ELECTRONIC TOLL CHARGE PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising:
- a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device;
recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system;
characterised by;
said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user;
means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS(text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and
said remote communication system comprises means for matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method and system toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising: a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; characterised by said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS (text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for automatically matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. The main advantage of the system is that the user does not have to pre-register account information in order to effect a toll charge payment and no retrofitting of vehicles with specific devices is required. The convenience of the solution ensures widespread acceptance by users of toll charge systems.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising:
-
a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system;
characterised by;said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS(text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for toll charge payment using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
-
adapting a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system;
characterised by;associating at least one communication device with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; sending an electronic message, for example a SMS(text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification