In-Vehicle Access Application for Universal Tolling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-vehicle computing systems have limited capabilities to interact with external devices for services beyond basic functionalities, such as tolling and payment transactions, requiring users to manually manage multiple transponders and account registrations across different municipalities and toll authorities.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle access application that integrates with the vehicle's computing system to detect vehicle status and activate different modes (proximity and tolling) for seamless interaction with access devices, allowing for wireless communication and account credential management to facilitate transactions without the need for manual intervention or multiple transponders, using tunable transponders and network connectivity to interact with remote tolling servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transponders and account registrations are used for different municipalities and toll authorities, then toll transaction capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal toll system where a single transponder can be used across multiple municipalities and toll authorities. The system uses a centralized server that stores account information and credentials for various toll authorities, allowing one transponder to interact with multiple toll stations without requiring separate transponders for each authority. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining broad adaptability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized server as an intermediary between the transponder and multiple toll authorities. This server mediates the communication by storing account credentials for various toll authorities and facilitating the interaction between a single transponder and multiple toll stations. The intermediary enables universal compatibility without requiring the user to manage multiple transponders or accounts, thus reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual management of multiple transponders and accounts is required, then compatibility with different toll authorities is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated account management where the system itself handles the complexity of multiple toll authority credentials. The centralized server automatically stores and manages account information for various toll authorities, and the transponder automatically interacts with the appropriate authority based on the toll station being accessed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual user intervention in managing multiple accounts, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining compatibility with different toll authorities.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized server acts as an intermediary that abstracts away the complexity of managing multiple toll authority accounts from the user. It automatically handles credential retrieval, authentication, and communication with different toll authorities, allowing the user to simply use a single transponder without manual account management. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining broad compatibility while significantly improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If integrated wireless transceiver and account credential management are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wireless transceiver functionality and account credential management into an integrated system. The transponder incorporates both the wireless communication capability and the account management functions, working in conjunction with a centralized server that handles credential storage and authentication. This merging of functions improves ease of operation by providing seamless wireless transactions, while the complexity is managed through modular system architecture where each component has a specific role.
Data Source
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AI summary
An in-vehicle access application may have different modes of operation. The different modes of operation may allow the in-vehicle access application to interact with different access devices, or interact differently with an access device. When a vehicle is determined to be in a stopped position, a first mode of operation of the in-vehicle access application can be activated. When a vehicle is determined to be moving, a second mode of operation of the in-vehicle access application can be activated.