Patent ID: 7620812
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A traffic preemption authentication system for authenticating remotely generated optical control signals generated from a vehicle in traffic, the traffic preemption authentication system comprising: an optical signal processor positioned at a first traffic intersection configured to receive an optical control signal from a remote optical emitter coupled to a vehicle, evaluate the received optical control signal to determine that it is a valid optical control signal, and generate a control output signal in response to detection of the valid optical control signal; a control authentication device coupled by a data communications link with the optical signal processor and with the remote optical emitter, the control authentication device configured to receive the control output signal from the optical signal processor, to transmit a radio frequency authentication challenge signal to a remote authentication device collocated with the remote optical emitter at the vehicle in response to receipt of the control output signal and to generate a compatible authenticated control output signal in response to receipt of a valid radio frequency authentication response signal from the remote authentication device; and wherein the remote authentication device is configured to receive the radio frequency authentication challenge signal from the control authentication device, generate the valid authentication response signal in response to the authentication challenge signal and transmit the valid radio frequency authentication response signal to the control authorization device; and wherein the remote optical emitter is mounted on a vehicle and wherein the authenticated control output signal is coupled to a preemption input of a traffic controller.