Voice Print Occupancy Detection for Toll Apportionment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicular tolling systems face challenges in accurately verifying the number of occupants in a vehicle for discount eligibility, leading to revenue loss due to misrepresentation and difficulties in enforcing occupant requirements for ride-sharing incentives.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing voice recognition technology, where a mobile device identifies distinct voice prints of vehicle occupants and communicates with a backend server to determine the number of occupants, enabling accurate toll discounts and fee apportionment among occupants, with features like noise cancellation and integration with vehicle audio systems for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual occupant reporting is used for toll discounts, then system simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision of occupant count deteriorates due to misrepresentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual occupant reporting (mechanical/systematic approach) with voice recognition technology (acoustic field approach). The mobile device captures voice signals from occupants, processes them through speech recognition algorithms, and automatically determines the number of occupants. This substitution eliminates the need for manual counting while achieving accurate measurement through acoustic analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voice prints as an intermediary between the occupants and the toll determination system. Instead of directly counting occupants or relying on manual reports, the system captures and analyzes unique voice characteristics of each occupant. The voice print serves as a mediator that enables automatic, accurate identification and counting of occupants without direct human intervention in the counting process.
2Measurement precision
If voice recognition technology is implemented for occupancy detection, then measurement precision of occupant count is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of mobile devices, which already possess microphones, processors, and communication capabilities. Instead of designing a dedicated voice recognition system, the invention utilizes the existing universal functions of smartphones and tablets to capture, process, and transmit voice data. This approach achieves accurate occupancy detection without requiring separate specialized hardware for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: voice capture, speech recognition processing, occupant counting, and toll determination are merged into one cohesive workflow executed by the mobile device and backend server. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate independent systems for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If noise cancellation features are added to voice recognition, then measurement precision in noisy environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service noise cancellation where the system automatically adapts to the acoustic environment without requiring manual configuration or external assistance. The voice recognition algorithm continuously monitors the acoustic background, automatically adjusts sensitivity thresholds, and filters out ambient noise patterns. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains high recognition accuracy in varying noise conditions without adding complex manual control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures accurate determination of vehicle occupancy for toll discounts, reducing revenue loss by ensuring correct reporting and enabling efficient split-toll payments among occupants, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of ride-sharing incentives.
Implementation Method 1
a mobile device configured to identify distinct voice prints of occupants in the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The mobile device is configured to identify the distinct voice prints of the occupants only when the mobile device determines that the vehicle is traveling above a threshold speed
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for dividing toll charges among vehicle occupants includes, at a mobile device, receiving identifying information for each vehicle occupant that can be used to verify the identity of the occupant. The identifying information can be biometric in nature, including images or voice prints. The information is provided to tolling service with which each of the occupants has an account. Toll charges that accrue as the vehicle travels are then divided or split among the vehicle occupants.