Patent US4726299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4726299A
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Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle
Assignee: University of Minnesota System
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Filing: 1986-02-20
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2006-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle through a network is disclosed. The network has a plurality of stations interconnected by a plurality of path segments. A plurality of branch points connect the path segments and require a vehicle approaching a branch point to be directed in either a first or second direction. Line-defining parameters are provided for each of the branch points and define a network-dividing line which divides the plurality of stations into a first set which are attainable by a vehicle being directed in a first direction and a second set attainable by a vehicle being directed in a second direction. Coordinates of a destination station are associated with a vehicle. As the vehicle approaches a branch point, the coordinates of the destination station are compared to the line-defining parameters of the approaching branch point and the destination station is determined to be in either the first set or the second set. The vehicle is directed in a first direction if the destination station is determined to be in the first set and in a second direction if the station is determined to be in a second set.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:03
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/002; B61L23/005; B61L13/00; B61L13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of controlling movement of a vehicle through a network having a plurality of stations interconnected by a plurality of path segments, a plurality of juncture points connecting said path segments, said plurality of juncture points comprising a plurality of branch points requiring a vehicle approaching a branch point to be directed in either a first or second direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a coordinate system for said network; (b) assigning location-defining coordinates to each of said stations; (c) identifying line-defining parameters for each of said branch points with said parameters defining a dividing line through said network with said line dividing said plurality of stations into a first set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction at said branch point and a second set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined second direction at said branch point; (d) associating location-defining coordinates of a destination station with a vehicle; (e) moving said vehicle along a path segment toward an approaching branch point; (f) comparing said location-defining coordinates of said destination station to line-defining parameters of said approaching branch point and determining whether said destination station is a member of a first set or a second set for said approaching branch point; and (g) directing said vehicle in said first direction if said destination station is determined to be a member of said first set and in said second direction if said station is determined to be a member of said second set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of controlling movement of a vehicle through a network having a plurality of stations interconnected by a plurality of path segments, a plurality of juncture points connecting said path segments, said plurality of juncture points comprising a plurality of branch points requiring a vehicle approaching a branch point to be directed in either a first or second direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a coordinate system for said network; (b) assigning location-defining coordinates to each of said stations; (c) identifying line-defining parameters for each of said branch points with said parameters defining a dividing line through said network with said line dividing said plurality of stations into a first set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction at said branch point and a second set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined second direction at said branch point; (d) associating location-defining coordinates of a destination station with a vehicle; (e) moving said vehicle along a path segment toward an approaching branch point; (f) comparing said location-defining coordinates of said destination station to line-defining parameters of said approaching branch point and determining whether said destination station is a member of a first set or a second set for said approaching branch point; and (g) directing said vehicle in said first direction if said destination station is determined to be a member of said first set and in said second direction if said station is determined to be a member of said second set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising: identifying alternative line-defining parameters for each of said branch points with said alternative parameters defining an alternative line through said network with said line dividing said plurality of stations into a first set attainable by a vehicle directed in a first direction at said branch point and assuming a predetermined path segment is closed to vehicle traffic and a second set attainable by a vehicle directed in a second direction at said branch point and assuming said predetermined path segment is closed to vehicle traffic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 2 comprising identifying a plurality of alternative line-defining parameters for each of said branch points with each one of said plurality defining a network dividing line assuming a different predetermined path segment is closed to vehicle traffic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said line dividing said plurality of stations is a straight line and said parameters comprise a slope of said line and coordinates of a point on said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said line dividing said plurality of stations is a plurality of connected line segments with said parameters comprising coordinates of intersections of said line segment and slopes of line segments at ends of said dividing line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
A transportation network comprising: (a) a plurality of stations; (b) a plurality of path segments connecting said stations; (c) a plurality of branch points connecting said path segments; (d) a plurality of location-defining coordinates associated with said stations; (e) a plurality of line-defining parameters for said branch points with said parameters defining a dividing line through said network and dividing said plurality of stations into a first set preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction at said branch point and a second set preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined second direction at said branch point; (f) a vehicle disposed on said network for movement along said path segments; (g) means for associating location-defining coordinates of a destination station with said vehicle; (h) means for comparing said location-defining coordianates of said destination station with said line-defining parameters and determining if said destination station is a member of a first set or a second set; (i) means for alternatively directing said vehicle to said first and second directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
A transportation network comprising: (a) a plurality of stations; (b) a plurality of path segments connecting said stations; (c) a plurality of branch points connecting said path segments; (d) a plurality of location-defining coordinates associated with said stations; (e) a plurality of line-defining parameters for said branch points with said parameters defining a dividing line through said network and dividing said plurality of stations into a first set preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction at said branch point and a second set preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined second direction at said branch point; (f) a vehicle disposed on said network for movement along said path segments; (g) means for associating location-defining coordinates of a destination station with said vehicle; (h) means for comparing said location-defining coordianates of said destination station with said line-defining parameters and determining if said destination station is a member of a first set or a second set; (i) means for alternatively directing said vehicle to said first and second directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A network according to claim 6 comprising: means for transmitting line-defining parameters of an approaching branch point to said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A network according to claim 7 wherein further comprising a plurality of merge points with a vehicle at a merge point required to be directed in a predetermined direction, said plurality of merge points and said plurality of branch points collectively comprising a plurality of juncture points: means for transmitting to a vehicle approaching a juncture point information defining said juncture point as a branch point or a merge point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A network according to claim 7 wherein further comprising a plurality of station-on points connecting a station with a path segment and with a vehicle at a station-on point required to be directed in a predetermined required direction to arrrive at said station, said plurality of station-on points and said plurality of branch points collectively comprising a plurality of juncture points; means for transmitting to a vehicle approaching a juncture information definining said juncture point as a branch point or a station-on point.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
273 words
A method of controlling movement of a vehicle to a desired destination in a network having a plurality of stations assigned location-defining coordinates and interconnected by a plurality of path segments having a plurality of juncture points connecting said segments, said plurality of juncture points comprising a plurality of branch points, said branch points having associated line-defining parameters defining a dividing line through said network which divides said plurality of stations into a first set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction and a second set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined election by a vehicle being directed in a second direction, said network further including transmission and receiving means for transmittiing information to a vehicle, computing means associated with a vehicle for analyzing information received by a vehicle and means for directing said vehicle in a first or second direction; said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting to said vehicle location-defining coordinates of said destination station; (b) moving said vehicle along a path segment toward an approaching branch point; (c) transmitting to said vehicle line-defining parameters of a dividing line associated with said approaching branch point; (d) comparing said coordinates of said destination station to said line-defining parameters and determining whether said destination station is a member of a first or second set for said approaching branch points; and (e) directing said vehicle in said first direction if said destination station is determined to be a member of said first set and in said second direction if said station is determined to be a member of said second set.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
273 words
A method of controlling movement of a vehicle to a desired destination in a network having a plurality of stations assigned location-defining coordinates and interconnected by a plurality of path segments having a plurality of juncture points connecting said segments, said plurality of juncture points comprising a plurality of branch points, said branch points having associated line-defining parameters defining a dividing line through said network which divides said plurality of stations into a first set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined selection by a vehicle being directed in a predetermined first direction and a second set of stations preferably attainable according to predetermined election by a vehicle being directed in a second direction, said network further including transmission and receiving means for transmittiing information to a vehicle, computing means associated with a vehicle for analyzing information received by a vehicle and means for directing said vehicle in a first or second direction; said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting to said vehicle location-defining coordinates of said destination station; (b) moving said vehicle along a path segment toward an approaching branch point; (c) transmitting to said vehicle line-defining parameters of a dividing line associated with said approaching branch point; (d) comparing said coordinates of said destination station to said line-defining parameters and determining whether said destination station is a member of a first or second set for said approaching branch points; and (e) directing said vehicle in said first direction if said destination station is determined to be a member of said first set and in said second direction if said station is determined to be a member of said second set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
In the method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of juncture points further comprises a plurality of merge points with a vehicle at a merge point required to be directed in a predetermined required direction; the method further comprising the steps of: (a) moving said vehicle toward a juncture point; (b) transmitting to said vehicle information defining said juncture point as a branch point or merge point; and (c) directing said vehicle in said predetermined required direction if said juncture point is a merge point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of juncture points further comprises a plurality of station-on points connecting a station with a path segment with a vehicle at a station-on point required to be directed in a predetermined required direction to arrive at said station; the method further comprising the steps of: (a) moving said vehicle toward a juncture point; (b) transmitting to said vehicle information defining said juncture point as a branch point or station-on point; and (c) directing said vehicle in said predetermined required direction if said juncture point is a station-on point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-22 | 1991-08-24 | 1992-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-22 | 1995-08-24 | 1996-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-22 | 1999-08-24 | 2000-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |