Interoperable Toll OBU Using Session Identifier Linking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road toll systems require complex and costly multi-functional on-board units (OBUs) for interoperability between infrastructure-bound and infrastructureless systems, necessitating extensive testing and certification to prevent errors and fraud, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a GNSS-enabled mobile phone and a DSRC-enabled OBU that exchange data via a common interface, generating a session identifier to link infrastructureless and infrastructure-bound billing functions, allowing for secure and accurate toll transaction checking using toll beacons and a transaction server, with optional encryption and double-checking mechanisms to ensure billing accuracy and fraud detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-functional OBU is constructed to support both infrastructure-bound and infrastructureless road toll systems, then interoperability is achieved, but device complexity and testing/certification costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent functional modules: a DSRC transceiver for infrastructure-bound toll systems and a GNSS receiver with mobile communication for infrastructureless systems. These modules operate independently and communicate through standardized interfaces, allowing each to be developed, tested, and certified separately while maintaining overall interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
A single OBU device integrates multiple functions by incorporating both DSRC and GNSS capabilities. The device can automatically select the appropriate toll system based on availability, providing universal compatibility with both infrastructure-bound and infrastructureless road toll systems without requiring separate dedicated devices.
2Reliability
If comprehensive testing and certification is performed to ensure accuracy and security, then billing and fraud security are maintained, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Testing and certification processes are segmented into module-specific tests for DSRC functionality and GNSS functionality. Each module can be independently validated against its respective security and accuracy requirements, reducing the overall testing time while maintaining comprehensive security coverage through systematic verification of each component.
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 simplifies the construction and certification of OBUs while maintaining high billing and fraud security, using fewer components and reducing costs by enabling interoperable road toll systems with accurate and secure GNSS-based toll transactions.
Implementation Method 1
a satellite navigation receiver and a mobile communications module for communication with the mobile network of the infrastructureless road toll system
Implementation Method 2
a short-range transceiver, for example in accordance with the DSRC (dedicated short range communication), CEN-DSRC, UNI-DSRC, IEEE 802.11p or WAVE (wireless access for vehicular environments) or ITS-G5 standards, for communication with the toll beacons
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method for checking toll transactions, produced from position notifications of a mobile phone connected via a mobile network to a transaction server, with the aid of a network of distributed toll beacons, which can communicate via short-range radio with on-board units of passing vehicles and are connected to the transaction server. To this end, a interoperable multi-functional OBU is created that is formed from a GNSS- and NFC-enabled mobile phone on the one hand and an NFC- and DSRC-enabled OBU on the other hand, which exchange data concerning a session identifier (SID) via their common NFC interface, which session identifier forms a link between the infrastructureless and the infrastructure-bound billing functions of the multi-functional OBU. The disclosed subject matter also relates to a toll beacon and a transaction server for same.