Portable Traffic Apparatus Location Tracking via RFID and GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an improved system and method to accurately acquire and maintain location information for portable traffic flow and pattern control apparatus, which are often used in temporary or construction-related settings, requiring lightweight, sturdy, and self-powered solutions that can be easily deployed and monitored without the need for permanent infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a beacon or transceiver affixed to the traffic apparatus, broadcasting data associated with its function, using radio frequency identification (RFID) or GPS, to a remote device, which captures and computes location data, allowing for periodic transmission to a computer processing system for recording and updating the apparatus's location and purpose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent traffic sensors are installed with wiring and communications equipment, then reliability and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the traffic monitoring function into separate components: portable traffic apparatus for data collection and a remote server for data processing. This segmentation allows the portable device to remain simple while the complex processing functions are relocated, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the portable traffic apparatus and the final data processing. The portable device communicates location and traffic data to the remote server, which then processes and stores the information. This intermediary approach maintains reliability through dedicated processing while keeping the portable device simple.
2Ease of operation
If portable traffic apparatus are used without permanent infrastructure, then ease of deployment and adaptability are improved, but location tracking accuracy and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The portable traffic apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, integrating both traffic flow sensing capabilities and GPS location tracking into a single device. This universal design allows the apparatus to maintain ease of deployment while simultaneously providing accurate location data through its built-in GPS receiver, resolving the contradiction between portability and measurement precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If portable traffic apparatus are deployed, then adaptability and ease of deployment are improved, but power consumption constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy power consumption functions (data processing, storage, and complex communications) from the portable traffic apparatus and relocates them to a remote server with unlimited power access. The portable device retains only essential functions (sensing and basic transmission), dramatically reducing its power consumption requirements while maintaining full adaptability through the remote processing capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient and accurate tracking of traffic apparatus locations, enhancing traffic flow management by providing real-time data for traffic control strategies and ensuring the correct deployment and maintenance of traffic management systems, while minimizing power consumption and infrastructure investment.
Implementation Method 1
a beacon system affixed to the traffic apparatus, the beacon system to broadcast apparatus data associated with a function of the traffic apparatus to a remote device
Implementation Method 2
using radio frequency identification (RFID) or GPS
Implementation Method 3
using radio frequency identification (RFID) or GPS
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of acquiring and maintaining location information associated with traffic apparatus deployed in connection with a traffic flow monitoring or regulation system are disclosed. In some implementations, an apparatus identifier may distinguish a particular traffic apparatus from others that are deployed in proximity, and a functional identifier may define a functionality of the particular traffic apparatus; positioning, orientation, and movement or acceleration data may also be provided for real-time or near real-time system applications. These apparatus data may be used to derive and to maintain a record of location data associated with each traffic apparatus deployed in a particular application.