Automatic toll adjusting system, and storage medium with a radio communication function, frequency converting apparatus, writing apparatus, settling apparatus, depositing apparatus and inquiring apparatus therefor

• US 6,088,680 A
• Filed: 06/13/1995
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Tsuneo, Seita, Shigenari, Hoshino, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Laufer, Pinchus M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAYADIAN, HRAYR
• Application Number:
  US08/489,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 380/9, 395/213, 235/384, 340/928, 364/436, 455/54.1
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

An automatic toll adjusting system enables a user to voluntarily select a toll payment system with use of a storage medium carried by each user and storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjusting therein. Information is exchanged with the storage medium in radio communication at a first predetermined frequency at a toll adjusting gate employing a first toll payment system to automatically adjust a toll in the first toll payment system. At a toll adjusting gate employing a second toll payment system, information is exchanged with the storage medium in radio communication at a second predetermined frequency to automatically adjust a toll in the second toll payment system. This system is applicable to a system for automatically adjusting a fee or charge such as a toll for a toll road.

Claims

1. An automatic toll adjusting system for automatically adjusting a toll, said system including a storage medium for storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment, said strong medium carried by each user, said automatic toll adjusting system comprising:

a first toll adjusting gate, based upon a first toll payment system, for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said first toll adjusting gate automatically adjusting a toll based upon said first toll payment system; and

a second toll adjusting gate, based upon a second toll payment system which is different from said first toll payment system, for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency, said second toll adjusting gate automatically adjusting the toll based upon said second toll payment system.

2. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium has a radio communication function for exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said automatic adjusting system further comprises a frequency converting apparatus for converting information output at the first predetermined frequency from said storage medium into the second predetermined frequency and for transmitting converted information to the outside by radio communication, and said frequency converting apparatus for converting information output at the second predetermined frequency from the outside into the first predetermined frequency and for transmitting the converted information to said storage medium when said storage medium is inserted therein;

wherein at the first toll adjusting gate, information is directly exchanged with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll based upon the first payment system; and

wherein at the second toll adjusting gate, said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, information is indirectly exchanged with said storage medium via said frequency converting apparatus by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll based upon the second toll payment system.

3. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 2, wherein said toll adjustment is for a toll road where the toll is collected according to a trip distance, said automatic toll adjusting system further comprises:

a writing apparatus installed at an entrance toll adjusting gate on said toll road, said writing apparatus for transmitting use information including unique information about said entrance toll adjusting gate to said storage medium, which is on a vehicle passing through said entrance toll adjusting gate, directly by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency or indirectly via said frequency converting apparatus by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency wherein said use information is stored in said storage medium as adjustment information; and

a settling apparatus installed at an exit toll adjusting gate on said toll road, said settling apparatus for communicating with said storage medium or said frequency converting apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency or at the second predetermined frequency to obtain said adjustment information directly from said storage medium or indirectly via said frequency converging apparatus, said settling apparatus automatically adjusting the toll for the toll road charged to a holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information;

wherein if the first toll payment system is used, information is directly exchanged among said writing apparatus, said settling apparatus and said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll according to the first toll payment system by said settling apparatus; and

wherein if the second toll payment system is used, said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, information is exchanged indirectly via said frequency converting apparatus among said writing apparatus, said settling apparatus and said storage medium by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll according to the second toll payment system by said settling apparatus.

4. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein when said settling apparatus automatically adjusts the toll, said settling apparatus transmits to said storage medium adjustment result information including a charged toll adjusted by said settling apparatus and payment distinction indicating that a toll payment system in said settling apparatus is either the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system, and said settling apparatus writes the adjustment result information and payment distinction as use information in said storage medium.

5. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein information to be written in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data, said predetermined encipherment key is set and stored as plain-text, which is not enciphered, in said storage medium;

when receiving a read demand to read the information stored in said storage medium from said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus, said storage medium transmits a plain-text encipherment key and the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the read demand, to said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus;

said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of said read demand, with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key transmitted from said storage medium.

6. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 5, wherein the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of said read demand includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key, which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

when said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, with said plain-text encipherment key, said plain-text encipherment key, which is received with said enciphered data, is compared with a predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data, wherein said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus checks the information that is the object of said read demand which is transmitted from said storage medium.

7. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 5, wherein when said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus writes information in said storage medium, said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus enciphers the information which is an object of a write demand with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is transmitted from said storage medium to obtain enciphered data, and transmits the enciphered data to said storage medium to write the enciphered data therein.

8. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 7, wherein when the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of the write demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

said storage medium compared said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is set and stored in said storage medium, with a predetermined encipherment key, which is obtained by deciphering the enciphered data which is the information that is the object of said write demand with said predetermined encipherment key wherein said storage medium checks the information which is the object of said write demand and which is transmitted from said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus.

9. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium;

when receiving a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus, said storage medium transmits said identification number and said term of validity along with the information which is the object of the write demand to said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus;

said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus performs a check on said identification number and said term of validity.

10. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein said writing apparatus writes a time of passage at said entrance toll adjusting gate in said storage medium which is on the vehicle passing through said entrance toll adjusting gate;

when said settling apparatus automatically adjusts the toll, said settling apparatus obtains said time of passage from said storage medium to determine a required travel time based upon the time of passage and an arrival time at said exit toll adjusting gate.

11. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein at said exit toll adjusting gate using a toll pre-payment system as the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system, said settling apparatus exchanges information with said storage medium, which is on the vehicle, to acquire said use information including said unique information about an entrance toll adjusting gate through which said vehicle has passed and balance information, obtains a result of recognition of a type of vehicle, calculates a toll to be collected based on said use information and the recognition result, subtracts said toll to be collected from a balance included in said balance information, and said settling apparatus transmits to said storage medium said balance information, including a new balance which is a result of the subtraction, and adjustment result information including said collected toll and payment distinction indicating the pre-payment system to write said balance information and adjustment result information in the storage medium.

12. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, further comprising a vehicle recognizing apparatus disposed at said exit toll adjusting gate using a toll post-payment system as the first toll payment system or the second toll payment, said vehicle recognizing apparatus for automatically recognizing a type of vehicle passing through said exit toll adjusting gate;

said settling apparatus at said exit toll adjusting gate exchanging information with said storage medium on the vehicle for acquiring personal information included in said adjusting information and said use information including said unique information about an entrance toll adjusting gate through which said vehicle has passed, acquiring a result of recognition of the type of vehicle from said vehicle recognizing apparatus, calculating a toll to be collected based on said use information and said recognition result, and transmitting adjustment result information including said toll to be collected and payment distinction indicating the toll post-payment to said storage medium to write the adjustment result information as the use information therein.

13. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 12, said exit toll adjusting gate is divided into three zones which are a) a vehicle recognizing zone for recognizing the type of vehicle by said vehicle recognizing apparatus, b) a toll settling zone for automatically adjusting the toll by said settling apparatus, and c) an image zone for photographing an invalid vehicle by a photographing apparatus.

14. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 13, wherein information is exchanged with said storage medium which is on a passing vehicle in each of said zones to acquire the personal information included in said adjustment information, and a result of the vehicle recognition, a result of the adjustment and a result of the photographing obtained in the respective zones are related to a specific vehicle based on the obtained personal information.

15. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 14, wherein sensors for defecting passage of the vehicle are provided in the respective zones, when said senors detects passage of the vehicle, said personal information is acquired from said storage medium which is on said vehicle in each of said zones and processing in each of said zones is performed.

16. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 3, wherein said entrance toll adjusting gate using a toll post-payment as the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system is divided into two zones which are a) a passage recognizing zone for writing said use information including said unique information about said entrance toll adjusting gate into said storage medium which is on the vehicle passing through said entrance toll adjusting gate by said writing apparatus and b) an image zone for photographing an invalid vehicle by a photographing apparatus.

17. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 16, wherein sensors for detecting passage of the vehicle are provided in the respective zones, when said sensors detect passage of the vehicle, processing in each of the zones is performed.

18. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 2, wherein said toll adjustment is for a toll road where a fixed toll irrespective of a trip distance is collected, said automatic toll adjusting system further comprises:

a settling apparatus installed at an entrance/exit toll adjusting gate located at either an entrance or an exit of said toll road, said settling apparatus for communicating with said storage medium or said frequency converting apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency or at the second predetermined frequency to obtain said adjustment information directly from said storage medium or indirectly via said frequency converting apparatus, said settling apparatus automatically adjusting the toll for said toll road charged to a holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information;

wherein if the first toll payment system is used, information is directly exchanged between said settling apparatus and said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll according to the first toll payment system by said settling apparatus; and

wherein if the second toll payment system is used, said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, information is indirectly exchanged between said settling apparatus and said storage medium via said frequency converting apparatus by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency to automatically adjust the toll according to the second toll payment system by said settling apparatus.

19. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 18, wherein when said settling apparatus automatically adjusts a toll, said settling apparatus transmits to said storage medium adjustment result information including a charged toll adjusted by said settling apparatus and payment distinction indicating that a toll payment system in said settling apparatus is either the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system, and said settling apparatus writes the adjustment result information and the payment distinction as use information in said storage medium.

20. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 18, wherein information to be written in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data, said predetermined encipherment key is set and stored as plain-text, which is not enciphered, in said storage medium;

when receiving a read demand to read the information stored in said storage medium from said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus, said storage medium transmits a plain-text encipherment key and enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the read demand, to said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus;

said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of said read demand, with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key transmitted from said storage medium.

21. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 20, wherein the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

when said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, with said plain-text encipherment key, said plain-text encipherment key, which is received with said enciphered data, is compared with a predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data wherein said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus checks the information that is the object of said read demand which is transmitted from said storage medium.

22. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 20, wherein when said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus, writes information in said storage medium, said writing apparatus, or said settling apparatus enciphers the information which is an object of a write demand with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is transmitted from said storage medium to obtain enciphered data, and transmits the enciphered data to said storage medium to write the enciphered data therein.

23. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 22, wherein the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of the write demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

said storage medium compares said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is set and stored in said storage medium, with a predetermined encipherment key, which is obtained by deciphering the enciphered data which is the information that is the object of said write demand with said predetermined encipherment key wherein said storage medium checks the information which is the object of said write demand and which is transmitted from said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus.

24. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 18, wherein an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium;

when receiving a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus, said storage medium transmits said identification number and said term of validity along with the information which is the object of the write demand to said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus;

said writing apparatus or said settling apparatus performs a check on said identification number and said term of validity.

25. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 18, wherein at said entrance/exit toll adjusting gate using a toll pre-payment system as the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system, said settling apparatus exchanges information with the storage medium, which is on the vehicle, to acquire balance information, said settling apparatus obtains a result of recognition of a type of vehicle, calculates a charged toll based on said recognition result, subtracts said charged toll from a balance included in said balance information, and transmits a) the balance information including a new balance which is a result of the subtraction and b) adjustment result information including said collected toll and payment distinction indicating the toll pre-payment system to said storage medium to write the balance information and adjustment result information therein.

26. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 18, further comprising a vehicle recognizing apparatus provided at said entrance/exit toll adjusting gate using a toll post-payment system as the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system, said vehicle recognizing apparatus for automatically recognizing a type of vehicle passing through said entrance/exit toll adjusting gate;

said settling apparatus at said entrance/exit toll adjusting gate exchanging information with said storage medium, which is on the vehicle, for acquiring personal information included in said adjustment information, acquiring a result of recognition of the type of vehicle from said vehicle type recognizing apparatus, calculating a toll to be collected based on said recognition result, and transmitting adjustment result information including said toll to be collected and payment distinction indicating the toll post-payment system to said storage medium to write adjustment result information as use information therein.

27. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 26, wherein a host computer managing said settling apparatus withdraws the charged toll calculated by said settling apparatus from a bank account specified in the personal information which is obtained by said settling apparatus.

28. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 26, wherein said entrance/exit toll adjusting gate is divided into three zones which are a) a vehicle recognizing zone for recognizing a type of vehicle by said vehicle recognizing apparatus, b) a toll settling zone for automatically adjusting the toll by said settling apparatus and c) an image zone for photographing an invalid vehicle by a photographing apparatus.

29. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 28, wherein in each of said zones, information is exchanged with said storage medium which is on the vehicle passing therethrough to acquire personal information included in said adjustment information, and a result of the recognition, a result of the adjustment, and a result of the photographing obtained in the respective zones are corresponded to a specific vehicle based on the acquired personal information.

30. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 29, wherein sensors for detecting passage of the vehicle are provided in said respective three zones;

when said sensors detect passage of the vehicle, said personal information is obtained from said storage medium which is on said vehicle in each of said zones, and processing in each of said zones is performed.

31. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 2, wherein if the first toll payment system or the second toll payment system is a toll pre-payment system, said automatic toll adjusting system further comprises a depositing apparatus used for toll pre-payment by performing a depositing process for the toll pre-payment on said storage medium;

said storage medium retains depositing information output from said depositing apparatus for toll pre-payment and balance information which is an object of a charged toll when the toll is automatically adjusted at a toll adjusting gate in the toll pre-payment system;

when said storage medium is inserted in said depositing apparatus for toll pre-payment, said depositing apparatus communicates with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to obtain said balance information, adds a sum of money currently deposited to a balance included in said balance information to obtain a new balance, and transmits the depositing information, including the new balance and the sum of money currently deposited, to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to write the depositing information therein.

32. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 31, wherein a password of said storage medium is set and stored in advance in said storage medium;

when said depositing apparatus performs the depositing process, said depositing apparatus transmits the password input through said depositing apparatus to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said storage medium compares said password set and stored in said storage medium with the password transmitted from said depositing apparatus to check on a payer to said storage medium.

33. An automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 31, wherein information to be written in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data and said predetermined encipherment key is set and stored as plain-text, which is not enciphered, in said storage medium;

when said storage medium receives a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said depositing apparatus for toll pre-payment, said storage medium transmits a plain-text predetermined encipherment key and the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the read demand, to said depositing apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said depositing apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is transmitted from said storage medium.

34. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 33, wherein the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

when said depositing apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, with said predetermined encipherment key, said depositing apparatus compares said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is received along with said enciphered data, with a predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data wherein said depositing apparatus checks the information that is the object of said read demand.

35. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 33, wherein when information is written in said storage medium from said depositing apparatus, said depositing apparatus enciphers the information which is an object of a write demand with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which transmitted from said storage medium, to obtain enciphered data, and said depositing apparatus transmits the enciphered data to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to write the enciphered data therein.

36. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 35, wherein the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said write demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key;

said storage medium compares said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is set and stored in said storage medium, with a predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by deciphering the enciphered data which is the information that is the object of said write demand with said predetermined encipherment key wherein said storage medium checks the information that is the object of said write demand which is transmitted from said depositing apparatus.

37. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 31, wherein an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium;

when said storage medium receives a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said depositing apparatus, said storage medium transmits said identification number and said term of validity along with the information which is an object of said read demand to said depositing apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said depositing apparatus performs a check on said identification number and said term of validity.

38. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 31, wherein a maximum amount of deposit money and a maximum balance of the storage medium are set and stored in advanced in said storage medium;

said depositing apparatus obtains said maximum amount of deposit money and said maximum balance along with said balance information from said storage medium during the depositing process by said depositing apparatus wherein said depositing apparatus checks said maximum amount of deposit money and said maximum balance.

39. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 31, further comprising a totaling apparatus for totaling accumulation of sums of deposit money written in said storage medium from said depositing apparatus and for totaling accumulation of collected tolls transmitted from toll adjusting gates to said storage medium for each storage medium to maintain a total sum that is a balance of these accumulations.

40. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 2, further comprising an inquiring apparatus for inquiring about information stored in said storage medium;

when said storage medium is inserted in said inquiring apparatus, said inquiring apparatus communicates with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency to acquire information stored in said storage medium and to output the acquired information.

41. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 40, wherein said inquiring apparatus acquires only designated information from said storage medium, and outputs the designated information.

42. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 40, wherein said inquiring apparatus acquires a history of the designated information from said storage medium, and outputs the history of the designated information.

43. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 40, wherein an identification number of said storage medium is set and stored in advance in said storage medium;

when said storage medium receives a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said inquiring apparatus, said storage medium transmits said identification number along with the information which is an object of the read demand to said inquiring apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said inquiring apparatus performs a check on said identification number.

44. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 40, wherein information to be written in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key and said predetermined encipherment key is set and stored as plain-text, which is not enciphered, in said storage medium;

when said storage medium receives a read demand to read information stored in said storage medium from said inquiring apparatus, said storage medium transmits a plain-text predetermined encipherment key and enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the read demand, to said inquiring apparatus by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said inquiring apparatus deciphers the enciphered data, which is the information that is the object of said read demand, with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is transmitted from said storage medium.

45. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 2, wherein a password of said storage medium is set and stored in advanced in said storage medium;

when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, said frequency converting apparatus transmits the password, input through said frequency converting apparatus, to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

said storage medium compares said password set and stored in said storage medium with a password transmitted from said frequency converting apparatus wherein said storage medium checks on a user of said storage medium.

46. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 45, wherein a host computer managing said settling apparatus for the exit toll adjusting gate withdraws the charged toll, calculated by said settling apparatus, from a bank account specified in the personal information which is acquired by said settling apparatus.

47. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium has a radio communicating means for exchanging information with the outside by radio communication;

and

said radio communicating means has a frequency switching means for performing switching between said first predetermined frequency and said second predetermined frequency during radio communication.

48. The automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal apparatus mounting said storage medium thereon and intervening between said storage medium and the outside, said terminal apparatus for exchanging information by radio communication;

said terminal apparatus has a frequency switching means for performing switching between said first predetermined frequency and said second predetermined frequency during radio communication.

49. A storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system, said storage medium carried by each user, said storage medium comprising:

a storing means for storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment therein;

a receiving means for receiving information from the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency;

a processing means for reading information stored in said storage medium and for writing information into said storage medium based on the information received by said receiving means; and

a transmitting means for transmitting responsive information including the information from said storing means to the outside by the radio communication at the first predetermined frequency;

wherein at a first toll adjusting gate based upon a first toll payment system, information being directly exchanged between said storage medium and said first toll adjusting gate by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency; and

wherein at a second toll adjusting gate based upon a second toll payment system which is different from said first toll payment system, said storage medium indirectly exchanging information via a frequency converting apparatus, through said receiving means and said transmitting means, with said second toll adjusting gate by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency,

said storage medium being inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, said frequency converting apparatus converting information at the first predetermined frequency into the second predetermined frequency, and converting information at the second predetermined frequency into the first predetermined frequency.

50. The storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 49, wherein said storing means retains information as enciphered data which is obtained by enciphering said information from the outside with a predetermined encipherment key, wherein said predetermined encipherment key being plain-text which is not enciphered;

when said processing means receives a read demand from the outside through said receiving means, said processing means reads enciphered data, which is information that is an object of the read demand, and a plain-text predetermined encipherment key from said storing means and transmits the enciphered data and the plain-text predetermined encipherment key through said transmitting means.

51. The storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 49, further comprising:

a deciphering means for deciphering an encipherment key included in enciphered data, which is an object of a write demand and said encipherment key used to encipher the enciphered data with a plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is stored in said storing means, when said storage medium receives the write demand corresponding to transmission of information that is an object of said read demand from the outside through said receiving means; and

an encipherment key check means for comparing an encipherment key, which is deciphered by said deciphering means, with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key stored in said storing means wherein said encipherment key check means checks the information that is the object of the write demand.

52. The storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 49, wherein a password is set and stored in advance in said storing means;

said storage medium further comprises a password check means for comparing a password, accompanying a read demand, with said password stored in said storing means when said storage medium receives the read demand, accompanied by the password, through said receiving means during a depositing process for toll pre-payment wherein said storage medium checks on a depositor.

53. The storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 49, wherein a password is set and stored in advance in said storing means;

said storage medium further comprises a password check means for comparing a received password with said password in said storing means to check a user if said storage medium receives a password, input from said frequency converting apparatus, through said receiving means when said storage medium is inserted into said frequency converting apparatus.

54. A frequency converting apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, said frequency converting apparatus provided in a vehicle and into which a storage medium is inserted, said storage medium having a radio communication function and storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment, said storage medium carried by each user and exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said frequency converting apparatus comprising:

a first communicating means for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency when said storage medium in inserted in said frequency converting apparatus; and

a second communication means for exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency;

wherein when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, said first communicating means transmitting information, which is received from the outside through said second communication means, to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency, said second communication means transmitting information, which is received from said storage medium through said first communicating means, to the outside by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency; and

wherein at a toll adjusting gate, when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, information being exchanged between said toll adjusting gate and said storage medium via said first communicating means and said second communicating means.

55. The frequency converting apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 54, wherein if a password of said storage medium is set and stored in advance in said storage medium, said frequency converting apparatus further comprises an inputting means for inputting a password which is used to check a user of the storage medium when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus;

said password input through input through said inputting means being transmitted by said first communicating means to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency.

56. A writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, said writing apparatus for writing use information, necessary for toll adjustment, as adjustment information into a storage medium having a radio communication function, said storage medium carried by each user, said storage medium storing said adjustment information therein and exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said writing apparatus comprising:

a communicating means for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency at an entrance toll adjusting gate using a first toll payment system, and for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency at an entrance toll adjusting gate using a second toll payment system which is different from said first toll payment system; and

a demand issuing means for issuing a write demand to said storage medium through said communicating means to write the use information about the entrance toll adjusting gate on said storage medium;

wherein, when a user carrying said storage medium passes through the entrance toll adjusting gate, said demand issuing means issuing a write demand to write the use information, including unique information about said entrance toll adjusting gate, on said storage medium.

57. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 56, wherein said use information includes a time of passage of a vehicle through said entrance toll adjusting gate.

58. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 57, wherein if an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium, when a user carrying said storage medium passes through the entrance toll adjusting gate, said demand issuing means issues a read demand to the storage medium to read said identification number and the term of validity through said communicating means prior to issuing a write demand to write said use information;

said writing apparatus further comprises a check means for performing a check on said identification number and said term of validity when said writing apparatus receives said identification number and said term of validity transmitted from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand.

59. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 58, wherein if information in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data and said storage medium retains said predetermined encipherment key as plain-text which is not enciphered, said writing apparatus receives enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity and a plain-text predetermined encipherment key from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand from said demand issuing means, said writing apparatus further comprises a deciphering means for deciphering the enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key.

60. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 59, wherein if the enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity includes an enciphered encipherment key, which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key, said writing apparatus further comprises an encipherment key check means for comparing said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is received along with said enciphered data, with a predetermined encipherment key, which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data by said deciphering means, wherein said encipherment key check means checks the information that is an object of the read demand.

61. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 59, further comprising an enciphering means for enciphering said use information that is an object of a write demand issued from said demand issuing means to write said use information in said storage medium, said use information enciphered based on said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is received along with said enciphered data.

62. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 61, wherein said enciphering means enciphers said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is used for enciphering, with said predetermined encipherment key, said enciphered predetermined encipherment key is included in the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the write demand, to write the information in said storage medium.

63. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 56, wherein if an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium, when a user carrying said storage medium passes through the entrance toll adjusting gate, said demand issuing means issues a read demand to the storage medium to read said identification number and the term of validity through said communicating means prior to issuing a write demand to write said use information;

said writing apparatus further comprises a check means for performing a check on said identification number and said term of validity when said writing apparatus receives said identification number and said term of validity which are transmitted from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand.

64. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 63, wherein if information in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data and said storage medium retains said predetermined encipherment key as a plain-text which is not enciphered, said writing apparatus receives enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity and a plain-text predetermined encipherment key from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand from said demand issuing means, said writing apparatus further comprises a deciphering means for deciphering the enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key.

65. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 64, wherein if the enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity includes an enciphered encipherment key, which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key, said writing apparatus further comprises an encipherment key check means for comparing said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is received along with said enciphered data, with a predetermined encipherment key, which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data by said deciphering means, wherein said encipherment key check means checks the information that is an object of the read demand.

66. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 64, further comprising an enciphering means for enciphering said use information that is an object of a write demand, issued from said demand issue means to write said use information in said storage medium, said use information enciphered based on of said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is received along with said enciphered data.

67. The writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 66, wherein said enciphering means enciphers said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is used for enciphering, with said predetermined encipherment key, said enciphered predetermined encipherment key is included in the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of the write demand, to write the information in said storage medium.

68. A settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, said settling apparatus for acquiring adjustment information, from a storage medium having a radio communication function, to automatically adjust a toll charged to a holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information, said storage medium being carried by each user, said storage medium for storing said adjustment information, which is necessary for toll adjustment, therein and exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said settling apparatus comprising:

a communicating means for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency at a toll adjusting gate which uses a first toll payment system, and for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency at a toll adjusting gate which uses a second toll payment system which is different from said first toll payment system;

a demand issuing means for issuing a read demand to said storage medium through said communicating means to read said adjustment information from said storage medium and for issuing a write demand to said storage medium through said communicating means to write adjustment result information to said storage medium; and

a toll adjusting means for automatically adjusting the toll charged to the holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information received from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand from said demand issuing means;

when the user carrying said storage medium passes through the toll adjusting gate, said demand issuing means issuing a read demand to said storage medium through said communicating means to read said adjustment information;

when said settling apparatus receives said adjustment information from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand, said toll adjusting means automatically adjusting the toll charged the holder of said storage medium based on said received adjustment information;

said demand issuing means issuing a write demand to write adjustment result information including a charged toll adjusted by said toll adjusting means and payment distinction indicating whether a toll payment system is a first toll payment system or a second toll payment system to said storage medium through said communicating means.

69. The settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 68, wherein if an identification number and a term of validity of said storage medium are set and stored in advance in said storage medium, said demand issuing means issues a read demand to said storage medium through said communicating means to read said identification number and said term of validity when a settling process is initiated;

said settling apparatus further comprises a check means for performing a check on said identification number and said term of validity when said settling apparatus receives said identification number and said term of validity from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand.

70. The settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 69, wherein if the information in said storage medium is enciphered with a predetermined encipherment key to form enciphered data and said storage medium retains said predetermined encipherment key as plain-text which is not enciphered, said settling apparatus receives enciphered data, which is information that is an object of a read demand, and a plain-text predetermined encipherment key from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand from said demand issuing means;

said settling apparatus further comprises a deciphering means for deciphering enciphered data for said identification number and said term of validity with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key.

71. The settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 70, wherein if the enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of said read demand, includes an enciphered predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by enciphering said plain-text predetermined encipherment key with said predetermined encipherment key, said settling apparatus further comprises an encipherment key check unit for comparing said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is received along with said enciphered data, with a predetermined encipherment key which is obtained by deciphering said enciphered data by said deciphering means, wherein said encipherment key check unit checks the information that is the object of said read demand.

72. The settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 70, further comprising an enciphering means for enciphering said adjustment result information, which is an object of the write demand, from said demand issuing means to write the adjustment result information in said storage medium with said plain-text predetermined encipherment key which is received along with said enciphered data.

73. The settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system according to claim 72, wherein said enciphering means enciphers said plain-text predetermined encipherment key, which is used for enciphering, with said predetermined encipherment key;

said enciphered predetermined encipherment key is included in enciphered data, which is the information that is an object of a write demand, to write the information in said storage medium.

74. An automatic toll adjustment system for automatically adjusting a toll, said automatic toll adjustment system including a storage medium for storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment, said storage medium carried by each user, said automatic toll adjustment system comprising:

a toll adjustment gate for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at one of a first predetermined frequency and a second predetermined frequency, said toll adjustment gate exchanging information at said first predetermined frequency when a toll is automatically adjusted based upon a first toll payment system and said toll adjustment gate exchanging information at said second predetermined frequency when a toll is automatically adjusted based upon a second toll payment system which is different from said first toll payment system.

75. A storage medium, with a radio communication function, for an automatic toll adjusting system, said storage medium carried by each user, said storage medium comprising:

a storing means for storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment therein;

a receiving means for receiving information from the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency;

a processing means for reading information stored in the storage medium and for writing information into said storage medium based on information received by said receiving means; and

transmitting means for transmitting responsive information, including the information from said storage means, to the outside by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency,

wherein said storage medium directly communicating with a toll adjusting gate by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency when said toll adjustment gate adjusts a toll based upon a first toll payment system and said storage medium indirectly communicating with said toll adjustment gate at a second predetermined frequency through a frequency converting apparatus when said toll adjusting gate adjusts the toll based upon a second toll payment system which is different from the first toll payment system.

76. A frequency converting apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, a storage medium is inserted into said frequency converting apparatus, said storage medium having a radio communication function and storing adjustment information necessary for toll adjustment, said storage medium carried by each user and exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said frequency converting apparatus comprising:

a first communicating means for exchanging information with the storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus; and

second communicating means for exchanging information with a toll adjusting gate by radio communication at a second predetermined frequency;

wherein, when said storage medium is inserted in said frequency converting apparatus, said first communicating means transmitting information, which is received from the toll adjusting gate, through said second communicating means to said storage medium by radio communication at the first predetermined frequency, said second communicating means transmitting information, which is received from the storage medium, through said first communicating means to the toll adjusting gate by radio communication at the second predetermined frequency.

77. A writing apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, said writing apparatus for writing use information, necessary for toll adjustment, as adjustment information into a storage medium having a radio communication function, said storage medium carried by each user, said storage medium storing said adjustment information therein and exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said writing apparatus comprising:

a communicating means for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a toll adjusting gate at one of a first predetermined frequency and a second predetermined frequency, said communicating means exchanging information at the first predetermined frequency when said toll adjusting gate adjusts a toll using a first toll payment system and said communicating means exchanges information with the storage means using the second predetermined frequency when the toll adjusting gate adjusts tolls using a second toll payment system which is different from the first toll payment system; and

a demand issuing means for issuing a write demand to said storage medium to write the use information about the toll adjusting gate on said storage medium through said communicating means.

78. A settling apparatus for an automatic toll adjusting system, said settling apparatus for acquiring adjustment information from a storage medium having a radio communication function, said settling apparatus automatically adjusting a toll charged to a holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information, said storage medium being carried by each user and storing said adjustment information which is necessary for toll adjustment therein, said storage medium exchanging information with the outside by radio communication at a first predetermined frequency, said settling apparatus comprising:

a communicating means for exchanging information with said storage medium by radio communication at a toll adjusting gate at one of a first predetermined frequency and a second predetermined frequency, said communicating means exchanging information at the first predetermined frequency when said toll adjusting gate adjusts the toll using a first toll payment system and exchanging information at the second predetermined frequency when the toll adjusting gate adjusts the toll using a second toll payment system which is different from the first toll payment system;

a demand issuing means for issuing a read demand to read said adjustment information from said storage medium through said communicating means and for issuing a write demand to write adjustment result information to said storage medium through said communicating means; and

a toll adjusting means for automatically adjusting the toll charged to the holder of said storage medium based on said adjustment information received from said storage medium through said communicating means in response to said read demand from said demand issuing means.