ROAD TOLL SYSTEM LINKING ON BOARD UNIT WITH VEHICLE

• US 20100060484A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Titan Intelligence Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ballet, Veroni, Taelman, Jan L.R.M., Daems, Frank C.H., Peeters, Michael M.P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/928
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A road toll system comprises a vehicle-mounted unit comprising a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function; transmitting means for transmitting position or route information to a remote server; and a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation receiver. The road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present. The identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled. This system increases the security of this type of system and makes fraudulent use of the system increasingly difficult.

Claims

1. A road toll system comprising a vehicle-mounted unit comprising:

a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function;

transmitting means for transmitting information to a remote server; and

a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle such that it is permanently fixed in a stationary position relative to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation system, wherein the road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present,

wherein the identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device comprises an RFID sticker which is interrogated by the system in use.

3. A system as claimed claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for determining the routes taken by the vehicle based on the position tracking information.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is an after-market system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to receive an odometer value for the vehicle when the system is installed or at a reset time, and wherein the system is adapted to compute a distance travelled based on the transmitted position or route information, thereby to enable comparison of a new odometer value with an expected odometer value.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmitting means is adapted to transmit an odometer value for the vehicle when the system is installed, at a reset time, or at a verification time

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device is adapted such that it cannot be interrogated after damage caused by detachment or attempted detachment.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device is adapted such that an alert is provided after damage caused by detachment or attempted detachment, the alert being used by the road toll system to disable the road toll function.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identification device comprises a chip embedded in a power cable, the power cable attached to the vehicle and the communication with the unique identification device taking place along the cable.

10. A road toll system comprising a vehicle-mounted unit and a remote server, comprising:

a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function; and

transmitting means for transmitting position or route information to the remote server,

wherein the system is adapted to receive an odometer value for the vehicle when the system is installed or at a reset time,

and wherein the system is adapted to compute a distance travelled based on the transmitted position or route information, thereby to enable comparison of a new odometer value with an expected odometer value.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitting means is adapted to transmit an odometer value for the vehicle when the system is installed, at a reset time, or at a verification time.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the server is adapted to receive an odometer value for the vehicle when the system is installed or at a reset time from the user of the vehicle during a registration process.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the registration process comprises the user providing:

a user identification;

a vehicle license number;

a system ID; and

a vehicle odometer value.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the vehicle mounted unit comprises a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation receiver, wherein the road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present, wherein the identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the identification device comprises an RFID sticker which is interrogated by the system in use.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the unique identification device comprises a chip embedded in a power cable, the power cable attached to the vehicle and the communication with the unique identification device taking place along the cable.