Universal Tolling System and Method

• US 20130010116A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,053,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

System and method for tolling includes a location determining system arranged in a vehicle to determine its location during vehicular travel, a memory device that stores data about predetermined locations, and a processor coupled to the location determining system and that compares the location of the location determining system to data in the memory device to determine whether a transmission of the location is necessary and if so, directs the transmission to a remote site via the Internet. The memory device and/or processor may also be arranged on the vehicle, i.e., to provide a completely vehicle-resident system that may be installed on the vehicle during manufacture or retrofit to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for tolling, comprising:

a location determining system arranged in a vehicle to determine its location during vehicular travel;

a memory device that stores data about predetermined locations; and

a processor coupled to said location determining system and that analyzes the location of said location determining system relative to data in said memory device to determine whether a transmission of the location is necessary and if so, to direct the transmission to a remote site via the Internet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said memory device is arranged on the vehicle,

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged on the vehicle,

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications device arranged on the vehicle and coupled to said processor and that is directed by said processor to send a transmission to the remote site.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said communications device is configured to send an identification of the vehicle to the remote site.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said communications device is configured to use a cellphone system when transmitting to the remote site.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said communications device is configured to use a direct Internet service provider when transmitting to the remote site.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising imaging devices arranged along roadways and in positions to monitor passage of vehicles by the predetermined locations.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said imaging devices comprise receivers configured to intercept transmissions from the vehicle to the remote site such that if a vehicle passes a predetermined location and does not transmit an identification, said imaging devices obtains an image of the vehicle for the purpose of an alternate toll charging method or to ascertain that the vehicle is attempting to avoid the toll.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said imaging devices are configured to process images to determine the presence of a towed trailer, whereby when multiple transmissions are not detected from the towed trailer, said imaging device obtains an image of a license plate of the towed trailer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined locations relate to locations that require payment for use of infrastructure.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is coupled to a smartphone of a driver of the vehicle whose identification is included in the transmission such that payment for use of the infrastructure indicated by the transmissions is charged to the smartphone owner.

13. A method for tolling, comprising:

arranging a location determining system in a vehicle to determine its location during vehicular travel;

comparing the location of the location determining system to data in a memory device to determine whether a transmission of the location is necessary; and

if so,

directing the transmission to a remote site via the Internet.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining, at the remote site, distance that the vehicle has traveled since a previous transmission, or its use of a fee-required infrastructure; and

calculating a toll based on the distance traveled or infrastructure use.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending an identification of the vehicle to the remote site in or with the transmission.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of calculating a toll based on the distance traveled or infrastructure use comprises varying the toll based on depend on the vehicle identification.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of calculating a toll based on the distance traveled or infrastructure use comprises varying the toll based on time of day, type of vehicle or value of a highway traveled or other infrastructure used.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending an identification of a smartphone present in the vehicle or owned by a driver or occupant of the vehicle to the remote site in or with the transmission to enable the smartphone owner to be charged for use of infrastructure instead of the vehicle owner.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing information about location of infrastructure that requires payment for use by vehicles.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring passage of vehicles by the predetermined locations using imaging devices;

intercepting transmissions from the vehicle to the remote site and when a vehicle passes a predetermined location and does not transmit an identification, photographing the vehicle for the purpose of an alternate toll charging method or to ascertain that the vehicle is attempting to avoid the toll; and

process images from the imaging devices to determine the presence of a towed trailer, and when multiple transmissions are not detected from the towed trailer, obtaining an image of a license plate of the towed trailer.