PARKING AND TOLLGATE PAYMENT PROCESSING BASED ON VEHICLE REMOTE IDENTIFICATION
First Claim
1. A method for processing tollgate payments, the method comprising:
- acquiring, by a computing device having at least a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, at least one identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle at the time of its passing through a tollgate, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle;
maintaining, by the computing device and/or a server, a database of registered vehicles, wherein the database of registered vehicles comprises at least one record of vehicle information associated with the vehicle whose identification signal was acquired;
making, by the computing device and/or the server, a charge transaction in accordance with one or more predetermined rules and against a vehicle owner'"'"'s account;
generating, by the computing device and/or the server, a billing record for a vehicle owner showing the charge transaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for processing tollgate and parking payments are provided. This technology requires installation of identification tags, such as RFID tags, on vehicles, which actively or passively emit identification signals conveying vehicle identifiers. Government officials, parking meters, and tollgates can be equipped with a dedicated electronic device having an emitter for acquiring identification signals and identifying vehicles based thereupon. Once the vehicle is identified, the electronic device can make a charge transaction in accordance with one or more predetermined rules and against a vehicle owner'"'"'s account maintained by a database of registered vehicles. Accordingly, the charge transaction provides the automatic payment for parking, the use of toll roads, or fee associated with traffic or parking violation.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for processing tollgate payments, the method comprising:
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acquiring, by a computing device having at least a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, at least one identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle at the time of its passing through a tollgate, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle; maintaining, by the computing device and/or a server, a database of registered vehicles, wherein the database of registered vehicles comprises at least one record of vehicle information associated with the vehicle whose identification signal was acquired; making, by the computing device and/or the server, a charge transaction in accordance with one or more predetermined rules and against a vehicle owner'"'"'s account; generating, by the computing device and/or the server, a billing record for a vehicle owner showing the charge transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for processing parking payments, the method comprising:
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acquiring, by a parking meter, an identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle located in a predetermined proximity and direction from the parking meter, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle; identifying, by the parking meter and/or a server, a vehicle owner and an account associated with the vehicle owner in a database of registered vehicles based at least in part on the identification signal and/or the vehicle identifier; making, by the parking meter and/or the server, a charge transaction in accordance with one or more predetermined rules and against the account of the vehicle owner; and generating, by the parking meter and/or the server, a billing record for the vehicle owner showing the charge transaction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for processing parking payments, the method comprising:
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acquiring, by a computing device having at least a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, at least one identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle being in a predetermined proximity from the computing device, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle; identifying, by the computing device, that the vehicle is parked by determining that the vehicle is not moving for a time period greater than a predetermined value; identifying, by the computing device, a status of the vehicle in a database of registered vehicles based at least in part on the identification signal and/or the vehicle identifier, wherein the database of registered vehicles is maintained by a server, and the status comprises information as to whether or not the parking was paid by a vehicle owner; making, by the computing device and/or a server, a charge transaction associated with a fine for a parking violation in accordance with one or more predetermined rules and against an account of the vehicle owner based on the status of the vehicle; and generating, by the computing device and/or the server, a billing record for a vehicle owner showing the charge transaction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification