Method and vehicle for interacting with a charging system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for interacting with a toll collection system, in which a user ID stored in a toll collection device (3) inside a vehicle and authorized to be allowed to travel on a toll collection section can be wirelessly transmitted to the toll collection system in order to allow entry into or exit from the toll collection section (1) at an access point (2) of the toll collection section (1), wherein a calculation unit (4) of a vehicle (5) carrying the toll collection device (3) determines a parking position of the vehicle (5) by means of a position determination device and compares the parking position with a digital road map, in which toll collection information is stored, which describes at least whether a respective road section is toll-collected, and if a toll is collected, the toll collection information is stored. If so, the respective road segment and where the access point (2) to the respective road segment is located are managed by which charging company. The authorized user ID is wirelessly transmitted to the access point (2); the computing unit (4) starts a timer when the vehicle (5) approaches the respective access point (2); if the computing unit (4) determines that the access point (2) is not passed after the timer exceeds the predetermined time limit, the computing unit (4) determines that the communication between the charging device (3) and the access point (2) has failed; in this case: the computing unit (4) causes an authorized user ID to be indirectly transmitted to the access point (2) via the central computing device (6) via the Internet together with the access point reference; or the computing unit (4) transmits the authorized user ID or an identifier representing the authorized user ID directly or indirectly from the charging device (3) to the mobile terminal (7) via the computing unit (4), wherein the user ID or identifier can be read out from the mobile terminal (7) by the access point (2) via the input interface (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for interacting with a toll collection system of the type further defined in the preamble to claim 1, and to a vehicle for carrying out the method. Background Art

[0002] Various access control mechanisms are known to allow entry or exit of toll roads. Usually, there are toll booths at the beginning and end of the toll road, with barriers blocking access. When entering the toll road, a ticket is collected, and the barriers are opened. When leaving, the ticket is inserted into the corresponding automatic device and the toll is paid. The disadvantage is that the labor cost is high. Therefore, the vehicle driver must open his window and reach out to collect the corresponding ticket or pay. As a result, long queues often form in the various lanes in front of the barriers.

[0003] In order to avoid these disadvantages, automatic toll collection systems are known. In this case, the license plate of the vehicle can be stored at the respective toll collection system operator, for example, in order to prepay the fee. Each toll station has a camera, which scans the license plate of the vehicle using the respective toll road section. If the stored license plate is detected, the barrier is opened to allow entry or exit to the toll road section.

[0004] Transponder-based devices are also known. Thus, a toll collection device for storing a unique user ID is installed or carried in the vehicle. The user ID is associated with a personal user account of the respective vehicle driver at the respective toll system operator. When the vehicle approaches a toll booth, the user ID is wirelessly transmitted to the toll booth via the transponder. The toll booth is in communication with a central computing device such as a cloud server, which stores information about which user IDs are authorized to use the respective toll road sections. If an authorized user ID is identified, the barrier opens.

[0005] This often leads to problems. The radio connection between the transponder and the toll booth can be disturbed. This is the case, for example, when there is snow on the windshield of the vehicle and a transponder fixed to the windshield is used. This makes it impossible to transmit the user ID and the barrier remains closed. The vehicle driver must then remove the transponder or the corresponding toll collection device, read the identification number or code printed on it and then enter it manually through the terminal at the toll booth. Such a transponder housing can also be provided with a photoelectric code, such as a barcode or a QR code, which can be held in front of the scanner at the toll booth. The requirement to hold the transponder or toll collection device in hand and manually interact with the terminal at the toll booth leads to a considerable loss of time and reduces the comfort of the vehicle driver. In addition, a queue of vehicles may form, which is stressful for the vehicle driver, further reducing the comfort.

[0006] WO 2022207324 A1 describes a general method for interacting with a toll system. In order to allow entry or exit of a toll road section at an access point of the toll road section, a user ID stored in a toll device inside the vehicle and authorized to travel on the toll road section is wirelessly transmitted to the toll system. The computing unit of the vehicle carrying the toll device determines the parking position of the vehicle by means of a position determination device and compares the position of the vehicle with a digital road map, wherein the digital road map stores toll information, which at least describes whether the corresponding road section is tolled, if so, which toll company manages the corresponding road section and where the access point to the corresponding road section is located. According to the known method, when the vehicle approaches the toll road section, that is, when the minimum distance between the vehicle and the toll road section is exceeded, a payment process can be performed so that the user ID is authorized after successful payment, that is, the authorization for the user ID to travel on the road section is obtained after payment. In this case, identification features associated with the vehicle, such as the official vehicle license plate and / or user ID stored in the toll device or transponder, can also be stored at the billing service provider and / or operator of the toll road section. When a vehicle reaches an access point that may be equipped with a barrier, the barrier may be opened automatically if an authorized user ID, for example in the form of a vehicle license plate, is recognized at the toll system, in particular by a camera. The transponder may wirelessly transmit the authorized user ID or identification feature to the toll system, which may open the barrier and allow travel on the road section.

[0007] DE 10 2013 114 935 A1 discloses an Internet-based parking fee payment method. For this purpose, an ID stored in a vehicle-mounted unit is read by radio from an access control device (e.g., a barrier) and is associated with parking information (e.g., an identifier of the parking system) and the parking fee or parking duration incurred. This information can be sent to a service provider to automatically execute the payment of the parking process. It should be noted that, in general, in the event of a malfunction, an effective payment method such as on-site ticket collection and payment at a self-service payment machine can be adopted. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for interaction with a toll collection system, by means of which method the user comfort is increased in a toll collection system based on radio technology for transmitting a user ID.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for interacting with a toll collection system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments as well as a vehicle for carrying out the method result from the dependent claims.

[0010] In a method for interacting with a toll system of the type mentioned above, in order to allow entry or exit of a toll road section at an access point to the toll road section, a user ID stored in a toll device inside the vehicle can be wirelessly transmitted to the toll system, wherein the user ID is authorized to travel on the toll road section, and wherein a computing unit of the vehicle carrying the toll device determines the parking position of the vehicle by means of a position determination device and compares it with a digital road map, wherein the digital road map stores toll information, which describes at least whether the corresponding road section is tolled, and if so, which toll company manages the corresponding road section and where the access point to the corresponding road section is located. According to the invention, the method is improved in the following way:

[0011] - The authorized user ID is wirelessly transmitted to the access point (2);

[0012] - When the vehicle approaches the corresponding access point, the computing unit starts a timer;

[0013] - if the computing unit determines that the access point has not been passed after the timer exceeds the predetermined time limit, the computing unit determines that the communication between the charging device and the access point has failed; and in this case:

[0014] - the computing unit causes the authorized user ID to be transmitted together with the access point reference via the central computing device indirectly via the Internet to the access point;

[0015] or

[0016] The computing unit causes an authorized user ID or an identifier representing an authorized user ID to be transmitted directly or indirectly from the charging device to the mobile terminal via the computing unit, wherein the user ID or the identifier can be read from the mobile terminal by the access point via the input interface.

[0017] By means of the method according to the invention, in the event of a communication failure between a toll collection device and an access point, user comfort can be increased, since the manual effort for the vehicle driver is reduced to a minimum and the access point can still be passed. Firstly, the calculation unit automatically determines whether a communication failure exists. If this is the case, different solutions are provided depending on the situation.

[0018] The access point may be a toll booth, in particular a toll booth having a barrier to prevent further travel, for example to be able to pass through the road section or to leave the road section being travelled.

[0019] Therefore, according to a first embodiment, the user ID stored in the toll device can be automatically transmitted to the access point via a central computing device, thereby allowing entry or exit from the toll section. This is particularly convenient because in this method, the vehicle driver does not need any manual effort. In this case, "transmission to the access point" refers to both direct transmission to the access point and indirect transmission via the back end of the corresponding toll company. In the case of direct transmission, the user ID itself can be transmitted to the access point, whereby the access point checks whether the corresponding user ID is authorized to pass through the access point. For this purpose, the access point can access a computing device that stores the corresponding authorization information. This can also be a computing device outside the access point, such as the back end of the toll company. In the case of indirect transmission, the user ID is transmitted to the back end of the toll company, whereby the back end sends a command to the access point to allow continued driving after successful authorization, such as opening the barrier.

[0020] Alternatively, the user ID or an identifier representing the user ID can be transmitted to a mobile terminal of the vehicle driver, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, etc. The identifier can be, for example, a checksum, a code, a photoelectric code, etc. The identifier can then be displayed on a display device of the mobile terminal. The vehicle driver can then guide the mobile terminal to the input interface of the access point. The input interface can be, for example, a keyboard or a camera or a scanner, etc. With the aid of a camera or a scanner, the access point can automatically read the user ID or identifier from the display device of the mobile terminal. However, the vehicle driver can also read the user ID or identifier himself and enter it manually via the keyboard. In any case, the vehicle driver does not need to hold the charging device itself or the transponder in his hands, or even remove it from the corresponding bracket on the vehicle.

[0021] The mobile terminal can be coupled to the computing unit or also to the charging device. The coupling can be performed, for example, via Bluetooth, WiFi or a wired connection (e.g., via a USB cable). This allows the user ID or identifier to be transmitted directly to the mobile terminal. The user ID or identifier can also be transmitted to a mobile terminal that is not coupled to the computing unit or the charging device. For example, the computing unit can manipulate a display device inside the vehicle, such as a display of a host computer, a combination instrument, etc., so as to display the user ID or identifier thereon. The mobile terminal can have a visual detection device such as a camera. This makes it possible to photograph the identifier or user ID output in the vehicle with a mobile terminal. Then, the photo or the display content generated thereby can be displayed by the display of the mobile terminal for interaction with the input interface.

[0022] Preferably, first an attempt is made to see whether the user ID can be fully automatically transmitted to the access point via the Internet. If this is not possible, then an attempt is made to automatically transmit the user ID or identifier to the mobile terminal. If this is still not possible, then as a last step, the user ID or identifier is visually displayed in the vehicle so that the vehicle driver can take a picture of the user ID or identifier. Of course, the vehicle driver can also read the user ID or identifier directly from the display device in the vehicle and remember it, and then manually enter it through the input interface configured as a keyboard.

[0023] The vehicle can, for example, have a navigation device as a position determination device. The navigation system can be based on the use of global navigation satellite systems, such as GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, etc. In particular, if a plurality of such systems, such as GPS and Galileo, are used, the geographical location of the vehicle can be determined particularly accurately. Which roads or sections are subject to tolls are stored in the digital road map. In addition, the toll companies that manage these roads or sections are also stored. This information is used to determine to which company the user ID is to be sent, or which user ID must be read out, since different user IDs can also be reserved for different toll companies. In addition, the toll information includes the respective locations of the access points to and from the toll road section. This enables the calculation unit to detect the approach of the vehicle to the respective access points.

[0024] In this case, the approach can be identified based on different methods. For example, a fixed radius to the corresponding access point can be defined, whereby when the vehicle moves to a fixed distance less than the radius or enters a circle spanned by the radius, it is concluded that the vehicle is approaching the corresponding access point. The charging information can also include information describing which payment methods can be used to settle the charge to the corresponding charging company. In addition, the payment information of the vehicle driver can also be stored in the computing unit and then transmitted together with the user ID, so that a smooth payment operation can be performed.

[0025] The user ID and optionally the payment information can also usually be stored in a central computing device. The central computing device is formed, for example, by a cloud server of the vehicle manufacturer of the vehicle of the vehicle driver. The vehicle manufacturer thus acts as a link between the vehicle driver and the toll company. In particular, the vehicle driver will use various services of the vehicle manufacturer, which require the storage of personal data and payment information at the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle manufacturer thus already has the information required to process the toll payment process or to allow entry or exit from a toll road section.

[0026] The predetermined time limit can be different depending on the situation. For example, for toll booths with relatively few lanes, a higher time limit, such as two minutes or five minutes, can be used, and for toll booths with relatively more lanes, a relatively shorter time limit, such as 30 seconds, 45 seconds or one minute, can be used. In particular, if the calculation unit determines based on the stop position of the vehicle and the stop position of the access point that the vehicle is in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding access point, for example two meters in front of the corresponding barrier, the timer is started. Preferably, it is also checked whether the vehicle is stopped. This is an indication (Indiz) that the barrier is not open, which in turn is an indication of interference with the radio connection. Therefore, when the vehicle approaches the barrier, the barrier is already open, if the radio connection is valid. Therefore, the vehicle does not stop.

[0027] In the case of an automatic forwarding of the user ID to the access point via the Internet, the access point reference is transmitted together with the user ID. This access point reference is required so that the corresponding backend of the toll company can perform an assignment in order to transmit the user ID or the entry or exit confirmation to the corresponding access point in order to open the barrier or allow entry. The access point reference can be determined by the calculation unit in different ways. For example, the access point reference of the corresponding access point can also be contained in the toll information, i.e. in the digital road map. However, the vehicle can also have an optical detection device, such as a camera, which allows the detection of visual features of the access point. For example, the access point ID can be arranged visibly at the corresponding access point and then read by the vehicle with the aid of a camera. As described above, the backend of the toll company can be used to operate the access point.

[0028] The authorized user ID authorizes the vehicle or user to travel on the toll road section, and according to the method of the present invention, authorization is possible even if the direct communication between the toll device and the access point fails, because according to the method of the present invention, other communication paths are provided for transmitting the authorized user ID.

[0029] An advantageous development of the method provides that the computing unit infers that the vehicle has not passed the access point by performing the following operations after the timer has expired:

[0030] - the computing unit monitors the forward movement of the vehicle and determines that the vehicle is substantially stopped or has been stopped after the timer is started at least until the time limit is reached; and / or

[0031] - the computing unit compares the vehicle's stationary position with the position of the access point and detects that the vehicle is still stationary in the direction of travel in front of the access point when the time limit is reached; and / or

[0032] The vehicle detects its surroundings by means of a surroundings camera, and the computing unit recognizes by evaluating the camera image generated by the surroundings camera that the vehicle is located in the direction of travel in front of the access point; and / or

[0033] - The computing unit receives a manual user input indicating a communication failure.

[0034] The above-listed identification options can be used individually or in combination. The combined use makes it possible to determine particularly reliably whether the vehicle has passed the access point, and failure to do so is a corresponding indication of a communication fault. It is a particularly simple method to detect the presence of a vehicle in front of an access point based on the vehicle's stopping, at least before a time limit is reached. This reduces the complexity of carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0035] Although it is more complicated to identify the stop of the vehicle in front of the access point based on the determined vehicle stop position and comparing it with the position of the access point stored in the digital road map, it allows a more reliable identification of whether the vehicle is stopped in front of the access point in the direction of travel or has passed the access point. In a purely time-based variant, there is a risk that the vehicle does not stop directly in front of the access point (i.e., for example, the barrier), but is blocked from continuing to travel by another vehicle with a communication failure. In this case, there may be no communication failure between the toll collection device of the vehicle and the access point. It is possible to identify based on the vehicle's stop position that the vehicle itself is still far enough before the actual access point, which can be used to wait for the actual transmission of the user ID to the access point or to the mobile terminal via the Internet. In particular, the allocation of the vehicle to the lane of the access point can also be performed here. However, this requires a relatively accurate determination of the stop position.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, camera-based environment detection can also be performed by the computing unit. In this case, a stop in front of an access point can also be detected particularly reliably. As described above, visual features of the access point can also be detected, which allows the vehicle to be assigned to a lane and thus to a corresponding barrier.

[0037] However, if all the above-mentioned methods fail, the computing unit can also be informed by manual user input that the access point is not accessible. Thus, for example, the vehicle driver can click on a corresponding control panel displayed on a touch-sensitive display device in the vehicle. This can set a "malfunction" label and be automatically displayed in advance, for example, when the vehicle approaches the corresponding access point.

[0038] Another advantageous design of the method according to the invention also provides that before the computing unit transmits the user ID to the access point or transmits the user ID or identifier to the mobile terminal, the computing unit actively asks the user via the man-machine interface whether he wants to pass through the access point, and the corresponding transmission is only performed when the user query is confirmed. In this way, the accidental and therefore undesirable transmission of the user ID or identifier can be prevented. Various devices can be used as a man-machine interface. For example, by voice, interaction can be carried out between the vehicle driver and the vehicle or the computing unit. Acoustic information can be output in the form of a voice message in the vehicle, and the voice response of the vehicle driver can be obtained by means of a microphone. Visual information can also be output on a display device in the vehicle. The vehicle driver can then respond using, for example, a touch-sensitive display device in the vehicle. In addition, due to the coupling with the computing unit or the charging device, the mobile terminal can also be used as an operating interface.

[0039] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, by means of the user query, it is additionally queried whether an authorized user ID should be transmitted to the access point via the central computing device or whether the user ID or identifier should be transmitted to the mobile terminal. Thus, each time a communication failure occurs between the toll collection device and the access point, the vehicle driver can decide in which way the user ID should be transmitted to the access point in order to allow continued driving. In general, it can also be predefined which of the methods is preferably executed as a standard variant. Particularly preferably, the three different reaction options are executed successively in an automated manner, starting with the highest degree of automation and ending with the variant with the highest manual effort.

[0040] Preferably, the user ID or identifier is transmitted exclusively to an authorized mobile terminal. Thus, an attacker can be prevented from disrupting the transmission of the user ID, or at least make it more difficult. This is because, if the user ID or identifier is transmitted to a mobile terminal, there is generally a risk that an attacker outside the vehicle can cause the transmission to his own mobile terminal. A communication failure between the toll collection device and the access point can also be caused by the attacker himself. If the user ID or identifier is then transmitted to the attacker's mobile terminal, the attacker himself can pass through the access point using the snatched user ID. This would result in a loss for the actual owner of the user ID.

[0041] When a mobile terminal is coupled to a computing unit or charging device, it can be considered authorized. As mentioned above, this coupling can be achieved, for example, via Bluetooth, WiFi or in a wired manner. In addition, mobile terminals can also be identified, and only those mobile terminals included in the positive list are considered authorized. For example, mobile terminals can be identified by serial number, dedicated SIM card, Bluetooth address, MAC address, etc.

[0042] In general, it is also possible for an attacker to disrupt the communication connection of the access point to the backend of the toll company. In this case, the access point will no longer be able to check whether the user ID it receives is authorized to pass through the access point. Accordingly, the corresponding barrier will remain closed. In this case, the existing communication connection of the vehicle to the Internet, in particular to the central computing device, can be used to exchange the corresponding data. The user ID can be sent to the backend of the toll company via the central computing device, which checks it and determines that it is allowed to pass through the access point. The backend then transmits the release information to the central computing device. This release information is then transmitted from the central computing device to the computing unit of the vehicle and to the mobile terminal in the form of a photoelectric code. This photoelectric code then contains only the coded information for the access point, i.e., the access point should allow continued driving, i.e., for example, the corresponding barrier should be opened. In this way, the continued driving of the vehicle driver can be ensured in a particularly reliable manner.

[0043] In a vehicle having a computing unit and a toll collection device, the computing unit and the toll collection device are arranged, according to the invention, to carry out the above method. The vehicle may be any vehicle, such as a car, a truck, a van, a bus or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention for interacting with a toll collection system also emerge from the exemplary embodiments which will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 Schematic plan view of a toll booth showing a radio connection failure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figure 1 A plan view of the access point 2 to the toll road section 1 is shown. Figure 1 , toll road section 1 is located behind access point 2 in the direction of travel. Therefore, access point 2 is used to control entry into toll road section 1. However, in general, toll road section 1 may also be located in front of access point 2 in the direction of travel, and thus access point 2 is used to control exit from toll road section 1.

[0047] The access point 2 is formed by a toll booth 2.4. The toll booth 2.4 in turn comprises a barrier 2.1 for each lane to allow the corresponding vehicle 5 to continue traveling. The barrier 2.1 can be centrally controlled by a computing device 2.3, or each barrier has its own control device. For automatic detection of tolls, the vehicle 5 has a toll device 3, in which the user ID of the vehicle driver of the vehicle 5 is stored. The user ID is associated with the user account of the vehicle driver at the toll company operating the access point 2. If the access point 2 receives an authorized user ID, the vehicle 5 must be allowed to continue traveling. The transmission of the user ID from the toll device 3 to the access point 2 usually takes place by radio. For this purpose, the toll device 3 comprises a suitable transmission device, such as a transponder or an antenna 9. The toll booth 2.4 also has at least one antenna 2.2 for receiving the user ID. As Figure 1 As shown, toll booth 2.4 can have a central antenna 2.2 or also individual antennas for individual lanes or each barrier 2.1.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown by the lightning icon in , the radio connection between antennas 2.2 and 9 is faulty. Therefore, the user ID cannot be transmitted from the toll device 3 to the toll station 2.4 by radio. With the help of the method according to the invention, the user expenditure in order to still ensure the continued travel of the vehicle 5 can now be reduced.

[0049] The computing unit 4 of the vehicle 5 thus determines the stationary position of the vehicle 5 and compares it with the digital road map. Toll information is stored in the digital road map, which describes the exact position of the access point 2 of the respective toll road section 1 and which toll company operates it. The computing unit 4 thus recognizes that the vehicle 5 is approaching the access point 2. Figure 1 The embodiment shown defines, for this purpose, a stop section 10 for each barrier 2.1, a timer being started when the vehicle 5 enters this stop section 10. In this case, the timer can only be started when the vehicle 5 stops in the stop section 10. If the timer expires, i.e. the timer exceeds a predetermined time limit, this is a sign that the corresponding barrier 2.1 remains closed, which in turn is a sign of a failure of the radio connection between the antennas 2.2 and 9.

[0050] The computing unit 4 then preferably automatically, but also optionally only by manual user input, causes the user ID to be transmitted from the toll device 3 to the central computing device 6 via the wireless communication interface 11 of the vehicle 5 (e.g., by mobile radio). The central computing device 6 is, for example, a cloud server of the vehicle manufacturer. The user ID may already be stored in the central computing device 6. In this case, the computing unit 4 sends a request to forward the user ID via the wireless communication interface 11. The access point reference is transmitted to the central computing device 6 together with the authorized user ID or the request, thereby informing the central computing device 6 which vehicle 5 or which vehicle driver wants to pass through which access point 2 of the corresponding toll company. The central computing device 6 then contacts the backend 12 of the corresponding toll company. The backend 12 can also be a cloud server. The backend 12 is communicatively connected to the computing device 2.3 of the toll station 2.4 via a communication connection, for example also via the Internet. Therefore, the user ID or the request to open the barrier 2.1 is forwarded from the backend 12 via the computing device 2.3 to operate the corresponding barrier 2.1. This enables the vehicle 5 to continue driving in a particularly comfortable manner without any manual effort on the vehicle driver.

[0051] Perhaps the forwarding of the user ID or the request to open the barrier to the computing device 2.3 by the central computing device 6 and the backend 12 may fail. However, in order to be able to continue driving comfortably, the user ID or an identifier representing the corresponding user ID, such as a digital sequence, a password, a photoelectric code, etc., can also be transmitted from the toll collection device 3 to the mobile terminal 7 of the vehicle driver. For example, the photoelectric code is transmitted to the mobile terminal 7 and is displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal 7. The corresponding barrier 2.1 has an input interface 8, in this case a camera or a scanner. The photoelectric code can be read from the mobile terminal 7 via the input interface 8. The barrier 2.1 then opens and allows continued driving.

[0052] If the user ID or identifier cannot also be automatically transmitted from the computer unit 4 to the mobile terminal 7 , the corresponding information can also be displayed on a display device in the vehicle 5 and recorded by means of the mobile terminal 7 .

[0053] The method according to the invention allows a vehicle 5 to pass through an access point 2 in situations where the radio connection between the toll device 3 and the access point 2 is limited or blocked. Normally, the vehicle driver has to manually read the user ID or the corresponding identifier from the housing of the toll device 3 or the corresponding transponder. To do this, the toll device 3 or the transponder must be held in hand, which causes considerable effort. However, with the method according to the invention, the user ID can be transmitted to the access point 2 in a different manner, preferably with a particularly high degree of automation, so that the barrier 2.1 can be opened.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with a charging system, wherein: In order to allow entry or exit of a toll road section (1) at an access point (2) of the toll road section (1), a user ID stored in a toll device (3) inside the vehicle and authorized to travel on the toll road section can be wirelessly transmitted to the toll system. in - a computing unit (4) of a vehicle (5) carrying the toll collection device (3) determines the parking position of the vehicle (5) by means of a position determination device and compares it with a digital road map, wherein the digital road map stores toll information, which describes at least whether the corresponding road section is tolled, and if so, which toll company manages the corresponding road section and where the access point (2) to the corresponding road section is located, It is characterized in that - The authorized user ID is wirelessly transmitted to the access point (2); - when the vehicle (5) approaches the corresponding access point (2), the computing unit (4) starts a timer; - if the computing unit (4) determines that the access point (2) has not been passed after the timer has exceeded a predetermined time limit, the computing unit (4) determines that there is a communication failure between the charging device (3) and the access point (2); and in this case: - the computing unit (4) causes the authorized user ID to be transmitted together with the access point reference via a central computing device (6) indirectly via the Internet to the access point (2); or - the computing unit (4) causes the authorized user ID or an identifier representing the authorized user ID to be transmitted directly or indirectly from the charging device (3) to the mobile terminal (7) via the computing unit (4), wherein the user ID or the identifier can be read from the mobile terminal (7) by the access point (2) via an input interface (8).

2. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The computing unit (4) infers that the vehicle (5) has not passed the access point (2) by performing the following operations after the timer expires: - the computing unit (4) monitors the forward movement of the vehicle (5) and determines that, after the timer is started, the vehicle (5) is substantially stationary or has been stationary at least until a time limit is reached; and / or - the computing unit (4) compares the stationary position of the vehicle (5) with the position of the access point (2) and detects that the vehicle (5) is still stationary in the direction of travel in front of the access point (2) when the time limit is reached; and / or - the vehicle (5) detects its surroundings by means of a surroundings camera, and the computing unit (4) detects, by evaluating a camera image generated by the surroundings camera, that the vehicle (5) is stationary in the direction of travel in front of the access point (2); and / or - The computing unit (4) receives a manual user input indicating a communication failure.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that Before the computing unit (4) transmits the user ID to the access point (2) or transmits the user ID or the identifier to the mobile terminal (7), the computing unit (4) actively asks the user via a human-machine interface whether he or she wishes to pass through the access point (2), and only performs the corresponding transmission when the user inquiry is confirmed.

4. The method according to claim 3, It is characterized in that By means of the user query, it is additionally queried whether the authorized user ID should be transmitted via the central computing device (6) to the access point (2), or whether the user ID or the identifier should be transmitted to the mobile terminal (7).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The user ID or the identifier is transmitted exclusively to an authorized mobile terminal (7).

6. A vehicle (5) comprising a computing unit (4) and a toll collection device (3), The vehicle is used to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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