MULTIPLE RF READ ZONE SYSTEM

• US 20100274641A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transcore LP (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Talley, Malcolm, ALLEN, JIM, Harinath, Shyamnath, Banna, Balaraju, Sun, Fajie
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A multizone RF read/write system for conducting transactions with vehicles traveling at high speeds. A first RF read zone is created, preferably by use of a first gantry that extends over at least one lane and contains at least one RF source that creates a large powerful RF read zone for reading or reading and writing to a transponder on a passing vehicle. Additional RF read zones arranged in tandem with the first RF read zone are created by at least one additional RF source that is located on an additional gantry extending over at least one lane, or located on the first gantry. Accordingly, multiple RF read zones are created to conduct transactions with passing vehicles. In one aspect, the multiple RF read zones can be used to ensure that tolling transactions with a single vehicle are more likely to be completed and have a higher degree of accuracy. In another aspect, the multiple RF read zones each employ a different RF technology so that multiple types of RF toll tags can be read and written.

Claims

1. A system configured to conduct transactions with vehicles traveling on a road, comprising:

a first RF source configured to communicate with RF transponders in a first area on a road;

a second RF source configured to communicate with RF transponders in a second area on the road, wherein the first area is different from the second area; and

one or more processors operatively coupled to the first RF source and the second RF source, and configured to complete a tolling transaction with an RF transponder carried by a vehicle, wherein completing the tolling transaction comprises completing a set of communications with the RF transponder, and wherein the processor is configured to complete the tolling transaction by;

attempting to complete the set of communications with the RF transponder via the first RF source, and

responsive to failure to complete set of communications with the RF transponder via the first RF source, conducting at least a portion of the set of communication with the RF transponder via the second RF source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second area includes a same lane of traffic as the first area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second area includes a lane of traffic that is not included in the first area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of communications comprise read and/or write communications with the RF transponder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein set of communications comprise one or more of:

receiving, from the RF transponder, a balance associated with the RF transponder;

transmitting to the RF transponder, an updated balance that reflects payment of a toll; and

receiving, from the RF transponder, confirmation that the updated balance has been received and is being implemented in the RF transponder as the current balance.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first gantry over the road, wherein one or both of the first RF source and/or the second RF source are mounted on the first gantry.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

an intelligent vehicle identification system configured to obtain vehicle classification information associated with vehicles traveling on the road;

an RF tracking unit configured to obtain tracking information related to vehicles traveling on the road;

a vision tracking unit configured to obtain tracking information related to vehicles traveling on the road;

or

one or more lane straddling sensors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein vehicle classification information includes one or more of speed, number of axles, or axle spacing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured such that the conducting of the at least a portion of the set of communications with the RF transponder via the second RF source does not duplicate all of the communications with the RF transponder accomplished via the first RF source.

10. A method for conducting a tolling transaction with an RF transponder carried by a vehicle traveling on a road, wherein the tolling transaction comprises a set of communications with the RF transponder, the method comprising:

attempting to complete the set of communications with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within a first area on the road; and

responsive to the set of communications being initiated with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within the first area on the road, and responsive failure to complete the initiated set of communications with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within the first area on the road, conducting at least a portion of the set of communications with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within a second area on the road, wherein the second area on the road is different than the first area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein attempting to complete the set of communications with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within the first area of the road comprises attempting to complete the set of communications with the RF transponder via a first RF source configured to communicate with RF transponders within the first area on the road, and

wherein conducting at least a portion of the set of communications with the RF transponder while the vehicle is traveling within the second area on the road comprises conducing at least a portion of the set of communications with the RF transponder via a second RF source that is different from the first RF source and is configured to communicate with RF transponders within the second area on the road.

initiating a transaction with a transponder associated with the vehicle while the vehicle passes through a first RF read zone of the toll road;

providing a second RF read zone of the toll road in proximity to the first RF read zone; and

completing the transaction with the transponder associated with the vehicle before the vehicle passes out of a region containing the first and second RF read zones.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein set of communication comprise one or more of:

receiving, from the RF transponder, a balance associated with the RF transponder;

transmitting to the RF transponder, an updated balance that reflects payment of a toll; and

receiving, from the RF transponder, confirmation that the updated balance has been received and is being implemented in the RF transponder as the current balance.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second area includes a same lane of traffic as the first area.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second area includes a lane of traffic that is not included in the first area.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of communications comprise read and/or write communications with the RF transponder.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising obtaining vehicle classification information associated with vehicles traveling on the road.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein vehicle classification information includes one or more of speed, number of axles, or axle spacing.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a license plate identifier being carried by the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining, based on the license plate identifier being carried by the vehicle, whether the vehicle is authorized to pay a toll with the RF transponder.