ELECTRONIC TOLL MANAGEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computerized method comprising:
- electronically detecting a first transaction event representing an interaction between a first vehicle and a toll site of a toll facility;
in response to detecting the first transaction event, capturing an image of the first vehicle;
electronically determining a first vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the first vehicle;
electronically detecting a first volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the first transaction event is detected;
electronically calculating a first toll fee for the first vehicle based on the detected first volume of traffic;
electronically identifying a first party associated with the first vehicle based on the determined first vehicle identifier;
requesting payment of the first toll fee from the first party associated with the first vehicle;
electronically detecting a second transaction event representing an interaction between a second vehicle and the toll site of the toll facility;
in response to detecting the second transaction event, capturing an image of the second vehicle;
electronically determining a second vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the second vehicle;
electronically detecting a second volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the second transaction event is detected, the second volume of traffic being greater than the first volume of traffic;
electronically calculating a second toll fee for the second vehicle based on the detected second volume of traffic, the second toll fee being greater than the first toll fee;
electronically identifying a second party associated with the second vehicle based on the determined second vehicle identifier; and
requesting payment of the second toll fee from the second party associated with the second vehicle.
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Abstract
Electronic toll management includes capturing an image of a vehicle triggered by a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a facility, determining a vehicle identifier based on the captured image, checking whether the vehicle identifier matches a vehicle identifier provided by a party, and notifying the party of an occurrence of a match.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized method comprising:
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electronically detecting a first transaction event representing an interaction between a first vehicle and a toll site of a toll facility; in response to detecting the first transaction event, capturing an image of the first vehicle; electronically determining a first vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the first vehicle; electronically detecting a first volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the first transaction event is detected; electronically calculating a first toll fee for the first vehicle based on the detected first volume of traffic; electronically identifying a first party associated with the first vehicle based on the determined first vehicle identifier; requesting payment of the first toll fee from the first party associated with the first vehicle; electronically detecting a second transaction event representing an interaction between a second vehicle and the toll site of the toll facility; in response to detecting the second transaction event, capturing an image of the second vehicle; electronically determining a second vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the second vehicle; electronically detecting a second volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the second transaction event is detected, the second volume of traffic being greater than the first volume of traffic; electronically calculating a second toll fee for the second vehicle based on the detected second volume of traffic, the second toll fee being greater than the first toll fee; electronically identifying a second party associated with the second vehicle based on the determined second vehicle identifier; and requesting payment of the second toll fee from the second party associated with the second vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a database for storing vehicle identifiers; a toll facility configured to; electronically detect a first transaction event representing an interaction between a first vehicle and a toll site of the toll facility, in response to detecting the first transaction event, electronically capture and process an image of the first vehicle, electronically detect a first volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the first transaction event is detected, electronically detect a second transaction event representing an interaction between a second vehicle and the toll site, in response to detecting the second transaction event, electronically capture and process an image of the second vehicle, and electronically detect a second volume of traffic that is traversing the toll site when the second transaction event is detected, the second volume of traffic being greater than the first volume of traffic; and a computer system configured to; communicate with the database and the facility, electronically determine a first vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the first vehicle, electronically identify a first party associated with the first vehicle based on the determined first vehicle identifier, electronically calculate a first toll fee for the first vehicle based on the detected first volume of traffic, request payment of the first toll fee from the first party associated with the first vehicle, electronically determine a second vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the second vehicle, electronically identify a second party associated with the second vehicle based on the determined second vehicle identifier, electronically calculate a second toll fee for the second vehicle based on the detected second volume of traffic, the second toll fee being greater than the first toll fee, and request payment of the second toll fee from the second party associated with the second vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computerized method comprising:
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electronically detecting a first transaction event representing an interaction between a first vehicle and a first toll site of a toll facility; in response to detecting the first transaction event, capturing an image of the first vehicle; electronically determining a time at which the first transaction event occurred; electronically determining a first vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the first vehicle; electronically detecting a second transaction event representing an interaction between a second vehicle and a second toll site of the toll facility, the second toll site being located a predetermined distance along a road of the toll facility from the first toll site; in response to detecting the second transaction event, capturing an image of the second vehicle; electronically determining a time at which the second transaction event occurred, the time at which the second transaction event occurred being subsequent to the time at which the first transaction event occurred; electronically determining a second vehicle identifier based on the captured image of the second vehicle; comparing the second vehicle identifier to the first vehicle identifier;
concluding that the first vehicle and the second vehicle are a same vehicle based on the comparison;in response to concluding that the first vehicle and the second vehicle are the same vehicle, calculating a speed of the first vehicle based on the time at which the first transaction event occurred, the time at which the second transaction event occurred, and the predetermined distance; determining that the calculated speed of the first vehicle is illegal; and electronically informing law enforcement of the first vehicle in response to determining that the calculated speed of the first vehicle is illegal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification