Toll charging system responsive to traveling length and method for operating the same

• US 20030046145A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Megawin Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Megawin Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Miao, Yen-Wu
• Application Number:
  US09/940,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046145A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A toll charging system responsive to a traveling length and the method for operating the same are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of control path units, a user mobile communication unit, at least one mobile communication unit, and at least one financial unit. The method comprises the step of identifying a vehicle by a vehicle identification devices in outlet and control path unit. Then a signal emitting device transfers vehicle and location information to a mobile communication base unit. Then, the mobile communication device transfers a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information to a mobile communication base unit. The signal emitting device transfers information to the mobile communication base unit. The mobile communication device again transfers a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information. Then, a central processing unit calculates a toll responsive to received information; and paying the toll to a financial unit.

Claims

1. A toll charging system responsive to a traveling length, comprising:

a plurality of control path units installed at inlets and outlets of a charging traffic system, each unit including a vehicle identification device and a signal emitting device for transferring signals of information about vehicles and locations of the vehicles;

a user mobile communication unit including a mobile communication device for transferring messages comprising user'"'"'s financial accounts and the vehicles;

at least one mobile communication base unit including a central processing unit for receiving messages of the control path units and the mobile communication unit and checking the messages; and

at least one financial unit for receiving the message from the user and then making a financial transaction for paying a toll;

wherein the central processing unit calculates a traveling length and a toll according to the received location message from an inlet control path and an outlet control path.

2. The charging system as claim in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

3. The charging system as claim in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device further includes an actuating device for receiving messages about the control path units for actuating the mobile communication device.

4. The charging system as claim in claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification device is a camera.

5. The charging system as claim in claim 4, wherein the vehicle identification device includes an image identification device.

6. The charging system as claim in claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device includes an actuating device for receiving signals of the control path units and actuating the mobile communication device.

7. The charging system as claim in claim 6, wherein messages from the mobile communication unit includes types, numbers, positions of vehicles entering into and leaving from the control path.

8. The charging system as claim in claim 7, wherein the messages from the mobile communication unit includes time.

9. The charging system as claim in claim 7, wherein the messages from the mobile communication unit includes financial accounts of users.

10. A method utilized in the charging system of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

identifying a vehicle by a vehicle identification device in an inlet control path unit as the vehicle enters into an inlet control path and acquiring information of the vehicle;

a signal emitting device of the inlet control path unit transferring vehicle and location information to a mobile communication base unit;

a mobile communication device in the vehicle transferring a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information for registration in a mobile communication base unit;

a vehicle identification device in an outlet control path unit identifying the vehicle when the vehicle leaves from an outlet control path and acquiring information about the vehicle;

a signal emitting device at the control path unit transferring information about the vehicle and locations to the mobile communication base unit;

the mobile communication device in the vehicle again transferring a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information for registration in a mobile communication base unit;

a central processing unit in the mobile communication base unit calculating a toll responsive to received information; and

paying the toll from the user'"'"'s financial account to a financial unit.

11. The method as claim in claim 10, wherein the information of the vehicle includes a type and a number of the vehicle.

12. The method utilized in the charging system claim 3, comprising the steps of:

identifying a vehicle by a vehicle identification device in an inlet control path unit as the vehicle enters into an inlet control path and acquiring information of the vehicle;

the signal emitting device of the control path unit transferring vehicle and location information to an actuating device within the vehicle;

the actuating device actuating the mobile communication device in the vehicle for transferring a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information for registration in a mobile communication base unit;

the vehicle identification device in an outlet control path unit identifying the vehicle when the vehicle leaves from an outlet control path and acquiring information about the vehicle;

a signal emitting device at the control path unit transferring information about the vehicle and locations to the actuating device in the vehicle;

the actuating device actuating the mobile communication device in the vehicle again for transferring a message of user'"'"'s financial account and vehicle information for registration in a mobile communication base unit;

a central processing unit in the mobile communication base unit calculating a toll responsive to the received information; and

paying the toll from the user'"'"'s financial account to a financial unit.

13. The method as claim in claim 12, wherein the information of the vehicle includes a type and a number of the vehicle.

14. The method as claim in claim 12, wherein after a transaction of paying tolls is complete, the central processing unit transfers a message to the mobile communication device.

15. The method as claim in claim 14, wherein the transaction message is an electronic receipt.

16. The method as claim in claim 14, wherein the transfer message is information for supplementing deficit charges.

17. The method as claim in claim 12, wherein after the mobile communication base unit receives messages of the user'"'"'s financial account and information of the vehicle and location from the mobile communication unit at the inlet control path, then the central processing unit pretests a transaction to a specific financial unit based on the user'"'"'s financial account.