Method and device for radio communication between mutually movable objects

• US 5,974,397 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Combitech Traffic SYST AB
• Original Assignee: Combitech Traffic SYST AB
• Inventors: Olsson, Lars, Hjelmare, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irshadullah, M.
• Application Number:
  US08/817,487
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 340/933, 340/937, 340/928, 235/384
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A method for radio communication between mutually mobile objects. Prior to radio communication between the objects, calculations are preformed with a communication and calculation unit of a first of the objects to produce established data, answer codes are generated from the established data, and one of the answer codes is selected for communication to a second of the objects. The communication between the objects is carried out, including transmission of the selected answer code from the first object to the second object and transmission of data from the second object to the first object. After radio communication between the objects, calculations are performed with the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects. A final result of the communication of between the objects and calculations performed by the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects is stored after radio communication between the objects. Outside communication with the communication and calculation unit is prevented after communication between the objects, during the performance of calculations by the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects and storage of the final result.

Claims

1. A method for radio communication between mutually mobile objects, the method comprising:

prior to radio communication between the objects performing calculations with a communication and calculation unit of a first of the objects to produce established data, generating answer codes from the established data, and selecting one of the answer codes for communication to a second of the objects;

carrying out the communication between the objects including transmission of the selected answer code from the first object to the second object and transmission of data from the second object to the first object;

after radio communication between the objects performing calculations with the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects;

storing a final result of the communication of between the objects and calculations performed by the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects after radio communication between the objects; and

preventing outside communication with the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects after communication between the objects, during the performance of calculations by the communication and calculation unit of the first of the objects and storage of the final result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the objects include vehicles passing a road toll facility, and wherein the communication is carried out as the vehicles pass the toll facility and are within radio communication range.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises performing a payment operation between the vehicles and the road toll facility, the method further comprising:

storing a balance from which fees paid in the toll facility can be deducted and to which additional funds can be added on a separable storage medium of the communication and calculation unit of a vehicle;

storing the answer codes comprising a payment class assigned to the vehicle and the balance on the vehicle communication and calculation unit;

communicating the answer codes to a toll facility communication and calculation unit;

decoding the answer codes in the toll facility communication and calculation unit to determine the vehicle class, current balance, toll for the vehicle, and whether the balance is sufficient to cover the toll;

communicating to the vehicle with the toll facility communication and calculation unit the toll amount; and

storing the toll amount in the vehicle communication and calculation unit for later deduction from the balance.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the toll is deducted from the balance after passage of the vehicle out of communication range from the toll facility.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the toll is deducted from the balance after completion of the communication between the vehicle and the toll facility.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein after communication of the toll to the vehicle communication and calculation unit, outside communication with the vehicle communication and calculation unit is prevented until deduction of the toll from the balance.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the answer codes are stored in the toll facility communication and calculation unit.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the separable storage medium is a smart card.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein prior to communication between the vehicle and the toll facility the balance and the answer codes are stored in the separable storage medium and an appropriate answer code is selected corresponding to a current balance.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein during communication between the vehicle and the toll facility:

the toll facility communication and calculation unit transmits to the vehicle a code identifying the toll facility;

the vehicle communication and calculation unit transmits one of the answer codes to the toll facility communication and calculation unit after receiving the toll facility identifying code;

the toll facility communication and calculation unit transmits data designating the toll fee after receiving the answer code; and

the vehicle communication and calculation unit after receiving the data designating the toll fee transmits data constituting confirmation that the toll fee is to be deducted from the balance on the storage medium.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein after communication between the vehicle and the toll facility:

the toll fee is deducted from the balance on the storage medium based on data heretofore stored temporarily in the vehicle communication and calculation unit.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing calculations with a communication and calculation unit of the second object based upon the selected answer code.

13. A device for carrying out radio communication between mutually mobile objects, comprising:

a communication and calculation unit on each object, the communication and calculation unit comprising wireless communication equipment for communicating between the objects and computer equipment for performing a multi-step calculation and data storage operation; and

a data storage medium on a first of the objects, the storage medium comprising changeable contents comprising a balance and answer codes, the answer codes representing the balance; and

wherein the calculation and data storage operation comprises selection of an answer code by the first object communication and calculation unit, transmitting the selected answer code from the first object to a second object, storage of the selected answer code by the second object, and storage by the first object of an amount to be deducted from the balance, the first unit further comprises a lock for preventing communication with the communication and calculation unit of the second object after communication between the objects.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the data storage medium is a smart card.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein:

one of the objects is a road toll facility and the other objects are vehicles;

the radio communication between the objects comprises collecting a toll fee;

the answer codes further comprise data representing a class of the vehicle;

the vehicle communication and calculation unit temporary stores an amount of data corresponding to the toll fee and after conclusion of the communication the vehicle communication and calculation unit transfers the amount of data corresponding to the toll fee to the storage medium for deduction from the balance; and

during the time between the temporary storage and the deduction the temporary storage and the storage medium are locked against external influence until the deduction has been carried out.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle communication and calculation unit comprises a transponder and the toll facility communication and calculation unit comprises microwave transmitter and receiver equipment and wherein the storage medium comprises a smart card.