Mobile system for exacting parking tolls

• US 8,232,894 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US13/239,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20120036074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 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. A method for collecting tolls for a parking venue, the method comprising:

providing a mobile system for wirelessly receiving and processing electronic account information;

positioning the mobile system at an entrance or exit to the parking venue;

using the mobile system to wirelessly receive electronic account information associated with an electronic device in a vehicle at the entrance or exit; and

conducting a transaction to charge a toll to the account associated with the electronic account information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the transaction comprises:

using the mobile system to identify the account associated with the electronic account information;

using the mobile system to verify ability to charge the account; and

charging a fee from the account after using the mobile system to verify.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile system further comprises a computer storing a list of valid accounts, and wherein using the mobile system to verify comprises comparing the electronic account information to the list of valid accounts.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer comprises a laptop.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the mobile system to wirelessly receive comprises wirelessly requesting and receiving data from the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data from the electronic device comprises electronic tag data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending transaction data to a central computer in real time following the conducting a transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending transaction data to a customer service center (CSC), wherein the CSC maintains the accounts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein using the mobile system to wirelessly receive comprises utilizing a handheld scan device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an RF transponder.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile system comprises a parking system vehicle with a boom attached.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the boom is configured to extend laterally from the parking system vehicle over a lane at a height sufficient to allow for vehicles to pass under.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly receiving comprises receiving electronic account information from multiple vehicles entering or exiting the parking venue through multiple vehicle lanes.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising raising a gate after conducting the transaction.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a green light after conducting the transaction.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein using the mobile system to wirelessly receive comprises providing an attendant with a handheld wand for waving over the electronic device.

18. A mobile scan apparatus comprising:

a plurality of wireless readers each capable of wirelessly receiving electronic account information from a plurality of electronic devices in order to collect payment from vehicles entering or exiting a parking venue through multiple vehicle lanes, wherein each wireless reader is directed to a different one of the lanes; and

a computer in communication with the wireless readers, the computer configured to conduct a transaction to charge a toll to the account associated with the electronic account information.

19. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 18, wherein one of the wireless readers comprises a boom.

20. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 18, wherein one of the wireless readers comprises a handheld scan device.

21. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 18, wherein the computer comprises a laptop.

22. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 18, wherein the computer comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

23. A mobile scan apparatus comprising:

a toll collection vehicle;

a boom attached to the tool 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, the boom comprising a wireless reader capable of wirelessly receiving electronic account information from a plurality of electronic devices; and

a computer in communication with the reader, the computer configured to conduct a transaction to charge a toll to the account associated with the electronic account information.

24. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 23, wherein the computer comprises a laptop.

25. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 23, wherein the computer comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

26. The mobile scan apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a handheld scan device capable of communication with the computer, the handheld scan device configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of electronic devices.