Enhanced transponder programming in an open road toll system
First Claim
1. A method for programming a transponder in a moving vehicle in a roadway, the roadway having an electronic toll collection system that includes a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas are mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area, and adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap, the transponder having a memory, the method comprising:
- transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, wherein the transponder is to transmit a response signal after storing the data in its memory;
determining that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by determining that the response signal was not received within a predetermined time of transmission of the programming signal in the normal mode; and
based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, selecting an antenna adjacent to said one of the antennas and transmitting the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for enhanced transponder programming in an open road toll system are disclosed. An example method includes transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over a first coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal. The example method further includes determining that the transponder did not store the data in its memory. Based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory the programming signal is transmitted in an enhanced mode, from one antennas over a second coverage area.
9 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for programming a transponder in a moving vehicle in a roadway, the roadway having an electronic toll collection system that includes a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas are mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area, and adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap, the transponder having a memory, the method comprising:
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transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, wherein the transponder is to transmit a response signal after storing the data in its memory; determining that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by determining that the response signal was not received within a predetermined time of transmission of the programming signal in the normal mode; and based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, selecting an antenna adjacent to said one of the antennas and transmitting the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6)
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4. An electronic toll collection system for programming a transponder located in a moving vehicle travelling in a roadway, the transponder having a memory, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area that includes at least a portion of the roadway for transmitting a programming signal, wherein adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap; and a control device connected to the antennas, the control device to direct one of the antennas to transmit, in a normal mode, the programming signal over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, wherein the transponder is to transmit a response signal after storing the data in its memory, to determine that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by determining that the response signal was not received within a predetermined time of transmission of the programming signal in the normal mode, and, based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, to select an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and to cause the selected adjacent antenna to transmit the programming signal over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (5, 7)
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8. A method for programming a transponder in a moving vehicle in a roadway, the roadway having an electronic toll collection system that includes a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas are mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area, and adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap, the transponder having a memory, the method comprising:
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transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal; determining that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by transmitting a read signal from the one of the antennas to the transponder, receiving, at the one of the antennas, a response signal from the transponder containing contents of a portion of the memory in the transponder, and determining from the contents that the transponder did not store the data in its memory; and based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, selecting an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and transmitting the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An electronic toll collection system for programming a transponder located in a moving vehicle travelling in a roadway, the transponder having a memory, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area that includes at least a portion of the roadway for transmitting a programming signal, wherein adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap; and a control device connected to the antennas, the control device to direct one of the antennas to transmit, in a normal mode, a programming signal over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, to determine that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by transmitting a read signal from the one of the antennas to the transponder, receiving, at the one of the antennas, a response signal from the transponder containing contents of a portion of the memory in the transponder, and determining from the contents that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, and, based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, to select an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and to cause the selected adjacent antenna to transmit the programming signal over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for programming a transponder in a moving vehicle in a roadway, the roadway having an electronic toll collection system that includes a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas are mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area, and adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap, the transponder having a memory, the method comprising:
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transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal; determining that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by transmitting a read signal from the one of the antennas to the transponder, to which the transponder is adapted to respond, and determining that no response is received to the read signal within a predetermined time of transmission of the read signal; and based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, selecting an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and transmitting the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An electronic toll collection system for programming a transponder located in a moving vehicle travelling in a roadway, the transponder having a memory, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area that includes at least a portion of the roadway for transmitting a programming signal, wherein adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap; and a control device connected to the antennas, the control device to direct one of the antennas to transmit, in a normal mode, a programming signal over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, to determine that the transponder did not store the data in its memory by transmitting a read signal from the one of the antennas to the transponder, to which the transponder is adapted to respond, and determining that no response is received to the read signal within a predetermined time of transmission of the read signal, and, based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, to select an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and to transmit the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for programming a transponder in a moving vehicle in a roadway, the roadway having an electronic toll collection system that includes a plurality of antennas, the plurality of antennas are mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area, and adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap, the transponder having a memory, the method comprising:
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transmitting, in a normal mode, a programming signal from one of the antennas over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, wherein the transponder is to transmit a response signal in reply to the programming signal; receiving the response signal and determining from the response signal that the transponder did not store the data in its memory; and based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, selecting an antenna adjacent to said one of the antennas and transmitting the programming signal from the selected adjacent antenna over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An electronic toll collection system for programming a transponder located in a moving vehicle travelling in a roadway, the transponder having a memory, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas mounted to a gantry spanning the roadway such that each antenna defines a coverage area that includes at least a portion of the roadway for transmitting a programming signal, wherein adjacent coverage areas are distinct but partly overlap; and a control device connected to the antennas, the control device to direct one of the antennas to transmit, in a normal mode, a programming signal over its coverage area to instruct the transponder to store data in its memory, the data being contained in the programming signal, wherein the transponder is to transmit a response signal in reply to the programming signal, to receive the response signal and to determine from the response signal that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, and, based on the determination that the transponder did not store the data in its memory, to select an antenna adjacent to the one of the antennas and to cause the selected adjacent antenna to transmit the programming signal over its coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification