Vehicle IC Chip Sharing for Secure Toll Payment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic toll collection systems require drivers to obtain and manually insert postpaid or prepaid cards for automatic toll payment, which is inconvenient and risks card loss, and there is a need for a more efficient and secure method for toll payment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes a first terminal device with an integrated circuit (IC) chip for payment, an input unit, a second terminal device for user interface, memory for storing user login information, and a communication device for interacting with a mobile device and server, allowing for the sharing and management of the IC chip between users based on predefined sharing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If postpaid or prepaid cards are used for toll payment, then automatic toll payment is enabled, but users face inconvenience of obtaining and manually inserting cards and risk of card loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the card storage function with the vehicle-mounted terminal device by embedding the IC chip directly into the device. This integration eliminates the need for separate physical cards and manual insertion operations, while the card remains securely housed within the terminal device, preventing loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a card issuing server as an intermediary that remotely issues cards to the vehicle-mounted terminal device. This eliminates the need for users to physically obtain cards from card issuers, and the automated card issuance and insertion process through the server mediates between the user and the toll payment system.
2Reliability
If embedded IC chips are used for toll payment, then card loss risk is reduced, but user sharing and management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IC chip functionality by allowing multiple distinct cards to be embedded within a single terminal device. Each card maintains its own identification and payment credentials, enabling independent management and sharing of individual cards while keeping them physically integrated in one secure location.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle-mounted terminal device is designed with universal functionality to accommodate and manage multiple different cards simultaneously. The device can store, activate, and use various cards for different users or purposes, making it a multi-functional platform that simplifies sharing without requiring separate devices for each card.
3Productivity
If multiple users share the vehicle, then vehicle utilization is improved, but toll payment authorization becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-embedding multiple authorized cards into the terminal device before use. When a user needs to pay tolls, the system automatically selects and activates the appropriate pre-configured card based on user identification, eliminating the need for real-time authorization decisions and simplifying the payment process for shared vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the terminal device communicates with the card issuing server to verify user identity and automatically retrieve or activate the appropriate card. This automated feedback loop between the device, server, and user ensures the correct card is used without manual intervention, simplifying multi-user payment authorization.
Data Source
AI summary
The electronic toll collection system includes a mobile device of a first user, a vehicle including a memory configured to store first login information of the first user and second login information of a second user and an IC chip configured to perform payment, and a server configured to communicate with the mobile device and the vehicle. The server, upon receiving the first login information of the first user and sharing condition information for the IC chip from the vehicle, the IC chip as a sharable chip, transmits, upon receiving the second login information of the second user and sharing request information from the vehicle, the received sharing request information to the mobile device, and transmits, upon receiving sharing approval information and sharing condition information from the mobile device, the activation command or deactivation command of the IC chip to the vehicle based on the received sharing condition information.