Electronic vehicle toll collection system and method
First Claim
1. A system for identifying a particular lane of a multi-lane road, the system comprising:
- a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal associated with a first lane of the multi-lane road;
a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal associated with a second lane of the multi-lane road; and
a mobile transceiver for receiving the first and second signals;
wherein the mobile transceiver identifies the particular lane based on the first and second signals as received at the mobile transceiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatic collection of tolls includes an in-vehicle toll processor having memory for storing a toll-money-available quantity purchased by the user, and a toll-facility-identification site that transmits a toll-facility-identifier signal indicating the identity of the upcoming toll facility. As the vehicle approaches the identification site, the in-vehicle processor receives the identifier signal and calculates the toll to be debited. When the vehicle passes through the toll facility, the in-vehicle processor transmits its identity, its net balance and the toll, which it debits from an account balance. The in-vehicle processor may increment a low balance, in which case it transmits information which is relayed to a central system for billing. Various means for shutting down delinquent in-vehicle components or identifying offender vehicles are described.
48 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for identifying a particular lane of a multi-lane road, the system comprising:
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a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal associated with a first lane of the multi-lane road;
a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal associated with a second lane of the multi-lane road; and
a mobile transceiver for receiving the first and second signals;
wherein the mobile transceiver identifies the particular lane based on the first and second signals as received at the mobile transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for locating a vehicle on a multi-lane road using a plurality of stationary transmitters, the system comprising:
a mobile transceiver attached to the vehicle, the mobile transceiver comprising;
a receiver for receiving multiple signals from among the plurality of stationary transmitters;
circuitry for identifying from the received signals a closest stationary transmitter to the mobile transceiver, and for identifying from the received signals a particular lane of the multi-lane road; and
a transmitter for transmitting a result signal containing information associated with the closest stationary transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for locating a mobile transceiver attached to a vehicle on a multi-lane road, the system comprising:
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at least two transmitters, each of the at least two transmitters transmitting a respective identification signal to a respectively different lane of a multi-lane road; and
a receiver for receiving a result signal transmitted from the mobile transceiver, the result signal identifying the closest transmitter of the at least two transmitters to the mobile transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification