Electronic toll collection system and electronic toll collection method

Abstract

To use a my-number card in an electronic toll collection system to confirm a traffic section and to collect tolls.SOLUTION: An electronic toll collection system includes an entrance-side card verification camera, an exit-side card verification camera, and a server. The entrance-side card verification camera takes a picture of a subject certificate at an entrance of a toll road so that personal identification information is visible. The exit-side card verification camera takes a picture of the subject certificate at an exit of the toll road so that the personal identification information is visible. A server 100 confirms a user's traffic section based on the results of the photo shooting, calculates the toll corresponding to the confirmed traffic section, and collects the calculated toll using payment means corresponding to the subject certificate based on the results of the photo shooting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic toll collection system and electronic toll collection party In the law and related matters.

Background Art

[0002] In the current ETC (registered trademark, Electronic Toll Collection System) system, non-ETC vehicles are not allowed to pass through ETC dedicated lanes. A non-ETC vehicle is a vehicle that does not have at least one of an ETC card and an in-vehicle unit of the ETC system. General lanes are installed to deal with non-ETC vehicles, but in recent years, measures have been taken to make the lanes dedicated to ETC only by eliminating general lanes, and smart interchanges consisting only of ETC dedicated lanes have become widespread. Therefore, it has become difficult to use non-ETC vehicles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for using a driver's license in an ETC system to confirm a toll road passage section and collecting a toll based on the confirmed passage section. Here, since the driver's license is not linked to a bank account or the like, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is necessary to collect a toll by a means different from the means of using a certificate for grasping a passage section. Here, in Japan, the My Number Card is linked to a bank account or the like, and the My Number Card and the driver's license are planned to be integrated. Therefore, it is conceivable to use the My Number Card for grasping a passage section and collecting a toll.

[0005] This disclosure aims to utilize My Number Cards in the electronic toll collection system for verifying the travel section and collecting tolls. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electronic fee collection system related to this disclosure is: At the entrance to a toll road, a card verification camera at the entrance is used to photograph a target certificate, which is a certificate containing personal identification information that identifies the user paying the toll for the said toll road, and to which a payment method is associated, so as to capture the personal identification information. At the exit of the aforementioned toll road, an exit-side card verification camera is installed to photograph the aforementioned certificate in a manner that captures the aforementioned personal identification information, By the aforementioned entrance-side card verification camera Filmed The aforementioned target certificate Data indicating this is received. , by the aforementioned exit-side card verification camera Filmed The aforementioned target certificate Data indicating that was received was received. In that case, Based on the location corresponding to the entrance-side card verification camera and the location corresponding to the exit-side card verification camera, the user's travel section is confirmed, and the toll corresponding to the confirmed travel section is calculated as the target toll. The collection unit executes a collection process to collect the target toll fee using a payment method corresponding to the target certificate, based on the personal identification information recognized from the video footage of the target certificate captured by at least one of the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera. A server equipped with Equipped with It is an electronic toll collection system, The aforementioned entrance-side card verification camera is a camera provided by the first communication terminal. The aforementioned exit-side card verification camera is a camera provided by the second communication terminal. The server is connected to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal in a manner that enables communication between them. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, cameras at the entrance and exit of toll roads photograph the target certificate, confirm the travel section based on the results of photographing the target certificate, and collect the toll corresponding to the confirmed travel section using the payment method corresponding to the target certificate. Here, the target certificate contains personal identification information, is associated with a payment method, and the target certificate may be a My Number Card. Therefore, according to this disclosure, My Number Cards can be used in the electronic toll collection system for confirming the travel section and collecting tolls. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of an ETC system 90, where (a) is a diagram showing an example configuration of an ETC system 90 according to the prior art, and (b) is a diagram showing an example configuration of an ETC system 90 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of server 100 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of server 100 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] A flowchart illustrating the operation of the conventional ETC system 90. [Figure 5] A flowchart illustrating the operation of the ETC system 90 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of server 100 according to a modified example of Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] In the description and drawings of the embodiments, the same elements and corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numeral. The descriptions of elements denoted by the same reference numeral are omitted or simplified as appropriate. The arrows in the figures mainly indicate the flow of data or processing. Also, "part" may be interpreted as "circuit," "process," "procedure," "processing," or "circuitry" as appropriate.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] ***Description of the configuration*** FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an ETC (registered trademark, Electronic Toll Collection System) system 90. The ETC system 90 is also called an electronic toll collection system. The ETC system 90 is composed of an entrance-side system installed at the entrance of a toll road and an exit-side system installed at the exit of the toll road. Both the entrance-side system and the exit-side system operate based on communication with the server 100.

[0012] FIG. 1(a) shows a configuration example of an ETC system 90 according to the prior art. Hereinafter, the ETC system 90 according to the prior art will be described. The entrance-side system is composed of a server 100, an antenna 110, a toll ticket issuing device 120, and a departure control device 130. The server 100 appropriately communicates with each component included in the ETC system 90, gives instructions to each component, and has a function of collecting tolls from users who use the toll road. The server 100 appropriately records information necessary for collecting tolls. A user is a person who pays the toll for the toll road. Basically, a user is a driver or a passenger of a vehicle traveling on the toll road. The antenna 110 has a function of determining whether a vehicle trying to enter the ETC lane is a normal ETC vehicle. The toll ticket issuing device 120 issues a toll ticket when there is an abnormality regarding the ETC card inserted into the in-vehicle unit equipped in the vehicle. The departure control device 130 includes a bar and opens the bar when the vehicle becomes allowed to pass.

[0013] The exit-side system is composed of a server 100, an antenna 111, a departure control device 131, and a card confirmation camera 140. The server 100 of the entrance-side system and the server 100 of the exit-side system may be the same. The antenna 111 is the same as the antenna 110. The launch control unit 131 is the same as the launch control unit 130. The card verification camera 140 is a camera that verifies a driver's license. The card verification camera 140 may also be used to verify toll tickets.

[0014] Figure 1(b) shows an example of the configuration of the ETC system 90 according to this embodiment. The ETC system 90 according to this embodiment will be described below. The ETC system 90 is equipped with a card verification camera 150 instead of a toll ticket issuing device 120, and a card verification camera 151 instead of a card verification camera 140. The card verification camera 150 is also called the entrance-side card verification camera. The card verification camera 151 is also called the exit-side card verification camera. The card verification cameras 150 and 151 may be the same camera. The card verification camera 150 is a camera that photographs a target certificate at the entrance of a toll road, so as to capture the personal identification information contained in the certificate. The target certificate is a certificate that contains personal identification information to identify the user paying the toll for the toll road, and is associated with a payment method. A specific example of a target certificate is a My Number Card. A specific example of personal identification information is a My Number. A specific example of a payment method is automatic withdrawal from a bank account linked to the target certificate. The card verification camera 150 may be a camera installed at a toll booth, or it may be a camera equipped on a communication terminal such as a smartphone. If the card verification camera 150 is a camera installed at a toll booth, the My Number Card may be photographed by the card verification camera 150 when the user points their My Number Card towards the lens of the card verification camera 150. If the card verification camera 150 is a camera equipped on a communication terminal, the user may photograph the My Number Card by operating the communication terminal, or an ETC lane attendant may photograph the My Number Card by operating the communication terminal. The card verification camera 150 transmits data showing the captured image to the server 100. Card verification camera 151 is the same as card verification camera 150. Card verification camera 151 is a camera that photographs the target certificate at the exit of a toll road so that the personal identification information written on the target certificate is visible.

[0015] Figure 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of server 100. Server 100 comprises a communication unit 101, a collection unit 102, and a storage unit 103. The communication unit 101 communicates with the components of the ETC system 90 as appropriate. The collection unit 102 executes the collection process when the target certificate is photographed by the entrance-side card verification camera and when the target certificate is photographed by the exit-side card verification camera. The collection process consists of a calculation process and a settlement process. The calculation process is the process of confirming the user's passage section based on the location corresponding to the entrance-side card verification camera and the location corresponding to the exit-side card verification camera, and calculating the toll fee corresponding to the confirmed passage section as the target toll fee. The location corresponding to the camera is, in specific examples, the location where the camera is installed or the location where the camera is used. The settlement process is the process of collecting the target toll fee using the settlement method corresponding to the target certificate, based on the personal identification information recognized from the video of the target certificate photographed by at least one of the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera. Here, the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera may each recognize the personal identification information written on the target certificate, or the collection unit 102 may recognize said personal identification information. Furthermore, as a specific example, the collection unit 102 calculates the toll fee from each user's travel section and collects the toll fee from each user using the payment method linked to each user's My Number Card. The collection unit 102 may also perform the collection process if there is a malfunction in either the ETC system 90 on-board unit or the card corresponding to the on-board unit. The memory unit 103 stores each user's My Number in association with the toll gate that each user started using.

[0016] Figure 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of server 100 according to this embodiment. Server 100 consists of computers. Server 100 may consist of multiple computers.

[0017] As shown in this figure, the server 100 is a computer equipped with hardware such as a processor 11, memory 12, auxiliary storage device 13, input / output interface 14, and communication device 15. These hardware components are connected as appropriate via signal lines 19.

[0018] The processor 11 is an integrated circuit (IC) that performs arithmetic operations and controls the hardware of the computer. Specific examples of the processor 11 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Server 100 may have multiple processors that replace processor 11. The multiple processors share the role of processor 11.

[0019] Memory 12 is typically a volatile storage device, specifically RAM (Random Access Memory). Memory 12 is also called main memory. Data stored in memory 12 is saved to auxiliary storage device 13 as needed.

[0020] The auxiliary storage device 13 is typically a non-volatile storage device, specifically a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or flash memory. Data stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 is loaded into memory 12 as needed. The memory 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13 may be configured as a single unit.

[0021] Input / Output IF14 is a port to which input and output devices are connected. A specific example of an input / output IF14 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal. Specific examples of input devices include a keyboard and mouse. Specific examples of output devices include a display.

[0022] The communication device 15 consists of a receiver and a transmitter. A specific example of the communication device 15 is a communication chip or a NIC (Network Interface Card).

[0023] Each part of the server 100 may use the input / output IF 14 and the communication device 15 as appropriate when communicating with other devices.

[0024] The auxiliary storage device 13 stores the electronic toll collection program. The electronic toll collection program is a program that enables the computer to implement the functions of each component of the server 100. The electronic toll collection program is loaded into memory 12 and executed by the processor 11. The functions of each component of the server 100 are implemented by software.

[0025] The data used when executing the electronic toll collection program, and the data obtained by executing the electronic toll collection program, are appropriately stored in the storage device. Each part of the server 100 utilizes the storage device as appropriate. The storage device consists, specifically, of memory 12, auxiliary storage device 13, registers in the processor 11, and at least one of the cache memory in the processor 11. Note that the terms data and information may have the same meaning. The storage device may be independent of the computer. The functions of memory 12 and auxiliary storage device 13 may be implemented by other storage devices.

[0026] The electronic toll collection program may be recorded on a computer-readable non-volatile recording medium. Specific examples of non-volatile recording media include optical discs or flash memory. The electronic toll collection program may also be provided as a program product.

[0027] ***Explanation of operation*** The operating procedure of the ETC system 90 corresponds to the electronic toll collection method. Furthermore, the program that implements the operation of the ETC system 90 corresponds to the electronic toll collection program.

[0028] Figure 4 shows an example of the operation flow of a conventional ETC system 90. The operation flow of a conventional ETC system 90 will be explained using Figure 4.

[0029] (Step S101) Antenna 110 identifies vehicles attempting to enter the ETC lane. Hereafter, the vehicles identified in this step will be referred to as target vehicles. Note that the processes from steps S101 to S106 are performed by the entrance-side system.

[0030] (Step S102) Antenna 110 attempts to communicate with the in-vehicle device installed in the target vehicle.

[0031] (Step S103) If there are no problems with either the on-board unit or the ETC card in the vehicle in question, the ETC system 90 proceeds to step S106. If the in-vehicle unit is working correctly but there is a problem with the ETC card, ETC system 90 proceeds to step S105. If there are problems with both the on-board unit and the ETC card, the ETC system 90 proceeds to step S104.

[0032] (Step S104) The ETC system 90 does not permit the vehicle in question to travel on toll roads.

[0033] (Step S105) The launch control unit 130 issues a toll ticket. The user of the vehicle in question will obtain the issued toll ticket.

[0034] (Step S106) The launch control unit 130 opens the barrier to allow the target vehicle to travel on the toll road.

[0035] (Step S107) Antenna 111 identifies the vehicle attempting to enter the ETC lane. Note that the processing from this step onward is handled by the exit-side system.

[0036] (Step S108) Antenna 111 communicates with the in-vehicle device installed in the target vehicle.

[0037] (Step S109) Users pay toll road fees using an in-vehicle device and an ETC card.

[0038] (Step S110) The in-vehicle device instructs the user to present a toll ticket. The departure control unit 131 collects the toll ticket presented by the user. At this time, the card verification camera 140 may also verify the presented toll ticket.

[0039] (Step S111) The user presents their driver's license to the card verification camera 140. The card verification camera 140 photographs the presented driver's license.

[0040] (Step S112) The launch control unit 131 opens the bar so that the target vehicle can travel on the public road.

[0041] (Step S113) Users pay the toll fee retrospectively.

[0042] Figure 5 shows an example of the processing flow of the ETC system 90 according to this embodiment. The processing flow of the ETC system 90 according to this embodiment will be explained using Figure 5.

[0043] (Step S121) If there are no problems with either the on-board unit or the ETC card, the ETC system 90 proceeds to step S106. Otherwise, the ETC system 90 proceeds to step S122.

[0044] (Step S122) The card verification camera 150 photographs the My Number Card and transmits to the server 100 data indicating the My Number written on the photographed My Number Card, as well as data indicating the toll booth where the card verification camera 150 is installed. The communication unit 101 receives data from the card verification camera 150. The memory unit 103 stores the data indicating the My Number and the data indicating the toll booth, which have been received by the communication unit 101, in association with each other.

[0045] (Step S123) Card verification camera 151 photographs the My Number Card.

[0046] (Step S124) The collection unit 102 verifies the My Number displayed on the photographed My Number Card and, by referring to the data corresponding to the verified My Number stored in the storage unit 103, confirms the toll gate into which the vehicle corresponding to the My Number Card entered. The collection unit 102 calculates the toll for the section between the confirmed toll gate and the toll gate where the card verification camera 151 is installed, and collects the calculated toll from the user. The toll is paid using the payment method linked to the My Number Card.

[0047] ***Explanation of the effects of Embodiment 1*** As described above, according to this embodiment, the user's travel section can be confirmed based on data captured by photographing the My Number Card at the start and end of toll road use, and toll road usage fees can be automatically debited from the bank account linked to the My Number Card. Furthermore, by utilizing the contactless function of the My Number Card, the My Number Card can be used as an ETC card. In addition, if the My Number Card also serves as a driver's license, the driver's license can be verified at the toll booth. It should be noted that in the current ETC system 90, non-ETC vehicles are not permitted to pass through ETC-only lanes. Therefore, according to this embodiment, if a user of a non-ETC vehicle possesses a My Number Card, they can use their My Number Card to pass through an ETC-only lane, even if their vehicle is not ETC-equipped.

[0048] This embodiment can be implemented using existing equipment. Therefore, highway operators can implement this embodiment at no additional cost or at a relatively low additional cost in their efforts to make highways ETC-only, which they have been strengthening in recent years. Furthermore, since vehicles other than ETC vehicles can pass through the ETC-only lanes, an increase in the number of users of ETC-only lanes and an increase in the number of users of smart interchanges with only ETC-only lanes are expected.

[0049] Under the current ETC system, if there is a problem with the ETC card when entering an ETC lane, the toll fee must be paid retroactively by bank transfer or other means. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, even if there is a problem with the ETC card, the toll fee can be paid using the payment method linked to the My Number Card, so there is no need to pay the toll fee retroactively.

[0050] ***Other configurations*** <Example 1> Figure 6 shows an example of the hardware configuration of server 100 according to this modified example. The server 100 includes a processor 11, a processor 11 and memory 12, a processor 11 and auxiliary storage device 13, or a processing circuit 18 instead of a processor 11, memory 12 and auxiliary storage device 13. The processing circuit 18 is hardware that implements at least some of the components of the server 100. The processing circuit 18 may be dedicated hardware, or it may be a processor that executes the program stored in memory 12.

[0051] When the processing circuit 18 is dedicated hardware, specific examples of the processing circuit 18 include a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The server 100 may have multiple processing circuits that replace the processing circuit 18. The multiple processing circuits share the role of the processing circuit 18.

[0052] In server 100, some functions may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while the remaining functions may be implemented by software or firmware.

[0053] The processing circuit 18 can be implemented, in specific examples, by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The processor 11, memory 12, auxiliary storage device 13, and processing circuit 18 are collectively referred to as the "processing circuitry." In other words, the functions of each functional component of the server 100 are realized by the processing circuitry.

[0054] ***Other Embodiments*** Although Embodiment 1 has been described, multiple parts of this embodiment may be combined and implemented. Alternatively, this embodiment may be implemented partially. Furthermore, this embodiment may be modified in various ways as needed, and may be implemented as a whole or in parts in any combination. The embodiments described above are essentially preferred examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, its applications, or its uses. The procedures described using flowcharts, etc., may be modified as appropriate.

[0055] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix.

[0056] (Note 1) At the entrance to a toll road, a card verification camera at the entrance is used to photograph a target certificate, which is a certificate containing personal identification information that identifies the user paying the toll for the said toll road, and to which a payment method is associated, so as to capture the personal identification information. At the exit of the aforementioned toll road, an exit-side card verification camera is installed to photograph the aforementioned certificate in a manner that captures the aforementioned personal identification information, When the target certificate is photographed by the entrance-side card verification camera and when the target certificate is photographed by the exit-side card verification camera, Based on the location corresponding to the entrance-side card verification camera and the location corresponding to the exit-side card verification camera, the user's travel section is confirmed, and the toll corresponding to the confirmed travel section is calculated as the target toll. The collection unit executes a collection process to collect the target toll fee using a payment method corresponding to the target certificate, based on the personal identification information recognized from the video footage of the target certificate captured by at least one of the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera. A server equipped with An electronic toll collection system equipped with [the following features].

[0057] (Note 2) The aforementioned certificate in question is a My Number Card. The aforementioned personal identification information is My Number, as described in Appendix 1 of the electronic fee collection system.

[0058] (Note 3) The payment method is an electronic payment collection system as described in Appendix 1 or 2, which involves automatic withdrawal from the bank account linked to the aforementioned certificate.

[0059] (Note 4) The collection unit is an electronic toll collection system according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, which performs the collection process when there is a malfunction in at least one of the in-vehicle unit of the electronic toll collection system or the card corresponding to the in-vehicle unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 11 Processor, 12 Memory, 13 Auxiliary storage device, 14 Input / Output IF, 15 Communication device, 18 Processing circuit, 19 Signal line, 90 ETC system, 100 Server, 101 Communication unit, 102 Collection unit, 103 Storage unit, 110,111 Antenna, 120 Toll ticket issuing device, 130,131 Start control unit, 140,150,151 Card verification camera.

Claims

1. At the entrance to a toll road, a card verification camera at the entrance is used to photograph a target certificate, which is a certificate containing personal identification information that identifies the user paying the toll for the said toll road, and to which a payment method is associated, so as to capture the personal identification information. At the exit of the aforementioned toll road, an exit-side card verification camera is installed to photograph the aforementioned certificate in a manner that captures the aforementioned personal identification information, When data indicating the target certificate captured by the entrance-side card verification camera is received, and data indicating the target certificate captured by the exit-side card verification camera is received, Based on the location corresponding to the entrance-side card verification camera and the location corresponding to the exit-side card verification camera, the user's travel section is confirmed, and the toll corresponding to the confirmed travel section is calculated as the target toll. The collection unit executes a collection process to collect the target toll fee using a payment method corresponding to the target certificate, based on the personal identification information recognized from the video footage of the target certificate captured by at least one of the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera. A server equipped with, At the entrance to the aforementioned toll road, after the aforementioned certificate of eligibility has been photographed, a first launch control device is provided to allow passage to the aforementioned toll road, At the exit of the aforementioned toll road, after the aforementioned certificate of eligibility has been photographed and the aforementioned collection process has been completed, a second launch control device is provided to allow passage on a general road that is not the aforementioned toll road. An electronic toll collection system comprising: The aforementioned entrance-side card verification camera is a camera installed in the first communication terminal. The aforementioned exit-side card verification camera is a camera provided by the second communication terminal. The server is connected to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal in a manner that enables communication between them. The aforementioned certificate in question is a My Number Card. The aforementioned personal identification information is My Number, The aforementioned payment method is an automatic withdrawal from the bank account linked to the aforementioned certificate. The collection unit is an electronic toll collection system that performs the collection process when there is a malfunction in at least one of the in-vehicle unit of the electronic toll collection system or the card corresponding to the in-vehicle unit.

2. The electronic toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are the same communication terminal.

3. An electronic toll collection method performed in an electronic toll collection system, The entrance-side card verification camera, at the entrance to the toll road, photographs the target certificate, which is a certificate containing personal identification information that identifies the user paying the toll for the said toll road and to which a payment method is associated, so that the personal identification information is visible. The exit-side card verification camera, at the exit of the toll road, photographs the target certificate so that the personal identification information is visible. When the computer receives data indicating the target certificate captured by the entrance-side card verification camera, and receives data indicating the target certificate captured by the exit-side card verification camera, the computer will: Based on the location corresponding to the entrance-side card verification camera and the location corresponding to the exit-side card verification camera, the user's travel section is confirmed, and the toll corresponding to the confirmed travel section is calculated as the target toll. Based on the personal identification information recognized from the video footage of the target certificate captured by at least one of the entrance-side card verification camera and the exit-side card verification camera, a collection process is performed to collect the target toll fee using the payment method corresponding to the target certificate. The first launch control unit, after the aforementioned certificate of eligibility has been photographed at the entrance to the toll road, allows the vehicle to proceed onto the toll road. An electronic toll collection method in which a second departure control unit allows the vehicle to proceed to a general road that is not a toll road after the target certificate has been photographed at the exit of the toll road and the collection process has been completed, The aforementioned entrance-side card verification camera is a camera installed in the first communication terminal. The aforementioned exit-side card verification camera is a camera provided by the second communication terminal. The computer is connected to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal in a manner that enables communication between them. The aforementioned certificate in question is a My Number Card. The aforementioned personal identification information is My Number, The aforementioned payment method is an automatic withdrawal from the bank account linked to the aforementioned certificate. The computer is an electronic toll collection method that performs the collection process when there is a malfunction in at least one of the in-vehicle unit of the electronic toll collection system or the card corresponding to the in-vehicle unit.

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