On-Board Unit Data Bundling for Road Toll Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing road toll systems, particularly those using the Thin-Client-Approach, face high data transmission volumes, which is inefficient and costly, due to the need for frequent updates in road toll rates and positions.
Innovation Solution
The on-board unit reduces data transmission by bundling position data into a single message with a header and payload, omitting timestamps for successive positions, using delta-positions, and optimizing communication protocols like TCP/IP and UDP to minimize data packet size and frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the Thin-Client-Approach is used to improve system flexibility and reduce on-board unit complexity, then the on-board unit becomes simpler and more flexible, but the data transmission volume increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for toll calculation (entry position, exit position, timestamp) from the complete position data stream. By removing redundant information such as intermediate position data and excessive timestamps, the system achieves both simplicity and reduced data transmission volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the position data transmission into structured messages with specific fields (entry position, exit position, timestamp). This segmentation allows the system to transmit only necessary information in an organized manner, reducing overall data volume while maintaining calculation accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If position data is transmitted frequently to maintain billing accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical position data points (entry and exit positions from toll roads) needed for accurate billing, rather than transmitting continuous position streams. This extraction maintains billing accuracy while dramatically reducing the quantity of transmitted data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits position data at selective intervals (only at entry and exit points) rather than continuously. This partial action approach provides sufficient data for accurate toll calculation without the excessive data transmission that would result from continuous monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
An on-board unit (2) comprises a processor (21), configured to determine the position of the on-board unit (2) in regular intervals and to provide data representing the determined positions, the data including at least one of a latitude, a longitude and a timestamp representing the time at which the correspondent position has been determined. The on-board unit (2) further comprises a communication module (22), configured to receive the data representing the determined positions, and generate at least one message (42), each message (42) including the data of at least two successive positions.