Wireless Mobile Device Virtual Toll Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic toll collection systems face challenges such as congestion, high costs, and inconvenience due to the need for physical toll plazas, transponders, and manual collection methods, which hinder efficient toll collection and user participation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses wireless mobile devices to determine real-time geographic locations relative to 'virtual' toll locations and boundaries, allowing for electronic toll collection based on miles driven rather than specific toll plazas passed, eliminating the need for physical transponders and manual collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If physical toll plazas and manual collection methods are used, then toll collection can be performed, but congestion and loss of time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoll collection throughputVSAvoidtime lost at toll plazas

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical toll plazas, booths, and manual cash transactions with an electronic system using mobile devices, GPS location tracking, and automated wireless communications to detect vehicle passage and process toll payments without physical infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the toll collection process by using electronic records of vehicle passage (based on GPS location data) instead of physical presence at toll plazas, allowing tolls to be collected through digital replication of the payment function without the physical toll booth structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Speed

If electronic toll collection devices (transponders) are deployed, then toll payment speed improves, but device complexity and infrastructure costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoll payment speedVSAvoidtransponder and reader system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mobile device serve multiple functions: it acts as both the GPS receiver for location tracking and the electronic toll payment device, eliminating the need for separate transponders and readers while maintaining fast electronic toll collection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle's existing mobile device and GPS capabilities to automatically detect toll road passage and initiate payment without requiring additional specialized equipment in the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to service itself for toll collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If traditional toll collection systems are implemented, then toll revenue can be collected, but the number of electronic toll users remains limited due to inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of toll usersVSAvoidconvenience of toll payment

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing the cumbersome transponder attachment and manual activation process with automatic detection using the driver's existing mobile device and GPS, the system dramatically improves ease of operation and makes electronic toll collection accessible to all drivers without requiring them to adopt new technology

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach increases the number of electronic toll users, reduces infrastructure costs, minimizes congestion, and provides a convenient, cost-effective method for toll payment, enabling faster and more efficient toll collection processes.

Implementation Method 1

uses the real-time geographic location of a wireless mobile device in a vehicle relative to 'virtual' toll locations and/or 'virtual' toll barriers and/or 'virtual' toll boundaries

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal triangulation:

Data Source

PatentUS8587454B1System and method for providing electronic toll collection to users of wireless mobile devices

Publication Date: 2013.11.19 CAPITALZED ASSETS

AI summary

Electronic toll collection for a motorist and/or subscriber having a wireless mobile device that links the device to (a) specific vehicle(s) and billing account(s) with a service provider(s), third party(s) and or toll authority(s). When a motorist having the mobile device in the vehicle approaches and passes a “virtual” toll location(s) and/or “virtual” toll barriers(s) and/or “virtual” toll boundary(s) having a given toll a central server determines whether the motorist and/or subscriber has activated an electronic ETC service associated with the mobile device, and sends a charge transaction from the central server to a service provider(s), third party(s) and/or directly to the toll authority(s) system. After every transaction, a confirmation (which may be SMS or text, vibration, voice, audible alert, email, etc.) is sent to the mobile device and/or subscriber indicating the amount paid and the status of the account.