INTEGRATION OF POSITION AND ROAD CHARGING DATA

• US 20120116667A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Titan Intelligence Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Brands, Jan Rene
• Granted Patent: US 9,159,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/06 Arrangements for road pricing or congestion charging of vehicles or vehicle users, e.g. automatic toll systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein positioning data and road charging data depending on a vehicle position may be inserted into a combined data stream. The positioning data and road charging data may be provided with the same protocol type such as a national marine electronics association, NMEA, protocol or NMEA 0183 protocol. The combined data stream therefore comprises a mixed sequence of positioning data protocol messages and road charging data protocol messages.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

an element which, in operation, combines positioning data and road charging data depending on a vehicle position into a combined data stream.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning data and road charging data are provided with a same protocol type.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protocol type is one of a national marine electronics association protocol, an NMEA protocol, or an NMEA 0183 protocol.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combined data stream comprises a mixed sequence of positioning data protocol messages and road charging data protocol messages.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a converter which, in operation, converts road charging data into a protocol type of the positioning data.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a road charging calculator that, in operation, calculates actual road charging data depending on at least one of the actual vehicle position, time, and traffic condition.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is implemented as, or provided in, an on board unit of an automotive vehicle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying at least one of a vehicle position, a navigation data, and the road charging data.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one of a navigation application, an information platform, and a display that displays at least one of a vehicle position, a navigation data, and the road charging data.

10. Automotive vehicle comprising an apparatus according to claim 1.

11. Method, comprising:

one of receiving and generating positioning data depending on an actual vehicle position, and

combining the positioning data and a road charging data depending on vehicle position, into a combined data stream.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the positioning data and road charging data are provided in one of a same protocol type, a national marine electronics association protocol, NMEA protocol, or NMEA 0183 protocol.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the method includes at least one of:

the combined data stream comprises a mixed sequence of positioning data protocol messages and road charging data protocol messages,

converting road charging data into the protocol type of the positioning data, and

calculating actual road charging data depending on at least one of the actual vehicle position, time, and traffic condition.

14. Computer program product, comprising software code for carrying out a method according to claim 11.

15. Computer program product according to claim 14, stored in one of a storage and a data carrier.