Booking and cancellation method, and method for collecting tolls in a toll collection system

• US 10,417,834 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toll Collect GmbH (Government of Germany)
• Original Assignee: Toll Collect GmbH (Government of Germany)
• Inventors: Buchheim, Timm, Janssen, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tungate, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US14/379,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,423 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

Devices, methods, and products are disclosed for collecting tolls for the use of traffic areas which are subject to tolls by a vehicle. To book an authorization for the use of one out of several alternatively usable traffic areas by a vehicle in sufficient time, first position data of the vehicle are associated with alternatively usable traffic areas with regard to the imminent potential use thereof. Use authorizations are booked for the traffic areas. The use of these authorizations can be voided, with the exception of the one that was verifiably used, insofar as second position data of the vehicle are associated with the same traffic areas with respect to a verified non-use.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting by at least one position-determining device carried by a vehicle, in a first data detection phase, first position-related data of the vehicle;

first associating by at least one first processor configured for processing position-related data, in a first association phase, the first position-related data with (i) a possible imminent use of at least a first road section that is subject to tolls by the vehicle and (ii) at least one possible imminent use of a second road section that is subject to tolls by the vehicle, whereby a possible imminent use of the second road section is alternative to the possible imminent use of the first road section, wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network, and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel, said first associating being based on identifying a detection object corresponding to a first position-related data band being linked to the first traffic road section and the second a road section;

booking in a booking phase;

a first use authorization relating to the vehicle for the first route section by storing a first booking data record representing the use authorization of the first road section in at least a first data memory, and

a second use authorization relating to the vehicle for the second route section by storing the first booking data record, which also represents the use authorization for the second road section, or a second booking data record, which represents separately the use authorization for the second road section, in the first data memory;

detecting by the at least one position-determining device, in a second data detection phase, second position-related data of the vehicle;

second associating by at least one of the first processor and a second processor configured for processing position related data, in a second association phase, the second position-related data with a confirmed non-use of the first road section, said second associating being based on either

a) identifying a detection object corresponding to the second position-related data, being linked to the second road section and confirming the use of the second traffic area or

b) determining that a maximum distance from the first road section is less than a distance between (i) the first road section and (ii) a position of the vehicle indicated by the second position-related data; and

canceling in a cancelation phase,

at least the first use authorization for the first road section by at least one of (i) generating a cancelation data record for the first road section in the first data memory or a second data memory and (ii) changing or deleting the first booking data record in the first data memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in the booking phase;

i) the first use authorization is booked by storing a first booking data record representing the use authorization in at least a first data memory, and

ii) the second use authorization is booked by storing the first booking data record, which also represents the use authorization for the second a road section, or a second booking data record, which represents separately the use authorization for the second road section, in the first data memory;

in the cancelation phase, the first use authorization is canceled by at least one of (i) generating a cancelation data record for the first road section in the first data memory or a second data memory and (ii) changing or deleting the first booking data record in the first data memory or the second data memory.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first position-related data comprise at least one of a first position and a first collection of first positions of the vehicle that are determined in the first data collection phase by a position-determining device that is carried by the vehicle; and

in the first association phase, the first position-related data is associated with at least one of the first road section and the second road section,

at least one of the first road section and the second road section can be reached with the vehicle, starting from at least one of (i) the first position or (ii) a position of the first collection of first positions, and proceeding directly via a path that does not have any other road section that is subject to tolls and (i) for which there is no use authorization relating to the vehicle or (ii) that is provided for association with the first position-related data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first use authorization is booked by the collection of a first toll for the first road section,

the second use authorization is booked by the collection of a second toll for the second road section, and

the first use authorization is canceled by an at least partial refund or cancelation of the collected first toll.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the second association phase, the second position-related data are associated with a confirmed use of the second road section by the vehicle, wherein the confirmed non-use of the first road section results from a comparison of an alternative possibility using the first and second road sections with the confirmed use of the second road section,

wherein the method further comprises collecting a toll for the use of the second road section after the first association phase.

6. A vehicle device comprising:

at least one position-determining device;

at least one processor configured for receiving and processing position data of the position-determining device; and

at least a first data memory;

wherein the processor is configured for;

receiving and processing first position data determined by the position-determining device in a first position-determining phase,

first associating the received first position data with (i) a possible imminent use of at least a first road section that is subject to tolls and (ii) a possible imminent use of a second road section that is subject to tolls as an alternative to the use of the first road section whereby a possible imminent use of the second road section is alternative to the possible imminent use of the first road section, wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network, and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel said first associating being based on identifying a detection object corresponding to a first position-related data band being linked to the first road section and the second road section,

registering both a first use authorization for a first route section by storing a first use authorization data record in the first data memory and a second use authorization for the second road section by storing a second use authorization data record in the first data memory or a second data memory,

receiving and processing second position data determined by the position-determining device in a second position-determining phase following the first position-determining phase,

second, associating in a second associating phase, the received second position data with a non-use of the first road section, said second associating being based on either

a) identifying a detection object corresponding to the second position-related data, being linked to the second road section and confirming the use of the second traffic area or

b) determining that a maximum distance from the first road section is less than a distance between (i) the first road section and (ii) a position of the vehicle indicated by the second position-related data; and

canceling, in a cancelation phase, the first use authorization by performing at least one of

(i) generating a cancelation data record for the first road section in the first data memory or a second data memory and (ii) changing or deleting the first booking data record in the first data memory.

7. A mobile radio device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one position-determining device configured for providing first position data to the processor in a first data detection phase and providing second position data to the processor in a second data detection phase,

wherein the processor is configured for;

detecting, on the basis of the first position data, the possible use of at least a first road section that is subject to tolls and the possible use of a second road section that is subject to tolls as an alternative to the use of the first road section, wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network, and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel, the detection made before a vehicle uses either the first road section or the second road section;

configuring a communication interface of the mobile radio device for;

(i) contacting at least one of a first web service and a second web service,

(ii) requesting at least one of a booking of a first use authorization and a collection of a first toll for the first road section to the first web service, and

(iii) requesting at least one of a booking of a second use authorization and a collection of a second toll for the second road section to at least one of the first web service or the second web service,

detecting, on the basis of the second position data, a non-use of the first road section, said detecting being based on either

a) identifying a detection object corresponding to the second position-related data, being linked to the second road section and confirming the use of the second traffic area or

b) determining that a maximum distance from the first road section is less than a distance between (i) the first road section and (ii) a position of the vehicle indicated by the second position-related data; and

configuring a communication interface of the mobile radio device for;

(i) contacting at least one of the first web service and the second web service, and

(ii) requesting at least one of a cancelation of the first use authorization and at least a partial refund of the first toll for the first road section by the at least one of the first web service and the second web service.

8. The mobile radio device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured for:

determining, on the basis of the first position data, at least one information item for identifying the at least one of the first web service and the second web service; and

using the information item to contact the at least one of the first web service and the second web service via the communication interface.

9. The mobile radio device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured for deriving the non-use of the first road section from a use of the second road section, wherein the use of the second traffic area is determined based on the second position data.

10. A computer program product, comprising computer-executable instructions for performing operations comprising:

receiving first position-related data of a mobile radio device;

associating the first position-related data of the mobile radio device with a possible use of a first road section that is subject to tolls and a possible use of a second road section that is subject to tolls as an alternative to the use of the first road section, wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network, and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel, the associating made before a vehicle carrying the mobile radio device uses either the first road section or the second road section;

transmitting at least one request to at least a first central data processing device, wherein the request is for;

i) at least one of booking a first use authorization and collecting a first toll for the first road section, and

ii) at least one of booking a second use authorization and collecting a second toll for the second road section;

receiving second position-related data of the mobile radio device;

associating the second position-related data of the mobile radio device with a non-use of the first road section;

said second associating being based on either

a) identifying a detection object corresponding to the second position-related data, being linked to the second road section and confirming the use of the second traffic area or

b) determining that a maximum distance from the first road section is less than a distance between (i) the first road section and (ii) a position of the vehicle indicated by the second position-related data; and

transmitting, to at least one of the first central data processing device and a second central data processing device, at least one request for at least one of (i) a cancelation of the first use authorization and (ii) at least partial refund of the first toll for the first road section.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein receiving the first and second position-related data of the mobile radio device comprising receiving the first and second position-related data from a position-determining device that is included in the mobile radio device,

wherein transmitting the request comprises configuring a communication interface of the mobile radio device for transmitting the request.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein receiving the first position-related data comprises receiving a first message that has been output by the mobile radio device into a mobile radio network to a communicating central data processing device and that contains the first position-related data,

wherein receiving the second position-related data comprises receiving a second message that has been output by the mobile radio device into the mobile radio network to the communicating central data processing device and that contains the second position-related data,

wherein transmitting the request comprises configuring a communication interface of the communicating central data processing device for transmitting the request.

13. A system comprising:

at least one central data processing device having at least a first central processor and at least a first central data memory; and

at least one electronic device that is configured to be carried by a vehicle and comprising;

at least one position-determining device,

at least one decentralized processor configured for receiving and processing position data of the position-determining device, and

at least one decentralized communication device configured for at least partially wireless communication with the central data processing device;

wherein the decentralized processor is configured for;

receiving and processing first position data determined by the position-determining device in a first position-determining phase, wherein the first position-determining phase comprises the decentralized processor providing the decentralized communication device with (i) at least one of first data items of the first position data and first data items derived from the first position data (ii) a user identifier for transmission to the central data processing device, and

receiving and processing second position data determined by the position-determining device in a second position-determining phase, wherein the second position-determining phase comprises the decentralized processor providing the decentralized communication device with (i) at least one of second data items of the second position data and second data items derived from the second position data (ii) a user identifier for transmission to the central data processing device; and

wherein the first central processor is configured for;

receiving and processing the user identifier and first data received from the electronic device,

registering a first use authorization, assigned to the user identifier, for a first road section that is subject to tolls by storing a first use authorization data record in the first central data memory, wherein the first use authorization is associated with or identifiable from the first data, and

registering a second use authorization, assigned to the user identifier, for a second road section that is subject to tolls by storing a second use authorization data record in the first central data memory, wherein the second road section is an alternative to the first road section, and further wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel,

wherein the second use authorization is associated with or identifiable from the second data;

wherein the first road section and the second road section are unused by the vehicle at the time of receiving and processing first position data;

wherein at least one of the first central processor and a second central processor of the central data processing device is configured for receiving and processing the second position data and the user identifier transmitted to the central data processing device by the electronic device, wherein the at least one of the first central processor and the second central processor is configured for

detecting, on the basis of the second position data, a non-use of the first road section, said detecting being based on either

a) identifying a detection object corresponding to the second position-related data, being linked to the second road section and confirming the use of the second traffic area or

b) determining that a maximum distance from the first road section is less than a distance between (i) the first road section and (ii) a position of the vehicle indicated by the second position-related data;

and

canceling the first use authorization by at least one of (i) deleting the first use authorization data record from the first data memory, (ii) linking the first use authorization data record to an invalidity marker, marking the first use authorization as in invalid by storing a first cancelation data record for the first road section in at least one of the first central data memory and a second central data memory of the central data processing device.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a control device positioned at or near a road section that is subject to tolls and comprising an image recording and evaluating device configured for recording and evaluating images of vehicles that use the road section and for acquiring vehicle data for identifying these vehicles from these images;

wherein the use authorization data records of the central data processing device comprise vehicle data,

wherein at least at certain times a communication link exists between the control device and the central data processing device for communicating vehicle data between the central data processing device and the control device;

wherein at least one of the control device and the central data processing device is configured for;

checking the vehicle data for linking to a use authorization data record that is assigned to the road section; and

generating at least one signal based on whether checking the vehicle data for linking with the use authorization data record yields a positive or negative result.

15. A data processing device comprising a processor configured to execute:

a first web service for receiving at least one booking request from a mobile device for at least one of a first road section and a second road section that are subject to tolls, the first road section and the second road section unused by a vehicle carrying the mobile device at time of the booking request, wherein the first road section and the second road section share a common node of a road network, and wherein the first road section and the second road section represent different directions of travel, and wherein the booking request is determined in a position-dependent manner by the mobile device, wherein the booking request is linked to a first user identifier; and

a second web service for receiving at least one cancelation request from the mobile device and associated with the first user identifier and canceling the booking request for the first road section associated with the first user identifier.