Mobile system for exacting parking tolls

• US 8,026,832 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gannett Fleming Incorporated (Gannett Fleming Affiliates Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Traffic Technologies, Inc. (Gannett Fleming Affiliates Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kolb, Michael, Weiss, Stanley B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/198,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20090060395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 340/928, 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• 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

Abstract

Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer'"'"'s vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Claims

1. An electronic scan apparatus, comprising:

a mobile system configured to wirelessly request and receive electronic tag data from a plurality of electronic toll devices in order to collect payment for from vehicles entering or exiting a parking venue through multiple vehicle lanes, the mobile system comprising;

a plurality of wireless readers each capable of wirelessly communicating with the electronic toll devices associated with the vehicles, wherein each wireless reader is directed to a different one of the lanes; and

a computer equipped with a database for verifying valid electronic toll devices from the electronic tag data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile system comprises a boom and a parking system vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the wireless readers comprises a handheld scan device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mobile system further comprises a personal data assistant (PDA) in communication with the handheld scan device, the PDA storing a list of valid RFID tags associated with the electronic tag data for an electronic toll collection system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mobile system further comprises a portable printer in communication with the PDA.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the portable printer is configured for mounting on an attendant'"'"'s belt.

7. An electronic toll collection system, comprising:

a toll collection vehicle;

a boom attached to the toll collection vehicle, the boom configured to extend laterally from the toll collection vehicle over a lane at a height sufficient to allow for vehicles to pass under, and the boom comprising a reader configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic tag associated with an electronic toll collections (ETC) account; and

a computer in communication with the reader, the computer configured to verify valid tag data read by the reader and to provide an indication of valid tag data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer facilitates charging the ETC account a fee for parking a customer vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a handheld RFID reader capable of communication with the computer, the handheld RFID reader configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic tag.

10. A method of charging an electronic toll payment system, comprising:

using a mobile scan system at an entrance or exit to a parking venue to wirelessly request and receive electronic tag data from an electronic toll device on a vehicle as it moves past the mobile scan system to enter or exit the parking venue, the mobile scan system comprising a reader and a computer;

comparing said tag data to a list of valid toll devices using the computer;

creating resulting transaction data when the electronic toll device is included on the list of valid toll devices; and

transmitting said resulting transaction data to charge an account associated with the electronic toll device so as to collect a parking fee.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer comprises a PDA.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer further comprises a laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein using comprises waving a handheld RFID reader over the electronic toll device in the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an indication of successful transaction when creating resulting transaction data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the indication of successful transaction comprises a green indicator light at the entrance or exit.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein using comprises providing an attendant with a handheld RFID reader for waving over the electronic toll device in the vehicle, and providing the indication of successful transaction comprises providing a message on a personal digital assistant (PDA) in communication with the handheld RFID reader.