Patent ID: 8295059

Claim:
A method of extending the service life of a plurality of aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinets, within at least one traffic-control network, comprising the steps of: a) identifying at least one required additional function to extend the service life of at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet of such plurality of aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinets; b) identifying at least one new electronic circuit enabling the at least one required additional function when integrated within the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet; c) designing at least one modular unit capable of adapting the at least one new electronic circuit to interoperate with the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet, such at least one modular unit comprising i) at least one circuit support structured and arranged to mechanically support the at least one new electronic circuit, ii) at least one signal-input coupler structured and arranged to assist electrical coupling of the at least one new electronic circuit to at least one signal input from at least one traffic-control device, iii) at least one signal-output coupler structured and arranged to assist electrical coupling of at least one signal output of the at least one new electronic circuit to at least one existing electrical circuit of the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet, iv) at least one direct support-to-support interlocker structured and arranged to directly interlock such at least one circuit support to at least one other at least one circuit support of at least one other modular unit, and v) at least one mount structured and arranged to assist mounting of such at least one circuit support within the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet; d) mounting such at least one modular unit within the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet substantially without removal or replacement of existing components of the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet; and e) operably enabling such at least one required additional function within the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet by electrically coupling the at least one new electronic circuit to the at least one existing electrical circuit of the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet using such at least one signal-input coupler and such at least one signal-output coupler of such least one modular unit; f) wherein the service life of the at least one aging fixed-size traffic-control cabinet is extended an appreciable time without removal or replacement of existing components.