Mobile Phone Toll Payment via Prepaid Account Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic toll charge payment systems require users to set up accounts and register devices, which is cumbersome and often leads to non-compliance, especially for non-frequent users or tourists, and pose challenges in enforcing payment while respecting privacy and reducing errors and costs.
Innovation Solution
A system using electronic messaging from a mobile telephone, where a pre-existing telecommunication account is used to debit toll charges automatically, eliminating the need for pre-registration and retro-fitted devices, and providing a simple, cost-effective mechanism for toll payment with secure and privacy-respecting transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If users are required to set up accounts and register devices for automated toll payment, then automated payment capability is achieved, but system complexity and user burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the user's existing mobile phone and pre-paid account to automatically handle toll payments. The mobile phone serves itself by detecting toll charges and automatically deducting payments from the pre-paid account without requiring users to set up separate accounts or register additional devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile phone performs multiple functions: it serves as the detection device for toll charges, the communication device for transmitting payment information, and the storage medium for the pre-paid account. This eliminates the need for dedicated toll payment devices and account setups.
2Reliability
If pre-registration with financial details is required for toll payment, then payment security is improved, but user privacy concerns and compliance difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile phone operator acts as an intermediary that already holds the user's financial information in their pre-paid account system. The toll operator receives payment information from the mobile phone without directly handling sensitive financial data, thus maintaining security while respecting user privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
Users leverage their existing pre-paid mobile account which already contains financial information. The system automatically uses this existing arrangement for toll payments without requiring users to provide additional financial details or undergo separate registration processes.
3Extent of automation
If RF ID devices are retro-fitted to vehicles for automated toll collection, then toll payment automation is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the mobile phone that users already possess and carry. The mobile phone automatically detects toll charges through its communication capabilities and handles payment without requiring any additional devices to be installed in the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the toll detection and payment functions from dedicated vehicle-mounted devices and relocates them to the mobile phone, which users already have. This eliminates the need for separate RF ID tags or on-vehicle units.
4Device complexity
If manual payment processes are used for non-frequent users, then device complexity is reduced, but payment reliability and compliance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile phone automatically detects when a toll charge occurs and initiates payment deduction from the pre-paid account without requiring user intervention. This automated process ensures compliance even for non-frequent users who may forget manual payment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic confirmation to the user when a toll charge is detected and paid. This feedback mechanism ensures users are aware of charges and payments are processed reliably, combining simplicity with high compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method and system toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising: a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; characterised by said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS (text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for automatically matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user's pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. The main advantage of the system is that the user does not have to pre-register account information in order to effect a toll charge payment and no retrofitting of vehicles with specific devices is required. The convenience of the solution ensures widespread acceptance by users of toll charge systems.