TOLL HISTORY RECORDING METHOD AND DEVICE

• US 20130110685A1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Dempski, David Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 9,406,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A portable device, which is unrelated to an ETC system, includes a processor, a GPS receiver, a memory, a wireless interface enabling wireless access to an outside server. The memory stores a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the device to obtain map information and toll gate information by accessing the outside server, periodically obtain a location of the device by using the GPS receiver and record the location in the memory so as to create location history data in the memory. The program also enables the device to determine whether or not the device passes a toll gate based on the location, the map information and the toll gate information and to record a toll amount of the toll gate according to the toll information in the location history data in the memory.

Claims

1. A non-transitory storage medium on which a program is recorded, the program when executed by a processor included in a portable device having a memory and a transceiver enabling wireless access to an outside server, causes the portable device to perform functions of:

obtaining map information and toll gate information by accessing the outside server;

periodically obtaining a location of the portable device and recording the location in the memory so as to create location history data in the memory;

determining whether or not the portable device passes a toll gate based on the location history data, the map information and the toll gate information; and

upon determining that the portable device passes a toll gate, recording, in the location history data in the memory, a toll amount of the toll gate from the toll information,

wherein the portable device is independent from any electronic toll collection systems and devices for toll gates for a vehicle.

2. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device further includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver,

the location of the portable device is obtained by using the GPS receiver.

3. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the functions further include, upon occurrence of a triggering event, sending the location history data to a computer system outside of the portable device via email or as a text message.

4. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the toll gate information includes a name of the toll gate, and the name of the toll gate and date and time when the portable device passes through the toll gate are recorded in the location history data.

5. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the functions further include:

upon occurrence of an initiating triggering event, starting the recording of the location; and

upon occurrence of a terminating triggering event, stopping the recording of the location.

6. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the functions further include:

calculating a reimbursement amount based on the recorded toll amount and location history;

creating a reimbursement report including the calculated reimbursement amount; and

sending the reimbursement report to a computer system outside of the portable device via email or as a text message.

7. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, wherein the reimbursement report further includes a mileage reimbursement amount calculated based on distance information included in the location history data.

8. A device, comprising:

a processor;

a wireless interface coupled to the processor enabling wireless access to an outside server;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory,

wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the device to perform functions of;

obtaining map information and toll gate information by accessing the outside server;

periodically obtaining a location of the device and recording the location in the memory so as to create location history data in the memory;

determining whether or not the device passes a toll gate based on the location history data, the map information and the toll gate information; and

upon determining that the device passes a toll gate, recording, in the location history data in the memory, a toll amount of the toll gate from the toll information,

wherein the device is independent from any electronic toll collection systems or devices for toll gates for a vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the processor, wherein the location of the device is obtained by using the GPS receiver.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the functions further include, upon occurrence of a triggering event, sending the location history data to a computer system outside of the device via email or as a text message.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the toll gate information includes a name of the toll gate and date, and the name of the toll gate and time when the device passes through the toll gate are recorded in the location history data.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the functions further include:

upon occurrence of an initiating triggering event, starting the recording of the location; and

upon occurrence of an terminating triggering event, stopping the recording of the location.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the functions further include:

calculating a reimbursement amount based on the recorded toll amount and location history;

creating a reimbursement report including the calculated reimbursement amount; and

sending the reimbursement report to a computer system outside of the device via email or as a text message.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the reimbursement report further includes a mileage reimbursement amount calculated based on distance information included in the location history.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory storage medium coupled to the processor; and

a network interface coupled to the processor for accessing a network, wherein;

the non-transitory storage medium stores a program and a toll database,

the program, when executed by the processor, causes the computer system to perform functions of;

receiving location history of a portable device through the network, from the portable device;

determining from the location history a toll gate that the portable device passed through;

obtaining from the toll database toll gate information corresponding to the toll gate;

obtaining from the toll database a toll amount corresponding to the toll gate information obtained from the toll database;

generating a report including the obtained toll amount; and

sending the report through the network.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the report is sent to the portable device.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the report is sent to a predetermined address other than any address assigned to the portable device.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the report further includes a reimbursement amount calculated based on distance information obtained from the location history.