MONITORING AND ADJUSTMENT OF READER IN AN ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A electronic toll collection system for conducting toll transactions with vehicle-mounted transponders travelling in a roadway, the electronic toll collection system comprising:
- at least one antenna having a coverage area for exchanging RF communications with a transponder in the roadway; and
a reader connected to said at least one antenna, said reader including a transceiver having an RF port for exciting the at least one antenna with an RF output signal and for receiving RF input signals induced in the at least one antenna by the transponder, the transceiver including an adjustable element having a setting responsive to an adjustment signal, a controller for controlling said transceiver and for outputting said adjustment signal, and a transceiver monitor circuit connected to the RF port for measuring characteristics of the RF output signal and the RF input signal, said transceiver monitor circuit providing a result signal to said controller, and wherein said controller is configured to generate said adjustment signal based upon said result signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic toll collection system that includes a reader with internal monitoring circuitry. The reader includes a controller and transceiver, which is connected to an antenna, wherein the transceiver sends outgoing RF signals to the antenna and receives incoming RF signals from the antenna. The reader includes transceiver monitor circuitry for monitoring the characteristics of the RF signals to assess transceiver performance. The transceiver monitor circuitry provides a result signal to the controller. The controller may adjust the operation of the transceiver through adjustments to an adjustable element based upon the measurement signals. The controller may also send measurement information to a remote computer and receive instructions from the remote computer, thereby enabling remote monitoring and adjustment of the electronic toll collection system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A electronic toll collection system for conducting toll transactions with vehicle-mounted transponders travelling in a roadway, the electronic toll collection system comprising:
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at least one antenna having a coverage area for exchanging RF communications with a transponder in the roadway; and
a reader connected to said at least one antenna, said reader including a transceiver having an RF port for exciting the at least one antenna with an RF output signal and for receiving RF input signals induced in the at least one antenna by the transponder, the transceiver including an adjustable element having a setting responsive to an adjustment signal, a controller for controlling said transceiver and for outputting said adjustment signal, and a transceiver monitor circuit connected to the RF port for measuring characteristics of the RF output signal and the RF input signal, said transceiver monitor circuit providing a result signal to said controller, and wherein said controller is configured to generate said adjustment signal based upon said result signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring operation of an electronic toll collection system for conducting toll transactions with vehicle-mounted transponders travelling in a roadway, the system including at least one antenna having a coverage area for exchanging RF communications with a transponder in the roadway and a reader connected to the at least one antenna, wherein the reader includes a transceiver having an RF port for exciting the at least one antenna with an RF output signal and for receiving RF input signals induced in the at least one antenna by the transponder, the transceiver including an adjustable element having a setting responsive to an adjustment signal, and a controller for controlling said transceiver and for outputting said adjustment signal, the method comprising steps of:
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measuring characteristics of the RF output signal and the RF input signal;
calculating an adjustment based upon the measured characteristics; and
generating said adjustment signal to implement said calculated adjustment.
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- 14. The method claimed in claim 14, wherein said adjustable element comprises a programmable attenuator.
Specification