A motorized full-function high-flow highway toll system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system and method. The system includes multiple modules such as handheld terminals and portable terminals. In a single lane, the handheld and portable terminals, in collaboration with toll collection points, form a toll queue area for synchronous toll collection of entering vehicles. Based on an intelligent scheduling algorithm, the system collaboratively judges vehicle information and generates control commands to drive the intelligent control module to raise the barrier for consecutive adjacent vehicles that have successfully completed transactions. An operation management module enables visualized configuration and global monitoring of system parameters. Furthermore, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) module is introduced for mobile ETC toll collection, a user APP external module supports pre-payment, and the terminal's built-in UWB positioning module accurately locates and sets up electronic fences. This invention achieves on-demand flexible expansion of toll collection capacity and intelligent collaboration among multiple devices, improving traffic efficiency and emergency response capabilities in high-volume highway scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of high-volume highway toll collection technology, and in particular to a mobile, full-function high-volume highway toll collection system and method. Background Technology

[0002] As the scale of the expressway network continues to expand and traffic volume continues to grow, especially in scenarios with high traffic volume such as holidays, peak tourist seasons, and important transportation hubs, the limitations of traditional fixed toll collection methods (such as ETC dedicated lanes and MTC manual lanes) are becoming increasingly apparent.

[0003] First, due to the limited physical space of toll plazas, the number of toll lanes is fixed and cannot be dynamically expanded according to the tidal characteristics of traffic flow, resulting in a severe shortage of traffic capacity during peak hours. Second, the coverage of fixed toll booths or terminal equipment is limited. When a lane experiences slow traffic due to equipment failure or special handling, it is difficult to quickly allocate resources for diversion, easily causing local congestion. Third, the existing toll collection methods are relatively simple: ETC lanes only support electronic non-stop toll collection, which is less adaptable to vehicles with abnormal tags or without ETC; MTC lanes mainly rely on manual operation, which is less efficient at handling cash or QR code payments and cannot flexibly meet diverse payment needs. In addition, when facing sudden surges in traffic volume such as the transition period of free passage policies or traffic accident diversion, traditional toll stations lack the emergency response capability to quickly deploy additional toll collection points, often resulting in long queues and affecting the overall operational efficiency of the road network.

[0004] To address these challenges, the industry has attempted to introduce mobile devices such as handheld toll collectors for auxiliary toll collection. However, these initial attempts still have significant shortcomings. On the one hand, the automatic barrier control logic of toll lanes is usually based on the trigger signal of a fixed induction coil, meaning that a transaction and barrier raising are only triggered after the vehicle has fully entered the lane and stopped in the detection area. This rigid logic cannot adapt to scenarios where mobile devices can operate flexibly in front of or to the side of the lane, potentially leading to transactions being completed before the vehicle has even arrived, or incorrect barrier raising / lowering due to inaccurate position judgment after the transaction. On the other hand, there is a delay in data synchronization between the mobile terminal and the central toll collection system, which can easily result in transaction information not being updated in real time, leading to the risk of duplicate charges or missed charges. At the same time, staff need to manually judge the timing of barrier raising, which is highly dependent on personal experience, resulting in poor operational consistency and a high risk of errors. Existing solutions also lack the ability to intelligently schedule multiple mobile devices working together and vehicle queues, making it difficult to dynamically allocate toll collection resources based on the queuing situation in each lane, potentially leading to both idle resources and excessively long queues.

[0005] For example, invention application number 202510810639.4 discloses an unmanned adaptive toll collection method and system for highways. While this solution can improve the traffic efficiency of toll stations and encourage drivers to drive safely, thus contributing to traffic safety, it lacks an effective way to handle toll collection during peak traffic periods.

[0006] Therefore, a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system and method is needed to construct a new toll collection model that can deeply integrate mobile toll collection terminals, intelligent sensing technology, and dynamic control strategies, so as to achieve on-demand flexible expansion of toll collection capacity and efficient collaborative operation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system and method, solving the problems of low toll collection efficiency and restricted vehicle traffic during peak highway traffic periods. It enables dynamic expansion and efficient response to vehicle toll collection scenarios, meeting the demands of modern highway toll collection characterized by high volume, multiple modes, and high flexibility.

[0008] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solution: a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system. For high-volume highway toll collection, a mobile toll collection queue area is formed by temporarily configuring handheld terminals, portable terminals, and toll point terminals within a single lane. Based on the toll collection system, vehicles undergo rapid toll transactions, generating toll transaction information. The toll collection system includes:

[0009] The queue perception module obtains vehicle queue information in the toll queue area based on ground inductive loops;

[0010] The license plate recognition module obtains the license plate information and vehicle location information of vehicles entering the toll queue area based on the license plate detector;

[0011] The central control module uses an intelligent scheduling algorithm to collaboratively judge the generated vehicle transaction information and generate control commands.

[0012] The intelligent lever module dynamically controls the lever based on control commands;

[0013] The operation management module displays vehicle toll information and equipment status information through a visual interface, and allows for the visual configuration of toll system parameters.

[0014] The toll queue area adopts a toll transaction strategy of allowing vehicles to enter and exit in batches.

[0015] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the handheld device and the portable device are equipped with a built-in UWB positioning module to accurately locate the handheld device and the portable device, and the charging system sets up an electronic fence based on the accurate positioning.

[0016] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the charging system further includes:

[0017] The drone module uses drones to identify vehicles and conduct ETC toll transactions before they enter the toll queue area, generating toll transaction information and sending it to the central control module. The central control module then notifies vehicles that have completed the toll transaction and guides them to the fast lane.

[0018] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the charging system further includes:

[0019] The user app external module supports users to prepay through the mobile app, while the central control module guides vehicles that have completed prepayment to the fast passage lane.

[0020] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the handheld terminal, portable terminal and toll point terminal are equipped with an AI payment scene recognition model. The AI ​​payment scene recognition model automatically matches the optimal payment path by associating the license plate with the vehicle's historical payment preferences.

[0021] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the number of handheld and portable devices in the toll queue area is determined based on the lane queue length, vehicle type, and equipment usage status.

[0022] As a further embodiment of the present invention, a license plate recognition device is installed at the entrance of the toll queue area. The license plate recognition device determines the license plate information of the vehicles entering the toll queue area and sends it to the corresponding handheld device, portable device or toll point of each vehicle.

[0023] A mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection method includes the following steps:

[0024] S1. Within a single lane, a toll queue area is formed by networking handheld devices, portable devices, and toll points in coordination with the toll collection points.

[0025] S2. Vehicles entering the toll queue area are charged synchronously using the toll collection system, and the toll collection system verifies the transaction information of each vehicle.

[0026] S3. The toll system raises the barrier to allow consecutive adjacent vehicles that have successfully completed a transaction to pass at once.

[0027] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0028] 1. This invention transforms the traditional single-point serial toll collection mode into a multi-point, multi-vehicle parallel toll collection mode by forming a toll queue area through the collaborative networking of handheld devices, portable devices, and fixed toll collection points. This enables flexible expansion and on-demand deployment of toll collection capacity. In the face of sudden surges in traffic, no modifications to fixed infrastructure are required; simply adding mobile toll collection terminals can quickly increase the number of toll collection points, reducing emergency response time from hours to minutes. This fundamentally solves the traffic bottleneck problem caused by the fixed number of toll lanes.

[0029] 2. This invention utilizes a central control module based on an intelligent scheduling algorithm to collaboratively determine vehicle information, transaction status, and queue position, generating dynamic control commands. This achieves an intelligent leap from single-vehicle triggering and single-bar action to queue perception and continuous passage. The system can raise the barrier once for consecutive adjacent vehicles that have successfully completed transactions, significantly reducing the time interval and mechanical wear caused by frequent barrier raising and lowering. While ensuring safety, it greatly improves the traffic efficiency of a single lane and the smoothness of vehicle passage.

[0030] 3. This invention integrates multimodal technologies such as AI payment scenario recognition, UWB precise positioning and scheduling, drone-based mobile toll collection, and user APP prepayment to construct a fully functional and adaptive highway toll collection ecosystem. The system can not only intelligently match the optimal payment path to improve the efficiency of a single transaction, but also achieve dynamic optimal matching of personnel, equipment, and traffic flow needs through real-time and accurate resource positioning and scheduling algorithms. From the two dimensions of single-point efficiency improvement and global resource optimization, it synergistically maximizes the overall toll collection efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the highway toll collection system of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the toll queue area layout of the highway toll collection system of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the highway toll collection method of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar symbols denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0035] The existing highway toll collection methods suffer from problems such as poor scalability, low equipment utilization, limited payment options, and slow emergency response, making it difficult to handle sudden traffic surges.

[0036] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system and method. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0037] Example 1:

[0038] This embodiment discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system, such as... Figure 1 As shown,

[0039] For highway toll collection with high traffic volume, handheld terminals, portable terminals, and toll point terminals are temporarily deployed in each lane to form a mobile toll collection queue area. Based on the toll collection system, vehicles can quickly complete toll collection transactions and generate toll collection transaction information. The toll collection queue area adopts a toll collection transaction strategy of batch entry and batch exit of vehicles.

[0040] During peak traffic hours, a temporary toll queue area is created using a single lane, allowing multiple vehicles to be charged simultaneously. Staff members carrying handheld devices are stationed in the toll queue area, with portable devices placed on the side of the toll queue area. The original toll booths serve as fixed toll collection points, together forming the toll queue area.

[0041] The toll queue area is controlled manually or by turnstiles, allowing multiple vehicles to enter at a time. Handheld or portable toll collectors and toll booths simultaneously collect tolls from multiple vehicles. After the first vehicle completes its toll transaction, the toll system issues a command to raise the barrier and allow passage. The system automatically checks if adjacent vehicles have successfully completed their transactions. If so, the barrier remains raised, and all vehicles are allowed to pass at once. After multiple vehicles have completed toll collection in the toll queue area, the next batch of vehicles can then proceed with their transactions within the same area.

[0042] Based on the above charging methods, the specific charging system includes:

[0043] The toll collection system includes components such as a queue perception module, a sign recognition module, a central control module, an intelligent control lever module, and an operation management module.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, within the highway toll station area, toll queue areas are formed based on the configuration of each lane during peak traffic hours.

[0045] Sign recognition equipment is installed at the entrance of the toll queue area, and handheld and portable terminals are arranged on the sides of the toll queue area. The handheld and portable terminals, together with the toll points, form the toll terminal. A management server is deployed at the toll station or control center, and the toll system is deployed on the management server to realize the functions of the queue perception module, sign recognition module, central control module, intelligent control bar module, and operation management module.

[0046] The handheld device can be a handheld toll collection tablet, which is a lightweight device (supporting 4G / 5G network connectivity) that integrates a license plate recognition camera, a QR code scanning module (supporting WeChat / Alipay), and an NFC reader (compatible with ETC card emergency reading). It can be operated by staff by hand and is suitable for flexible verification next to the lane.

[0047] Portable machines, including trolley-type (with display screen, keyboard, and printer) and mobile type (can be dragged to any location in the square), support full-function toll collection operations (ETC transaction assistance, acceptance of multiple payment methods), are suitable for high-load lanes or emergency scenarios, and do not require manual operation.

[0048] Furthermore, the number of handheld and portable devices within the toll queue area is determined based on the lane queue length, vehicle type, and equipment usage status.

[0049] By collecting real-time data on vehicle queue lengths within lanes, and combining this data with the average processing time for different vehicle types (such as small cars and large trucks), as well as the current online status and workload of handheld and portable devices, dynamic calculations are performed. For example, when the lane queue length exceeds a preset threshold distance or the estimated waiting time exceeds a threshold time, the toll collection system automatically triggers equipment dispatch suggestions, prioritizing the deployment of more handheld or portable devices to congested sections. This rational combination of handheld and portable devices reduces the number of staff required and improves traffic efficiency.

[0050] The queue sensing module obtains vehicle queue information in the toll plaza area based on inductive loop detectors (e.g., [missing information]). Inductive loop detectors are installed in the vicinity of the lanes in the toll plaza area. Figure 2 The equipment shown includes counting coils, trigger coils, presence coils, and drop coils, as well as RSU antennas and integrated fee display barrier machines.

[0051] By monitoring the on / off state changes of the coils in real time, the system accurately identifies vehicle entry and exit actions, thereby counting the number of vehicles in the current toll queue area. Simultaneously, by combining the time difference data of vehicles passing through the coils, the average speed of vehicles in the queue is calculated, providing a quantitative basis for determining the toll collection time. This dynamic sensing information is transmitted in real time to the central control module, assisting it in subsequent lane resource scheduling and collaborative management of toll terminals.

[0052] The license plate recognition module obtains vehicle license plate information and vehicle location information based on the license plate detector.

[0053] The license plate recognition detector is installed at the entrance of the toll queue area or at the toll station gantry. The license plate recognition detector collects vehicle image information, and after being identified and analyzed by a pre-trained image recognition module, it can obtain vehicle license plate information and vehicle location information entering the toll queue area.

[0054] The license plate information includes key data such as license plate number and color, providing a basis for subsequent vehicle identity verification and accurate toll calculation. By comparing and tracking continuously collected vehicle images frame by frame, and combining them with preset image coordinate system parameters, the number of vehicles and queuing distance in the toll queue area can be calculated in real time. By using the installation location coordinates of the license plate recognition detector and the relative position of vehicles in the image, the dynamic positioning of vehicles in the toll queue area can be achieved. This multi-dimensional vehicle information is cross-validated and fused with the data obtained by the queue perception module to jointly construct a comprehensive and accurate dynamic profile of vehicles at the toll collection site, providing strong data support for the central control module to optimize lane resource allocation and improve toll collection efficiency.

[0055] The central control module uses an intelligent scheduling algorithm to collaboratively judge the generated vehicle transaction information and generate control commands.

[0056] The central control module receives the acquired vehicle information, including vehicle license plate information and vehicle location information, and performs multi-dimensional collaborative analysis of the vehicle information based on intelligent scheduling algorithms.

[0057] The intelligent scheduling algorithm verifies the license plate information and matches it with the vehicle registration information, access permissions, and historical payment records in the background database to confirm the vehicle's legality and the applicable toll standards.

[0058] The intelligent scheduling algorithm assesses the congestion level and traffic efficiency of each toll queue area in real time. For example, when the number of vehicles queuing in a lane exceeds a preset threshold or the queue distance reaches a warning length, the system will determine that the lane is under high load. Based on this, the intelligent scheduling algorithm will dynamically allocate lane toll resources according to the real-time traffic flow, vehicle type, and payment method distribution of each lane.

[0059] For congested lanes, the intelligent scheduling algorithm can generate control commands, prompting subsequent vehicles to choose other empty or less congested lanes via information guidance screens at the lane entrances, and coordinating staff with portable handheld devices to provide support. Based on vehicle location information, the intelligent scheduling algorithm determines the vehicle's movement status in the queue, assesses the toll collection status of vehicles in the current toll queue area, generates control commands, and sends these commands to execution units such as the barrier gate control equipment, toll terminals, and information guidance screens.

[0060] Furthermore, the central control module also has self-diagnosis and fault-tolerant control capabilities. When a lane device suddenly malfunctions, it can quickly divert the vehicle information to be processed in that lane to other normal lanes and update the lane status information in real time through the information guidance screen to prevent vehicles from accidentally entering and causing secondary congestion, thereby ensuring the continuous and stable operation and efficient collaborative operation of the entire toll collection system.

[0061] The central control module also integrates a payment gateway, which is compatible with multiple modes such as ETC automatic deduction, third-party payment and cash transaction (back-end accounting). After a successful transaction, a dynamic control lever command is automatically triggered.

[0062] The intelligent lever module dynamically controls the lever based on control commands.

[0063] Upon receiving dynamic control commands from the central control module, the intelligent control module responds swiftly, precisely controlling the raising, lowering, and pausing of the barrier via its drive motor. Its built-in position and pressure sensors monitor the barrier's status in real time, ensuring it reaches the preset height when raised, guaranteeing smooth vehicle passage. The intelligent control module also features an anti-collision protection mechanism. If a vehicle has not completely moved away from the area beneath the barrier or if an obstruction exists, even upon receiving a lowering command, the sensors will detect an abnormal signal and immediately halt the operation, keeping the barrier raised until the obstacle is removed or safety is confirmed before resuming further operations, effectively preventing damage to vehicles and personnel.

[0064] The operations management module displays vehicle toll information and equipment status information through a visual interface, and allows for the visual configuration of toll system parameters.

[0065] The operations management module allows real-time viewing of detailed data for each transaction, including time, amount, license plate recognition results, and payment method. It also presents statistical information such as daily / monthly traffic volume, total revenue, and the proportion of each payment method in charts, making it easy for managers to quickly grasp the operational dynamics.

[0066] The operation management module allows for remote configuration and modification of pricing standards, equipment operating parameters (such as barrier lifting speed and sensor sensitivity thresholds), and user permissions (assignment of functional permissions to different operators). Configuration changes take effect in real time without the need for on-site debugging.

[0067] When transaction failures or data transmission interruptions occur, the operations management module provides pop-up prompts through a visual interface and issues audible and visual alarms. It also automatically records anomaly logs to help managers locate problems and perform maintenance in a timely manner, ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the toll collection system.

[0068] Employing the aforementioned queue perception module, license plate recognition module, central control module, intelligent control lever module, and operation management module, the toll collection system automatically achieves intelligent management of the entire process in highway toll collection scenarios. The system uses the queue perception module to monitor vehicle queues in real time, predict peak traffic flow, and provide data support for lane allocation and personnel deployment at toll stations. The license plate recognition module quickly and accurately identifies the license plates of vehicles entering the toll area and synchronizes the identification results to the central control module. As the system's computing core, the central control module integrates vehicle information, transaction data, and status information from handheld terminals, portable terminals, and toll point terminals, performs comprehensive analysis and decision-making, and then issues commands to the intelligent control lever module to control the precise raising and lowering of the toll gate. Simultaneously, the handheld and portable terminals can be flexibly applied to emergency toll collection and mobile inspection scenarios. When fixed lanes experience congestion or equipment malfunction, staff can use handheld terminals for rapid toll collection, while portable terminals enable the rapid setup of temporary toll points, effectively improving the toll collection system's mobility and emergency response capabilities.

[0069] Each terminal and module interacts with each other through a stable wireless communication protocol to ensure the real-time and accuracy of information transmission, thereby building a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system that integrates vehicle identification, intelligent toll collection, lane control, operation management, and emergency response.

[0070] Example 2:

[0071] Based on Example 1, this example discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system, which optimizes the configuration of handheld and portable devices.

[0072] Preferably, the handheld and portable devices are equipped with UWB positioning modules, and staff wear UWB tags. The handheld and portable devices are accurately located based on the UWB positioning modules, and the toll collection system sets up electronic fences based on the accurate positioning.

[0073] UWB positioning modules can provide positioning accuracy of 10-20 centimeters or even higher. In the relatively small but complex area of ​​the toll plaza, the exact location of each handheld device, portable device, and staff wearing UWB tags can be accurately determined. This is beneficial for the toll collection system to dynamically allocate and efficiently manage toll collection resources.

[0074] Furthermore, the toll collection system can quickly identify toll collection equipment and corresponding staff that are currently idle or under low load based on the real-time location information of each handheld and portable device, and guide them to support areas with traffic congestion through dispatch instructions, thereby achieving optimal allocation of personnel and equipment and avoiding inefficient toll collection in some areas due to insufficient equipment or personnel.

[0075] Furthermore, the electronic fence can strictly limit the effective working range of handheld and portable devices. Once the device exceeds the preset electronic fence boundary, the system will immediately issue an alarm message to remind the management personnel to pay attention and prevent charging loopholes or equipment security risks caused by the device being taken out of the designated working area, thus ensuring the standardization and security of charging operations.

[0076] Furthermore, the electronic fence can be set up to immediately issue an alarm via device vibration or headphones when it detects that a worker (via handheld device or UWB tag) is too close to a moving vehicle (such as accidentally entering an adjacent lane), thus proactively preventing safety incidents.

[0077] Furthermore, with the electronic fence setup, when the toll collection system detects a staff member actively approaching a parked vehicle using a handheld device, the device can automatically preload the vehicle's information. When the staff member raises the device, the screen already displays the amount due, eliminating the need for manual scanning.

[0078] Example 3:

[0079] Based on Embodiment 1 or 2, this embodiment discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system. The toll collection system is equipped with a drone module, which enables vehicle ETC toll collection transactions.

[0080] Specifically, in the toll plaza area, drone platforms are deployed. These drones, equipped with ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) modules, can take off autonomously or be remotely controlled, depending on vehicle queue conditions or special lane requirements, flying to a preset altitude above designated vehicles. The ETC module on the drone actively identifies the vehicle's OBU (On-Board Unit), establishes a wireless communication connection, and completes the reading and interaction of ETC transaction data, calculating toll fees in real time and deducting the fee. After the transaction is completed, the toll plaza can announce the successful payment to the driver via voice broadcast or display a reminder on the toll plaza screen, guiding vehicles that have completed payment to the fast lane and improving traffic efficiency.

[0081] The toll collection system utilizes a drone module to interact with the drone platform, determine drone flight paths and flight queuing, and provide dynamic and intelligent toll collection coverage for vehicles in the square.

[0082] The toll collection system utilizes drone platform scheduling algorithms to analyze vehicle density within the plaza in real time. Combined with pre-defined priority service rules, it plans the optimal flight path for each drone. Furthermore, the system uses high-definition cameras and sensors onboard the drones to monitor vehicle trajectories and status in real time. If abnormal movement or prolonged stagnation is detected during the toll collection process, the system adjusts the drone's flight path and operational rhythm to ensure the safety and continuity of the toll collection process. Through this dynamic path planning and queue management mechanism, the toll collection system maximizes the utilization of drone resources, effectively improving the overall traffic efficiency of the plaza. Especially during peak hours or in special traffic scenarios, it significantly reduces vehicle waiting times, achieving efficient and orderly operation of highway toll plazas.

[0083] Furthermore, in conjunction with the use of drone platforms, vehicle guidance displays are installed at the entrance of the toll queue area to divert vehicles that have completed ETC toll transactions into the fast passage lane. This fully leverages the advantages of rapid toll collection based on drone platforms and effectively avoids congestion caused by different types of vehicles mixing at the entrance.

[0084] Example 4:

[0085] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system, which also includes a user APP external connection module.

[0086] The toll collection system connects with the user's app via an external module. When a user's vehicle enters the toll plaza area, the user can check the toll information and pay online through the app.

[0087] Furthermore, the app will also push real-time information on the vehicle's location in the toll queue, the estimated waiting time, and the current congestion status at the toll station, giving users a clear overview of the entire passage process.

[0088] Users can pre-bind frequently used vehicle information and payment methods through the APP for seamless and convenient payment; the APP provides multiple alternative payment channels and supports online issuance of electronic invoices and historical record query functions, further simplifying the payment process for users.

[0089] Furthermore, users can also report problems encountered during their journey through the app, which system administrators can receive and handle promptly, forming a closed-loop management mechanism of user feedback and rapid response.

[0090] Example 5:

[0091] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system. By configuring an AI payment scenario recognition model in handheld terminals, portable terminals, and toll collection point terminals, the AI ​​payment scenario recognition model automatically analyzes multi-dimensional data such as existing vehicle characteristics, payment behavior, and environmental parameters based on the existing payment system, identifies the user's payment intention and appropriate path in real time, and automatically matches the optimal payment method.

[0092] When the billing system identifies that a user has a history of frequently using a certain payment channel and that the current transaction success rate of that channel is high, it will prioritize displaying that payment entry point to the user, thereby improving payment efficiency.

[0093] Furthermore, each terminal is also equipped with a high-definition camera and a license plate recognition module, which can quickly collect and verify license plate information during slow-moving traffic. Combined with the model's intelligent judgment of vehicle type, load and other characteristics, it can achieve accurate calculation of toll fees.

[0094] Example 6:

[0095] Based on the toll collection system of the above embodiments, this embodiment discloses a mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection method, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the steps include:

[0096] S1. Within a single lane, a toll queue area is formed by networking handheld devices, portable devices, and toll collection points.

[0097] A communication network is established through the communication modules of handheld and portable terminals to conduct real-time data interaction with the transaction system of the toll station terminal, and information is synchronized among devices in the toll queue area.

[0098] The delineation of the toll queue area can be flexibly adjusted according to the on-site traffic flow. Handheld operators can guide vehicles to enter the toll queue area in an orderly manner at the front end, while portable devices are distributed on the side of the toll queue area as mobile toll collection nodes. The use of various terminal devices can realize parallel preprocessing of multiple vehicles and improve lane traffic efficiency.

[0099] S2. Vehicles entering the toll queue area are charged synchronously using the toll collection system, which verifies the transaction information of each vehicle.

[0100] After a vehicle enters the toll queue area, the toll transaction is processed synchronously using various terminal devices. The transaction information is sent to the toll system, which performs multi-dimensional verification of the received transaction information, including vehicle identification information and transaction information verification.

[0101] Once verification is successful, the system automatically deducts the fee or records the transaction completion status, obtains an electronic transaction voucher, generates control instructions, and performs subsequent operations. If verification fails, the charging system will send the abnormal information to the corresponding handheld or portable terminal. Staff will then interact with the vehicle owner on-site based on the prompts, assisting the owner in completing the payment through alternative payment methods such as cash or mobile QR code scanning, or guiding the vehicle to the abnormal processing area for further verification, ensuring the accuracy and validity of each transaction.

[0102] S3. The toll system raises the barrier to allow consecutive adjacent vehicles that have successfully completed a transaction to pass at once.

[0103] After the toll collection system verifies that the transaction information is correct and there are no vehicles in front of the vehicle in the queue, it sends a command to raise the barrier. After the barrier is raised, the ground loop monitors the vehicle's passage status. When the toll collection system verifies that consecutive adjacent vehicles have successfully paid, the barrier remains raised, allowing the queue of vehicles that have completed payment to pass through quickly. The barrier automatically lowers after confirming that the front of the vehicle has completely passed through the barrier.

[0104] For example, a toll queue area can be divided using lanes, and tolls can be collected from 5 vehicles simultaneously using handheld devices, portable devices, and toll booths. After the first vehicle completes its toll transaction, the toll system issues a command to raise the barrier and allow passage. The toll system automatically determines whether adjacent vehicles have successfully completed their transactions. If subsequent adjacent vehicles have successfully completed their transactions, the barrier remains raised, and all vehicles are allowed to pass at once.

[0105] Using the aforementioned toll collection method, during peak traffic periods, based on the toll queue area, multiple vehicles within the queue can be tolled simultaneously through the coordinated operation of handheld devices, portable devices, and toll points, greatly improving toll processing efficiency per unit time. When a vehicle at the front of the queue completes its toll transaction, the toll system quickly issues a barrier-raising command, and the barrier immediately raises to allow the vehicle to pass. Simultaneously, the system automatically assesses the transaction status of adjacent vehicles in real time. Once it confirms that a subsequent adjacent vehicle has also successfully paid, the barrier remains raised, allowing these consecutively paid vehicles to pass quickly in sequence until all vehicles that have completed their transactions have left the toll queue area. This combination of multi-vehicle parallel toll collection and continuous barrier-raising effectively reduces the time loss caused by frequent barrier raising and lowering during traditional single-lane vehicle-by-vehicle toll collection, significantly improving vehicle throughput during peak hours and alleviating congestion at toll stations.

[0106] Application examples:

[0107] Taking Wuzhuang Toll Station, the busiest toll station in Anhui Province, as an example, the toll station is located at the border of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. The daily traffic flow at the toll station entrance and exit is about 44,000 vehicles, and the highest daily traffic flow can reach 185,000 vehicles, facing the pressure of peak traffic.

[0108] The toll queue area is divided into sections, with 6 toll spaces set up within the toll queue area. One staff member carries one handheld device, 4 portable devices are set up on the side of the toll queue area, and there is one fixed toll point.

[0109] Staff members carrying handheld devices are positioned at the entrance of the toll queue area. The toll queue area is manually controlled by staff, allowing six vehicles to enter at a time. The handheld devices, portable devices, and toll booths simultaneously collect tolls from all six vehicles. After the six vehicles in the toll queue have been paid, the next batch of vehicles will proceed with the toll transaction.

[0110] Compared to the traditional single-toll-point model, the above-mentioned toll collection method improves efficiency by more than four times, significantly enhancing toll collection efficiency. It can handle more traffic flow per unit time, and vehicle waiting times are significantly reduced. Statistics show that during major holidays, the average time vehicles spend at toll stations has been reduced from 15-20 minutes to less than 5 minutes, greatly improving the travel experience for drivers and passengers and effectively avoiding traffic congestion and waste of road resources caused by long queues.

[0111] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection system, characterized in that: For high-volume highway toll collection, handheld terminals, portable terminals, and toll point terminals are temporarily deployed within each lane to form a mobile toll collection queue area. Based on the toll collection system, vehicles undergo rapid toll transactions, generating toll transaction information. The toll collection system includes: The queue perception module obtains vehicle queue information in the toll queue area based on ground inductive loops; The license plate recognition module obtains the license plate information and vehicle location information of vehicles entering the toll queue area based on the license plate detector; The central control module uses an intelligent scheduling algorithm to collaboratively judge the generated vehicle transaction information and generate control commands. The intelligent lever module dynamically controls the lever based on control commands; The operation management module displays vehicle toll information and equipment status information through a visual interface, and allows for the visual configuration of toll system parameters. The toll queue area adopts a toll transaction strategy of allowing vehicles to enter and exit in batches.

2. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handheld and portable devices are equipped with UWB positioning modules for precise location tracking, and the toll collection system sets up electronic fences based on this precise location.

3. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging system also includes: The drone module uses drones to identify vehicles and conduct ETC toll transactions before they enter the toll queue area, generating toll transaction information and sending it to the central control module. The central control module then notifies vehicles that have completed the toll transaction and guides them to the fast lane.

4. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The toll collection system also includes: The user app external module supports users to prepay through the mobile app, while the central control module guides vehicles that have completed prepayment to the fast passage lane.

5. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handheld terminal, portable terminal, and toll point terminal are equipped with an AI payment scenario recognition model. The AI ​​payment scenario recognition model automatically matches the optimal payment path by associating the license plate with the vehicle's historical payment preferences.

6. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of handheld and portable devices within the toll queue area is determined based on the lane queue length, vehicle type, and equipment usage status.

7. The toll collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A license plate recognition device is installed at the entrance of the toll queue area. The license plate recognition device identifies the license plate information of vehicles entering the toll queue area and sends it to the corresponding handheld device, portable device or toll point of each vehicle.

8. The toll collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, A mobile, full-function, high-volume highway toll collection method includes the following steps: S1. Within a single lane, a toll queue area is formed by networking handheld devices, portable devices, and toll points in coordination with the toll collection points. S2. Vehicles entering the toll queue area are charged synchronously using the toll collection system, and the toll collection system verifies the transaction information of each vehicle. S3. The toll system raises the barrier to allow consecutive adjacent vehicles that have successfully completed a transaction to pass at once.

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