Devices and methods for charging for an electronic pre-paid car with positional determination (gps pre-paid card) for a dual gps based toll system

• US 20040236685A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gila, Janos
• Application Number:
  US10/480,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A methods and a system for electronic charging by means of a positional determination system (PSE) for determining the current local co-ordinates (OKO) for a vehicle (FAR), whereby at least one determinable user authorisation (BER) is activated and is transmitted to a reckoning unit (BEE) on board the vehicle (FAR), for determining toll charges.

Claims

1. A method for electronic toll payment using a position finding system for determination of a current location coordinate of a vehicle, wherein at least one usage authorizations is associated with a vehicle keeper;

transmitting at least one usage authorization to a calculation, unit located on the vehicle, for determination of toll fees, wherein the calculation unit is activated based on the at least one usage authorization; and

determining whether the vehicle is authorized to use a route over which the vehicle is being driven.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a time card which authorizes the use of at least one route subject to a toll, in a determinable time period.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a chargeable credit.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance which has been traveled on routes subject to a toll.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one usage authorization is transmitted in the form of a code.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one usage authorization is transmitted to the calculation unit via a provided input apparatus.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one usage authorization is stored in a mobile data storage medium, and wherein the input apparatus is a reader for the mobile data storage medium, and wherein the at least one usage authorization is read by that reader and is transmitted to the calculation unit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is linked to a data network, and the at least one usage authorization is transmitted to the calculation unit via this data network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data network is the Internet.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is linked to a radio network, and the at least one usage authorization is transmitted to the calculation unit via the radio network.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the radio network is the GSM network.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the code is entered manually.

25. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a chargeable credit.

26. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance which has been traveled on routes subject to a toll.

27. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one usage authorization is transmitted in the form of a code.

28. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance which has been traveled on routes subject to a toll.

29. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one usage authorization is transmitted in the form of a code.

32. The system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance traveled on routes subject to a toll.

13. A system for electronic toll payment, comprising:

a position finding system for determination of the current location coordinates of a vehicle, wherein at least one usage authorization is associated with a vehicle keeper; and

a device, adapted to transmit at least one usage authorization to activate a calculation unit located on the vehicle to determine toll fee.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a time card which authorizes the use of at least one route, which is subject to a toll, in a determinable time period.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a chargeable credit.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance traveled on routes subject to a toll.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system is designed to transmit the at least one usage authorization in the form of a code to the calculation unit.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein an input apparatus, linked to the calculation unit, is adapted to transmit the at least one usage authorization to the calculation unit.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one usage authorization is stored in a mobile data storage medium, and wherein the input apparatus includes a reader for the mobile data storage medium, wherein the reader is designed to read out the code and transmit the code to the calculation unit.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the calculation unit is linked to a data network, and the system is designed to transmit the at least one usage authorization to the calculation unit via this data network.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20, whrein the data network is the Internet.

22. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the calculation unit is linked to a radio network, and the system is designed to transmit the at least one usage authorization to the calculation unit via the radio network.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the radio network is the GSM network.

24. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the calculation unit is designed for the at least one usage authorization to be entered manually.

30. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a chargeable credit.

31. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance traveled on routes subject to a toll.

33. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

an input apparatus, linked to the calculation unit, adapted to transmit the usage authorization to the calculation unit.

34. The system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

an input apparatus, linked to the calculation unit, adapted to transmit the usage authorization to the calculation unit.

35. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

an input apparatus, linked to the calculation unit, adapted to transmit the usage authorization to the calculation unit.

41. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein an input device, linked to the calculation unit, is for transmitting the at least one usage authorization to the calculation unit.

42. The system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the at least one usage authorization is stored in a mobile data storage medium, and wherein the input device includes a reader for the mobile data storage medium, wherein the reader is designed to read out the code and transmit the code to the calculation unit.

36. A system for electronic toll payment, comprising:

means for determining a current location coordinates of a vehicle, wherein at least one usage authorization is associated with a vehicle keeper; and

means for transmitting at least one usage authorization to activate a calculation unit located on the vehicle to determine toll fees.

37. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a time card which authorizes the use of at least one route, which is subject to a toll, in a determinable time period.

38. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the at least one usage authorization includes a chargeable credit.

39. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the at least one usage authorization is linked to a determinable amount for a distance traveled on routes subject to a toll.

40. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the system is designed to transmit the at least one usage authorization in the form of a code to the calculation unit.