Device for temporarily overcoming the loss of a satellite navigation signal, for satellite navigation-based dual toll systems

• US 20050071175A1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Konrad, Wolfgang, Gila, Janos
• Application Number:
  US10/493,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071175A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/216
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for electronically charging tolls, whereby actual position coordinates (OKO) of a vehicle are determined by means of at least one position fixing system, in order to determine if a toll road segment has been taken. Said position coordinates (OKO) are determined at least temporarily by means of a satellite-aided position fixing system (SGS). At least one signature (SIG), which is characteristic of the road segment taken by said vehicle, is calculated by means of said position coordinates of the vehicle (FA1, FA2). Said signature (SIG) permits the determination of whether the road segment taken is a toll road segment or not. At least in case of partial failure of said satellite-aided position fixing system (SGS), the position coordinates are determined by means of an inertial navigation system (TNS).

Claims

1. A method for an electronic toll, wherein position coordinates of a vehicle normally determinable via a satellite-based position determination system, comprising:

calculating at least one signature, characteristic of a road on which a vehicle is traveling upon, based upon the position coordinates of the vehicle; and

using the calculated at least one signature to determine whether the road being traveled upon is subject to a toll, wherein the position coordinates are determinable using an inertial navigation system, at least in an event of a partial failure of the satellite-based position determination system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a reception area of the satellite-based position determination system, the position coordinates are determined via the satellite-based position determination system and the inertial navigation system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein position determination data from the inertial navigation system is used rather than a number of position determination data items, which are predeterminable from the satellite-based position determination system as a function of the quality of the position determination data from the satellite-based position determination system, in order to calculate the position coordinates.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one signature is calculated from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the inertial navigation system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one signature is calculated from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the inertial navigation system.

5. A toll system, comprising:

at least one satellite-based position determination system for determination of position coordinates of a vehicle; and

means for calculating at least one signature, characteristic of a road being traveled upon by the vehicle, based upon position coordinates of the vehicle, and for using the signature to determine whether the road being traveled upon is subject to a toll, wherein an inertial navigation system, provided on board the vehicle, is designed to determine the position coordinates at least in the event of a partial failure of the satellite-based position determination system.

6. The toll system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a toll-payment apparatus, provided on board the vehicle, is designed to determine the position coordinates in a reception area of the satellite-based position determination system using the satellite-based position determination system and the inertial navigation system.

7. The toll system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to use portion determination data originating from the inertial navigation system rather than a predeterminable number of position determination data items from the satellite-based position determination system, as a function of the quality of the position determination data from the satellite-based position determination system, in order to calculate the position data.

8. The toll system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to calculate the signature from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates determinable via the inertial navigation system.

10. The toll system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to calculate the signature from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates determinable via the inertial navigation system.

11. A toll system, wherein at least one satellite-based position determination system is normally used for determination of position coordinates of a vehicle, the toll system comprising:

means for calculating at least one signature, characteristic of a road being traveled upon by the vehicle, based upon position coordinates of the vehicle; and

means for determining whether the road being traveled upon is subject to a toll using the calculated at least one signature, wherein an inertial navigation system, provided on board the vehicle, is designed to determine the position coordinates at least in the event of a partial failure of the satellite-based position determination system.

12. The toll system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a toll-payment apparatus, provided on board the vehicle, is designed to determine the position coordinates in a reception area of the satellite-based position determination system using the satellite-based position determination system and the inertial navigation system.

13. The toll system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to use position determination data originating from the inertial navigation system rather than a predeterminable number of position determination data items from the satellite-based position determination system, as a function of the quality of the position determination data from the satellite-based position determination system, in order to calculate the position data.

14. The toll system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to calculate the signature from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates determinable via the inertial navigation system.

15. The toll system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the toll-payment apparatus is designed to calculate the signature from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates determinable via the inertial navigation system.

16. A method, wherein position of a vehicle is normally determinable via a satellite-based position determination system, comprising:

calculating at least one signature, characteristic of a road on which a vehicle is traveling upon, based upon position of the vehicle; and

determining, using the calculated at least one signature, whether the road being traveled upon is subject to a toll, wherein the position is determinable using an inertial navigation system, at least in an event of the satellite-based position determination system failing to determine position.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, in a reception area of the satellite-based position determination system, the position is determined via the satellite-based position determination system and the inertial navigation system.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein position determination data from the inertial navigation system is used rather than a number of position determination data items, which are predeterminable from the satellite-based position determination system as a function of the quality of the position determination data from the satellite-based position determination system, in order to calculate the position coordinates.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one signature is calculated from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the satellite-based position determination system, and from a predeterminable number of position coordinates, determinable via the inertial navigation system.