Toll Device Status Verification via Central Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toll systems require special hardware for communication between vehicles and control points, making automatic toll collection without DSRC communication challenging, especially when using devices like smartphones or tablets that lack DSRC modules.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for automatic toll control that generates status information on a toll device's readiness for collection, including vehicle identification, and transmits this information to a central processing device, allowing for evaluation without direct communication between the toll device and control device, using wireless communication methods like mobile radio or WLAN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DSRC communication is used for toll collection, then reliable vehicle-to-control-point communication is achieved, but special hardware (DSRC module) is required in each vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central server as an intermediary between toll devices and control devices. The toll device communicates status information to the central server, which then provides this information to control devices for verification. This eliminates the need for direct DSRC communication between vehicle and control point, removing the requirement for specialized DSRC hardware while maintaining system reliability through centralized data management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables universal communication using standard wireless technologies (mobile radio, WLAN) that are already present in smartphones and tablets, replacing the specialized DSRC communication protocol. This allows any device with standard wireless capabilities to function as a toll device, eliminating the need for vehicle-specific DSRC modules while maintaining reliable communication through the central server infrastructure.
2Reliability
If continuous position data transmission is implemented, then toll compliance monitoring is improved, but large amounts of data must be transmitted continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential status information (toll collection readiness and vehicle identification) from the continuous data stream and transmits this condensed information to the central server. This eliminates the need to transmit large volumes of continuous position data while maintaining effective compliance monitoring, as the central server can verify toll obligations using just the extracted key parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting complete continuous position data, the system transmits partial information (status updates at regular intervals) that is sufficient for compliance verification. This partial action approach reduces data transmission volume significantly while maintaining adequate monitoring capability through periodic status checks rather than continuous data streaming.
3Measurement precision
If timestamp verification is performed, then lane matching accuracy is improved, but additional communication between vehicle and control point is required
Solution Approach 1:
The central server acts as an intermediary that stores and provides timestamp information from the toll device to the control device. This eliminates the need for direct real-time communication between the vehicle and control point for timestamp verification. The control device can verify lane matching accuracy using timestamps provided by the central server, maintaining measurement precision without requiring additional vehicle-to-control-point communication infrastructure.
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
Enables reliable and efficient automatic toll collection without the need for DSRC communication, ensuring compliance and reducing hardware requirements, by regularly checking the toll device's readiness for position determination, data transmission, and energy supply, using GNSS and mobile networks.
Implementation Method 1
Using a global navigation satellite system, a vehicle-mounted device (OBU - on-board unit) determines the vehicle's position at regular intervals while driving.
Implementation Method 2
transmitting the status information from the toll device to a central data processing unit... communication can take place wirelessly, for example via mobile communications or via WLAN
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for automatic control in a toll system has been revealed.The procedure comprises the following steps: generating status information in a toll device at regular intervals, wherein the status information includes the toll device's readiness to collect tolls and the vehicle identification number of a motor vehicle assigned to the toll device; transmitting the status information from the toll device to a central data processing unit; capturing the vehicle identification number of a motor vehicle to be checked at a control unit; querying the central data processing unit for current status information on the captured vehicle identification number, wherein the current status information is the status information last transmitted by the toll device to the central data processing unit; and evaluating the current status information to determine the current readiness to collect tolls, whereby a control result is positive if the current readiness to collect tolls is positive.Furthermore, a system for automatic control in a toll system has been revealed.