PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED TOLLS

• US 20170011559A1
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Persky, Scott K., Graham, Barry M., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Kozloski, James R.
• Application Number:
  US14/794,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20170011559A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system, method and program product for calculating individualized toll pricing. A method is providing that includes: storing driver data for a set of drivers; providing an objective function for traffic flow in a road network; providing a cost benefit function for each driver in the driver database based on a driver state, future most likely routes, and ability to pay; evaluating the cost benefit function of switching the driver to each possible alternative route, and assigning a cost benefit value to each switch; evaluating the objective function for traffic flow for different scenarios and assigning an impact value to each traffic flow scenario; and calculating an individualized toll incentive for each driver approaching a toll road until the impact value for a current traffic flow scenario meets a predetermined threshold, wherein the individualized toll incentive optimizes the cost benefit value for each driver approaching the toll road.

Claims

1. A method for calculating individual toll pricing, comprising:

storing driver data for a set of drivers in a driver database;

providing a communication infrastructure for communicating individualized toll incentives with each driver in the driver database;

providing an objective function for traffic flow in a road network;

providing a cost benefit function for each driver in the driver database based on a driver state, future most likely routes and ability to pay;

measuring a current traffic flow in the road network;

for each driver in the road network, evaluating the cost benefit function of switching the driver to each possible alternative route, and assigning a cost benefit value to each switch;

evaluating the objective function for traffic flow for different scenarios in which drivers in the road network are switched to different routes, and assigning an impact value to each traffic flow scenario; and

calculating an individualized toll incentive for each driver approaching a toll road until the impact value for a current traffic flow scenario meets a predetermined threshold, wherein the individualized toll incentive optimizes the cost benefit value for each driver approaching the toll road.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of transponders, each associated with a unique driver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transponder includes a visual readout that displays the individualized toll incentive.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the objective function maximizes traffic flow efficiency and revenue in the road network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost benefit value and impact value each comprise a monetary value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver state is determined by analyzing at least one of:

a speed of the driver, whether the driver is early or late, whether the driver is traveling for work or pleasure, and a type of automobile being used by the driver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the future most likely routes, and ability to pay are determined from historical data associated with the driver.

8. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, which when executed by a computer system, provides individual toll pricing and comprises:

program code for storing driver data for a set of drivers in a driver database;

program code for communicating with each driver in the driver database, including communicating individualized toll incentives to each driver;

program code for implementing an objective function for traffic flow in a road network;

program code for implementing a cost benefit function for each driver in the driver database based on a driver state, future most likely routes, and ability to pay;

program code for measuring a current traffic flow in the road network;

program code for evaluating the cost benefit function of switching each driver to each alternative route, and assigning a cost benefit value to each switch;

program code for evaluating the objective function for traffic flow under different scenarios in which drivers in the road network are switched to different routes, and assigning an impact value to each traffic flow scenario; and

program code for calculating an individualized toll incentive for each driver approaching a toll road until the impact value for a current traffic flow scenario meets a predetermined threshold, wherein the individualized toll incentive optimizes the cost benefit value for each driver approaching the toll road.

9. The program product of claim 8, wherein program code for communicating with each driver comprises program code for sending data to a plurality of transponders, each associated with a unique driver.

10. The program product of claim 8, wherein the objective function maximizes traffic flow efficiency and revenue in the road network.

11. The program product of claim 8, wherein the cost benefit value and impact value each comprise a monetary value.

12. The program product of claim 8, wherein the driver state is determined by analyzing at least one of:

a speed of the driver, whether the driver is early or late, whether the driver is traveling for work or pleasure, and a type of automobile being used by the driver.

13. The program product of claim 8, wherein the future most likely routes and ability to pay are determined from historical data associated with the driver.

14. A system for calculating individual toll pricing, comprising:

a database for storing driver data for a set of drivers;

a communication infrastructure for communicating individualized toll incentives to each driver in the driver database;

a system for implementing an objective function for traffic flow in a road network and a cost benefit function for each driver in the driver database based on a driver state, future most likely routes, and ability to pay;

a system for measuring a current traffic flow in the road network;

a system for evaluating the cost benefit function for switching each driver in the road network to each possible alternative route, and assigning a cost benefit value to each switch;

a system for evaluating the objective function for different traffic flow scenarios in which drivers in the road network are switched to different routes, and assigning an impact value to each traffic flow scenario; and

a system for calculating an individualized toll incentive for each driver approaching a toll road until the impact value for a current traffic flow scenario meets a predetermined threshold, wherein the individualized toll incentive optimizes the cost benefit value for each driver approaching the toll road.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of transponders, each associated with a unique driver.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each transponder includes a visual readout that displays the individualized toll incentive.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the objective function maximizes traffic flow efficiency and revenue in the road network.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the cost benefit value and impact value each comprise a monetary value.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the driver state is determined by analyzing at least one of:

a speed of the driver, whether the driver is early or late, whether the driver is traveling for work or pleasure, and a type of automobile being used by the driver.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the future most likely routes, and ability to pay are determined from historical data associated with the driver.