Methods and vehicles for interacting with toll systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of interaction with a toll system, wherein a user ID authorized to travel on a toll road section (1) is stored in an on-board toll device (3) and can be wirelessly transmitted to the toll system to allow entry onto or exit from a toll road section (1) at an access point (2) on the toll road section (1), and a calculation unit (4) of a vehicle (5) equipped with the toll device (3) calculates the current position of the vehicle (5) using location determination means and compares it with a digital road map, which stores toll information indicating at least whether each road section is tolled, and if so, which toll company manages each road section, and where the access point (2) to each road section is located. The authorized user ID is transmitted wirelessly to the access points (2), and when the vehicle (5) approaches the respective access point (2), the calculation unit (4) starts a timer, and if the calculation unit (4) does not detect the passage of the access point (2) after the timer has exceeded a set time limit, the calculation unit (4) detects a communication failure between the toll device (3) and the access point (2), in which case the calculation unit (4) causes the authorized user ID together with the access point reference to be transmitted to the access point (2) via the central calculation device (6) indirectly via the Internet, or the calculation unit (4) causes the authorized user ID or an identifier representing the authorized user ID to be transmitted from the toll device (3) directly or indirectly via the calculation unit (4) to the mobile terminal (7), the user ID or identifier being arranged to be readable 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 of interaction with a toll system of the kind recited in the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a vehicle for carrying out this method. [Background technology]

[0002] Various access control mechanisms are known for granting access to or exit from a toll road section. Typically, at the beginning and end of a toll road section there is a toll booth with a gate that blocks traffic. To enter the toll road section, a ticket is removed and a barrier opens. To exit the toll road section, the ticket is inserted into a corresponding machine and the toll is paid. The disadvantage of this method is the high manual effort required. For example, the driver of the vehicle must roll down the window and lean out to collect and pay the ticket. This often results in long queues along the individual lanes in front of the barrier.

[0003] To avoid this drawback, automated toll systems are known. In this case, for example, instead of paying an upfront fee to the operator of the corresponding toll system, the vehicle's registration number can be registered. Each toll booth has a camera that scans the registration number of the vehicle using the respective toll road section. When the registered vehicle registration number is recognized, a barrier is opened, allowing entry into or exit from the toll road section.

[0004] Similarly, transponder-based devices are known. For example, a toll device is installed or mounted on a vehicle, which is used to store a unique user ID. This user ID is linked to the driver's personal user account with the operator of the respective toll system. When the vehicle approaches a toll booth, the transponder wirelessly transmits the user ID to the toll booth. The toll booth is connected to a central computing device, such as a cloud server, which stores information about which user IDs are authorized to use the corresponding toll road section. If an authorized user ID is detected, the gate opens.

[0005] Problems often arise during this process. For example, the wireless connection between the transponder and the toll booth may be blocked. This is the case, for example, when snow accumulates on the vehicle's windshield and a transponder fixed to the windshield is used. This prevents the user's ID from being transmitted, and the blocking bar remains closed. The vehicle driver must remove the transponder or corresponding toll device, read the identification number or code printed on it, and then manually enter it into the toll booth terminal. Such transponder housings may also be equipped with an optoelectronic code, such as a barcode or QR code, which can be held up in front of the toll booth scanner. The need to pick up the transponder or toll device and manually interact with the toll booth terminal results in significant time loss and reduces the vehicle driver's comfort. Furthermore, queues may form, which can put pressure on the vehicle driver and further reduce their comfort.

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes a general method of interaction with a toll system. To allow entry into or exit from a toll road section at its access points, a user ID that can be approved for driving on the toll road section is stored in a toll device in the vehicle and wirelessly transmitted to the toll system. A calculation unit in the vehicle equipped with the toll device detects the vehicle's current location using a location determination means and compares the vehicle's location with a digital road map. The digital road map stores toll information that indicates at least whether each road section is toll-tolled, and if so, which toll company manages each road section, and where the access points to each road section are located. According to this known method, when the vehicle approaches the toll road section, i.e., when the vehicle is within a minimum distance to the toll road section, the payment process is enabled. If the payment is successful, the user ID is approved, i.e., after payment, this user ID is granted the right to drive on the road section. In this case, the identification characteristics assigned to the vehicle, e.g., the official vehicle registration number, and / or the user ID stored in the toll device or transponder can also be registered with the payment service provider and / or the operator of the toll road section. When a vehicle approaches an access point where a barrier is installed and an authorized user ID, e.g., in the form of a vehicle registration number, is detected by the toll system, in particular by a camera, the barrier opens automatically. The transponder can wirelessly transmit the authorized user ID or identification characteristics to the toll system, which then opens the barrier and allows travel on the road section. From patent document 2, an internet-based parking payment is known. For this purpose, an ID stored in an on-board unit is wirelessly read by a traffic control device, for example a barrier, and linked to parking information such as the identification number of the parking lot, the parking fee incurred or the parking time. This information can be transmitted to a service provider for automatic execution of the payment of the parking process. It should be noted that, in general, in case of malfunction, traditional payment methods such as removing the ticket from the automatic payment machine and paying manually are still possible on site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] WO2022207324A1 [Patent Document 2] DE102013114935A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention is based on the problem of showing a method of improved interaction with toll systems, with the help of which user comfort is improved in toll systems based on wireless technology for transmitting user IDs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method for interaction with a toll system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations and developments as well as a vehicle for carrying out the method emerge from the claims dependent thereon.

[0010] A method of interaction with a toll system of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which a user ID stored in a toll device on board the vehicle can be wirelessly communicated to the toll system to authorize entry onto or exit from a toll road section at an access point on the toll road section, said user ID being approved for authorization to travel on the toll road section, and a calculation unit of the vehicle equipped with the toll device uses location determination means to calculate the current position of the vehicle and compare it with a digital road map, in which toll information is stored describing at least whether each road section is toll-free, and if so, which toll company manages each road section, and where the access points to each road section are located. The method according to the invention comprises: - the authorized user ID is transmitted wirelessly to the access point (2), When the vehicle approaches each access point, the calculation unit starts a timer, - if the calculation unit does not detect the passage of the access point after the timer has exceeded the set time limit, the calculation unit detects a communication failure between the toll device and the access point, in which case: The computing unit transmits the authorized user ID together with the access point reference to the access point indirectly via the Internet via a central computing device; or The calculation unit causes an authorized user ID or an identifier representing the user ID to be transmitted from the toll device directly or indirectly via the calculation unit to the mobile terminal, the user ID or identifier being readable from the mobile terminal by the access point via the input interface. This will lead to further development.

[0011] The method according to the invention improves user comfort in the event of a communication failure between the toll device and the access point by minimizing the manual effort required for the vehicle driver to make the access point passable. To this end, a calculation unit first determines whether a communication failure actually exists. If so, different solutions are offered depending on the situation.

[0012] The access point may be a toll booth, in particular equipped with a barrier bar for blocking traffic, thereby allowing, for example, travelling along a road segment or leaving a travelled road segment.

[0013] For example, according to a first embodiment, a user ID stored in a toll device can be transmitted to an access point via a central computing device, thereby enabling entry into or exit from a toll road section. This approach is particularly convenient, since it does not require any manual effort on the part of the vehicle driver. In this context, "transmitting to an access point" refers to both direct transmission to the access point and indirect transmission via the current toll company's backend. In the case of direct transmission, the user ID itself can be transmitted to the access point, which then checks whether the respective user ID is authorized to pass through the access point. To this end, the access point can access a computing device storing the corresponding authorization information. This can be a computing device external to the access point, such as the toll company's backend. In the case of indirect transmission, the user ID is transmitted to the toll company's backend, which, after successful authorization, sends a command to the access point to allow passage, e.g., to open the aforementioned barrier.

[0014] Alternatively, the user ID or an identifier representing the user ID can be transmitted to the vehicle driver's mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or wearable. The identifier can be, for example, a checksum, a code, an optoelectronic code, etc. The identifier can therefore be displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal. The vehicle driver can then direct the mobile terminal to the input interface of the access point. The input interface can be, for example, a keypad, a camera, or a scanner. The user ID or identifier can be automatically read by the access point from the display device of the mobile terminal by means of a camera or a scanner. However, it is also possible for the vehicle driver to read the user ID or identifier himself and enter it manually via the keypad. In any case, the vehicle driver does not need to take the toll device itself or the transponder in his hands or remove it from the corresponding holder in the vehicle.

[0015] The mobile terminal can be coupled to the calculation unit or to the toll device. The coupling can be via, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi, or a cable connection, for example, 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 calculation unit or toll device. For example, the calculation unit can control a display device in the vehicle, such as a head unit display, an instrument panel, etc., to display the user ID or identifier there. The mobile terminal can be equipped with visual recognition means, such as a camera, so that the identifier or user ID output in the vehicle can be photographed by the mobile terminal. The photograph or a display generated therefrom can then be displayed on the display of the mobile terminal and available for interaction with the input interface.

[0016] Preferably, first it is tried whether the user ID can be transmitted fully automatically to the access point via the Internet. If this is not possible, then in a second step it is attempted to transmit the user ID or identifier automatically to the mobile terminal. If this is also not possible, then in a final step the user ID or identifier is displayed visually in the vehicle, so that the vehicle driver can photograph it. Of course, it is also possible for the vehicle driver to read the user ID or identifier directly from the display device in the vehicle, remember it and enter it manually via an input interface designed as a keypad.

[0017] The vehicle can be equipped with a navigation device as a location determination means, for example. The navigation system can be based on the use of global navigation satellite systems such as GPS, Galileo, or Beidou. In particular, the use of several such systems, e.g., GPS and Galileo, allows for particularly accurate determination of the vehicle's geographical location. The digital road map registers which roads or road sections are toll-bearing and which toll companies manage these roads. This information is used to determine which company the user ID needs to be transferred to or retrieved from, since different user IDs may be stored for different toll companies. The toll information also includes the locations of the respective access points leading to or leaving the toll road section. This allows the computing unit to detect the vehicle's approach to each access point.

[0018] Approach detection can be based on various approaches. For example, a set radius to each access point can be defined. A vehicle is considered to be approaching the respective access point if it is within the set distance of this radius or if it enters the area enclosed by this radius. The toll information can also include information about which payment methods are available for paying the toll at each toll company. Additionally, the vehicle driver's payment information can also be stored in the calculation unit, and this information can be transmitted together with the user ID to ensure a smooth payment process.

[0019] The user ID and, if necessary, the additionally mentioned payment information may generally already be stored in a central computing device. The central computing device is formed, for example, by a cloud server of the vehicle driver's vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle manufacturer thereby acts as a link between the vehicle driver and the toll company. In particular, the vehicle driver requests various services from the vehicle manufacturer, which require the storage of personal and payment information at the vehicle manufacturer. Therefore, the vehicle manufacturer already has the information necessary to process the toll payment or to grant entry to or exit from the toll road section.

[0020] The set time limit may vary depending on the situation. For example, a longer time limit, such as 2 or 5 minutes, may be used at a toll booth with fewer lanes, while a shorter time limit, such as 30, 45 seconds, or 1 minute, may be used at a toll booth with more lanes. In particular, the timer starts when the calculation unit determines, based on the vehicle's current location and the locations of the access points, that the vehicle is in close proximity to each access point, for example, within 2 meters of each barrier. At this time, it is also preferable to check whether the vehicle is stationary. This indicates that the barrier is not open, which means that the wireless connection is blocked. In other words, if the wireless connection is working, the barrier would already be open while the vehicle is approaching it. Therefore, it is assumed that the vehicle is not stationary.

[0021] During the automatic transfer of the user ID to the access point via the Internet, an access point reference is transmitted along with the user ID. This access point reference is required so that the corresponding backend of the toll company can perform the assignment, whereby the user ID for opening the barrier or allowing passage, or the entry or exit confirmation, is transmitted to the respective access point. The access point reference can be ascertained by the computing unit in various ways. For example, the access point reference of the respective access point can also be included in the toll information, i.e., in the digital road map. However, the vehicle can be equipped with visual recognition means, such as a camera, which allows the visual characteristics of the access point to be recognized. For example, at the corresponding access point, an access point ID can be placed in a visible location, which can be read, for example, by the vehicle's camera. To control the access points, the backend of the toll company can be used, as already mentioned.

[0022] The authorized user ID authorizes the vehicle or user to travel on the toll road, even when direct communication between the toll device and the access point is prevented according to the method of the present invention, because according to the method of the present invention an alternative communication path is provided for transmitting the authorized user ID.

[0023] In an advantageous development of the method, the calculation unit determines that the vehicle has not passed the access point after the timer has expired by: the computing unit by monitoring the forward movement of the vehicle and determining that the vehicle is or has been stationary after the timer has started at least until the time limit has been reached; and / or the calculation unit by comparing the current position of the vehicle with the positions of the access points and detecting that the vehicle has stopped in front of the access point in its direction of travel even after the time limit has been reached; and / or the vehicle perceives its surroundings using a surrounding camera, and the computing unit detects that the vehicle has stopped in front of an access point in its direction of travel by evaluating camera images generated by the surrounding camera; and / or The computing unit by receiving a manual user input indicating a communication failure. It is possible to draw conclusions.

[0024] The above-mentioned detection options can be used alone or in combination. In this case, the combination makes it possible to particularly reliably determine whether the vehicle has passed an access point, which indicates a communication failure. Detecting the stopping of a vehicle in front of an access point based on the vehicle remaining stationary at least until a time limit is reached is a particularly simple method. This reduces the effort required to carry out the method according to the present invention.

[0025] Detecting a vehicle's stop in front of an access point based on the calculated vehicle's current position and the location of the access point registered on a digital road map requires additional effort, but it more reliably detects whether the vehicle is stopped in front of the access point in its direction of travel or has passed the access point. In purely time-based variations, there is a risk that the vehicle is not stopped just before the access point, i.e., in front of the aforementioned barrier, but is blocked by another vehicle with a communication problem. In this case, there may be no communication problem between the vehicle's toll device and the access point. If this is the case, it will be detected based on the vehicle's current position that the vehicle is still far enough away from the actual access point. This can be used to wait for the actual transmission of the user ID to the access point via the Internet or to the mobile terminal. In particular, it is also possible here to assign the vehicle to the lane of the access point. However, this requires a relatively detailed calculation of the current position.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, a camera-based surroundings recognition can also be carried out by the computing unit. Here too, it is possible to detect stops in front of access points particularly reliably. As already mentioned above, it is also possible here to recognize the visual characteristics of the access points, which makes it possible to assign vehicles to lanes and thus to the respective barriers.

[0027] However, if all the above methods fail, manual user input can also be used to inform the computing unit that an access point is not passable. For example, the vehicle driver can tap on a corresponding control panel displayed on a touch-sensitive display inside the vehicle. This control panel can have a "malfunction" indication, which can be displayed automatically, for example, in advance when the vehicle approaches the respective access point.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the computing unit furthermore queries the user via the human-machine interface whether he wishes to pass through the access point before transmitting the user ID to the access point or the user ID or identifier to the mobile terminal, and the corresponding transmission is made only after the user query is confirmed. This prevents unintended and therefore undesired transmission of the user ID or identifier. Various devices can be used as the human-machine interface. For example, the dialogue between the vehicle driver and the vehicle or computing unit can be verbal. Thus, acoustic instructions can be output in the vehicle as voice messages, and the vehicle driver's verbal responses can be recognized by a microphone. Visual information can also be output on a display device in the vehicle. The vehicle driver can then respond, for example, using a touch-sensitive display in the vehicle. The mobile terminal can also be used as an operating interface by connecting it to the computing unit or toll device.

[0029] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, a user inquiry is used to additionally inquire whether the user ID should be transmitted to the access point via a central computing device or whether the user ID or identifier should be transmitted to the mobile terminal. This allows the vehicle driver to decide, each time a communication failure occurs between the toll device and the access point, how to communicate the user ID to the access point in order to obtain permission to pass. Generally, it is preferable to pre-configure which of the mentioned methods is to be implemented as a standard variant. Particularly preferably, three different reaction options are implemented automatically, one after the other, from the most automated to the variant requiring the most manual effort.

[0030] Preferably, the user ID or identifier is transmitted only to authorized mobile terminals. This prevents or at least makes it more difficult for an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the user ID. That is, when the user ID or identifier is transmitted to a mobile terminal, there is generally a risk that an attacker outside the vehicle may transmit it to his own mobile terminal. In this case, the attacker himself may be involved in disrupting communication between the toll device and the access point. In this case, the user ID or identifier is transmitted to the attacker's mobile terminal, allowing the attacker to pass through the access point using the obtained user ID. This would result in costs being incurred by the original owner of the user ID.

[0031] A mobile terminal can be considered as approved if it is connected to a calculation unit or toll device. This connection can be made by Bluetooth, WiFi or cable connection, as already mentioned. Additionally, mobile terminals can also be identified, and only mobile terminals included in a positive list can be considered as approved. Mobile terminals can be identified, for example, by serial number, digitized SIM card, Bluetooth address, MAC address, etc.

[0032] In general, an attacker could disrupt the communication connection between the access point and the toll company's backend. In this case, the access point would receive a user ID but would not be able to check whether the user ID is authorized to pass through the access point. The respective blocking bars would therefore remain closed. In this case, the vehicle's existing communication connection to the Internet, in particular to a central computing device, could be used to exchange the corresponding data. For example, if the user ID could be transmitted via the central computing device to the toll company's backend, the backend would check the user ID and determine whether passage through the access point is permitted. The backend then transmits authorization information to the central computing device. This authorization information is transmitted from the central computing device to the vehicle's computing unit and transmitted to the mobile terminal in the form of an optoelectronic code. This optoelectronic code contains only coded information that the access point must allow passage, i.e., that the corresponding blocking bar may be opened. This makes it possible to guarantee the vehicle driver's passage in a particularly reliable manner.

[0033] In the case of a vehicle equipped with a calculation unit and a toll device, the calculation unit and the toll device are installed in order to carry out the above-mentioned method according to the present invention. The vehicle may be any vehicle such as a car, a truck, a transporter, a bus, etc. Further advantageous embodiments of the method for interaction with a toll system according to the invention will become apparent from the examples which are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a toll booth from above with a broken wireless connection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Figure 1 shows an overhead view of access point 2 to toll road section 1. Toll road section 1 is located behind access point 2 in the direction of travel in Figure 1. Access point 2 is therefore used to control entry to toll road section 1. However, it is also possible that toll road section 1 is generally located before access point 2 in the direction of travel, and access point 2 is there to control exit from toll road section 1.

[0036] The access point 2 is formed by a toll booth 2.4. The toll booth 2.4 includes a barrier 2.1 for each lane to allow the passage of each vehicle 5. The barriers 2.1 can be centrally controlled by a computing device 2.3, or each can be equipped with its own dedicated control device. For automatic toll collection, the vehicle 5 has a toll device 3 on which the user ID of the driver of the vehicle 5 is registered. The user ID is linked to the vehicle driver's user account at the toll company operating the access point 2. If the access point 2 receives an approved user ID, the vehicle 5 is allowed to pass. The transmission of the user ID from the toll device 3 to the access point 2 is usually carried out wirelessly. For this purpose, the toll device 3 is equipped with suitable transmission means, such as a transponder or an antenna 9. The toll booth 2.4 is likewise equipped with at least one antenna 2.2 for receiving the user ID. The toll booth 2.4 may have a central antenna 2.2 as shown in FIG. 1, or may have individual antennas for each lane or each barrier bar 2.1.

[0037] 1, the wireless connection between antennas 2.2 and 9 is blocked, as indicated by the lightning bolt. Therefore, wireless transmission of the user ID from toll device 3 to toll booth 2.4 is not possible. Nevertheless, the method according to the present invention can reduce the user's efforts to allow vehicle 5 to pass.

[0038] To this end, the calculation unit 4 of the vehicle 5 determines the current position of the vehicle 5 and compares it with a digital road map, in which toll information is stored, indicating the exact location of the access points 2 of each toll road section 1 and which toll company operates them. This allows the calculation unit 4 to detect that the vehicle 5 is approaching an access point 2. For this purpose, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a stop field 10 is defined for each blocking bar 2.1, and a timer is started when the vehicle 5 enters this field. The timer can also be started once the vehicle 5 has come to a standstill in the stopping field 10. If the timer expires, i.e. if it exceeds the set time limit, this indicates that the respective blocking bar 2.1 remains closed, which in turn indicates that the mentioned wireless connection between the antennas 2.2 and 9 is interrupted.

[0039] The calculation unit 4 then transmits the user ID from the toll device 3 to the central calculation device 6, preferably automatically, but also by manual user input if necessary, via the vehicle's wireless communication interface 11, e.g., via mobile radio. The central calculation device 6 is, for example, a cloud server of the vehicle manufacturer. The user ID can already be registered in the central calculation device 6. In this case, the calculation unit 4 transmits a request for the user ID to be transferred via the wireless communication interface 11. Together with the authorized user ID or request, an access point reference is transmitted to the central calculation device 6, thereby informing the central calculation device 6 which vehicle 5 or its driver wishes to pass through which access point 2 of the respective toll company. In response, the central calculation device 6 contacts the backend 12 of the respective toll company. The backend 12 may also be a cloud server. The backend 12 is communicatively connected to the calculation device 2.3 of the toll booth 2.4 via a communication connection, e.g., also via the Internet. Thus, a user ID or a request to open the barrier bar 2.1 is transferred from the backend 12 via the computing device 2.3 to control the respective barrier bar 2.1, thereby allowing particularly comfortable passage of the vehicle 5 without any manual effort on the part of the vehicle driver.

[0040] In some cases, the transfer of the user ID or the request to open the barrier to the computing device 2.3 via the central computing device 6 and the backend 12 may be hindered. To still allow smooth passage, the user ID or an identifier representing the respective user ID, such as a number string, a password, or an optoelectronic code, from the toll device 3 can also be transmitted to the vehicle driver's mobile terminal 7. For example, the optoelectronic code is transmitted to the mobile terminal 7, where it is displayed on a display device of the mobile terminal 7. Each barrier 2.1 is equipped with an input interface 8, here a camera or a scanner. The optoelectronic code can be read by the mobile terminal 7 via the input interface 8. In response, the barrier 2.1 opens, allowing passage.

[0041] If the user ID or identifier of the computing unit 4 cannot be automatically transmitted to the mobile terminal 7, the corresponding information can be displayed on a display device of the vehicle 5 and photographed using the mobile terminal 7.

[0042] The method according to the invention allows a vehicle 5 to pass through the access point 2 when the wireless connection between the toll device 3 and the access point 2 is limited or interrupted. Typically, the vehicle driver would have to manually read the user ID or a corresponding identifier from the casing of the toll device 3 or the corresponding transponder. This requires picking up the toll device 3 or the transponder, which involves considerable effort. However, the method according to the invention allows the user ID to be transmitted via a different route to the access point 2, preferably with a particularly high level of automation, thereby opening the blocking bar 2.1.

Claims

1. A method of interaction with a toll system, wherein a user ID authorized for travelling on a toll road section (1) is stored in an on-board toll device (3) and can be wirelessly communicated to the toll system to allow entry onto or exit from the toll road section (1) at an access point (2) on the toll road section (1), - a calculation unit (4) of a vehicle (5) equipped with said toll device (3) calculates the current position of said vehicle (5) using position determination means and compares it with a digital road map, in which toll information is stored describing at least whether each road section is tolled, and if so, which toll company manages each said road section, and where the access points (2) to each said road section are located; - the authorized user ID is transmitted wirelessly to the access point (2), - when said vehicle (5) approaches each access point (2), said calculation unit (4) starts a timer, - if the calculation unit (4) does not detect the passage of the access point (2) after the timer has exceeded the set time limit, the calculation unit (4) detects a communication failure between the toll device (3) and the access point (2), in which case - said computing unit (4) causes said authorized user ID to be transmitted indirectly via the Internet to said access point (2) via a central computing device (6) together with an access point reference; or - the calculation unit (4) causes the authorized user ID or an identifier representative of the authorized user ID to be transmitted to a mobile terminal (7) directly from the toll device (3) or indirectly via the calculation unit (4), the user ID or the identifier being readable from the mobile terminal (7) by the access point (2) via an input interface (8); The method, characterized in that

2. The calculation unit (4) determines that the vehicle (5) has not passed the access point (2) after the timer has expired by: - the calculation unit (4) monitors the forward movement of the vehicle (5) and determines that the vehicle (5) is or has been substantially stationary after the timer has started, at least until the time limit has been reached; and / or - the calculation unit (4) compares the current position of the vehicle (5) with the position of the access point (2) and detects that the vehicle (5) is stopped in front of the access point (2) in its direction of travel when the time limit is reached, and / or the vehicle (5) perceives its surroundings using a surrounding camera, and the computing unit (4) detects, by evaluating the camera images produced by the surrounding camera, that the vehicle (5) has stopped in front of the access point (2) in its direction of travel, and / or - said computing unit (4) by receiving a manual user input indicating a communication failure; 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, 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) makes a prior user inquiry via a man-machine interface as to whether the user wishes to pass through the access point (2), and the corresponding transmission is made only after the user inquiry has been confirmed.

4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the user inquiry is used to additionally inquire whether the authorized user ID should be transmitted to the access point (2) via the central computing device (6) or whether the user ID or the identifier should be transmitted to the mobile terminal (7).

5. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the user ID or the identifier is transmitted only to the mobile terminal (7) for which it is authorized.

6. A vehicle (5) equipped with a calculation unit (4) and a toll device (3) for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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