TOLL PAYMENT COLLECTION WITH COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20160203464A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aetolls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aetolls, LLC
• Inventors: Fustes, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US14/914,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20160203464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

Implementations are directed to collecting toll fee for use of a toll road facility. In some implementations, actions include receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a first device is in a vehicle using the toll road facility, processing the first signal to determine a first device identifier, and transmitting a first message to the first device, the first message comprising a request for collecting a first toll payment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed by one or more processors for collecting toll fees for use of a toll road facility, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a first device is in a vehicle using the toll road facility;

processing, by the one or more processors, the first signal to determine a first device identifier; and

transmitting a first message to the first device, the first message comprising a request for collecting a first toll payment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message provides an option for electing to use the first device to pay the first toll payment.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a second message from the first device, the second message indicating election to use the first device to pay the first toll payment, and in response:

executing a registration protocol to register the first device identifier and a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle in a database, the database associating vehicle identifiers to respective device identifiers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the registration protocol comprises:

processing, by the one or more processors, the first signal to determine a service provider, the service provider providing data transfer service for the first device; and

determining that the service provider is provided in a service provider database, and in response, registering the first device identifier and the vehicle identifier.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the registration protocol comprises receiving an image of the vehicle in a message from the first device, the message comprising the first device identifier, and the image being processed to determine the vehicle identifier.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the registration protocol comprises receiving an image of the vehicle provided in a transaction that is generated in response to the vehicle using the toll road facility.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the registration protocol comprises receiving text indicating the vehicle identifier.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before transmitting a first message to the first device, determining that a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle is not provided in a database, the database associating vehicle identifiers to respective device identifiers.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before transmitting a first message to the first device, determining that the vehicle using the toll road facility is not equipped with a valid identification device associated with a balance account.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first image of the vehicle; and

processing, by the one or more processors, the first image to determine a vehicle identifier for the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second signal, the second signal indicating that a second device is in the vehicle using the toll road facility;

processing, by the one or more processors, the second signal to determine a second device identifier; and

transmitting a second message to the second device, the second message comprising a second request for collecting a second toll payment.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, before transmitting a second message to the second device, determining that the request is rejected by the first device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second toll payment includes a toll fee for the vehicle using the toll road facility and a plurality of unpaid toll fees associated with a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second toll payment includes a plurality of unpaid toll fees associated with the second device identifier.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving a third message from the second device, the third message indicating election to use the second device to pay the second toll payment, and in response:

executing a registration protocol to register the second device identifier and a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle in a database, the database associating vehicle identifiers to respective device identifiers.

8-14. -14. (canceled)

18-20. -20. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A computer-readable storage device coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a first device is in a vehicle using the toll road facility;

processing, by the one or more processors, the first signal to determine a first device identifier; and

transmitting a first message to the first device, the first message comprising a request for collecting a first toll payment.

29. The computer-readable storage device of claim 28, wherein the first message provides an option for electing to use the first device to pay the first toll payment.

30. The computer-readable storage device of claim 29, wherein operations further comprise receiving a second message from the first device, the second message indicating election to use the first device to pay the first toll payment, and in response:

executing a registration protocol to register the first device identifier and a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle in a database, the database associating vehicle identifiers to respective device identifiers.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the first message provides an option for electing to use the first device to pay the first toll payment.

31. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first signal, the first signal indicating that a first device is in a vehicle using the toll road facility;

processing, by the one or more processors, the first signal to determine a first device identifier; and

transmitting a first message to the first device, the first message comprising a request for collecting a first toll payment.