Toll payment service via wireless communication networks
First Claim
1. In a wireless communication network, a method of processing toll payments for a motorist having a wireless communications device and a billing account with a wireless service provider, the method comprising:
- sensing that the motorist is within range of a base station for a toll plaza having a given toll that is to be paid by the motorist;
determining via a mobile switching center whether the motorist has activated a wireless toll payment service associated with the communication device;
evaluating via the mobile switching center whether the subscriber has pre-selected a combined billing option for the account, where it has been determined that the service has been activated by the subscriber;
sending a charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has not selected the combined billing option, the charge transaction indicating that the toll has not been paid by the motorist; and
generating a billing record for the motorist at the mobile switching center and sending a non-charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has selected the combined billing option, the non-charge transaction indicating that the toll has been billed to the motorist by the wireless service provider.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of processing toll payments for a motorist having a wireless communications device and a billing account, via a wireless communications network. The method includes sensing that the motorist is within range of a base station for a toll plaza having a given toll that is to be paid by the motorist; determining via a mobile switching center whether the motorist has activated a wireless toll payment service associated with the communication device; evaluating via the mobile switching center whether the subscriber has pre-selected a combined billing option for the account, where it has been determined that the service has been activated by the subscriber; sending a charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has not selected the combined billing option, the charge transaction indicating that the toll has not been paid by the motorist; and generating a billing record for the motorist at the mobile switching center and sending a non-charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has selected the combined billing option, the non-charge transaction indicating that the toll has been billed to the motorist by his/her wireless service provider.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. In a wireless communication network, a method of processing toll payments for a motorist having a wireless communications device and a billing account with a wireless service provider, the method comprising:
-
sensing that the motorist is within range of a base station for a toll plaza having a given toll that is to be paid by the motorist;
determining via a mobile switching center whether the motorist has activated a wireless toll payment service associated with the communication device;
evaluating via the mobile switching center whether the subscriber has pre-selected a combined billing option for the account, where it has been determined that the service has been activated by the subscriber;
sending a charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has not selected the combined billing option, the charge transaction indicating that the toll has not been paid by the motorist; and
generating a billing record for the motorist at the mobile switching center and sending a non-charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has selected the combined billing option, the non-charge transaction indicating that the toll has been billed to the motorist by the wireless service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of handling toll payments for a subscriber to a wireless toll payment service via a wireless communication network having a plurality of base stations and mobile switching centers, the method comprising:
-
receiving a wireless toll payment service subscription request from the subscriber at a mobile switching center in the network;
receiving a wireless toll payment service activation request from the subscriber at a mobile switching center in the network;
sensing via a third network element that the subscriber has a wireless communication device that is within the range of a base station located at a toll plaza;
billing the subscriber for a toll if the subscriber has subscribed to the toll payment service and has activated the toll payment service.
-
-
8. A system for processing toll payments for a motorist having a wireless communication device and a wireless billing account with a wireless service provider, the system comprising:
-
means for sensing that the motorist having a communication device is within range of a base station for a toll plaza having a given toll that is to be paid by the motorist;
means for determining at a mobile switching center whether the motorist has activated a wireless toll payment service associated with the communication device;
means for evaluating at the mobile switching center whether the subscriber has pre-selected a combined billing option for the account, where it has been determined that the service has been activated by the subscriber;
means for sending a charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has not selected the combined billing option, the charge transaction indicating that the toll has not been paid by the motorist; and
means for generating a billing record for the motorist at the mobile switching center and sending a non-charge transaction from the mobile switching center to a toll payment system, where the motorist has selected the combined billing option, the non-charge transaction indicating that the toll has been billed to the motorist by the wireless service provider. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
Specification