Automatic Payment of Fees Based on Vehicle Location and User Detection
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- determining, by a microprocessor executable fee area module, that a vehicle is approaching a fee area;
retrieving, by the microprocessor executable fee area module, rules associated with the fee area, wherein the fee area comprises one of a toll road, a high occupancy vehicle road, a park, a vehicle ferry, and a parking area;
determining, by the microprocessor executable fee area module, a fee required for the vehicle to enter the fee area based on the rules;
displaying an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle, wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display;
accessing, by a microprocessor executable payment module, a payment profile for the vehicle;
connecting to a server of the fee area; and
sending, by the microprocessor executable payment module, instructions to the server of the fee area to pay the fee required.
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Abstract
Systems and methods of determining a presence of a fee area and fees associated therewith. A fee area module can determine if a vehicle is approaching a fee area. The fee area module can determine the fee required to enter or use the fee area and automatically pay the required fee. Alerts can be provided that include information associated with the fee area and alternate routes available. The fee area module can determine if discounts apply to the vehicle based on a status and number of vehicle occupants and a status of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining, by a microprocessor executable fee area module, that a vehicle is approaching a fee area; retrieving, by the microprocessor executable fee area module, rules associated with the fee area, wherein the fee area comprises one of a toll road, a high occupancy vehicle road, a park, a vehicle ferry, and a parking area; determining, by the microprocessor executable fee area module, a fee required for the vehicle to enter the fee area based on the rules; displaying an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle, wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display; accessing, by a microprocessor executable payment module, a payment profile for the vehicle; connecting to a server of the fee area; and sending, by the microprocessor executable payment module, instructions to the server of the fee area to pay the fee required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a microprocessor executable fee area module, perform a method comprising:
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determining that a vehicle is approaching a fee area; retrieving rules associated with the fee area, wherein the fee area comprises one of a toll road, a high occupancy vehicle road, a park, a vehicle ferry, and a parking area; determining a fee required for the vehicle to enter the fee area based on the rules; displaying an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle, wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display; accessing a payment profile for the vehicle; connecting to a server of the fee area; and sending instructions to the server of the fee area to pay the fee required. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle control system of a vehicle, comprising:
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a memory; and a microprocessor in communication with the memory, the microprocessor operable to execute a fee area module, the fee area module operable to; determine that a vehicle is approaching a fee area; retrieve rules associated with the fee area, wherein the fee area comprises one of a toll road, a high occupancy vehicle road, a park, a vehicle ferry, and a parking area; determine a fee required for the vehicle to enter the fee area based on the rules; display an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle, wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display; access a payment profile for the vehicle; connect to a server of the fee area; and send instructions to the server of the fee area to pay the fee required. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification