Relay and exchange protocol in an automated zone-based vehicular traffic control environment

Abstract

Methods and systems for a traffic control system provide arrangements and processes for managing automated vehicles. The traffic control system can register vehicles and then control the operation of the vehicles through a section of roadway. The automated control includes the communication of directions and other messages that ensure the proper function of the vehicle while under the guidance of the traffic control system

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing navigation information to a vehicle via a control server, comprising:
 a first control server, including a processor, associated with a first zone in a traffic control system, wherein the first control server controls an operation of the vehicle in the traffic control system while the vehicle is in the first zone and determining that the vehicle is leaving the first zone;   the first control server determining a second zone in the traffic control system to which the vehicle is entering;   the first control server determining a second control server associated with the second zone, wherein the second control server is configured to control the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the second zone; and   the first control server passing control of the operation of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone, wherein control of the operation of the vehicle includes the control server associated with a zone in the traffic control system sending the navigation information to a communication device associated with the vehicle while the vehicle is in the zone and, in response to receiving the navigation information, the vehicle automatically controlling driving operations of the vehicle to follow a route in the navigation information.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second control server receives the vehicle into the second zone. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first control server maintains the vehicle as an item in a first queue administered by the first control server. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein, when the first control server passes control of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone, the second control server accepts the vehicle as an item in a second queue administered by the second control server. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 the second control server establishing communication with the vehicle; and   the second control server determining if the vehicle has confirmed that communication has been established.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising, if the vehicle has not confirmed that communication has been established, the second control server re-establishing communication with the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each zone is defined by an extents. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the extents are associated with a range of an antennae associated with each zone and in communication with the vehicle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the extents are defined by two or more physical locations along a roadway. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first control server passes control of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone when a boundary condition is met that defines when to pass control of the vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . A control server comprising:
 a processor operable to execute one or more modules, the modules comprising:
 a traffic control module operable to control an operation of a vehicle in a traffic control system while the vehicle is in a first zone and determine that the vehicle is leaving the first zone; 
 a zonal communication module operable to:
 determine a second zone in the traffic control system to which the vehicle is entering; 
 determine a second control server associated with the second zone, wherein the second control server is configured to control the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the second zone; and 
 pass control of the operation of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone, wherein control of the operation of the vehicle includes a control server associated with a zone in the traffic control system sending navigation information to a communication device associated with the vehicle while the vehicle is in the zone and, in response to receiving the navigation information, the vehicle automatically controlling driving operations of the vehicle to follow a route in the navigation information. 
 
   
     
     
         32 . The control server of  claim 31 , wherein the control server maintains the vehicle as an item in a first queue administered by the control server, and wherein, when the control server passes control of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone, the second control server accepts the vehicle as an item in a second queue administered by the second control server. 
     
     
         33 . The control server of  claim 32 , wherein a second traffic control module, associated with the second control server, is further operable to:
 establish communication with the vehicle; and   determine if the vehicle has confirmed that communication has been established.   
     
     
         34 . The control server of  claim 33 , wherein the second traffic control module is further operable to, if the vehicle has not confirmed that communication has been established, re-establish communication with the vehicle. 
     
     
         35 . The control server of  claim 34 , wherein each zone is defined by an extents, wherein the extents are defined by one of a range of an antennae associated with each zone and in communication with the vehicle or by two or more physical locations along a roadway. 
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer readable medium stored on a storage medium and having instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to control, by a first control server, an operation of a vehicle in a traffic control system while the vehicle is in a first zone;   instructions to determine that the vehicle is leaving the first zone;   instructions to determine a second zone in the traffic control system to which the vehicle is entering;   instructions to determine a second control server associated with the second zone, wherein the second control server is configured to control the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the second zone; and   instructions to pass control of the vehicle from the first control server to the second control server associated with the second zone, wherein control of the operation of the vehicle includes a control server associated with a zone in the traffic control system sending navigation information to a communication device associated with the vehicle while the vehicle is in the zone and, in response to receiving the navigation information, the vehicle automatically controlling driving operations of the vehicle to follow a route in the navigation information.   
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the first control server maintains the vehicle as an item in a first queue administered by the first control server, and wherein, when the first control server passes control of the vehicle to the second control server associated with the second zone, the second control server accepts the vehicle as an item in a second queue administered by the second control server. 
     
     
         38 . The computer readable medium of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 instructions to establish communication with the vehicle; and   instructions to determine if the vehicle has confirmed that communication has been established.   
     
     
         39 . The computer readable medium of  claim 38 , further comprising, if the vehicle has not confirmed that communication has been established, instructions to re-establish communication with the vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The computer readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein each zone is defined by an extents, wherein the extents are defined by one of a range of an antennae associated with each zone and in communication with the vehicle or by two or more physical locations along a roadway.