Procedures for processing motor vehicle-related fee payment transactions

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for processing motor vehicle-related and preferably motor vehicle position-dependent fee payment transactions with the following steps: Establishing a communication connection (6) between an electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle (1) and a payment infrastructure (4) external to the motor vehicle; Transferring a unique, one-time token from the payment device to the payment infrastructure (4) to process a payment transaction. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the token is additionally transmitted from the payment device to a backend system (5) of a manufacturer of the motor vehicle (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for handling vehicle-related charge payment processes according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.It is generally known that data for handling a payment operation are exchanged between an electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle, for example a toll box mounted in the motor vehicle, and a payment infrastructure external to the motor vehicle, for example a toll bridge, for handling tolls. For example, the electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle transmits a token, that is to say an electronic unique token, to the payment infrastructure. The payment infrastructure can identify a specific payment process, to which a payment account and an account holder are assigned, on the basis of this token, in order to debit an amount of money as a charge, for example for road use.DE 10 2012 002 750 A1 describes a device for charging road usage fees. The apparatus is based on the acquisition and delivery of digital tokens which are generated and output by a toll authority. A vehicle driver who wishes to use a toll road acquires the necessary tokens from a toll authority and transmits them to a mobile token management device in his vehicle by means of any storage medium, for example a USB stick. If the driver now drives a toll road, the mobile token management device sends one or more tokens from the storage medium to the toll station, which then checks the correctness of the sent tokens. After a positive check, it sends an acknowledgement back to the mobile token management device in the vehicle.Such charge payment processes can also be used for application cases other than road use charges, i.e. a toll, for example for charges of parking spaces and the like.A disadvantage of the known methods in the handling of corresponding charge payment processes is that, on account of country-specific standards of the radio protocols, compliance with which is checked and subject to certification, there is a limitation of the transmittable data volume and of the transmittable data content. Thus, no arbitrary additional data can be transmitted between the payment infrastructure external to the motor vehicle and the electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle.The object of the present invention is to specify a method for handling vehicle-related, vehicle-position-dependent charge payment processes, with which value added services can be offered to the driver beyond the handling of the actual payment process.The object according to the invention is achieved by a method comprising the steps of claim 1. The dependent claims describe advantageous and particularly expedient embodiments of the invention.The method according to the invention for handling charge payment processes relating to the motor vehicle and preferably dependent on the position of the motor vehicle has the following steps:establishing a communication connection between an electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle and a payment infrastructure external to the motor vehicle; andtransmitting a unique, unique token from the payment device to the payment infrastructure for carrying out a payment process.The data can typically be exchanged between the motor vehicle and the payment infrastructure depending on the position of the motor vehicle, in particular if the data exchange is carried out wirelessly and is desired or possible only over a limited distance, for example. This can be the case in particular when the vehicle is located in the vicinity of the payment infrastructure, which virtually handles the payment process for the toll road section lying in front of the vehicle. However, the payment process can also be carried out independently of the position of the motor vehicle, that is to say, for example, at the start of the motor vehicle or when a route planning is provided and a payment process for a toll is already carried out during the route planning.According to the invention, the token is additionally transmitted from the payment device to a backend system of a manufacturer of the motor vehicle.Such a backend system is usually a system under the control of the motor vehicle manufacturer with a database for managing and processing datasets assigned to the specific vehicle and / or vehicle type and / or the vehicle driver who has logged on and identified in the system accordingly. These data sets may include a vehicle profile, driving profile, and / or operator profile to provide value added services to the operator.According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the payment device transmits the token to the backend system via a telecommunications unit integrated in a motor vehicle. Such a telecommunication unit can establish an Internet connection between the payment device and the backend system, for example, and can also be used in particular for other communications between devices in the motor vehicle and the backend system, for example, for transmitting measured values or status values of the vehicle relating to the vehicle to the backend system and for transmitting information from the backend system to the vehicle. With such an Internet connection, a particularly stable and flexible communication is possible between the backend system and the vehicle or the vehicle-integrated telecommunication unit.An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the token is transmitted from the backend system to a service provider system of a service provider, the service of which is paid with the charge payment process, and data and / or additional information relating to the payment process carried out with the token are transmitted from the service provider system to the backend system.The data and / or additional information from the service provider system can preferably be all data stored or available on the service provider system in connection with the specific payment process. In addition, further data and / or additional information can be transmitted from the database of the service provider system to the backend system.According to one embodiment of the invention, the data and / or additional information transmitted from the service provider system to the backend system is processed and supplemented by the backend system, sent to an infotainment system in the motor vehicle connected to the telecommunication unit, and shown acoustically and / or optically with the infotainment system. The vehicle driver can thus understand the payment process in a particularly appealing manner and the payment process can be confirmed and / or otherwise processed, for example, by means of an image, sound and / or video, by interaction with an input, in particular on a touch display, by another operating element, by voice, gesture or by means of a gaze controller. For example, with such a bidirectional communication between the infotainment system in the motor vehicle operated by the vehicle driver and the backend system, the individual charge payment process can be processed interactively and / or additional services or further payment processes can be booked or added by the vehicle driver by means of a corresponding input. Furthermore, it is also possible to adapt individual payment processes to selectable services. For example, a charge payment process can be carried out for the use of a parking lot, a hotel, during refueling or charging of the vehicle, for the use of a vehicle washing facility and the like.According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the data and / or additional information comprise at least one of the following contents:number amount, motor vehicle position during the transmission of the token, time of the transmission of the token and / or identification data of the service provider;a video recording or a photograph of the motor vehicle during the transmission of the token;an animation of the payment process;type of service paid with the payment process;remaining credit and / or still available amount of a payment card, a credit card and / or an account from which a payment amount was logged off during the payment process;statistics on payment processes carried out:additionally available services and / or offers in connection with the paid service and / or in the area or vicinity of the motor vehicle position during the transmission of the token.Thus, for example, fees which can be paid in the abooing method can be viewed directly in the vehicle and already existing abos and user accounts can be managed easily and / or new abos and user accounts can be added. In addition, additional information about individual service providers and specific offers or pricing can be easily and directly retrieved and / or booked via the infotainment system in the vehicle. Further additional services can also be offered easily by the vehicle manufacturer and / or by the service provider and can be accepted by the vehicle driver.A possible token format within the scope of the present invention is, for example, a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID).According to an embodiment of the invention, the toll payment operations comprise a toll payment operation.According to another embodiment of the invention, the charge payment procedures comprise at least one of the following payment procedures:parking charge payment operation;payment process at a gas station and / or an electrical charging station;payment process at a motor vehicle washing device;payment procedure before or on a ferry.When the payment process is being processed, a predefined mood can be generated in the vehicle by means of suitable devices in the motor vehicle, in particular adapted to the specific payment process, for example by fragrancing, sound and / or illumination.The payment process can be visualized by an advertisement in the motor vehicle.In payment processes for longer-necessary services, for example when charging e-vehicles, an entertainment program can be automatically played or at least offered in the vehicle by means of the infotainment system.The invention enables convenient account management for or during payment, for example changing a credit card as payment means or issuing an indication in the vehicle for expiry of a credit card.A account may be granted in the motor vehicle, for example for ascertaining the balance of the account.Offering and terminating additional services such as abos is possible, for example toll payment which is more favorable in abos, or, when the motor vehicle approaches a neighboring country, offering a toll for roads in the neighboring country.Discount offers can be processed, for example a bonus for refueling or charging or a discount in car washing.Cross-selfing / up selfing can be associated with the payment process.Location-based offers can be transmitted to the vehicle driver during the payment process, for example a gastrointestinal offer in the vicinity of an electrical charging point, the use of which is paid with the payment process.The vehicle driver can obtain information which is more than previous information and which is made available to the vehicle driver immediately or later retrievable in the vehicle and / or in the backend system, such as statistics and / or a protocol of the payment operations, in particular the paid services, the locations of the payment operations, the payment amounts, the frequency of the payment operations of such a service, from further locations with similar services, to abo models for future payments of the same or similar or different type.The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the figure.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system for carrying out a method according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system for executing a method according to the invention for handling motor vehicle-related, motor vehicle position-dependent charge payment processes.According to the invention, a communication connection 6 is established between an electronic payment device arranged in a motor vehicle 1 and a payment infrastructure 4 external to the motor vehicle.A unique, unique token is transmitted from the payment device to the payment infrastructure 4 via the communication connection 6 for carrying out a payment process, for example for a route toll.In addition, the token is transmitted from the payment device to a backend system 5 of a manufacturer of the motor vehicle 1, in the exemplary embodiment shown via a telecommunications unit 2 integrated in the motor vehicle.The token is transmitted from the backend system 5 to a service provider system 7 of a service provider, the service of which is paid with the charge payment process. This is illustrated by the arrow "B".The payment infrastructure 4 is connected to the service provider system 7, wirelessly or by wire.As represented by the arrow "C", the service provider system 7 transmits data and / or additional information to the payment process carried out with the token to the backend system 5.The data and / or additional information transmitted from the service provider system 7 to the backend system 5 is processed and supplemented by the backend system 5 and sent to an infotainment system 3 in the motor vehicle 1 connected to the telecommunication unit 2 and shown acoustically and / or optically with the infotainment system 3. This is indicated by the arrow "D".Thus, value added services for the payment process in the motor vehicle 1 can be provided to the vehicle driver.List of reference characters1 Motor vehicle 2 Telecommunication unit 3 Infotainment system 4 Payment infrastructure 5 Backend system 6 Communication connection 7 Service provider system A Transmission of the token to a backend system B Transmission of the token to a service provider system C Transmission of data / additional information to the backend system D Transmission of the data / additional information to the telecommunication unitReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2012 002 750 A1

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Claims

Method for handling charge payment processes relating to a motor vehicle and preferably dependent on the position of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: establishing a communication connection (6) between an electronic payment device arranged in the motor vehicle (1) and a payment infrastructure (4) external to the motor vehicle; transmitting a unique, unique token from the payment device to the payment infrastructure (4) for handling a payment process; characterized in that the token is additionally transmitted from the payment device to a backend system (5) of a manufacturer of the motor vehicle (1).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the payment device transmits the token to the backend system (5) via a telecommunications unit (2) integrated in a motor vehicle.Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the token is transmitted from the backend system (5) to a service provider system (7) of a service provider, the service of which is paid with the charge payment process, and data and / or additional information relating to the payment process carried out with the token are transmitted from the service provider system (7) to the backend system (5).Method according to Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the data and / or additional information transmitted from the service provider system (7) to the backend system (5) are processed and supplemented by the backend system (5), are sent to an infotainment system (3) in the motor vehicle (1) connected to the telecommunication unit (2) and are shown acoustically and / or optically using the infotainment system (3).Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the data and / or additional information comprise at least one of the following contents: - payment amount, motor vehicle position during the transmission of the token, time of the transmission of the token and / or identification data of the service provider; - a video recording or a photograph of the motor vehicle during the transmission of the token; - an animation of the payment process; - type of service paid with the payment process; - remaining credit and / or still available amount of a payment card, a credit card and / or an account from which / a payment amount was debited during the payment process; statistics regarding payment processes carried out: additionally available services and / or offers in connection with the paid service and / or in the area or vicinity of the position of the motor vehicle during the transmission of the token.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an Internet connection is set up between the payment device and the backend system (5) in order to transmit the token and data and / or information.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the toll payment processes comprise a toll payment process.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the charge payment processes comprise at least one of the following payment processes: - parking charge payment process; - payment process at a gas station and / or an electrical charging station; - payment process at a motor vehicle washing apparatus; - payment process before or on a ferry.

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