Multilane vehicle information capture system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for accurately associating an RF toll tag with a vehicle on which the tag resides, the method being implemented in a multilane tolling system configured to collect tolls from vehicles travelling on a roadway, the multilane tolling system having an inductive loop sensor layout, one or more RF antennas, and one or more processors, the method comprising:
- measuring vehicle information of a vehicle travelling along a roadway using the an inductive loop sensor layout which is associated with an RF read zone established by the one or more RF antennas, wherein the RF read zone is a zone within which RF toll tags are in range for communication with the one or more RF antennas;
producing, via the one or more processors, an RF read zone prediction based on the vehicle information, wherein the RF read zone prediction includes a prediction of a time at which an RF toll tag carried by the vehicle will enter the RF read zone;
measuring a set of times that an unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone, wherein the measuring of the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone is based on communication between the unassociated RF toll tag and the one or more RF antennas; and
determining, via the one or more processors, that the unassociated RF toll tag is the toll tag carried by the vehicle responsive to the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone substantially matching the RF read zone prediction.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for accurately associating an RF toll tag with a vehicle on which the tag resides, the method being implemented in a multilane tolling system configured to collect tolls from vehicles travelling on a roadway, the multilane tolling system having an inductive loop sensor layout, one or more RF antennas, and one or more processors, the method comprising:
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measuring vehicle information of a vehicle travelling along a roadway using the an inductive loop sensor layout which is associated with an RF read zone established by the one or more RF antennas, wherein the RF read zone is a zone within which RF toll tags are in range for communication with the one or more RF antennas; producing, via the one or more processors, an RF read zone prediction based on the vehicle information, wherein the RF read zone prediction includes a prediction of a time at which an RF toll tag carried by the vehicle will enter the RF read zone; measuring a set of times that an unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone, wherein the measuring of the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone is based on communication between the unassociated RF toll tag and the one or more RF antennas; and determining, via the one or more processors, that the unassociated RF toll tag is the toll tag carried by the vehicle responsive to the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone substantially matching the RF read zone prediction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer-implemented method for accurately associating an RF toll tag with a vehicle on which the tag resides, the method being implemented in a multilane tolling system configured to collect tolls from vehicles travelling on a roadway, the multilane tolling system having vision tracking system, one or more RF antennas, and one or more processors, the method comprising:
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measuring vehicle information of a vehicle travelling along a roadway using the vision tracking system which is associated with an RF read zone established by the one or more RF antennas, wherein the RF read zone is a zone within which RF toll tags are in range for communication with the one or more RF antennas; producing, via the one or more processors, an RF read zone prediction based on the vehicle information, wherein the RF read zone prediction includes a prediction of a time at which an RF toll tag carried by the vehicle will enter the RF read zone; measuring a set of times that an unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone, wherein the measuring of the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone is based on communication between the unassociated RF toll tag and the one or more RF antennas; and determining, via the one or more processors, that the unassociated RF toll tag is the toll tag carried by the vehicle responsive to the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone substantially matching the RF read zone prediction. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system configured to associate an RF toll tag with a vehicle on which the tag resides, comprising:
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a vehicle information module associated with an RF read zone established by one or more RF antennas, the vehicle information module being configured to measure vehicle information of a vehicle travelling along a roadway, the vehicle information module including one or both of a vision tracking system and an induction loop detector, wherein the RF read zone is a zone within which RF toll tags are in range for communication with the one or more RF antennas; and one or more processors configured to; produce an RF read zone prediction based on the vehicle information, wherein the RF read zone prediction includes a prediction of a time at which an RF toll tag carried by the vehicle will enter the RF read zone; measure a set of times that an unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone, wherein the measuring of the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone is based on communication between the unassociated RF toll tag and the one or more RF antennas; and determine that the unassociated RF toll tag is the toll tag carried by the vehicle responsive to the set of times that the unassociated RF toll tag enters and exits the RF read zone substantially matching the RF read zone prediction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification