APPLICATION, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR TOLL COLLECTION

• US 20180061143A1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Nelson
• Original Assignee: Anthony Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,311,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Applications, devices and systems for toll collection are disclosed herein. An example system includes a mobile computing device that generates location based information of the mobile computing device, queries a database of toll booths defined by toll booth location, determines that the location based information of the mobile computing device matches at least one of the toll booth locations, and transmits to a gateway server location based information and identifying information that identifies a vehicle. The toll is processed using the received information.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device that;

generates location based information of the mobile computing device;

queries a database of toll booths defined by toll booth locations;

determines that the location based information of the mobile computing device matches at least one of the toll booth locations; and

transmits to a gateway server location based information and identifying information that identifies a vehicle; and

wherein the gateway server;

receives the location based information and the identifying information; and

requests payment of a toll by charging an account associated with the identifying information, the toll being based on the location based information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location based information is generated by a map application that executes on the mobile computing device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the account is maintained in a database accessible to the gateway server.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein identifying information for the mobile computing device and the identifying information for the vehicle are stored in the account.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the account further comprises stored payment information for an account user.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor module associated with the toll booth, the sensor module being configured to transmit a token comprising identifying information for the toll booth to the mobile computing device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the gateway server receives the token along with the location based information and the identifying information from the mobile computing device.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor module is further configured to capture an image of a license plate of the vehicle, further wherein the gateway server matches the license plate of the vehicle with the identifying information in the payment request.

9. A method, comprising:

generating location based information of a mobile computing device;

querying a database of toll booths defined by toll booth locations;

determining that the location based information of the mobile computing device matches at least one of the toll booth locations;

transmitting to a gateway server the location based information and identifying information that identifies a vehicle; and

receiving confirmation that a toll has been paid from an account associated with the identifying information, wherein payment for the toll is based on the location based information and the identifying information.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising bringing the mobile computing device into proximity with the at least one of the toll booth locations.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising communicatively coupling the mobile computing device with a gateway server over a long-range or short-range wireless link that generates the confirmation.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein identifying information for the mobile computing device and the identifying information for the vehicle are stored in the account.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the account further comprises stored payment information for an account user.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein transmitting the location based information and identifying information that identifies the vehicle occurs when the vehicle is passing through the at least one of the toll booth locations.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising selectively adjusting the toll based on any of a time of day, day of a week, and traffic volume.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving a token from a wireless module associated with the toll booth, the token comprising identifying information for the toll booth.

17. The method according to claim 9, further comprising capturing an image of a license plate of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising matching the license plate of the vehicle with the identifying information in the payment request.

19. A system, consisting of:

a mobile computing device that;

generates location based information of the Mobile computing device;

queries a database of toll booths defined by toll booth locations;

determines that the location based information of the mobile computing device matches at least one of the toll booth locations; and

transmitting to a gateway server location based information and identifying information that identifies a vehicle; and

wherein the gateway server;

receives the location based information and the identifying information; and

requests payment of a toll by charging an account associated with the identifying information, the toll being based on the location based information.