VARIABLE TOLL FEE SELECTION FROM GEOGRAPHIC INDICIA

• US 20100153191A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seaman, James W., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Lamba, Naveen, Morris, Benjamin G.
• Application Number:
  US12/336,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

Methods, including service methods, systems, articles, programmable devices and articles of manufacture are provided for selecting and applying variable thoroughfare travel fees. Each of a plurality of differentiated impacts associated with a toll thoroughfare are determined, each of the impacts different from another. Each of the impacts are correlated with geographic impact regions, each impact region is proximate to the toll thoroughfare and geographically distinct from another. Travel fees are assigned to each impact region, each assigned impact region travel fee different from another. Use of the toll thoroughfare by a traveler is determined, a relation of the traveler to one of the impact regions identified and a toll is charged as a function of the determined toll thoroughfare use and the travel fee of the associated impact region.

Claims

1. A method for selecting and applying variable thoroughfare travel fees, comprising:

determining each of a plurality of differentiated impacts associated with a toll thoroughfare, wherein each one of the differentiated impacts is different from another of the differentiated impacts;

correlating one each of the determined plurality of differentiated impacts with at least one each of a plurality of geographic impact regions, wherein each one of the impact regions is proximate to the toll thoroughfare and geographically distinct from another of the impact regions;

assigning a travel fee to each of the impact regions, each one of the assigned impact region travel fees different from another of the assigned impact region travel fees;

determining a use of the toll thoroughfare by a traveler;

identifying a relation of the traveler to a first of the impact regions; and

charging a toll as a function of the determined toll thoroughfare use and the travel fee of the first impact region.

2. The method of claim 1, the identifying the relation of the traveler comprising recognizing at least one of:

a trip origin address of the traveler;

a trip destination address of the traveler;

a registration address of a vehicle utilized by the traveler;

an operator address of the vehicle; and

an owner address of the vehicle as a location within the first impact region.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the thoroughfare is a toll road, the determining the differentiated impacts comprising determining a contribution of traffic to each of a plurality of other road portions from the toll road;

and

the correlating the differentiated impacts comprising defining each of the geographic impact regions as encompassing a one of the other road portions.

4. The method of claim 2, the determining the differentiated impacts comprising determining a plurality of different localized environmental impacts;

and

the correlating the differentiated impacts comprising defining each of the geographic impact regions as an area encompassing a one of the plurality of different localized environmental impacts.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising:

determining a geographic distribution of the determined plurality of differentiated impacts; and

forming an outside boundary of each of the impact regions in correlation with the determined geographic distribution.

6. The method of claim 2, the assigning the travel fee to the first impact region comprising:

assigning a primary rate to a primary type of property; and

assigning a secondary rate to a secondary type of property, the secondary rate different than the primary rate;

the recognizing the location comprising determining the location is a primary type of property; and

setting the travel fee as the primary rate in response to determining the location is a primary type of property.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

defining the primary type of property as a residential property use; and

defining the secondary type of property as a business property use.

8. The method of claim 2, comprising defining a first socioeconomic area and a second socioeconomic area within the first impact region;

the assigning the travel fee to the first impact region comprising assigning a first socioeconomic area travel fee to the first socioeconomic area and a second socioeconomic area travel fee to the second socioeconomic area, the second socioeconomic area travel fee different from the first socioeconomic area travel fee; and

the recognizing the address comprising recognizing the property location as encompassed within the first socioeconomic area or within the second socioeconomic area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first socioeconomic area is a business development area, and wherein the first socioeconomic area travel fee is lower than the second socioeconomic area travel fee.

10. A service for selecting and applying variable thoroughfare travel fees, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure configured to;

determine each of a plurality of differentiated impacts associated with a toll thoroughfare, wherein each one of the differentiated impacts is different from another of the differentiated impacts;

correlate one each of the determined plurality of differentiated impacts with at least one each of a plurality of geographic impact regions, wherein each one of the impact regions is proximate to the toll thoroughfare and geographically distinct from another of the impact regions;

assign a travel fee to each of the impact regions, each one of the assigned impact region travel fees different from another of the assigned impact region travel fees;

determine a use of the toll thoroughfare by a traveler;

identify a relation of the traveler to a first of the impact regions; and

charge a toll as a function of the determined toll thoroughfare use and the travel fee of the first impact region.

11. The service of claim 10, wherein the thoroughfare is a toll road, the computer infrastructure configured to:

determine the differentiated impacts by determining a contribution of traffic to each of a plurality of other road portions from the toll road; and

correlate the differentiated impacts by defining each of the geographic impact regions as encompassing a one of the other road portions.

12. The service of claim 10, wherein the computer infrastructure configured to:

determine the differentiated impacts by determining a plurality of different localized environmental impacts; and

correlate the differentiated impacts by defining each of the geographic impact regions as an area encompassing a one of the plurality of different localized environmental impacts.

13. A method for selecting and applying variable thoroughfare travel fees, comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the code on a computer readable medium; and

providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to;

determine each of a plurality of differentiated impacts associated with a toll thoroughfare, wherein each one of the differentiated impacts is different from another of the differentiated impacts;

correlate one each of the determined plurality of differentiated impacts with at least one each of a plurality of geographic impact regions, wherein each one of the impact regions is proximate to the toll thoroughfare and geographically distinct from another of the impact regions;

assign a travel fee to each of the impact regions, each one of the assigned impact region travel fees different from another of the assigned impact region travel fees;

determine a use of the toll thoroughfare by a traveler;

identify a relation of the traveler to a first of the impact regions; and

charge a toll as a function of the determined toll thoroughfare use and the travel fee of the first impact region.

14. The method of claim 13, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to identify the relation of the traveler by recognizing at least one of:

a trip origin address of the traveler;

a trip destination address of the traveler;

a registration address of a vehicle utilized by the traveler;

an operator address of the vehicle; and

an owner address of the vehicle as a location within the first impact region.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thoroughfare is a toll road, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

determine the differentiated impacts by determining a contribution of traffic to each of a plurality of other road portions from the toll road; and

correlate the differentiated impacts by defining each of the geographic impact regions as encompassing a one of the other road portions.

16. The method of claim 14, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

determine the differentiated impacts by determining a plurality of different localized environmental impacts; and

correlate the differentiated impacts by defining each of the geographic impact regions as an area encompassing a one of the plurality of different localized environmental impacts.

17. A programmable device comprising:

a processing means;

a memory in communication with the processing means comprising a logic component; and

a network in communication with the processing means and the memory;

wherein the processing means is configured to;

determine each of a plurality of differentiated impacts associated with a toll thoroughfare, wherein each one of the differentiated impacts is different from another of the differentiated impacts;

correlate one each of the determined plurality of differentiated impacts with at least one each of a plurality of geographic impact regions, wherein each one of the impact regions is proximate to the toll thoroughfare and geographically distinct from another of the impact regions;

assign a travel fee to each of the impact regions, each one of the assigned impact region travel fees different from another of the assigned impact region travel fees;

determine a use of the toll thoroughfare by a traveler;

identify a relation of the traveler to a first of the impact regions; and

charge a toll as a function of the determined toll thoroughfare use and the travel fee of the first impact region.

18. The programmable device of claim 17, wherein processing means is configured to identify the relation of the traveler by recognizing at least one of:

a trip origin address of the traveler;

a trip destination address of the traveler;

a registration address of a vehicle utilized by the traveler;

an operator address of the vehicle; and

an owner address of the vehicle as a location within the first impact region.

19. The programmable device of claim 18, wherein processing means is configured to:

assign the travel fee to the first impact region by assigning a primary rate to a primary type of property and assigning a secondary rate to a secondary type of property, the secondary rate different than the primary rate;

recognize the location by determining the location is a primary type of property; and

set the travel fee as the primary rate in response to determining the location is a primary type of property.

20. The programmable device of claim 18, wherein processing means is configured to:

define the primary type of property as a residential property use; and

define the secondary type of property as a business property use.