Vehicle Sharing Toll Fee Real-Time Settlement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle sharing services face challenges in accurately and timely charging toll fees to users, leading to potential disputes due to the use of postpaid hi-pass electronic cards that perform monthly settlements.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for providing a vehicle sharing service that utilizes artificial intelligence to process shared vehicle toll fees in real time, integrating a vehicle terminal, a shared vehicle driver terminal, and a vehicle sharing server to verify and settle toll fees promptly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If postpaid hi-pass electronic cards are used for toll fee settlement, then the system is simple to operate, but the toll fees are charged after a long time has elapsed leading to disputes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime delay in toll fee charging
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by verifying and settling toll fees in real-time at the moment of vehicle passage through the toll gate, rather than waiting for monthly settlement. The server receives toll gate information, identifies the shared vehicle, and charges the user's account immediately, eliminating the time delay while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If real-time toll fee verification and settlement is implemented, then the toll fees are charged accurately and timely, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of toll fee chargingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs multiple functions: it manages user accounts, receives toll gate information, identifies shared vehicles through plate number recognition, verifies user accounts, and processes payments. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional server, the system achieves real-time accurate toll fee charging without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary between the toll gate system and the user's account system. It receives toll gate information, processes the identification and verification, and coordinates the charge to the user's account. This intermediary role enables accurate real-time settlement while managing system complexity through centralized coordination rather than direct complex interactions between multiple systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If monthly settlement is used, then the system is simple to operate, but disputes arise between service providers and users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtrust in toll fee charging
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by providing real-time information to users about toll fees incurred during their vehicle usage. Users can verify charges immediately after each toll passage through the application, creating transparency and trust. This real-time feedback mechanism eliminates disputes by allowing users to confirm accurate charging while maintaining ease of operation through automated verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4012646B1Method, device, and system for providing vehicle sharing service
Publication Date: 2025.03.12 ALTIMOBILITY CORP
  • EP4012646B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4012646B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4012646B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing a vehicle sharing service in a vehicle sharing server that is linked to a vehicle terminal mounted on a shared vehicle through a communication network comprises steps of: receiving, from the vehicle terminal, a toll fee adjustment request message including information on a vehicle identifier corresponding to the shared vehicle and a paid toll fee; identifying a current driver account of the shared vehicle corresponding to the vehicle identifier; summing the paid toll fee and a usage fee of the identified driver account; and transmitting, to the vehicle terminal, a toll fee adjustment completion message including the information on the summed toll fee and information on the usage fee after summing the fees.