FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of and a system for detecting a traffic light violation by a motor vehicle driver while driving a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, most motorists tend not to reduce the speed of their motor vehicles whenever they approach an amber light at a traffic light intersection. In particular, motorists would rather increase the speed of their motor vehicles rather than reduce the speed. This is usually done so as to avoid having to stop at the traffic light intersection and thus pass the traffic light intersection just before or when the traffic light turns red. However, and at the same time, a motor vehicle driver approaching the traffic light intersection from a different direction may also be entering the traffic light intersection since the traffic light may be about to turn green or may have just turned green. In most countries, for example, in South Africa, this practice has resulted in many fatal accidents between motor vehicles. Furthermore, this practice has severe costs implications to, e.g. insurance companies, since the motor vehicle owners who are involved in the fatal accidents, are likely to claim damages from insurance companies at an alarming rate.

This practice has financial implications to various stakeholders and eventually to the economy of a country. For example, most vehicle drivers/owners and/or passengers who are involved in the fatal accidents, if not dead, are forced to stay off work. Employers are then affected (financially) by the employees' absence from work. In other instances, where a motor vehicle (during the accident) has crashed into a traffic light, a relevant state department has to repair or re-install the traffic light and this has cost implications. The Inventors are aware of various methods which are used in order to detect traffic light violation with the aim of deterring motor vehicle drivers from conducting such violations. However, such methods are not effective and most of them do not produce accurate results, in use. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for and method of detecting traffic light violations, and to address at least some of the abovementioned problem(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a system for detecting a traffic light violation by a motor vehicle, the system including: a communication arrangement operable to send and receive messages; a motor vehicle licence holder which is locatable on the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle licence holder including: an identification device which is being configured to store at least identification information associated with the motor vehicle thereon; and a position location system being operable to provide geographical location of the motor vehicle, in use; a traffic violation monitoring unit locatable proximate a traffic light, the traffic violation monitoring unit including: a reader which can read the identification information from the identification device, the reader being further operable to receive the geographical location of the motor vehicle; and a traffic violation determination module communicatively coupled to the reader, the traffic violation determination module being operable to: receive (via the communication arrangement) the geographical location of the motor vehicle; interrogate a pre-populated perimeter database to determine whether or not the received geographical location of the motor vehicle matches with at least one location coordinates which is indicative of a designated perimeter zone associated with the traffic violation monitoring unit; and in response to a determination that there is a match, receive (via the communication arrangement) a status of the traffic light; determine whether or not the received status matches with a violation event; and if the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event, the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

In response to determining that the status matches the violation event, the traffic violation determination module further: receives a traffic light time associated with the status of the traffic light; calculates motor vehicle geographical location with reference to the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database; and determines whether or not the motor vehicle geographical location is within the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database when the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event and the traffic light time falls between the traffic light time less a predefined period and the traffic light time plus a predefined period, and in response to a determination that the motor vehicle geographical location falls therein and a time condition is validated, then the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

In this description "traffic light" refers to a three-light traffic control light with at least two colours indicative of a period when a motor vehicle should stop and a period when the motor vehicle should slow down. The status of the traffic light may include that a traffic light signal is either "Red" which is associated with a "stop" command, "Amber" which is associated with a "caution" command, and "Green" which is associated with a "proceed" command.

The violation event may be when the status of the traffic light is "Red". In an alternative embodiment, the traffic violation determination module may provide that the motor vehicle violated the traffic light, if the motor vehicle time is equal to the traffic light time.

The traffic violation determination module may be communicatively coupled to a conventional circuitry which forms part of the traffic light so as to receive the status of traffic light from the conventional circuitry. The traffic violation determination module may further receive traffic light time, from the conventional circuitry. Traffic light time is the time associated with the particular status. Simply put, when the status of the traffic light turns "Red", traffic light time is the time at which the traffic light turned "Red".

The perimeter zone may be defined by a plurality of location coordinates. In particular, various perimeter zones will be stored in the perimeter database, wherein each perimeter zone is associated with at least one traffic violation monitoring unit.

Optionally, the traffic violation monitoring unit may include a traffic violation communication module configured to communicate, to relevant stakeholders, violation information. The violation information may be information confirming that a motor vehicle driver has violated the traffic light, identification information of the motor vehicle and the location at which the traffic light was violated.

In order to receive the geographical location of the motor vehicle, the reader may transmit an interrogation signal to the licence holder in order to determine whether or not the motor vehicle is in close proximity with the reader. Basically, in response to the motor vehicle being in close proximity with the reader, the reader will read the identification information and corresponding geographical location of the motor vehicle, accordingly.

The interrogation signal may be transmitted periodically, preferably, continuously. The reader may be in a form of a scanner which can read and transmit signals, in use, preferably, an RFID scanner.

The identification device is in a form of radio frequency identification (RFID) device embedded within the licence holder.

The position location system may include a global positioning system (GPS) which is communicatively coupled to the RFID device, and can determine geographical location of the motor vehicle.

Preferably, the GPS is in a form of an Assisted GPS (A-GPS) system. More preferably, the A-GPS system includes a SiRFstarlll receiver (or equivalent technology) in order to obtain accurate geographical location of the motor vehicle, in use.

Preferably, the traffic violation monitoring unit includes at least one ground station which is communicatively coupled to the A-GPS system over a communication network.

The communication network is, preferably, a wireless network. The wireless network may, preferably, use a short-range radio frequency for communication.

The A-GPS system of the licence holder may include: a receiver configured to receive A-GPS reference location data of the motor vehicle through reference satellites, the receiver being further configured to receive differential location data from the at least one ground station locatable in the traffic violation monitoring unit , the at least one ground station being configured to compute differential location data; and a computation module operable to use the A-GPS reference location data of the motor vehicle and the differential location data from the at least one ground station so as to determine an accurate geographical location of the motor vehicle.

The traffic violation monitoring unit may include a plurality of ground stations. The traffic violation monitoring unit may include a ground station database storing the ground stations information including multiple unique identifiers, each identifier associated with the ground stations and their respective fixed location data.

The ground stations may include an interrogation module operable to interrogate the ground station database, in order retrieve fixed location datum and compute the differential location data by differentiating the fixed location data and reference location data received from reference satellites.

The ground station may be in a form of a Differential Global Positioning System (D-GPS).

The invention extends to a method of detecting a violation of a traffic light by a motor vehicle, the method including: receiving an traffic violation enquiry message, the traffic violation enquiry message including an identification of the motor vehicle and geographical location of the motor vehicle; interrogating a pre-populated perimeter database to determine whether or not the received geographical location of the motor vehicle matches with at least one location coordinates which is indicative of a perimeter zone associated with a traffic violation monitoring unit , and in response to a determination that there is a match; receiving a status of the traffic light, determining whether or not the received status matches with a violation event, and if the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event, the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

The method may include the steps of: receiving a traffic light time associated with the status of the traffic light; calculating motor vehicle geographical location with reference to the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database; and determining whether or not the motor vehicle geographical location is within the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database when the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event and the traffic light time falls between the traffic light time less a predefined period and the traffic light time plus a predefined period, and in response to a determination that the motor vehicle geographical location falls therein and a time condition is validated, then the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

The method may include a step of transmitting interrogation signal in order to determine whether or not the motor vehicle is in close proximity with the traffic violation monitoring unit.

The interrogation signal may be transmitted periodically, preferably, continuously.

The method may include sending violation information to relevant stakeholders. The violation information may be information confirming that a motor vehicle driver has violated the traffic light, identification information of the motor vehicle and location at which the traffic light was violated.

The method may be partially or entirely computer-implemented.

Accordingly, the method may be implemented by a suitably configured computer system, the method including: receiving, via a communication arrangement, from a reader, a traffic violation enquiry message, the traffic violation enquiry message including an identification of the motor vehicle and geographical location of the motor vehicle; interrogating, via a traffic violation determination module, a pre- populated perimeter database to determine whether or not the received geographical location of the motor vehicle matches with at least one location coordinates which is indicative of a perimeter zone associated with a traffic violation monitoring unit , and in response to a determination that there is a match; receiving, via the communication arrangement, a status of the traffic light and associated traffic light time;

determining, via the traffic violation determination module, whether or not the received status matches with a violation event, and if the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event; and providing, via the traffic violation determination module, that the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

The method may include the steps of: receiving, via the communication arrangement, traffic light time associated with the status of the traffic light; calculating, via the traffic violation determination module, motor vehicle geographical location with reference to the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database; determining, via the traffic violation determination module, whether or not the motor vehicle geographical location is within the perimeter zone associated with the pre-populated perimeter database when the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event and the traffic light time falls between the traffic light time less a predefined period and the traffic light time plus a predefined period, and in response to a determination that the motor vehicle geographical location falls therein and a time condition is validated, then the motor vehicle has violated the traffic light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a simplified view of a system for detecting traffic light violation, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of an identification device which forms part of the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an example embodiment of a layout of a traffic light intersection which illustrates a perimeter zone which forms part of the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a traffic violation monitoring unit which forms part of the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a flow diagram of a high-level method of detecting a violation of a traffic light, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 6 shows an example embodiment of the system of Figure 1 , in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of an embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practised without these specific details of any specific manner.

Referring to Figure 1 , reference numeral 100 generally indicates a system for detecting a violation of a traffic light by a motor vehicle 102, in accordance with the invention. In particular, the traffic light is violated by a motor vehicle driver (not shown) while driving the motor vehicle 102.

The system 100 includes a motor vehicle licence holder 104 and a traffic violation monitoring unit 106. The licence holder 104 is located on a body of the motor vehicle 102, preferably, on a windscreen. The licence holder 104 includes an identification device 108 and a position location system 1 10 (described in detail below). The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 is fitted to each of a plurality of ground stations 1 12, and includes a reader 1 14 (in particular an RFID reader or a scanner that may incorporate or be part of a GPS Module), a traffic violation determination module 1 16 and a traffic violation calculation module 120. The licence holder 104 and the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 are communicatively coupled to each other over a communication network 1 18. The communication network 1 18 is preferably, a wireless network (such as a satellite network or a GSM network). In other embodiments, the wireless network uses a short-range radio frequency for communication.

Simply put, when a motor vehicle 102 (which has a licence holder 104 located on its windscreen) violates a traffic light (see Figure 6), the system 100 will be able to detect such violation and an identity of the motor vehicle 102. The violation will be detected when the motor vehicle 102 enters a pre-defined perimeter zone during a period when a violation event is active. Once the system 100 has detected such violation, the system 100 will be able to communicate violation information to relevant stakeholders. Such violation information can include the type of violation, identity of the motor vehicle 102 and location at which the violation took place. The violation information is valuable and will assist, e.g., a law-enforcement agency to trace the owner of the motor vehicle 102, preferably, the law-enforcement agency may be able to stop the motor vehicle driver at another intersection because the law-enforcement agency may have an idea of the direction in which the motor vehicle driver is heading. Furthermore, a traffic violation fine may be issued automatically and electronically to the motor vehicle owner via a plug-in system (not shown).

Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of the licence holder 104. It will be appreciated that the licence holder 104 can take any form as long as the licence holder 104 includes the identification device 108 and the position location system 1 10. The licence holder 104 includes a housing 122, with the identification device 108 and the position location system 1 10 being located within the housing 122. The licence holder 104 is attachable to the windscreen of the motor vehicle 102 (see Figure 1 ) in order to be visible from the exterior of the motor vehicle 102.

The licence holder 104 is suitable to contain therein motor vehicle registration information of the motor vehicle 102. A motor vehicle includes a motor car, truck, trailer, motor van or any other suitable vehicle. The licence holder 104 has a power supply 124, for example, a rechargeable battery. In a preferred embodiment, the licence holder 104 includes photovoltaic cells which use solar panels in order generate electrical power and hence recharge the rechargeable battery 124, in use. The licence holder 104 can also be coupled to an electrical circuit of the motor vehicle 102. The use of solar panels allows for a continuous supply of power to the rechargeable battery which is housed in the housing 122 of the licence holder 104. The housing 122 is divided into an inner portion 122.1 and an outer portion 122.2 by a channel-shaped portion within which an attaching member 126 is located. The attaching member 126 is distributed along the periphery of the channel-shaped portion. Such an arrangement of the attaching member 126 ensures an even distribution of attaching member 126 on the housing 122.

The attaching member 126 attaches the licence holder 104 to the windscreen of the motor vehicle 102 where the licence holder 104 is visible from an exterior of the motor vehicle 102. In an example embodiment, the attaching member 126 is in a form of an adhesive strip and a respective peel-off protector to enable an effective attachment of the licence holder 104 to the windscreen. In use, a user will peel of the peel-off protector in order to attach the licence holder 104 onto the motor vehicle 102. A display member such as a printed adhesive label (not shown) is located on the housing 122. The adhesive label is printed with eye-legible, human readable text pertaining to the motor vehicle registration information as prescribed by the particular country's laws and regulations. The position location system 1 10 is communicatively coupled to the RFID device 108 and provides geographical location of the motor vehicle 102, in use. The position location system 1 10 is in a form of a global positioning system (GPS), preferably an Assisted GPS (A-GPS). In use, the A-GPS is in a form of a A-GPS circuitry which is able to identify the GPS location of the motor vehicle 102. The A- GPS system can also use, as an example, a SiRFstarlll receiver (or similar device technology) in order to search for A-GPS reference location data at a relatively fast rate. A SiRFstarlll receiver includes a microcontroller which interprets signals from reference satellites in order to determine the position of the motor vehicle 102. Turning to Figure 3, a basic layout of a traffic light intersection is illustrated with reference numeral 200. It will be appreciated that a traffic light intersection 200 can take any form. In the example embodiment, the traffic light intersection 200 includes four traffic control lights 202 which are generally used to regulate the flow of traffic, in use. Each traffic control light 202 is in a form of a three-light traffic light with three colours indicative of various commands. A status of the traffic light includes that the traffic control light is either "Red" which is associated with a "stop" command, "Amber" which is associated with a "caution" command, and "Green" which is associated with a "proceed" command. In use, the motor vehicle driver will violate a traffic light, if the status of the traffic light is "Red" and the motor vehicle 102 is within a demarcated perimeter zone 204.

The perimeter zone 204 is defined by a perimeter of an external boundary of the area to be measured using the multiple sets of GPS co-ordinates. In use, a technician will identify outer perimeter points which are points defining an area that is demarcated by lines 206 painted onto the road surface. The motor vehicle 102 is not permitted to cross such lines 206 when the status of the traffic light it is approaching is "Red". By means of an enhanced hand-held GPS device, the technician will allocate accurate GPS coordinates to each of these points, recording as many GPS locations as is necessary to create an accurate perimeter zone 204. Each and every traffic violation monitoring unit 106 is associated with a particular perimeter zone 204. Therefore, a perimeter database 214 (see Figure 4) includes a plurality of perimeter zones 204 and associated with a plurality of traffic violation monitoring units 106. Preferably, the perimeter zone 204 is loaded into a software application which forms part of the particular traffic violation monitoring unit 106 or a plurality of units which is (are) installed at a specific traffic light intersection 200.

Referring now to Figure 4, the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 which forms part of the system 100 includes a traffic violation monitoring server 208 which, in turn, includes a processor 210 defining a plurality of conceptual modules 1 16 and 212 which correspond to functional tasks performed by the processor 210. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 is located on top of a traffic control light, in use. Furthermore, the traffic violation monitoring server 208 can include a perimeter database 214. Alternatively, the perimeter database 214 can be located in a remote server which can form a network of servers with server 208. The processor 208 includes a traffic violation determination module 1 16, and a traffic violation communication module 212. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 includes the RFID reader 1 14 and the GPS co-ordinates relative to a plurality of ground stations 1 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 can include a differential global positioning system (D-GPS) to improve the accuracy of the position location system 1 10. As is well known, the D-GPS system is an enhancement to the convention GPS system, to improve location accuracy, typically from the 15 meter nominal GPS accuracy to about 10 cm in the case of an ideal implementation. D-GPS uses a network of fixed, ground-based reference stations (i.e. ground stations 1 12) to broadcast the difference between the positions indicated by the GPS satellite systems and the known fixed positions. These stations 1 12 broadcast the difference between the measured satellite pseudoranges and actual (internally computed) pseudoranges, and receiver stations (i.e. the traffic violation monitoring unit 106) may correct their pseudoranges by the same amount. The digital correction signal is typically broadcast locally over ground-based transmitters of shorter range. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 can have a calendar/clock module

(not shown). The calendar/clock module records and compares the time and date of each RFID reader 1 14 against specific identification information of a particular motor vehicle 102. A biometric scanner is also included in the traffic violation determination module 1 16 to enable an authorised technician, by way of comparing the stored biometric/s to the biometric/s of the authorised technician/s, to perform maintenance or upgrades to the system 100 and a USB connection in order to be able to download or upload data, in use. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 uses a power supply of the traffic light on which it is located. To this end, the traffic violation monitoring server 208 includes a computer- readable medium (not illustrated), main memory, and/or a hard disk drive, which carries a set of instructions to direct the operation of the processor 210, for example in the form of a computer program. It is to be understood that the processor 210 may include one or more microprocessors, controllers, or any other suitable computing device, resource, hardware, software, or embedded logic.

The A-GPS system 1 10 and the plurality of ground stations 1 12 communicate with each other over the communication network 1 18. The A-GPS system includes a receiver (not shown) configured to receive A-GPS reference location data of the motor vehicle 102 through reference satellites. The A-GPS reference location data is received through a conventional manner, where the receiver receives location and time information from the known GPS satellites (herein referred to as reference satellites). The A-GPS receiver may use a SiRFstarlll or similar receiver.

In order to obtain a more accurate geographical location of the motor vehicle 102, the SiRFstarlll receiver 1 10 and the ground stations 1 12 are used, accordingly. Once the motor vehicle 102 is in close proximity with the ground stations 202, the SiRFstarlll receiver 1 10 receives differential location data from the traffic violation monitoring unit 106, integrated with one or more ground stations 1 12 locatable around the traffic light intersection 200. The ground stations 1 12, assisted by an A- GPS server communicatively coupled to the ground stations 1 12 over a communication network 1 18 computes differential location data. The communication network 1 18 is preferably, a wireless network. In other embodiments, the wireless network uses a short-range radio frequency for communication.

The A-GPS system includes a computation module (not shown) which uses the A-GPS reference location data of the motor vehicle 102 and the differential location data transmitted by the ground stations 1 12 so as to determine an accurate geographical location of the motor vehicle 102.

In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 can include a ground station database 216. More preferably, the ground station database 216 can form part of the traffic violation monitoring unit 106. The ground station database 216 includes ground station's information including multiple unique identifiers; each identifier associated with the ground stations and their respective fixed location data. Each ground station 1 12 can include an interrogation module (not shown) which interrogates the database 216 in order retrieve its own fixed location data. Once the fixed location data is retrieved, a ground station computation module (not shown), computes a differential location data by differentiating the fixed location data and reference location data received from reference satellites. The ground station 1 12 then broadcasts the differential location data. Preferably, each of the ground stations 1 12 is in a form of a Differential Global Positioning System (D-GPS).

The traffic violation determination module 1 16 determines whether or not the motor vehicle 102 violated the traffic light. Once it has been determined that the motor vehicle 102 has violated the traffic light, the communication module 212 communicates, to relevant stakeholders, violation information. The violation information includes information confirming that a motor vehicle driver has violated the traffic light, identification information of the motor vehicle and location at which the traffic light was violated. The traffic violation determination module 1 16 and the communication module 212 are described in detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Turning to Figures 5 and 6, the figures illustrate a flow diagram of a high-level method 300 of detecting a violation of a traffic light and an example embodiment of the system 100, in use. It will be noted that in one example embodiment, the flow diagrams of the example method shown in Figure 5 may be employed by the system 100 of Figure 1 . However, the method may also be employed in other systems not described in this application. Figures 5 and 6 are used to describe an example implementation of the system 100.

Prior to using the system 100, a motor vehicle driver may have pre-registered. In particular, when the motor vehicle driver registered his/her motor vehicle 102 with a particular motor vehicle registration department, the department would provide the motor vehicle driver with a motor vehicle licence holder 104. Identification associated with the motor vehicle 102 and the motor vehicle owner is then stored therein. The information relating to the motor vehicle 102 includes make and model of the motor vehicle, colour of the motor vehicle 102, licence number of the motor vehicle 102, preferably, an electronic vehicle license number, a registration number (number plate) of the motor vehicle 102, VIN number of the motor vehicle 102 and, possible, roadworthy status of the motor vehicle 102. The information relating to the owner of the motor vehicle 102 includes personal identification information, telephone number and/or work telephone number and insurance-related information. All such information is stored on the licence holder 104, in particular, on the identification device 108.

Traffic violation monitoring units 106 are installed along the traffic intersection 200. In particular, each traffic violation monitoring unit 106 is installed on the traffic control light 202. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 can be installed, preferably, on top of the traffic control light 202. This will enable the unit 106 to be effective and not to be obstructed, in use. In use, the reader, in a form of an RFID reader 1 14, transmits interrogation signals. The RFID reader 1 14 is active and thus reads and transmits messages, accordingly. In other embodiments, the RFID reader 1 14 can be a scanner which transmits interrogation signals. The signals are transmitted continuously, alternatively, the signals are transmitted periodically. The RFID reader 1 14 transmits signals so as to determine whether or not there is any motor vehicle 102 which is in close proximity with the RFID reader 1 14.

If a motor vehicle 102 is in close proximity, for example 5 to 15 metres relative to the RFID reader 1 14, the RFID reader 1 14 will be able to read the identification information of the motor vehicle 102. For example, in the example embodiment shown on Figure 6, the RFID reader 1 14 will not be able to read the geographical location and identification information of motor vehicle 102C because the motor vehicle 102C is not in close proximity with the RFID reader 1 14 (which may incorporate or be part of a GPS Module), that is, the traffic violation monitoring unit 106. However, the RFID reader 1 14 can read identification information and geographical location in respect of motor vehicles 102A and 102B.

The RFID reader 1 14 receives (at block 302) a traffic violation enquiry message (via a communication network 1 18). The traffic violation enquiry message includes identification information of the motor vehicle 102 and the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102. An extraction module (not shown) can extract (at block 304), using conventional methods, the identification information and the geographical location from the traffic violation enquiry message. Alternatively, the RFID reader 1 14 can have an extraction module therein which extracts the identification information and the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102.

Once the RFID reader 1 14 has read the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102, the traffic violation determination module 106 interrogates (at block 306) a pre-populated perimeter database 214 to determine whether or not the received geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 matches with at least one location coordinates which is indicative of a perimeter zone 204 associated with a traffic violation monitoring unit 106. The perimeter database 214 can include a plurality of traffic violation monitoring units 106 and each traffic violation monitoring unit 106 will be associated with a particular demarcated perimeter zone 204. Therefore, once the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 is received, the geographical location should be checked as to whether or not it matches with one of the location coordinates which defines the particular perimeter zone 204. If the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 does not match with any of the location coordinates of the perimeter zone 204, then the traffic violation determination module 1 16 terminates (at block 308) the enquiry. In the embodiment of Figure 6, it is apparent that the geographical location relating to motor vehicle 102A falls outside the location coordinates of the perimeter zone 204, thus an enquiry relating to the motor vehicle 102A will be aborted, accordingly.

If the answer is affirmative, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 receives (at block 310) status of the traffic light and traffic light time. The traffic violation monitoring unit 106 can be communicatively coupled to a conventional circuitry which forms part of the traffic control light 202. The conventional circuitry can thus communicate the status of the traffic control light to the traffic violation determination module 1 16. The conventional circuit can also communicate traffic light time which is associated with the time when the traffic control light 202 changed status. Traffic light time is the time associated with the particular status. Simply put, when the status of the traffic light turns "Red", traffic light time is the time at which the traffic control light turned "Red". Upon receipt of the traffic light status and the traffic light time, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 further determines (at block 312) whether or not the traffic light status matches with a violation event. The traffic light status can include that a traffic light signal is either "Red" which is associated with a "stop" command, "Amber" which is associated with a "caution" command, and "Green" which is associated with a "proceed" command. The violation event may be when the status of the traffic light is "Red".

If the answer is negative, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 terminates (at block 314) the enquiry. However, if the answer is affirmative, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 calculates (at block 316) motor vehicle geographical location with reference to the perimeter zone 204 associated with the pre-populated perimeter database. This calculated geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 provides accurate geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 during the violation period.

Upon calculating the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 , the traffic violation determination module 1 16 determines (at block 318) whether or not the geographical location of the motor vehicle 102 is within the perimeter zone 204 when the status of the traffic light matches with the violation event, that is, the status is "Red". In addition, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 determines whether or not a time condition is satisfied. In particular, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 determines whether or not the traffic light time falls between traffic light time less a predefined period and traffic light time plus a predefined period. Period can be any amount of time, for example, a period can be one second or one minute etc. If the answer is negative, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 aborts (at block 320) the enquiry. This means that the motor vehicle 102 entered the perimeter zone 204 way before the traffic control light turned "Red". In response to determining that the motor vehicle time falls therein, and the time condition is met, the traffic violation determination module 1 16 provides (at block 322) that the motor vehicle 102 has violated the traffic light.

The communication module 212 sends and receives messages, in use. The messages are sent and received using the communication network 1 18. The system 100 may also provide (at block 324), through a communication module 212, relevant stakeholders e.g. law enforcement agencies, insurance companies with violation information. The violation information can be information confirming that a motor vehicle driver has violated the traffic light, identification information of the motor vehicle and location at which the traffic light was violated. The violation information can be stored in a remote database (not shown). Alternatively, the system 100 accessed through Internet (by relevant stakeholders), so as to be able to retrieve violation information. In other words the violation information can be transmitted through to the relevant stakeholders (i) at predetermined intervals of time (ii) when the number of stored unique identifiers of the RFID devices associated with the violation information reaches a predetermined volume (iii) when general cellular communication traffic is low, e.g. after midnight.

Besides having a RFID reader 1 14 the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 is communicatively coupled to a A-GPS Server, which itself is communicatively coupled to a GSM cellular network. Each traffic violation monitoring unit 106 has a GSM communication module and a SIM card to enable the communication to take place, via the GSM Cellular network, with the A-GPS Server. The Almanac satellite data received from the stationary A-GPS Server enables the D-GPS software embedded within the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 to compute the differential between the traffic violation monitoring unit 106 and the License Holder 104 attached to the motor vehicle 102.

Violation information can be transmitted as zipped files and such files can then be stored at a remote secure database (for security reasons). Once the violation information has been transmitted successfully, the traffic violation monitoring module 1 16 can delete the violation information (stored thereon, temporarily) so as to create space within its internal memory.

A Dallas key (not shown), or similar technology, is provided on the traffic violation monitoring unit 106. The Dallas key is used for locking and/or deactivating the traffic violation monitoring unit unit 106. In particular, the Dallas Key is used by a technician to identify the technician and allow the technician to gain access to certain software elements within the traffic violation monitoring unit 106, record service events, and provide the system administrator with an audit trail relating to the servicing and maintenance of the traffic violation monitoring unit 106.

The invention as exemplified is advantageous in that it provides a method 300 and system 100 for detecting a violation of a traffic light in an effective manner. The detection of the violation will deter motor vehicle drivers from violating the traffic light in future because the motor vehicle owner information and motor vehicle information are routed directly to the law-enforcement agency. The method 300 and system 100 will also enable the law-enforcement agency to save time because all the violation information will be routed directly to the agency and thus the agency is also able to issue traffic fines and/or arrest the traffic light violators.