Toll fee system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for enabling third party operated transport users to utilize an automatic toll payment service comprising:
- utilizing a processor to complete the following;
providing, to a customer, an automatic toll payment service option;
determining whether the automatic toll payment service option is accepted by the customer;
responsive to a determination that the automatic toll payment service option has been accepted, activating at least one toll fee tracking device during a rental period, wherein the activated at least one toll fee tracking device is operable to allow the customer to utilize a toll authority without incurring a fine;
collecting, by a computer associated with the toll authority, toll data associated with the activated at least one toll fee tracking device;
transferring, from the computer associated with the toll authority to a computer associated with a toll rental entity, at least some of the collected toll data responsive to a request for data-transfer permission having been received by the toll authority from the toll rental entity;
forwarding, from the computer associated with the toll rental entity to a computer associated with a third party entity, at least some of the transferred toll data; and
charging the customer a fee corresponding to toll usage and applicable service charges based upon the forwarded toll data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toll fee tracking system comprising a toll authority adapted to collect data associated with at least one toll fee tracking device and a toll rental entity adapted to communicate with the toll authority and a third part entity. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
235 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for enabling third party operated transport users to utilize an automatic toll payment service comprising:
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utilizing a processor to complete the following; providing, to a customer, an automatic toll payment service option; determining whether the automatic toll payment service option is accepted by the customer; responsive to a determination that the automatic toll payment service option has been accepted, activating at least one toll fee tracking device during a rental period, wherein the activated at least one toll fee tracking device is operable to allow the customer to utilize a toll authority without incurring a fine; collecting, by a computer associated with the toll authority, toll data associated with the activated at least one toll fee tracking device; transferring, from the computer associated with the toll authority to a computer associated with a toll rental entity, at least some of the collected toll data responsive to a request for data-transfer permission having been received by the toll authority from the toll rental entity; forwarding, from the computer associated with the toll rental entity to a computer associated with a third party entity, at least some of the transferred toll data; and charging the customer a fee corresponding to toll usage and applicable service charges based upon the forwarded toll data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An article of manufacture for enabling third party operated transport users to utilize an automatic toll payment service, the article of manufacture comprising:
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at least one non-transitory computer readable medium; processor instructions contained on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium, the processor instructions configured to be readable from the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to perform the following steps; providing, to a customer, an automatic toll payment service option; determining whether the automatic toll payment service option is accepted by the customer; responsive to a determination that the automatic toll payment service option has been accepted, activating at least one toll fee tracking device during a rental period, wherein the activated at least one toll fee tracking device is operable to allow the customer to utilize a toll authority without incurring a fine; collecting, by the toll authority, toll data associated with the activated at least one toll fee tracking device; transferring, from the toll authority to a toll rental entity, at least some of the collected toll data responsive to a request for data-transfer permission having been received by the toll authority from the toll rental entity; forwarding, from the toll rental entity to a third party entity, at least some of the transferred toll data; and charging the customer a fee corresponding to toll usage and applicable service charges based upon the forwarded toll data.
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14. A method for enabling third party operated transport users to utilize an automatic toll payment service comprising:
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utilizing a processor to complete the following; sending, from a computer associated with a toll rental entity to a computer associated with a toll authority, a request message, wherein the request message is operable to place a plurality of toll fee tracking devices into a ready-for-service state; providing, to a customer, an automatic toll payment service option; determining whether the automatic toll payment service option is accepted by the customer; responsive to a determination that the automatic toll payment service option has been accepted, activating at least one toll fee tracking device during a rental period, wherein the activated at least one toll fee tracking device is operable to allow the customer to utilize a toll authority without incurring a fine; collecting, by a computer associated with the toll authority, toll data associated with the activated at least one toll fee tracking device; transferring, from the computer associated with the toll authority to a computer associated with a toll rental entity, at least some of the collected toll data responsive to a request for data-transfer permission having been received by the toll authority from the toll rental entity; forwarding, from the computer associated with the toll rental entity to a computer associated with a third party entity, at least some of the transferred toll data; and charging the customer a fee corresponding to toll usage and applicable service charges based upon the forwarded toll data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification