Pass through toll collection device for cell phone architecture

• US 8,311,559 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrow, Stephen Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/853,933
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.1, 455/561, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A combination of a mobile station and electronic toll collection device includes a transponder configured to communicate with an automatic toll collection station. This provides an identification of the transponder for toll collection purposes. The mobile station antenna and a mobile transceiver are electrically linked and the mobile transceiver transmits and receives mobile communication signals via the antenna. Further, the transponder can use its own antenna or the mobile station antenna to communicate with the toll collection station. The mobile station includes a battery which is also electrically linked to the transponder to power both the transponder and the mobile station.

Claims

1. A combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device, comprising:

a transponder configured to communicate with an automatic toll collection station to provide an identification of the transponder for toll collection purposes;

a mobile station antenna;

a mobile transceiver electrically linked to the antenna, the mobile transceiver configured to transmit and receive mobile communication signals via the antenna;

a microprocessor electronically linked to the mobile transceiver to control the transmission and reception of the mobile communication signals;

a battery electrically linked to the transponder and at least provides power to the mobile transceiver and to the microprocessor, and

a mobile station housing containing the transponder, the mobile transceiver, microprocessor, and battery.

2. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 1, wherein the transponder comprises:

a logic circuit;

a storage device, storing the identification of the transponder for toll collection purposes, and is in electronic communication with the logic circuit;

a receiver-transmitter, transmitting and receiving data for toll collection purposes, and is in electronic communication with the logic circuit and the storage device; and

a transponder antenna in electronic communication with the receiver-transmitter for wireless communication between the receiver-transmitter and the automatic toll collection station.

3. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 2, wherein the battery provides power to the logic circuit, the storage device and the receiver-transmitter.

4. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 2, wherein the transponder further comprises a power supply, separate from the battery, providing power to the logic circuit, storage device and the receiver-transmitter.

5. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 1, wherein the mobile station antenna is housed at least partially inside the mobile station housing.

6. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 1, wherein the transponder is removable from the mobile station housing.

7. The combination mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 1, wherein the transponder is communicatively isolated from the microprocessor.

8. An integrated mobile station and electronic toll collection device, comprising:

an antenna emitting mobile communication signals and automatic toll collection signals;

at least one wireless transceiver electrically linked to the antenna, the transceiver configured to transmit and receive the mobile communication signals via the antenna, and configured to communicate with an automatic toll collection station via automatic toll collection signals emitted by the antenna;

a microprocessor electronically linked to the mobile transceiver to control the transmission and reception of the mobile communication signals and configured to respond to electronic toll interrogations via automatic toll collection signals; and

a battery electrically linked to supply power to the at least one wireless transceiver and the microprocessor; and

a mobile station housing containing the wireless transceiver microprocessor and battery.

9. The integrated mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 8, further comprising an electronic toll memory storing information necessary to respond to electronic toll interrogations and electronically linked to the microprocessor.

10. The integrated mobile station and electronic toll collection device of claim 9, wherein the electronic toll memory is a SIM card.