Long-range location-specific menu-driven mobile payment platform mounted on vehicle dashtop

• US 8,666,801 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ErgonoTech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ErgonoTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Cho, Kyu Hwang
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US11/758,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,464 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/06 Arrangements for road pricing or congestion charging of vehicles or vehicle users, e.g. automatic toll systems

Abstract

A method, computer system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for performing wireless payment of road tolls from a vehicle. An in-vehicle device includes a way for a vehicle occupant to communicate input to the device, as well as a screen for outputting data to the vehicle occupant. The device communicates with a base station, exchanging various codes and data, including a method of payment for the toll selected by the vehicle occupant. Eventually, the device acquires a Gate ID code from the base station, which is then transmitted to the tollroad gate prior to the vehicle passing that tollroad gate. Codes are created using a particular described approach.

Claims

1. A method for performing wireless payment of road tolls from a vehicle, the method comprising:

performing, by a computer system (which is not a mobile phone and is located inside a vehicle), all of the steps comprising;

receiving an initial communication from a base station comprising an indication of a road toll amount required to be paid;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to transmit partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station, wherein the partially encrypted vehicle data comprises license plate number, make, model, year, and color;

transmitting the partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station;

receiving a control code, a session ID code, and menu data from the base station, in response to the base station having located data in a database which matches the partially encrypted vehicle data;

displaying, on a screen of the computer system, the control code and a payment option menu, wherein the payment option menu comprises credit, debit, 3 days (which is a pledge to pay a toll within three calendar days with a surcharge), carpool, and prepaid; and

not displaying, on the screen of the computer system, the session ID code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to select a payment option from the payment option menu and transmit the payment option to the base station;

transmitting the payment option to the base station, thereby authorizing payment of the road toll amount required to be paid, the payment to be made via the user-selected payment option;

receiving, from the base station, an approval code;

displaying the approval code on the screen of the computer system;

creating an electronic document, the contents of the electronic document based at least in part on the control code and the approval code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle, within a predetermined time period after the electronic document is ready for transmission, to select to transmit the electronic document to the base station;

transmitting the electronic document to the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

receiving a Gate ID code from the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized; and

transmitting the Gate ID code to the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

wherein the control code, the session ID code, and the approval code are each based at least in part on an English-language alphabetical character representing one of the 24 hours in a day, a number representing a time interval within the one of the 24 hours, and a number representing a time within the time interval;

wherein the computer system is powered by a battery of the vehicle; and

wherein the road toll amount required to be paid is based at least in part on anticipated traffic levels on the tollroad for which the road toll amount is paid.

2. A computer system for performing wireless payment of road tolls from a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method comprising;

performing, by the computer system (which is not a mobile phone and is located inside a vehicle), all of the steps comprising;

receiving an initial communication from a base station comprising an indication of a road toll amount required to be paid;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to transmit partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station, wherein the partially encrypted vehicle data comprises license plate number, make, model, year, and color;

transmitting the partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station;

receiving a control code, a session ID code, and menu data from the base station, in response to the base station having located data in a database which matches the partially encrypted vehicle data;

displaying, on a screen of the computer system, the control code and a payment option menu, wherein the payment option menu comprises credit, debit, 3 days (which is a pledge to pay a toll within three calendar days with a surcharge), carpool, and prepaid; and

not displaying, on the screen of the computer system, the session ID code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to select a payment option from the payment option menu and transmit the payment option to the base station;

transmitting the payment option to the base station, thereby authorizing payment of the road toll amount required to be paid, the payment to be made via the user-selected payment option;

receiving, from the base station, an approval code;

displaying the approval code on the screen of the computer system;

creating an electronic document, the contents of the electronic document based at least in part on the control code and the approval code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle, within a predetermined time period after the electronic document is ready for transmission, to select to transmit the electronic document to the base station;

transmitting the electronic document to the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

receiving a Gate ID code from the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized; and

transmitting the Gate ID code to the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

wherein the control code, the session ID code, and the approval code are each based at least in part on an English-language alphabetical character representing one of the 24 hours in a day, a number representing a time interval within the one of the 24 hours, and a number representing a time within the time interval;

wherein the computer system is powered by a battery of the vehicle; and

wherein the road toll amount required to be paid is based at least in part on anticipated traffic levels on the tollroad for which the road toll amount is paid.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer software which, upon execution by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform a method for performing wireless payment of road tolls from a vehicle, the method comprising:

performing, by the computer system (which is not a mobile phone and is located inside a vehicle), all of the steps comprising;

receiving an initial communication from a base station comprising an indication of a road toll amount required to be paid;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to transmit partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station, wherein the partially encrypted vehicle data comprises license plate number, make, model, year, and color;

transmitting the partially encrypted vehicle data to the base station;

receiving a control code, a session ID code, and menu data from the base station, in response to the base station having located data in a database which matches the partially encrypted vehicle data;

displaying, on a screen of the computer system, the control code and a payment option menu, wherein the payment option menu comprises credit, debit, 3 days (which is a pledge to pay a toll within three calendar days with a surcharge), carpool, and prepaid; and

not displaying, on the screen of the computer system, the session ID code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle to select a payment option from the payment option menu and transmit the payment option to the base station;

transmitting the payment option to the base station, thereby authorizing payment of the road toll amount required to be paid, the payment to be made via the user-selected payment option;

receiving, from the base station, an approval code;

displaying the approval code on the screen of the computer system;

creating an electronic document, the contents of the electronic document based at least in part on the control code and the approval code;

receiving an input from a user inside the vehicle, within a predetermined time period after the electronic document is ready for transmission, to select to transmit the electronic document to the base station;

transmitting the electronic document to the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

receiving a Gate ID code from the base station before the vehicle passes the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized; and

transmitting the Gate ID code to the tollroad gate for which the payment of the road toll amount was authorized;

wherein the control code, the session ID code, and the approval code are each based at least in part on an English-language alphabetical character representing one of the 24 hours in a day, a number representing a time interval within the one of the 24 hours, and a number representing a time within the time interval;

wherein the computer system is powered by a battery of the vehicle; and

wherein the road toll amount required to be paid is based at least in part on anticipated traffic levels on the tollroad for which the road toll amount is paid.