초록 ▼

A system for automatic collection of tolls includes an in-vehicle toll processor having memory for storing a toll-money-available quantity purchased by the user, and a toll-facility-identification site that transmits a toll-facility-identifier signal indicating the identity of the upcoming toll faci

A system for automatic collection of tolls includes an in-vehicle toll processor having memory for storing a toll-money-available quantity purchased by the user, and a toll-facility-identification site that transmits a toll-facility-identifier signal indicating the identity of the upcoming toll facility. As the vehicle approaches the identification site, the in-vehicle processor receives the identifier signal and calculates the toll to be debited. When the vehicle passes through the toll facility, the in-vehicle processor transmits its identity, its net balance and the toll, which it debits from an account balance. The in-vehicle processor may increment a low balance, in which case it transmits information which is relayed to a central system for billing. Various means for shutting down delinquent in-vehicle components or identifying offender vehicles are described.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for automatically collecting tolls from a vehicle moving along a roadway having a plurality of entrances and exits, wherein the toll to be charged to a vehicle varies with an entrance point of t

[ Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for automatically collecting tolls from a vehicle moving along a roadway having a plurality of entrances and exits, wherein the toll to be charged to a vehicle varies with an entrance point of the vehicle to the roadway, an exit point of the vehicle to the roadway, and a vehicle class, the method comprising the steps ofproviding at least a exit toll facility through which the vehicle can pass for toll collection,providing an entrance toll-facility-identification site corresponding to said entrance point of said vehicle to said roadway,providing in a vehicle a vehicle transponder having storage for storing toll-money-available information representative of a monetary quantity available for debiting in a toll transaction at an upcoming toll facility,loading the transponder with electronic gross-toll-amount information representative of an initial toll-money-available value,storing a toll schedule, indicative solely of exit toll facility tolls corresponding to said entrance point of said vehicle to said roadway, in said vehicle transponder in response to a transmission from said entrance toll-facility-identification site,transmitting, from a exit toll-facility-identification site corresponding to the exit toll facility, a exit toll-facility-identifier signal for reception by said vehicle transponder,said vehicle transponder being receptive to receive said exit toll-facility-identifier signal,said vehicle transponder being arranged to determine, in response to the exit toll-facility-identifier signal, a toll amount from said schedule to be debited against the value of the money available at the exit toll facility, andtransmitting, from the vehicle transponder, as the vehicle proceeds through the exit toll collection facility, data identifying the in-vehicle toll processor and toll balance information from storage.