flow monitoring module, a wireless communication unit, a traffic flow proportion presetting module and a base station center, wherein the output end of the traffic flow monitoring module is connected with the input end of the wireless communication unit, through the arrangement of a traffic flow analysis system, the traffic flow proportion presetting module and a signal lamp intelligent regulation system, when the system runs, the transverse and longitudinal traffic flow proportion of a crossroad can be well calculated in real time, when the traffic flow proportion is approximately equal, traffic signals can be switched according to a preset mode, when the transverse and longitudinal traffic flow proportion is greatly different, the system can adjust the switching time of transverse and longitudinal traffic lights in real time, thereby the switching of the traffic signal device can be well allocated according to the traffic condition in real time, the real-time performance and the robustness of traffic allocation are improved. The innovation capture image using cameras and send data to the central centre. The innovation is not fully wireless. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[019] Publication No. CN109841069 provides a kind of system that networking type vehicle flowrate is reminded, including the remote control centre, connecting the wireless data transmission module at the remote control centre, cell controller, connect the wireless data receipt modules of the cell controller and the street lamp with roadway sign display function, the remote control centre is traffic control centre server, each cell controller is arranged in each intersection, every cell controller is connected with the street lamp on each road for docking the intersection, the street lamp includes lamp stand and lamp cap, the lampstand is a hollow structure, penetrating elongate holes are arranged in two lateral edge pole lengths directions of the lampstand, one colour-changing lamp belt of installation at the elongate holes corresponds in the lampstand, the cell controller controls the opening and closing and discolouration of the colour-changing lamp belt. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[020] Publication No. CN109905420 relates to a kind of intelligent traffic signal control system and method based on NB-IOT network, wherein the system includes encrypting module, MCU controller and NB-IOT communication module. The innovation uses NB-IoT-based communication protocol (the bandwidth is quite low), which has some disadvantages; the technology has a low bandwidth and slow data rate system. Hence, it is best suited for only stationary devices. It offers about 250Kbps download and 20k upload capabilities compared to an embedded web server. This innovation is not discussing anything about a traffic signal control system.
[021] Publication No. CN109903568 disclose a kind of data traffic signal transmission method and traffic signal control system; in the method, the Network status of the optical fibre telecommunications line is obtained by the network arbitration module, judges the current operating conditions of the optical fibre telecommunications line, if the operating conditions of optical fibre telecommunications line are obstructed, then use optical fibre telecommunications line, data traffic signal is transmitted to the physical layer of central traffic signal control subsystem, simultaneously, the data traffic signal is transmitted to the virtual level of central traffic signal control subsystem using wireless communication line, central traffic control subsystem is after receiving data traffic signal, extract temporal information, then the data traffic signal of the physical layer and virtual level is integrated according to temporal information, and it saves to the memory module. The innovation doesn’t discuss the detection mechanism as well the adaptive traffic control system. It discusses more about the communications between central traffic control systems via optical fibre or wireless-based communications.
[022] Publication No. WO2022126492 relates to an urban intelligent traffic management system based on a cloud service comprising a cloud control platform. the cloud control platform is connected to a vehicle-mounted access terminal installed on a vehicle by means of a wireless network; each regional road management subsystem is configured to monitor road and environment information within one region of a city; the vehicle-mounted access terminal sends a traffic information query request to the cloud control platform.
[023] The invention uses vehicle-mounted traffic detection, which gives traffic data to the cloud server; this makes the system expensive and complex. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. The innovation does not mention the connection between lamps and the controller.
[024] Publication No. CN114373313 discloses a self-adaptive traffic light control system and method based on big data. The system uses physical sensors installed on the roads to record road data and wireless send data to analyse the traffic levels; the use of physical sensors makes the setup expensive and complex as well. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. The innovation does not mention the connection between lamps and the controller.
[025] Publication No. CN108062861 discloses an intelligent traffic surveillance and control system. The invention uses the video camera to detect the traffic and with traffic. The accuracy of cameras reduces during low light and bad weather conditions. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. The innovation does not mention the connection between lamps and the controller.
[026] Publication No. CN114387784 provides a traffic signal control system based on road network holographic sensing, and the system comprises a road network holographic sensing module which is used for sensing. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. The innovation does not mention the connection between lamps and the controller.
[027] Publication No. CN112967506 discloses a green wave band traffic control method and system for an urban road. The innovation deals with image data for traffic detection; it uses cameras to capture the image and analyse the traffic parameters; this makes the traffic control system expensive, while the image details will decline under foggy and low light situations. The innovation does not discuss the use of crowdsourced data for traffic detection. The innovation does not mention the connection between lamps and the controller.
[028] Publication No. CN112216110 discloses an intelligent traffic monitoring system with a traffic flow detection function. The innovation uses various types of sensors that are, a wind speed sensor, a rainfall sensor, a wind direction sensor, a camera, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a visibility sensor, a speed sensor, a dust sensor, a noise sensor, an imaging radar and a wireless transmission module. These many sensors need heavy investment as well as maintenance. While with the use of several sensors, the system needs complex as well difficult to install at intersections. This invention does not talk about the traffic signal control system.
[029] Publication No. CN112837539 discloses a variable lane intelligent control system and method based on a wireless geomagnetic detector. The innovation uses a physical sensor which is a geomagnetic detector that detects the traffic queue lengths; the accuracy of geomagnetic detectors, compared to other sensors, geomagnetic sensors have a lower level of absolute precision and resolution and repeatability. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[030] Publication No. CN112133113 discloses an intelligent network real-time command system for road traffic at an urban road intersection. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data for traffic detection, rather, rely on on-board-equipment on the vehicles and roadside traffic supervision system, which makes the whole setup expensive and complex. This invention uses a wired connection between traffic lamps and a controller.
[031] Publication No. 1619/CHE/2005 deals with the synchronisation of controllers installed at different intersections; the innovation doesn’t provide a fully wireless connection at the intersection level. In addition, the innovation does not use crowdsourced data for sensing of vehicle flow and traffic.
[032] IN Publication No. 202211047468 relates to a smart traffic control system to manage and control traffic in urban areas. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data and does not provide a fully wireless traffic controller for the intersections. The use of cameras and RFID sensors makes the system costly as well as cumbersome for installations.
[033] IN Publication No. 202111005979 relates to a traffic light control system that uses a monitoring device at intersections and uses deep reinforcement learning to control the traffic signals. The innovation uses real-time vehicular dynamics and train the model and generate traffic light control signal according to the input. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data and does not provide a fully wireless traffic controller for the intersections.
[034] IN Publication No. 202221060354 provides a traffic management system (100). The system (100) has a traffic signal (200), a control unit (10), and a surveillance unit (300). Also, a sensor (20) is positioned in a pre-defined traffic location. The innovation uses different sorts of sensors an object detector, an RFID sensor, a Doppler motion sensor, and a photoelectric sensor. These sensors make the system complex as well as tough to install at intersections. In addition, the innovation does not use crowdsourced data and does not provide a fully wireless traffic controller for the intersections.
[035] Publication No. AU2020102637 discloses the technique to predict and control congestion; it takes data input observed by sensors of highly configured cameras, mobile devices and radio frequency identification tags. The innovation uses different kinds of physical sensors to predict traffic congestion using machine learning algorithms. The use of sensors makes the traffic control system costs as well as the procedure for the traffic control complex. The innovation does not use crowdsourced data and does not provide details on the connection between traffic lamps and traffic controllers for the intersections.
[036] Publication No. CN206961321 discloses a kind of intelligent mobile traffic light control system, including a processor module, traffic lights module, video capture module, radar detected module, wireless communication module, memory module and power module. The innovations focus mainly on the violation, speed and vehicle distance at the intersection; it does not provide any traffic control by operating the traffic lights with detection of the traffic for each lane.
[037] Publication No. CN109841062 discloses Traffic infrastructure real-time monitoring and early warning system based on big dipper big data cloud platform The innovation does not use crowdsourced data; moreover, it uses Beidou big data cloud platform is connected with a wireless module and is connected with a pick-up coordinate module through the module, and the Beidou big data cloud platform stores the traffic intersections. Due to the limited translation, it is unclear if the traffic lamps have a wired/ wireless connection with the controller.
[038] Thus, typically traffic signal controllers, which adapts to the traffic on approaches, use a camera, RADAR, and many other kinds of sensors to detect the traffic; these approaches have higher initial installation and maintenance costs, and a fully wired infrastructure makes it difficult to install and maintain.
[039] In order to overcome above listed prior art, the present invention aims to provide an adaptive traffic control system and method without using physical sensors and uses an embedded web server-based communication to eliminate the need for complex wired connections. The innovation is a cost-effective solution to modern-day traffic problems in metro cities, which can be integrated/ installed quickly with an existing roadside traffic signal system. Further, crowdsourced data is used for the completeness of a product; the proposed invention is independent of the data, i.e., any data, that can be used to make a traffic signal system adaptive.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[040] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a fully wireless adaptive traffic control system without using physical sensors and uses an embedded web server-based wireless communication to eliminate the need for complex wired connections.
[041] In one object of this innovation provides a wireless master-slave arrangement as a controller unit, which wirelessly communicates with each other and can be installed on any pre-existing traffic control infrastructure at any intersection without disturbing road traffic.
[042] Another object of the present invention is to provide an adaptive traffic control system using real-time crowdsourced data to detect traffic flow levels on each approach without the need to connect with the physical sensors.
[043] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adaptive traffic control system which is cost-effective and can be integrated with an existing traffic control infrastructure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[044] The present invention relates to an adaptive traffic control system without using physical sensors and uses an embedded web server-based communication to eliminate the need for complex wired connections. The traffic controller setup uses a single board computer to fetch the data from crowdsources, process it to determine the traffic levels on each approach and adapt the traffic signal cycles using a slave controller with the wireless embedded web server.
[045] The said traffic controller comprises a master controller and slave controller, all of which are equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. It uses crowdsourced data to synchronise the traffic controllers. The system uses IoT applications to identify and reduce traffic congestion to optimize the flow of vehicles through an intersection. The master controller acts as the system’s main unit, which processes traffic data and sends instructions to each slave to do their tasks. It uses web-based wireless communication to communicate between the master and slave controllers.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[046] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[047] Figure 1 shows block diagram of an adaptive traffic control system according to the present invention;
[048] Figure 2 shows the components on the slave controller side of the system;
[049] Figure 3 depicts the working and process of the master;
[050] Figure 4 illustrates the processes taking place on the slave side of the system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[051] The present invention provides an adaptive traffic control system without using physical sensors and uses an embedded web server-based communication to eliminate the need for complex wired connections. The traffic controller setup uses a single board computer to fetch the data from crowdsources, process it to determine the traffic levels on each approach and adapt the traffic signal cycles using a slave controller with the wireless embedded web server.
[052] The said traffic controller comprises a master controller and slave controller, all of which are equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. It uses crowdsourced data to synchronise the traffic controllers. The system uses IoT applications to identify and reduce traffic congestion in order to optimise the flow of vehicles through an intersection. The master controller acts as the system’s main unit, which processes traffic data and sends instructions to each slave to do their tasks. It uses web-based wireless communication to communicate between the master and slave controllers.
[053] In an embodiment, the system can be integrated with solar-powered lamps to reduce the need for any power connections also. It can be easily upgraded with technological advancement and integrated with an existing fixed traffic control system to reduce installation costs.
[054] The innovation is a cost-effective solution to modern-day traffic problems in metro cities, which can be integrated/ installed quickly with an existing roadside traffic signal system.
[055] Figure 1 illustrates the components of the master controller, which include a Single Board Computer (220), a master controller-based embedded web server (210), and a Wi-Fi access point (221) hosted by the single-board computer. Additionally, the master controller has access to an internet connection via GSM/Ethernet modules.
[056] Figure 2 depicts the components on the slave controller side of the system. The figure illustrates that the slave controller (230) is connected to the master controller (220) wirelessly through the embedded web server hosted by the master controller and the access point created by the master controller. Additionally, relay modules (231) are connected to the slave controller to operate traffic lamps.
[057] Figure 3 depicts the working and process of the master controller (220). The figure illustrates that the master controller creates an access point and hosts an embedded web server (210). The master controller also extracts real-time crowdsourced traffic data (212) for all approaches, analyzes the data, and creates a signal cycle. After analyzing the data for each approach, control instructions are sent to each slave (230).
[058] Figure 4 illustrates the processes taking place on the slave side of the system. The slave controller (230) is connected to the master controller (220) through the embedded web server (210). The slave controller receives control instructions from the master controller and operates the traffic lamps connected to the slave through the relay modules (231) as per the control signal received.
[059] Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A traffic control system (200) comprises of the following components:
? A master controller (220) for receiving and processing the real-time traffic crowdsource data (212) from the web, analyses the traffic congestion level on each approach and send the control instruction to the slave controller (230) via webserver (210);
? Slave receiver (230) characterized in that relay modules (231) and traffic lamps to provide the traffic signaling according to the control instruction received by the slave from master controller;
? The slave controller is in communication with the webserver using communication interface module and receive the control instruction to real time traffic data (212) sent by the master controller, and operates the Traffic signaling units.
2. The adaptive traffic controller, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system uses IoT applications to identify and reduce traffic congestion in order to optimize the flow of vehicles through an intersection.
3. The adaptive traffic controller, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system uses web-based wireless communication to communicate between the master and slave controllers.