Integrated automatic payment system

Abstract

The object of this present Patent of Invention application idealizes an autonomous payment system for amounts for use in transport infrastructures such as barrier or free-flow technologies, georeferencing, geolocation and license plate reading for information about any vehicle that crosses vehicle passage points (4), for monitoring or payment without user intervention (6) which will have the amounts debited from their wallet or through credit card.

Description

[0001] INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM

[0002] Field of Application

[0003]

[0001] This descriptive report refers to a Patent of Invention application for an application to automate services for crediting and payment by the user of tolls, parking, or any other transport infrastructure, belonging to the field of technology and computer engineering, being highly practical and efficient, meeting conditions to become worthy of the protection hereby sought.

[0004]

[0002] The INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM, through the improvements and technology employed, aims at an unprecedented application for toll payment, both barrier and free-flow highway tolls and parking, which enables automatic charging from any point in a location defined and registered through geolocation.

[0005]

[0003] The application described here, downloaded by mobile phone or any other device, associating the facilities of geolocation and associated with data communication of OCR systems (Optical Character Recognition) and LPR (License Plate Recognition) to read the vehicle license plate plus user and cross this information with the database to automatically charge the amount defined by the highway, toll or parking operator.

[0006]

[0004] For example, it is possible to perform automatic payments for the use of highways, gas stations, ports, airports, physical parking, temporary event parking in any location, among many other possibilities, through data communication between the mobile phone application downloaded by the user, associated with geolocation, OCR systems (Optical Character Recognition) and LPR (License Plate Recognition), reading vehicle identification plates without user intervention, bringing numerous advantages, among the main ones, possibility of using the application either by charging subscription fees or without requiring users to pay any fees or monthly charges, low cost for application implementation and operation, being able to use existing structures throughout the entire highway, ease of operation and implementation, ease and innovation in payment methods, installation of collection point in any location without the need for large gantries or infrastructure, where the vehicle can make payment automatically at any speed, dealing with a solution of evolutionary nature, whose practical result obtained reports to a differentiated and effective condition of construction and use.

[0007] State of the Art

[0008]

[0005] With the sole and exclusive purpose of providing veracity to the preamble of this description, the applicant proceeds in the following paragraphs to make a brief, yet consistent, explanation about the state of the art for the problems and inconveniences existing in current toll and / or parking payment methods, where it will be possible for a person skilled in the art to recognize its deficient aspects, to later clearly identify in the invention now claimed the requirement of novelty, mandatory in the Industrial Property Law.

[0009]

[0006] As is general knowledge, new technologies always emerge and through these new technologies it is found that current means of toll and parking payment used are very complex, high installation costs, frequent maintenance, in addition to high costs for users, making it impossible for everyone to be able to use current systems.

[0010]

[0007] Toll and parking payment systems directly at the cashier, whether in cash or debit or credit cards, prove to be impractical and quite uncomfortable, as they result in more queues at toll plazas.

[0011]

[0008] Known products today, such as payment methods using tags or other types of communication methods, are slow methods, vehicles need to pass exactly at the detection point and at reduced speed for their operation.

[0012]

[0009] Automated free flow systems or those using strips with RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification) attached to the respective vehicle's windshield, and which are previously purchased by users, receive charges through banking means and prove to be more practical and efficient compared to the direct cashier payment system.

[0013]

[0010] These are technologies that allow toll collection without the need for physical barriers, such as gates or payment booths, however it is an obsolete system that does not inform in real time the amount debited from the user's account, when passing through a highway toll collection point or parking and neither allows it to be deactivated or activated at the user's discretion and has no security resources against fraud.

[0014]

[0011] It is observed that approximately 45% to 50% of the Brazilian fleet use the tag method. In research conducted, it was observed that the other 50% of the Brazilian fleet do not use the tag method due to the cost of monthly subscription or need for payment through credit card.

[0015]

[0012] Some problems are observed with current toll and parking payment methods, such as monthly subscription payment or difficulty for users to make payment, such as slowness in reading payments via tags.

[0016]

[0013] Current systems of payment methods on highways and parkinsg needs many hardwares to function, this causes problems and maintenance to become more recurrent. There are also problems with high cost of implementation of physical structures, such as a gantry to perform collections, systems down for several days, charging high monthly fees to users, among others.

[0017]

[0014] The state of the art reveals the Brazilian patent BR 2015 021659-5, titled DISPOSITIVO DE COMUNICAQAO (TOLL PAYMENT COLLECTION WITH COMMUNICATION DEVICE), owned by Aetolls, LLC., published on 07 / 18 / 2017, which describes implementations that include actions to receive an image of a vehicle using a toll highway installation, process the image to determine a vehicle identifier, and determine that the vehicle identifier is provided in a database, the database associating vehicle identifiers with respective device identifiers, and in response: determine a device identifier associated with the vehicle identifier from the database, transmit a first message to a device associated with the device identifier, the first message including a request for approval to collect a toll payment, and receive a second message from the device, the second message indicating approval of toll payment, and in response: transmit a payment request to a service provider, the service provider providing data transfer services to the device, and receive the toll payment from the service provider. The object of this patent is completely different from the model proposed in this application.

[0018]

[0015] The state of the art also reveals the Brazilian patent BR 11 2022 017006-8, titled SISTEMA DE PAGAMENTO RELACIONADO A CONDUQAO DE VEICULOS, E METODO PARA O MESMO (PAYMENT SYSTEM RELATED TO VEHICLE DRIVING, AND METHOD FOR THE SAME), owned by Harexinfotech Inc., published on 16 / 11 / 2022, which describes a payment system for a cost incurred that is related to vehicle driving, and a method for the same. A payment server related to vehicle driving, according to the present invention, comprises: an input unit to receive vehicle recognition information; memory having stored therein a program to process payment of a cost related to vehicle driving, according to vehicle recognition information; and a processor to execute the program, wherein the processor transmits the payment notification for the cost related to vehicle driving, confirms whether an application is installed on a valid mobile terminal, and processes a payment process for the cost related to vehicle driving. The object of this patent is also completely different from the model proposed in this application, which also presents several advantages and benefits in relation to this prior art.

[0019]

[0016] Today, with the current billing system implemented defined by the state of the art, they require that the user move to a collection point or booth, which in many cases cause congestion or slow traffic.

[0020]

[0017] As we can observe, the state of the art does not reveal any technology for crediting and payment of tolls and parking through mobile phone application and geolocation, developed with a view to providing better performance and practical utility in relation to other similar payment systems, usually found on the market.

[0021]

[0018] Given the above in the foundations of the art, with the passage of time and the accumulation of experiences, the facts pointed in the direction of building an unprecedented application for toll and parking payment, presenting several advantages over existing ones, being very practical and efficient, where its unique constructability eliminates the negative aspects known in the state of the art, which is presented in this patent. Patent Objective

[0022]

[0019] In order to overcome the problems presented, the inventor comes through this application, requesting the Patent of Invention, titled SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM), which aims, fundamentally, at the development of a technology that enables toll collection using free-flow technology, tolls or parking at any point defined and registered by geoprocessing, such as, for example, highways, gas stations, ports, airports, physical parking, temporary event parking, any other transport infrastructure that may emerge in the market in the future in relation to the use of the application.

[0023]

[0020] With the passage of years, the market, always seeking innovations and practical solutions to innovate or differentiate its products from other competitors, the inventor developed this simple and differentiated payment application, which is capable of overcoming all the limitations and inconveniences reported in the state of the art, in a practical, efficient and extremely secure manner.

[0024]

[0021] With the natural advancement of computerized and automated payment and credit systems, an opportunity was seen for the implementation of these new technologies, also in this sector of tolls and parking, in order to simplify the daily life of users and transport and logistics companies.

[0025]

[0022] The present innovation, contained in the document of this patent application, is mainly directed at data communication between an application used on the mobile phone, to be downloaded by the user, both from the highway and from the parking, and the geolocation system, which comes to simplify payment by the user of highways, tolls and parking automatically, without the need for cash transactions, bank cards, pix, or even stops or speed reduction at a payment point in an autonomous manner.

[0026]

[0023] Users, in possession of the mobile phone or any other device, which can be implemented for payment, with the installed application can manage their toll payments, use of public highway and parking or any other transport infrastructure, with great convenience, from any location they are in. It is an application very simple to operate by any type of user.

[0027]

[0024] According to the present, the invention is constituted by an application for automatic payment for toll collection, parking and areas that enable demarcation through geolocation and reading of vehicle identification plates through automotive systems such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and LPR (License Plate Recognition).

[0028]

[0025] The application works using the OCR or LPR system, which will read the vehicle identification plate, then, through toll collection points defined by Georeferencing, the correct charge is made using the information contained in a certain database in which the vehicle is registered, crossing with banking information and the highway operator, parking lot or any other transport infrastructure.

[0029]

[0026] The toll charge is performed at a specific point defined by geolocation, without the need for large physical structures or even user parking to make the payment. The proposed application can also use current physical structures, used today to monitor traffic or even toll payments, however, without the need for user stops or even reduction of local traffic flow. Everything is done simply without any need for user interventions or use of physical structures on the highway.

[0027] The starting point of the charge and its end is performed through geolocation with the demarcation done through signaling on the highway surface or parking perimeter with small structures to identify the vehicle plate.

[0030]

[0028] Strategic points are demarcated that will be defined by the highway or parking operator, normally access and exit points of highways or parking lots will be used.

[0031]

[0029] Through geolocation, spaces will be demarcated where, when crossing, the vehicle will be identified both when entering or leaving the perimeter. When it exits, the charge will be made automatically, without user intervention.

[0032]

[0030] The perimeter charge will be posted to the registered user's account and at the moment they find convenient, they can access the account and check the statements, verifying their account balance.

[0033]

[0031] The application is extremely simple, not requiring specific hardware to operate. Furthermore, it brings other advantages that can be observed, such as low operational costs or for its implementation and operation. It can also use existing structures such as gantries or pre-existing infrastructure along the highway or parking lots to facilitate its operation, although it does not require it.

[0034]

[0032] Furthermore, the application allows use without the need for user fees or monthly charges. Payment occurs automatically on certain highway sections, without the need to stop or reduce speed when passing through the toll collection point, providing a more efficient and secure process.

[0035]

[0033] It is thus understandable that the proposed toll and automotive parking payment service application is extremely simple in its implementation, being, therefore, easy feasibility, obtaining excellent practical and functional results, offering innovative constructability over known models.

[0036]

[0034] It is important to understand that the present Patent of Invention presented here is illustrated in a demonstrative and not limiting manner regarding the application of the details, dimensions, capacities and steps described. It is capable of other modalities and can be practiced or executed in a variety of ways, without departing, logically, from the main inventive scope of the object, whose protection is claimed.

[0037] Brief description of the invention drawings

[0038]

[0035] To complement the present description in order to obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of the present Patent of Invention and in accordance with a preferred practical realization of the same, accompanying the description, attached, is a set of drawings, where, in an exemplified manner, the following was represented:

[0039] Figure 1 - Shows a schematic figure of the georeferencing point marking.

[0040] Figure 2 - Shows a schematic view of the vehicle passage registration point.

[0041] Figure 3 - Shows schematic view of the registration point with the entry and exit point of a highway;

[0042] Figure 4 - Details a vehicle with the application, object of the present patent application, where you can observe the mobile device at rest on the center console.

[0043] Figure 5 - Shows details of the plate reading performed by the application.

[0044] Detailed Description Of The Invention

[0045]

[0036] The billing application facilitates and automates the daily lives of users, and uses only the mobile device registered in the proprietary application as a means of payment, and the user can travel on toll highways without the need to stop or park the vehicle in accredited parking lots.

[0046]

[0037] The charge consists of making payments for services used through registration in the service management application, such as highway tolls, temporary parking or any other transport infrastructure automatically with its operation based on the technology known as geolocation that determines a location from geographic coordinates marked in a given geographic area and reading of vehicle identification plates.

[0047]

[0038] The application maintains information exchange with the system operating center, in order to keep the application fully accounted for regarding the user's credit or debit conditions. SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM), operates in areas defined by geolocation and from the integration of a digital point to a point registration technology.

[0048]

[0039] In Fig. 1 , we see the operator (1 ), of any transport infrastructure or parking lots, with SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM) contained in this patent application and the georeferencing system contained in it, implements a precise demarcation of two specific points (2) within a determined area (3), using geographic coordinates to identify these points as vehicle passage registration locations (4). The SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM) captures data from GPS satellites (5) and other location sensors to ensure accuracy in marking. These points can be viewed on digital maps contained in the SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM), where the user (6) can monitor the positions clearly and efficiently, as shown in figure 4.

[0049]

[0040] From this demarcation of these areas the INTEGRATED SYSTEM is capable of registering and storing the passage registration points (4), which can be used as payment locations or simply vehicle monitoring points, enabling the execution of tasks dependent on this location. This facilitates spatial analysis and coordination of field activities, ensuring that operations related to the area defined as a vehicle passage registration point (4) are executed with maximum precision and reliability.

[0050]

[0041] Then, Integrated System, using OCR, LPR technology or any other technology that can read vehicle identification plates and through cameras (7) positioned at vehicle registration points (4) capture images of vehicle plates (8), which are processed in the Integrated System to identify the plate characters (8) and associate them with the registered vehicle (9).

[0051]

[0042] In turn, the user (6) will download the application for free from any application website, through their mobile phone (10) or any other device that supports applications, and then will register by entering their data, the data necessary for the operator and the vehicle data. From their registration they will become a user (6) of the Integrated System, being able to make payment through the post-paid system through credit cards, debit cards, etc. or through the pre-paid system, where the user will deposit the amount in a wallet periodically.

[0052]

[0043] Then, the operator (1 ) of the SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM), every time a user (6) crosses a passage point (4), entry of the road (11 ) or parking lot, the said Integrated System is activated, allowing vehicle monitoring and the issuance of the charge that can be performed at the moment of crossing the passage point (4) of exit from the road (12), parking lot or any other transport structure.

[0053]

[0044] With the registered points of vehicle passage registration (4) at the entrance (11 ) of the road, by the operator (1 ) and the user registration (6), the system integration can be initiated, from the moment the user (6) crosses the first passage point (4), they receive this information and vehicle monitoring begins through the passage points (4). The charge will be performed automatically from the moment the user crosses the exit passage point (12) of the road, parking lot or any other transport infrastructure, without any need for user intervention (4) who will have the amounts debited from their wallet in the application and will always be informed of this charge through the Integrated System, object of this patent application.

[0054]

[0045] With the Integrated System the user (6) can then consult on their mobile phone (10), the information determined as, see their current balance, in the case of pre-paid; obtain complete monthly spending statement; Plan changes such as pre-paid, post-paid, automatic debit and credit card; My registration; Your route; Search of registered locations; Insert credits - pre-paid; Additional drivers. Naturally this is not an exhaustive list, and can be integrated with other information necessary for system use.

[0055]

[0046] The equipment works using the OCR or LPR system, which reads the vehicle plates (8) and can make the correct charge using the vehicle registration database (9) registered and not requiring large physical structures. The starting point of the charge and its end are performed through geolocation, being demarcated at two points (2) on the road or parking lot, where only supports for cameras (7) for reading the plates (8) will be installed, which will cross the vehicle information (9) with the database for issuing the charge at the moment of crossing the registration point (12) of vehicle exit (9) from the road or parking lot.

[0056]

[0047] The various registration points (4) of the route will be demarcated with pigment on the road surface through ground signaling, forming a quadrant for user information (6).

[0057]

[0048] It is a Billing System that was developed for payment through mobile phone (10) or any other device and consists of, which can perform automatic payments at locations registered by the System, such as parking lots, tolls, special spaces and public spaces.

[0058] Toll Billing

[0059]

[0049] When passing through any registered exit registration point (4), the user (6) receives an SMS message (Short Message Service), or if implemented with WASE system or Google Maps, will receive a notice from these applications, informing the rate and the amount charged in the section or perimeter. SMS in Portuguese means short message service, it is a service for exchanging brief text messages, which can be sent or received through a mobile device.

[0060] Parking Lot Billing

[0061]

[0050] When passing through the vehicle entry registration point (4) (11 ), the Integrated System will read the vehicle plate (8) and the user (6) will receive an SMS containing entry time and start of toll charge from the billing point.

[0051] When parking, turning off and leaving the vehicle, the user is informed that the vehicle (9) is stopped, informing about its position and starts counting the time, even in places where the charge is made without this counting.

[0062]

[0052] When exiting the parking perimeter through the registration point (4) with the vehicle (9), the charge is made automatically, and the user will receive an application message or an SMS showing the time and the amount charged.

[0063] Special Spaces (Disabled / Elderly)

[0064]

[0053] With the Charging System in question, special spaces can be registered and released, in accordance with specific regulations for the use of these special spaces, only for registered vehicles (9). Unregistered vehicles that happen to use these spaces may be fined by the responsible agencies that may be registered in the application.

[0065]

[0054] The SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PAGAMENTO AUTOMATICO (INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM) allows the use of existing infrastructure on highways, such as existing overpasses, bridges and gantries, everything can be transformed into a registration point (4), thus facilitating the installation of the System.

[0066]

[0055] The application can operate in the background, that is, the user (6) does not need to have the application open on the mobile device, reading these points entirely through geolocation and will issue warnings when passing through the registration point (4) of exit from the road or parking, informing the user (6) of the amount charged.

[0067]

[0056] The application can also warn the user (6) that they are approaching a charging point and the tariff amount will be debited. If the Charging System verifies that the user (6) is without credit in the Integrated System wallet, a warning is issued requesting a recharge so that the user (6) can proceed.

[0068]

[0057] Although one form of the invention has been shown and described, other forms may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the model which is defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS1 - INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM by means of a cellular telephone device or any other internet connection device, OCR system, LPR and Geofencing or any other geolocation or georeferencing technology characterized by integrating technologies for automatic payment of amounts to barrier or free-flow tolls, fixed or periodic parking and / or any other transport infrastructure where any technology that reads license plates such as OCR, LPR is integrated with Geofencing technology or any other georeferencing or geolocation technology with the objective of charging amounts for the use of transport infrastructure automatically, without the need for physical infrastructure such as booths or payment points where the user has to stop or reduce their traffic speed, which will have the amounts debited from their wallet or through credit cards.2 - INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM by means of a cellular telephone device or any other internet connection device, OCR system, LPR and Geofencing or any other geolocation or georeferencing technology characterized by implementing a precise demarcation of two specific points (2) within a determined area (3), using geographic coordinates to identify these points as vehicle passage registration locations (4).3 - INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM by means of a cellular telephone device or any other internet connection device, OCR system, LPR and Geofencing or any other geolocation or georeferencing technology characterized by using vehicle passage registration points (4) as entry point (11 ) or exit point (12) of the vehicle (9).4 - INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM by means ofa cellular telephone device or any other internet connection device, OCR system, LPR and Geofencing or any other geolocation or georeferencing technology characterized by using existing structures along the road to determine vehicle passage points (4).

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