Electronic toll management
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computerized method comprising:
- providing a website configured to enable users to open an account with a toll management system for payment of toll fees;
electronically receiving, from a user associated with a vehicle and through the user interacting with the website, a request to open a toll payment account and a selection of a preferred toll fee payment method;
generating an account record for the user that includes the selected preferred toll fee payment method and storing the account record in a billing database;
electronically detecting, through use of a vehicle sensor, a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a toll facility, the transaction event corresponding to the vehicle traveling a particular distance defined as a distance between a starting point and an ending point on a toll road;
in response to detecting the transaction event, using a camera to capture an image of the vehicle;
electronically determining a license plate number and a state for the vehicle based on the captured image of the vehicle;
electronically selecting, based on the determined state, a state vehicle registration system from among multiple different candidate state vehicle registration systems, each candidate state vehicle registration system being a computer system of a public motor vehicle department affiliated with a state;
electronically accessing the selected state vehicle registration system;
electronically searching public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system using the license plate number as a key for searching the public motor vehicle records;
electronically identifying a public motor vehicle record as corresponding to the vehicle based on the searching of public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system;
using the identified public motor vehicle record to electronically search the billing database to identify the account record of the user associated with the vehicle;
accessing, from the account record, the preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user;
calculating a toll fee for the transaction event based on the particular distance traveled by the vehicle on the toll road; and
requesting payment of the toll fee corresponding to the transaction event from the user in accordance with the accessed preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic toll management includes capturing an image of a vehicle triggered by a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a facility, determining a vehicle identifier based on the captured image, checking whether the vehicle identifier matches a vehicle identifier provided by a party, and notifying the party of an occurrence of a match.
118 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computerized method comprising:
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providing a website configured to enable users to open an account with a toll management system for payment of toll fees; electronically receiving, from a user associated with a vehicle and through the user interacting with the website, a request to open a toll payment account and a selection of a preferred toll fee payment method; generating an account record for the user that includes the selected preferred toll fee payment method and storing the account record in a billing database; electronically detecting, through use of a vehicle sensor, a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a toll facility, the transaction event corresponding to the vehicle traveling a particular distance defined as a distance between a starting point and an ending point on a toll road; in response to detecting the transaction event, using a camera to capture an image of the vehicle; electronically determining a license plate number and a state for the vehicle based on the captured image of the vehicle; electronically selecting, based on the determined state, a state vehicle registration system from among multiple different candidate state vehicle registration systems, each candidate state vehicle registration system being a computer system of a public motor vehicle department affiliated with a state; electronically accessing the selected state vehicle registration system; electronically searching public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system using the license plate number as a key for searching the public motor vehicle records; electronically identifying a public motor vehicle record as corresponding to the vehicle based on the searching of public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system; using the identified public motor vehicle record to electronically search the billing database to identify the account record of the user associated with the vehicle; accessing, from the account record, the preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user; calculating a toll fee for the transaction event based on the particular distance traveled by the vehicle on the toll road; and requesting payment of the toll fee corresponding to the transaction event from the user in accordance with the accessed preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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5. A system comprising:
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a billing database for storing user account records; a toll facility that includes a vehicle sensor and a camera, the toll facility being configured to; electronically detect, through use of the vehicle sensor, a transaction event representing an interaction between a vehicle and the toll facility, the transaction event corresponding to the vehicle traveling a particular distance defined as a distance between a starting point and an ending point on a toll road, and in response to detecting the transaction event, using the camera to electronically capture an image of the vehicle; and a computer system configured to; provide a website configured to enable users to open an account with a toll management system for payment of toll fees; electronically receive, from a user associated with the vehicle and through the user interacting with the website, a request to open a toll payment account and a selection of a referred toll fee payment method; generate an account record for the user that includes the selected preferred toll fee payment method; store the account record in the billing database; access the captured image of the vehicle; electronically determine a license plate number and a state for the vehicle based on the captured image of the vehicle, electronically select, based on the determined state, a state vehicle registration system from among multiple different candidate state vehicle registration systems, each candidate state vehicle registration system being a computer system of a public motor vehicle department affiliated with a state, electronically access the selected state vehicle registration system, electronically search public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system using the license plate number as a key for searching the public motor vehicle records, electronically identify a public motor vehicle record as corresponding to the vehicle based on the searching of public motor vehicle records stored by the selected state vehicle registration system, use the identified public motor vehicle record to electronically search the billing database to identify the account record of the user associated with the vehicle, access, from the account record, the preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user, calculate a toll fee for the transaction event based on the particular distance traveled by the vehicle; and request payment of the toll fee corresponding to the transaction event from the user in accordance with the accessed preferred toll fee payment method selected by the user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification