Automated Toll Collection for Rental Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting tolls from rental vehicles traveling on toll roads are inconvenient, as they often rely on manual payment, physical toll tags that can be damaged or non-portable, leading to tedious charge transfers and slow travel times.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising network interface hardware, a memory module, and a processor that automatically executes toll payment logic upon rental start notification, detecting and paying tolls throughout the rental period, allowing for seamless toll collection and accurate charging of the appropriate party.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual payment windows are used for toll collection, then tolls can be collected from rental vehicles, but travel time is slowed and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual payment window system with an automated electronic toll collection system using transponders and electronic communication networks. The system automatically detects toll events, processes payments, and charges rental accounts without requiring manual intervention at payment windows, thereby eliminating travel time delays while maintaining reliable toll collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service toll payment by automatically detecting when a rental vehicle passes through a toll point, retrieving rental account information, calculating the toll amount, and charging the appropriate account without human intervention. This automated self-service process eliminates the need for drivers to stop at manual payment windows.
2Loss of time
If physical toll tags are used for automatic toll collection, then travel time is maintained, but the tags can be damaged, destroyed, or stolen and are not portable between vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal toll collection system where the transponder can be used across multiple rental vehicles rather than being tied to a single physical tag. The system retrieves rental account information from centralized databases, allowing the same transponder to function with different rental vehicles throughout the rental period, providing portability and eliminating the limitation of physical tags being vehicle-specific.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electronic copies of rental account information stored in centralized databases rather than relying on a single physical toll tag. When a transponder is detected at a toll point, the system retrieves the necessary account information from the database, creating a virtual copy of the rental agreement and charge authority, which eliminates the risk associated with physical tag damage or loss.
3Device complexity
If tolls are billed to the vehicle owner registered to the license plate, then toll collection is simplified, but charge transfer to the renter becomes tedious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-authorizing toll charges in the rental agreement and pre-loading the rental account with charge authority before the rental period begins. When a toll event occurs, the system simply executes the pre-authorized charge against the renter's account, eliminating the need for post-rental charge transfer processes and immediately holding the renter responsible for the toll.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by providing real-time notification to the renter when a toll is charged, including details of the toll event and the charge amount. This immediate feedback loop eliminates the uncertainty and delay associated with charge transfer by informing the renter at the time of the toll event, allowing for immediate dispute resolution or confirmation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for collecting a toll owed by a rental vehicle traveling along a toll road includes network interface hardware. a memory module, and a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware and the memory module. Wherein the memory module stores logic that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive a rental start notification from the network interface hardware; and automatically execute toll payment logic stored on the memory module in response to receipt of the rental start notification. The toll payment logic causes the processor to detect and toll payment event throughout a rental period.