Vehicle detection and identification system

• US 5,488,360 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ray, Jimmy C.
• Original Assignee: Ray, Jimmy C.
• Inventors: Ray, Jimmy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/298,218
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/928, 340/933, 235/380, 235/384, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

At a restricted-access facility such as a toll booth, queries are transmitted through an antenna having a restricted zone of transmission and reception. Cellular telephone stations aboard vehicles within this zone of reception respond to the query by transmitting an electronic identification number, which is received by the same or another antenna. The identification number is then encoded in binary format and transmitted by a transceiver connected to the antenna to a computer controller, where the identification number is compared to a list of valid user identification numbers. If the received identification number is found to be valid, the computer controller transmits a "Go" command to the traffic control equipment of the restricted-access facility.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting and identifying vehicles having cellular telephone equipment, comprising the following steps:

a) receiving a cellular-frequency signal from a vehicle to detect an approach of said vehicle to a restricted-access facility, said restricted-access facility including a toll-road booth, and said signal being received by an antenna having a restricted zone of transmission and reception,

b) receiving said signal by an antenna in which said restricted zone of reception is further limited by a downward orientation of said antenna, so that reception by said antenna is restricted to an area proximate said antenna,

c) transmitting a query to the cellular telephone equipment aboard the vehicle, said vehicle being within a vehicle identification zone,

d) transmitting responsive to said query an identification number from said cellular telephone equipment,

e) receiving said identification number by said antenna, including said identification number transmitted responsive to a command entered by a user of said cellular telephone equipment,

f) transmitting said identification number to a computer controller,

g) repeating, responsive to a request by said computer controller, a transmission of said identification number from a short-term memory to said computer controller,

h) processing said identification number within the computer controller to determine whether said identification number matches a number on a list of

j) valid identification numbers,

transmitting a traffic-control command from the computer controller to said restricted-access facility,

k) activating by said traffic-control command a traffic control signal for a traffic lane through said restricted-access facility,

l) activating by said traffic-control command a visual signal for use by an operator of said restricted-access facility,

m) recording a predetermined user fee together with date and time-of-use information, and

p) billing said user fee to a cellular telephone subscriber whose telephone number corresponds to said identification number.