Vehicle Access Control Device for Pollution-Based Traffic Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle access control systems based on pollution levels are inefficient due to reliance on visual inspections, which are time-consuming and prone to fraud, especially with the existing green badge system in France, where traffic officers verify stickers manually.
Innovation Solution
An access control device that receives and verifies vehicle-specific data, including authentication and pollution level information, to automatically modulate access to traffic zones, using wireless communication and cryptographic methods to ensure data reliability and authenticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspection by traffic officers is used to verify pollution stickers, then access control can be implemented, but the process becomes time-consuming and causes traffic disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual visual inspection system with an automated electronic verification system. The control device receives data from the vehicle's telematics system, automatically verifies pollution level information, and makes access decisions without human intervention, thereby eliminating traffic disruptions while maintaining control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's own telematics system provides the pollution level data to the control device, enabling self-verification without external inspection. The system uses data already generated by the vehicle (engine parameters, emission measurements) to automatically determine access eligibility, removing the need for external traffic officers
2Reliability
If manual visual inspection of pollution stickers is used, then access control is possible, but fraud risk increases due to counterfeit stickers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vulnerable manual sticker verification system with an automated electronic data verification system. The control device receives structured data from the vehicle's telematics system and verifies it against predetermined criteria, making fraud through counterfeit stickers impossible since the verification is based on electronic data rather than physical stickers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electronic data intermediary between the vehicle and the control decision. Instead of directly verifying physical stickers, the system uses telematics data as an intermediary carrier of pollution level information, which can be automatically verified against authentication criteria to prevent fraud
3Productivity
If automated data reception from vehicles is implemented, then access control speed improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires vehicles to have pre-configured telematics systems that continuously collect and store pollution level data before reaching the controlled zone. This preliminary preparation of data eliminates the need for complex real-time measurements or calculations at the access point, simplifying the control device while maintaining high speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the access control process from verifying physical attributes (sticker presence) to verifying electronic parameters (telematics data). By changing the nature of the verification parameter from physical to digital, the system achieves faster processing while the complexity is managed through standardized data formats and authentication protocols
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (300) has a wireless communication unit for receiving proper data from a part (120) e.g. carburetor, of a vehicle i.e. car (100). A verification unit verifies the reliability of the proper data, and estimates the level of pollution of the car from the data. A modulation unit modulates the access of the car to a traffic area, in accordance with the estimated level of pollution, where the data includes a certificate of non-polluting character of the car, and a measurement of a physical parameter of the car. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) an access control method (2) a vehicle.