Electronic toll charge payment system and method
First Claim
1. A toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one mobile telephone communication device, said system comprising:
- a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device, wherein said at least one mobile telephone communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account with a telecommunication service provider belonging to a user;
recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system;
means for sending an electronic message from the mobile telephone communication device to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises at least one of vehicle registration identifier information and toll identifier information; and
said remote communication system comprises means for matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, means for debiting a toll charge payment from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and crediting a toll operator account in response to a match being made.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and system toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising: a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; characterised by said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS (text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for automatically matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. The main advantage of the system is that the user does not have to pre-register account information in order to effect a toll charge payment and no retrofitting of vehicles with specific devices is required. The convenience of the solution ensures widespread acceptance by users of toll charge systems.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one mobile telephone communication device, said system comprising:
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a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device, wherein said at least one mobile telephone communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account with a telecommunication service provider belonging to a user; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; means for sending an electronic message from the mobile telephone communication device to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises at least one of vehicle registration identifier information and toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, means for debiting a toll charge payment from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and crediting a toll operator account in response to a match being made. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for toll charge payment using electronic messaging from at least one mobile telephone communication device, said method comprising:
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adapting a remote communication system to communicate with the at least one mobile telephone communication device; recording vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; associating at least one mobile telephone communication device with a pre-existing telecommunication account of a telecommunication service provider belonging to a user; sending an electronic message, from the mobile telephone communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises at least one of vehicle registration identifier information and toll identifier information; and matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information or said toll identifier information and, debiting a toll charge payment from the user'"'"'s pre-existing telecommunication account and crediting a toll operator account in response to a match being made. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification