Dynamic Timing Adjustment in Electronic Toll Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic toll collection (ETC) systems face inaccuracies in vehicle position determination and transaction processing due to preset timing assumptions that are not adaptable to varying traffic speeds, leading to incorrect lane assignments and operational inefficiencies, especially in congested conditions.
Innovation Solution
The ETC system dynamically adjusts its timing based on current traffic speed, using measurements such as average handshakes between antennas and transponders to set a sampling time period that accounts for slower-than-expected traffic, ensuring accurate vehicle position determination and subsystem operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a preset sampling time period is used for vehicle position determination, then the system operates with fixed timing assumptions, but the accuracy of lane assignment deteriorates when traffic speed varies from expected conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timing adjustment by continuously monitoring actual traffic speed and modifying the sampling time period accordingly. The system transitions from fixed preset timing to adaptive timing that responds to real-time conditions, ensuring the sampling period remains appropriate regardless of whether vehicles are traveling faster or slower than expected speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter (sampling time period) based on observed traffic conditions. By adjusting this critical parameter dynamically, the system maintains accurate vehicle position determination and lane assignment across varying speed conditions without requiring hardware modifications or complex additional sensors.
2Measurement precision
If the sampling time period is extended to capture slower vehicles, then accuracy for slow traffic improves, but time loss for faster traffic increases due to unnecessary waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the sampling time period based on actual traffic speed measurements. When vehicles are detected traveling faster than expected, the sampling period is reduced accordingly, preventing unnecessary waiting time. Conversely, when slower vehicles are detected, the period is extended to ensure accurate capture, thus optimizing the balance between precision and time efficiency for each traffic condition.
3Device complexity
If subsystems operate on preset timing, then system complexity is reduced, but operational accuracy deteriorates under congested or variable traffic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where actual traffic speed measurements are continuously monitored and used to adjust the sampling time period. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to changing traffic conditions automatically, maintaining high transaction processing accuracy without requiring overly complex manual control mechanisms or multiple predetermined timing configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic toll collection system with dynamically adjusted timing for operation of one or more subsystems. The timing is dynamically adjusted based upon the prevailing traffic speed for the roadway. The roadway traffic speed is determined based upon direct measurements of traffic speed by external equipment or based upon a variable correlated with traffic speed. The variable may include the average number of handshakes per transponder over an estimation period. The subsystem may include a vehicle position determination system, an enforcement system, a loop detection system, or other such subsystems.