Tollgate Usage Pattern Verification for Secure In-Vehicle Payments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Electronic Toll Collection Systems (ETCS) face inconveniences such as the need for physical prepaid or postpaid cards for toll payments, risk of card loss, and challenges in managing user changes or abnormal usage patterns.
Innovation Solution
A server system that monitors vehicle usage patterns and user authentication, allowing for automatic deletion of payment registration information when abnormal usage or user changes are detected, using integrated circuit (IC) chips for secure toll payments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical prepaid or postpaid cards are used for toll payments, then toll payment functionality is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates due to card loss risk and manual insertion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the payment functionality from physical cards and embeds it directly into the vehicle's terminal device through an IC chip. This eliminates the need for users to manually insert or carry physical cards, while maintaining reliable toll payment capability through the embedded chip that automatically processes payments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary embedded IC chip that serves as a bridge between the vehicle and the toll collection system. This chip stores payment information and automatically communicates with toll gates, eliminating the need for direct user interaction with physical cards while ensuring reliable payment processing.
2Reliability
If usage pattern monitoring is implemented to detect abnormal usage, then security is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and verification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the server continuously monitors vehicle usage patterns and compares them against established baselines. When abnormal patterns are detected, the system automatically requests verification from the user, creating a closed-loop security system that adapts to actual usage behavior without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The usage pattern monitoring system operates autonomously by automatically collecting usage data, analyzing patterns, detecting anomalies, and initiating verification processes without user intervention. This self-service approach maintains high security while minimizing the perceived complexity for users, as the system handles all monitoring tasks automatically.
3Reliability
If automatic deletion of payment information is implemented upon user change detection, then security is improved, but loss of information occurs regarding legitimate payment data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary verification actions before deleting payment information. When a user change is detected, the server first sends a verification request to the current user, allowing them to confirm whether the usage pattern change is legitimate. Only after verification fails or no response is received does the system proceed with deletion, ensuring that legitimate payment data is preserved while maintaining security.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the disclosure, a server may include: a communication device configured to communicate with a vehicle; and a processor configured to determine, based on first passage information associated with a tollgate, usage pattern information of the vehicle, wherein the first passage information is received from the vehicle at a first time. The server may further include memory configured to store the determined usage pattern information of the vehicle. The processor may be further configured to: determine, based on second passage information received from the vehicle at a second time after the first time whether usage of the vehicle is consistent with the stored usage pattern information, and, based on a determination that the usage of the vehicle is inconsistent with the stored usage pattern information, transmit, to the vehicle, a request to confirm the usage of the vehicle.