EP2228773A1 - Method for managing the operation of a positioning module included in an electronic toll device, corresponding computer program product, storage means and electronic toll device - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting a position of a toll collection device in a reference geographical zone from identifiers of current cells and reference cell identifiers. A locating module is activated if the position of the toll collection device in the reference geographical zone is detected. Absolute locating information is obtained from the locating module. An entry of the toll collection device in a geographical toll zone is detected from the locating information. The locating module is deactivated if the entry of the toll collection device in the toll zone is detected. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a computer program product comprising instructions for performing a method for managing operation of a locating module in a toll collection device (2) a storage medium comprising instructions for performing a method for managing operation of a locating module in a toll collection device (3) a toll collection device comprising an initialization information obtaining unit.

Description

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of electronic fee collection systems, also called thereafter electronic toll devices. More specifically, the invention relates to electronic toll devices comprising a satellite location module (also hereinafter referred to as a GPS module) and an electronic radiocommunication module (hereinafter also referred to as a GSM module).

More specifically, the invention relates to a technique for managing the operation of a GPS module included in such devices.

The aforementioned radiocommunication module complies with a radiocommunication standard such as in particular, but not exclusively, GSM ("Global System for Mobile" in English), GPRS ("Global Packet Radio Service" in English), UMTS ( "Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service", WCDMA ("Wideband Code Division Multiple Access" in English), WiFi ("Wireless Fidelity" in English), Bluetooth standard, ...

Thus, the invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to GPS / GSM remote toll devices making it possible, for example, to detect the entry of a vehicle into an interurban environment or a road network subject to a fee (also called by the geographical toll zone) and to send to an remote billing server an information message containing information relating to the position of the vehicle.

2. Technological background

As only illustrative, the disadvantages of the prior art are presented below in the case where the electronic toll device GPS / GSM is, for example, on board a car. It is clear that these disadvantages can be transposed to any other type of means of transport.

Currently, more and more motorists are using new electronic toll services.

E-tolls play an important role in reducing risk accident, and thus to improve road safety, reduce currency transactions and reduce congestion at toll stations, particularly in the case of high traffic. It also reduces the adverse environmental effects of waiting, restarting cars and congestion, as well as the environmental impact of installing new toll stations or extending Existing toll stations.

There are two main families of electronic toll methods: electronic toll systems based on DSRC ("Dedicated Short Range Communication" technology) and electronic toll collection methods, called hybrid tolling methods, based on satellite tracking technologies ( GPS, GNSS, ...) and mobile communications (GSM, GPRS, ...).

The DSRC technology makes it possible to establish a short-range microwave link between a microwave beacon mounted on a toll barrier (also called a gantry afterwards) and an on-board badge on the vehicle. In a conventional manner, when the vehicle crosses the gantry, the microwave beacon triggers the activation of the badge on the vehicle, by means of microwaves at short range (that is to say frequencies close to 5.8 GHz), to count the mileage traveled, before transmission of data to a central server responsible for billing.

The major disadvantage of the aforementioned DSRC electronic toll system lies in the fact that it requires the installation of gantries equipped with microwave beacons. Thus, the costs of implementing such a system are high.

The hybrid GPS / GSM technology solves the problem mentioned above. Indeed, it proposes to replace the physical porticoes by virtual porticos. In a conventional manner, this GPS / GSM technique implements an electronic toll device comprising a GPS module and a GSM module on board the vehicle. GPS and GSM modules are activated when the vehicle is started. The GPS module makes it possible to locate the vehicle on the network of royalty-priced networks and to detect the crossing of virtual gantries (corresponding to charging points on the map). The electronic toll device calculates the mileage traveled on the axes of the networks concerned and therefore the corresponding toll, and then uses the GSM module to transmit this data to a remote billing server.

The major disadvantage of the aforementioned GPS / GSM electronic toll device lies in the fact that the GPS module is permanently on. Thus, the power consumption of such a device is not optimal. This second known technique therefore does not favor the use of small size battery and low power.

3. Objectives of the invention

The invention, in at least one embodiment, is intended in particular to overcome these various disadvantages of the state of the art.

More specifically, one of the objectives of the present invention, in at least one embodiment, is to provide a compact GPS / GSM electronic toll device with low power consumption.

Another objective of the invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is to provide a technique for managing the operation of a satellite location module included in the electronic toll device that makes it possible to use a small battery. size and low power to power the electronic toll device.

A complementary objective of the invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is to provide such a technique that allows to establish an accurate billing.

At least one embodiment of the invention also aims to provide such a technique that is compatible with all existing satellite and radio localization modules.

The invention also aims, in at least one embodiment, to provide such a technique that is simple to implement and inexpensive.

4. Presentation of the invention

In a particular embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of managing the operation of a location module included in an electronic toll device, said electronic toll device further comprising a radio communication module allowing the reception of transmission carriers. radiocommunication, each carrier being associated with a cell of a radio communication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells, and being defined by a frequency and an identifier of said cell.

• obtention, avec le module de radiocommunication, d'informations d'initialisation comprenant une première liste prédéterminée de N1 premiers identifiants de cellule de référence, avec N1≥1 ;
  pour au moins une position géographique courante du dispositif de télépéage :

• détermination d'au moins un identifiant de cellule courant à partir d'au moins une porteuse détectée par le module de radiocommunication dans ladite position géographique courante du dispositif de télépéage ;
• détection d'un positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans une première zone géographique de référence, à partir du ou des identifiants de cellule courants et du ou des premiers identifiants de cellule de référence ;
• en cas de détection positive de positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans ladite première zone géographique de référence, activation du module de localisation ;
• obtention, avec le module de localisation, d'au moins une première information de localisation absolue ;
• détection d'une entrée du dispositif de télépéage dans une zone géographique de péage, à partir de ladite au moins une première information de localisation absolue ;
• en cas de détection positive d'entrée du dispositif de télépéage dans ladite zone géographique de péage, désactivation du module de localisation.

According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

• obtaining, with the radiocommunication module, initialization information comprising a first predetermined list of N1 first reference cell identifiers, with N1≥1;
  for at least one current geographical position of the electronic toll device:

• determining at least one current cell identifier from at least one carrier detected by the radiocommunication module in said current geographical position of the electronic toll device;
• detecting a positioning of said electronic toll device in a first reference geographical area, from the current cell identifier (s) and the first reference cell identifier (s);
• in case of positive detection of positioning of said electronic toll device in said first reference geographical zone, activation of the location module;
• obtaining, with the location module, at least one first absolute location information;
• detecting an entry of the electronic toll device in a geographic toll zone, from said at least one first absolute location information;
• in the event of positive detection of entry of the electronic toll device into said toll area, deactivation of the location module.

Thus, the invention is based on a completely new and inventive approach to the activation and deactivation of a satellite location module (GPS for example) included in a GPS / GSM remote toll device. Indeed, the activation of the location module is conditioned by the detection of a positioning of the electronic toll device in a first geographic reference zone and the deactivation of the location module is conditioned by the detection of an entry of the electronic toll device. in a toll zone. Unlike conventional GPS / GSM remote toll methods, the invention makes it possible to reduce the electrical consumption associated with the location module, since this is not more permanently lit. The invention thus provides for activating the location module a little before the entry of the electronic toll device into the geographic toll zone and deactivating it just after the electronic toll device has passed said entry.

The present invention covers a first case in which the positioning detection of the electronic toll device in the first reference geographical area is done by searching a first list of cell identifiers (called first reference identifiers) of a single identifier. of current cell. Thus, the geographical position of the electronic toll device is determined from signals (BCCH ("Broadcast Control Channel") carrier (also called radiocommunication bearer) sent by a single base station. In this first case, a positioning of the electronic toll device is detected in a given geographical cell.

The present invention covers a second case in which the positioning detection of the electronic toll device in the first reference geographical area is done by searching a first list of cell identifiers (called first reference identifiers) of several cell identifiers. currents. Thus, the geographic position of the electronic toll device is determined from signals (BCCH carriers) sent by several base stations. This second case has the advantage of detecting the positioning of the electronic toll device with a better accuracy, since it is possible to cross the signals of several base stations. Indeed, it is possible to consider, for example, the implementation by the electronic toll device of a simple triangulation algorithm.

In a first particular embodiment of the invention, the electronic toll device carries out said step of detecting the entry of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone. According to the invention, in the event of positive detection of entry of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone, the radiocommunication module performs a step of transmitting a toll start message.

Thus, this first embodiment has the advantage of rapidly detecting the entry of the electronic toll device into the geographic toll zone, and therefore to quickly order the deactivation of the location module.

The toll initiation message according to the invention may, for example, be transmitted to equipment responsible for billing.

• ledit dispositif de télépéage envoie à un serveur distant un message de localisation comprenant ladite au moins une première information de localisation absolue et un identifiant associé audit dispositif de télépéage.

In a second particular embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following step:

• said electronic toll device sends to a remote server a location message comprising said at least one first absolute location information and an identifier associated with said electronic toll device.

• transmission vers ledit dispositif de télépéage d'un premier message de désactivation du module de localisation ;
• génération d'un signal de début de péage.

According to the invention, the step of detecting the entry of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone is carried out by said remote server, and in the event of positive entry detection of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone, said remote server performs the following steps:

• transmitting to said electronic toll device a first deactivation message of the location module;
• generating a toll start signal.

Thus, this second embodiment has the advantage of simplifying the electronic toll device because the decision intelligence of the deactivation of the location and triggering module of the billing is remote on the server side.

The start of toll signal according to the invention makes it possible, for example, to activate an internal billing module to the server.

• détection d'un positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans une deuxième zone géographique de référence, à partir du ou des identifiants de cellule courants et du ou des deuxièmes identifiants de cellule de référence ;
• en cas de détection positive de positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans ladite deuxième zone géographique de référence, activation du module de localisation ;
• obtention, avec le module de localisation, d'au moins une deuxième information de localisation absolue ;
• détection d'une sortie du dispositif de télépéage de ladite zone géographique de péage, à partir de ladite au moins une deuxième information de localisation absolue ;
• en cas de détection positive de sortie du dispositif de télépéage de ladite zone géographique de péage, désactivation du module de localisation.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, said initialization information further comprises a second predetermined list of N2 second reference cell identifiers, with N2≥1. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

• detecting a positioning of said electronic toll device in a second reference geographical area, from the current cell identifier (s) and the second reference cell identifier (s);
• in the event of positive detection of positioning of said electronic toll device in said second geographic reference zone, activation of the location module;
• obtaining, with the location module, at least one second absolute location information;
• detecting an output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, from said at least one second absolute location information;
• in the event of positive detection of output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, deactivation of the location module.

Unlike conventional GPS / GSM remote toll methods, the invention makes it possible to reduce the power consumption associated with the location module, since it is no longer lit continuously. Indeed, the invention provides for activating the location module a little before the output of the electronic toll device of the geographic toll zone and deactivate it just after the electronic toll device has passed said output.

In a first particular embodiment of the invention, the electronic toll device performs said output detection step of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone. According to the invention, in the event of positive detection of the output of the electronic toll device of the said geographic toll zone, the radiocommunication module carries out a step of transmission of a toll message.

Thus, this first embodiment has the advantage of quickly detecting the output of the electronic toll device of the geographic toll zone, and therefore to quickly control the deactivation of the location module.

• ledit dispositif de télépéage envoie audit serveur distant un message de localisation comprenant ladite au moins une deuxième information de localisation absolue et ledit identifiant associé audit dispositif de télépéage.

In a second particular embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following step:

• said electronic toll device sends to said remote server a location message comprising said at least one second absolute location information and said identifier associated with said electronic toll device.

• transmission vers ledit dispositif de télépéage d'un deuxième message de désactivation du module de localisation ;
• génération d'un signal de fin de péage.

According to the invention, the output detection step of the electronic tolling device of said geographic toll zone is carried out by said remote server, and in the event of positive detection of the output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, said server remote performs the following steps:

• transmitting to said electronic toll device a second deactivation message of the location module;
• generation of a toll end signal.

Thus, this second embodiment has the advantage of simplifying the electronic toll device because the decision intelligence of the deactivation of the location and stop module of the billing is remote on the server side.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the step of obtaining said initialization information comprises a step of reading said initialization information in a storage means included in the electronic toll device.

• ledit module de radiocommunication reçoit lesdites informations d'initialisation en provenance d'au moins un équipement source.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the step of obtaining said initialization information comprises the following step:

• said radiocommunication module receives said initialization information from at least one source equipment.

According to the invention, the initialization information can be received via a wire connection (for example, the electronic toll device can be connected to a terminal comprising the initialization information by means of a USB cable) or wirelessly ( for example, the electronic toll device can receive an SMS (for "Short Message Service" in English) including the initialization information).

Preferably, each source equipment is a spy device. The first N1 reference cell identifiers are determined from at least some of the carriers received by a first spy device placed in the vicinity of said first reference geographical area. The second N2 reference cell identifiers are determined from at least some of the carriers received by a second spy device placed in the vicinity of said second geographic reference area.

By spy device is meant a radiocommunication device placed in a predetermined geographical area and configured to receive radiocommunication carriers and transmit them and / or the identifiers of the cells associated with said radiocommunication carriers to radio communication modules.

Advantageously, said at least one source equipment is a server storing said initialization information.

Advantageously, said server receives said initialization information from one or more spy devices.

The present invention covers a first case in which the server and the spy device are included in the same equipment.

The present invention covers a second case in which the server and the spy device are included in two separate devices.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a processor, said computer program product comprising instructions program code for implementing the above management method, when said program is executed on a computer.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a storage medium, possibly totally or partially removable, readable by a computer, storing a set of instructions executable by said computer to implement the aforementioned management method.

The invention also relates to an electronic toll device comprising a locating module and a radio communication module allowing the reception of radiocommunication carriers, each carrier being associated with a cell of a radio communication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells, and being defined by a frequency and an identifier of said cell.

• des moyens d'obtention d'informations d'initialisation comprenant une première liste prédéterminée de N1 premiers identifiants de cellule de référence, avec N1≥1 ;
• des moyens de détermination d'au moins un identifiant de cellule courant à partir d'au moins une porteuse détectée par le module de radiocommunication dans au moins une position géographique courante du dispositif de télépéage ;
• des premiers moyens de détection d'un positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans une première zone géographique de référence, à partir du ou des identifiants de cellule courants et du ou des premiers identifiants de cellule de référence ;
• des moyens d'activation permettant d'activer le module de localisation si lesdits premiers moyens de détection détectent ledit positionnement dudit dispositif de télépéage dans ladite première zone géographique de référence ;
• des moyens d'obtention d'au moins une première information de localisation absolue ;
• des seconds moyens de détection d'une entrée du dispositif de télépéage dans une zone géographique de péage, à partir de ladite au moins une première information de localisation absolue ;
• des moyens de désactivation permettant de désactiver le module de localisation si lesdits seconds moyens de détection détectent ladite entrée du dispositif de télépéage dans ladite zone géographique de péage.

According to the invention, the electronic toll device comprises:

• means for obtaining initialization information comprising a first predetermined list of N1 first reference cell identifiers, with N1≥1;
• means for determining at least one current cell identifier from at least one carrier detected by the module of radiocommunication in at least one current geographical position of the electronic toll device;
• first means for detecting a positioning of said electronic toll device in a first reference geographical area, from the current cell identifier (s) and the first reference cell identifier (s);
• activation means for activating the location module if said first detection means detect said positioning of said electronic toll device in said first reference geographical area;
• means for obtaining at least a first absolute location information;
• second means for detecting an entry of the electronic toll device in a geographic toll area, from said at least one first absolute location information;
• deactivation means for deactivating the location module if said second detection means detect said input of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone.

5. List of figures

• la figure 1 présente le schéma simplifié d'un dispositif de télépéage selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une zone géographique de référence et une zone géographique de péage selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 représente un organigramme illustrant un mode de réalisation particulier du procédé selon l'invention, dans le cas où les informations d'initialisation sont stockées dans une mémoire interne au dispositif de télépéage de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 4 présente la structure simplifiée d'un mode de réalisation particulier d'un module de radiocommunication selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 presents the simplified diagram of an electronic toll device according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 represents a geographical reference area and a geographic toll area according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 represents a flowchart illustrating a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention, in the case where the initialization information is stored in a memory internal to the device of electronic toll collection figure 1 ; and
• the figure 4 presents the simplified structure of a particular embodiment of a radiocommunication module according to the invention.

6. Detailed description

The general principle of the invention is based on a GSM localization technique, aimed at providing a first location information, used to activate a satellite location module (GPS for example) included in an electronic toll device, and on a technique of satellite location, for providing a second location information, used to disable the satellite location module.

• le module de localisation est activé lorsque le dispositif de télépéage s'apprête à entrer ou sortir d'une zone de péage déterminée;
• le module de localisation est désactivé dès que le dispositif de télépéage franchi un portique virtuel d'entrée ou de sortie d'une zone de péage déterminée.

As already indicated, the invention proposes to reduce the resources used by the location module, by controlling its activation and deactivation periods as follows:

• the locating module is activated when the electronic toll device is about to enter or leave a given toll zone;
• the locating module is deactivated as soon as the electronic toll device crosses a virtual gantry entry or exit of a determined toll zone.

The management method according to the invention is implemented either in a radiocommunication module included in the aforementioned electronic toll device, or in a dedicated processing module included in the aforementioned electronic toll device.

It is also possible to envisage that the aforementioned electronic toll device cooperates with a remote server implementing one or more steps of the management method according to the invention.

For the sake of simplification of the description, reference will be made throughout the rest of this document to describing the particular case where the management method of the invention is implemented in a radiocommunication module allowing the reception of GSM carriers and cooperating with a GPS location module. Of course, the invention applies to any other type of satellite location and to any other type of carrier, in particular, but not exclusively, to carriers transmitted by specific antennas (in the WiFi standard, etc.).

In the rest of this document, it is assumed that the initialization information of the invention is stored in a memory included in the electronic toll device.

We now describe in relation to the figure 1 an electronic toll device 100 according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

• des moyens d'obtention d'informations d'initialisation 111 spécifiques à l'invention ;
• des moyens de détermination 112 d'identifiants de cellule spécifiques à l'invention ;
• des moyens de détection de positionnement 113 spécifiques à l'invention ; et
• des moyens de détection d'entrée/sortie 114 de zone de péage spécifiques à l'invention.

In this embodiment, the remote toll device 100 according to the invention comprises a GSM radiocommunication module 11 specific to the invention itself comprising:

• means for obtaining initialization information 111 specific to the invention;
• means 112 for determining cell identifiers specific to the invention;
• positioning detection means 113 specific to the invention; and
• toll zone entry / exit detection means 114 specific to the invention.

The electronic toll device 100 according to the invention further comprises a conventional GPS location module 12.

In more detail, at startup (referenced "instant t0" on the figure 1 ) of the electronic toll device 100, the GSM radio communication module 11 is activated and the GPS location module 12 is placed in a rest mode. At time t0, the GSM radio communication module 11 links initialization information stored in the memory 13.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the initialization information comes, for example, from a spy device placed in a reference geographical area where it is desired to monitor (ie a zone in which it is desired, for example, to detect or not the presence of the electronic toll device). The spy device is a radio communication device comprising means for detecting radio communication carriers and means for determining a cell identifier from each detected carrier. It is important to note that the initialization information includes a list of reference cell identifiers including all or part of cell identifiers determined by the spy device. The initialization information sent (for example, via a WiFi link and following a determined transmission cycle (for example every day from 8am to 5pm)) by the spy device is received by the GSM radio communication module 11 (for example, via the antenna 14), then stored in the memory 13.

In the illustrated embodiment, the initialization information 131 comprises a list of 2 ID1 and ID4 reference cell identifiers.

At a time t0 + 1, the electronic toll device 100 (which is for example on board a truck) is in a current geographical position. In this current position, the GSM radiocommunication module 11 receives current GSM carriers (also called BCCH tags in the GSM terminology) P1, P3 and P5 via the antenna 14. At the same time t0 + 1, the current carriers P1, P3 and P5 are transmitted to the determination means 112.

Each carrier is associated with a cell of a radio network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells. Each carrier carries a plurality of information messages (also hereinafter referred to as system information messages) on the rules of access to the current cell and the neighboring cells (minimum and maximum power level, location area number, etc.). These system information messages are 8 in number and are generally denoted SYS_INFO 1 to SYS_INFO 8. These system information messages are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore not described in detail. However, it is recalled that, among the system information messages carried by the carrier, the system information message SYS_INFO 3 includes the identifier of the CID cell (for "Cell Identity" in English) associated with the carrier.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the determination means 112 only binds and decodes the system information message SYS_INFO 3 of each of the current carriers P1, P3 and P5, so as to obtain the cell identifier associated with the current carrier, subsequently called current cell identifier.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the determination means 112 can determine the current cell identifiers by implementing the conventional cell identification technique, called Cell-ID. This Cell-ID technique is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore not described in detail.

So, as illustrated on the figure 1 the determination means 112 receive as input three current carriers P1, P3 and P5 and output three current cell identifiers ID1, ID3 and ID5. The current cell identifiers are then transmitted to the positioning detecting means 113.

At a time t0 + 2, the positioning detecting means 113 receives the current cell identifiers ID1, ID3 and ID5 and checks whether at least one of these current cell identifiers is part of the stored reference cell identifier list. in the memory 13.

In the case of a negative verification, this means that the vehicle on which the electronic toll device 100 is embarked is not located in a predetermined reference geographical zone. Consequently, the positioning detection means 113 do not deliver any activation signal to the GPS location module 12. In other words, the GPS location module 12 remains in the idle mode.

On the other hand, and as illustrated on the figure 2 in the case of a positive verification, this means that the vehicle 300 on which the electronic tolling device is embarked is situated in a predetermined reference geographic zone 400. Consequently, the positioning detection means 113 deliver an activation signal S1 to the GPS location module 12.

In this case, the positioning detection means 113 detect that the vehicle 300 is located in the geographic cell associated with the current cell identifier ID1.

At a time t0 + 3, the GPS location module 12 is activated by the activation signal S1.

At a time t0 + 4, the GPS location module 12, which is in an active mode, obtains via an antenna 15 an absolute location information INFO_SAT, then transmits it to the input / output detection means 114 of the toll zone .

At a time t0 + 5, the input / output detection means 114 analyze the absolute localization information INFO_SAT in order to detect an entry or exit of the vehicle 300 from a predetermined toll geographical area 500 (corresponding, for example, to a motorway network subject to a fee).

If the input / output detection means 114 detect that the vehicle 300 enters the geographic toll zone 500, then they deliver a deactivation signal S2 to the GPS location module 12 (the location module thus switches from the active mode to idle mode) and indicate to the GSM radio module 11 that the vehicle 300 has entered the toll zone 500. Accordingly, the GSM radio module 11 transmits (via the antenna 14) a message of start of toll M1 to a server 200 responsible for calculating the price of the toll to pay.

The toll initiation message M1 according to the invention comprises the absolute location information INFO_SAT and a unique identifier associated with the electronic toll device 100.

On the other hand, if the input / output detection means 114 detect that the vehicle 300 leaves the toll geographic area 500, then they deliver a deactivation signal S2 to the GPS location module 12 (the location module thus switches active mode in the idle mode) and indicate to the GSM radiocommunication module 11 that the vehicle 300 has left the geographic toll area 500. Consequently, the GSM radiocommunication module 11 transmits (via the antenna 14) an end message of M2 toll to a server 200 responsible for calculating the price of the toll to pay.

The end-of-toll message M2 according to the invention comprises the absolute location information INFO_SAT and the unique identifier associated with the electronic toll device 100.

We now present, in relation with the figure 3 , a flowchart illustrating a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention, in the case where the initialization information is stored in a memory internal to the electronic toll device.

In a first step E10, the GSM radiocommunication module 11, included in the electronic toll device 100, obtains initialization information. Specifically, the obtaining means 111 binds the initialization information stored in the memory 13. In a particular embodiment, the initialization information comprises a predetermined list of N1 reference cell identifiers, with N1≥1.

During a step E20, the GSM module 11, which is placed in a current geographical position, receives carriers for example from a terrestrial public network of a mobile operator (for example the GSM network of the operator SFR ).

In a step E30, the determination means 112 receive the carriers received in step E20, hereinafter called current carriers. For each of the current carriers, the determination means binds and decodes the system information message SYS_INFO 3 conveyed by the current carrier, so as to obtain the cell identifier associated with the current carrier. At the end of this step E30, the determining means 112 transmit the current cell identifiers to the positioning detection means 113.

In a step E40, the positioning detecting means 113 receives the current cell identifiers and verifies whether at least one of the current cell identifiers is part of the reference cell identifier list obtained in step E10.

If no current cell identifier is included in the list of reference cell identifiers, then this means that the vehicle on which the electronic toll device is embarked is not located in a predetermined reference geographical area and it returns in step E20.

On the other hand, if one or more current cell identifiers are included in the list of reference cell identifiers, then this means that the vehicle on which the electronic toll device is loaded is located in a predetermined reference geographical area and passes in a step E50.

During step E50, the GPS location module 12 included in the electronic toll device 100 is activated.

During a step E60, the GPS module 12 obtains an absolute location information and then transmits it to the input / output detection 114 toll zone detection means.

During a step E70, the input / output detection means 114 receive the absolute location information and detect, from it, an input or an output of the electronic toll device of a geographic toll zone .

If an entry is detected, then the GPS location module 12 is deactivated and the billing is started. Then we return to step E20.

If an output is detected, then the GPS location module 12 is deactivated and the billing is stopped. Then we return to step E20.

The figure 4 schematically shows the structure of a radio communication module 1000 according to a particular embodiment of the invention, which comprises a memory 2000, and a processing unit 3000 equipped with a microprocessor μP, which is controlled by a program of computer (or application) 4000 implementing certain steps of the method according to the invention described in figures 1 and 3 . The processing unit 3000 receives as input initialization information 5000 and current carriers 6000. The microprocessor μP processes this initialization information and these current carriers, according to the instructions of the program 4000, to obtain an activation signal 7000 or a deactivation signal 8000 of a satellite location module included in an electronic toll device.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to a limited number of embodiments, the skilled person, upon reading the present description, will understand that other embodiments can be imagined without departing from the present invention. of the present invention.

In particular, the obtaining of the initialization information may consist, for example, for the radiocommunication module, to connect daily to a remote server via a GPRS type radio communication link.

Moreover, the toll zone entry / exit detection mechanism can be implemented by a remote server. Thus, when the location module is in the active mode, the electronic toll device sends the remote server a message of localization comprising the absolute location information INFO_SAT and the unique identifier associated with the electronic toll device. The remote server analyzes the absolute location information INFO_SAT in order to detect an entry or an exit of the electronic toll device from a predetermined toll geographical zone.

If the remote server detects that the electronic toll device enters the geographic toll zone, then it transmits to the electronic toll device a deactivation message of the location module and generates a toll start signal.

On the other hand, if the remote server detects that the electronic toll device is leaving the geographic toll zone, then it transmits to the electronic toll device a deactivation message of the location module and generates a toll end signal.

Claims (14)

A method of managing the operation of a locating module (12) included in an electronic toll device (100), said electronic toll device further comprising a radio communication module (11) for receiving radiocommunication carriers (P1, P3, P5), each carrier being associated with a cell of a radiocommunication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells, and being defined by a frequency and an identifier of said cell,
characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: obtaining (E10), with the radiocommunication module, initialization information comprising a first predetermined list of N1 first reference cell identifiers, with N1≥1;
for at least one current geographical position of the electronic toll device: determination (E30) of at least one current cell identifier from at least one carrier detected by the radiocommunication module in said current geographic position of the electronic toll device; detecting (E40) a positioning of said electronic toll device in a first reference geographical area, starting from the current cell identifier (s) and the first reference cell identifier (s); in case of positive detection of positioning of said electronic toll device in said first geographical reference zone, activation (E50) of the location module; obtaining (E60), with the location module, at least one first absolute location information; detecting (E70) an entry of the electronic toll device in a geographic toll zone, based on said at least one first absolute location information; - In the event of positive detection of entry of the electronic toll device into said toll area, deactivation of the location module. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic tolling device performs said step of detecting the entry of the electronic toll device into said geographic toll zone,
and in that , in the event of positive detection of the entry of the electronic toll device into the said geographic toll zone, the radiocommunication module performs a step of transmitting a toll initiation message. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said method comprises the following step: said electronic toll device sends a remote server a location message comprising said at least one first absolute location information and an identifier associated with said electronic toll device;
in that said step of detecting the entry of the electronic toll device into said geographic toll zone is carried out by said remote server,
and in that , in the event of positive entry detection of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone, said remote server performs the following steps: transmission to said electronic toll device of a first deactivation message of the location module; - generation of a toll start signal. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said initialization information further comprises a second predetermined list of N2 second reference cell identifiers, with N2≥1,
and in that the method comprises the following steps: detecting a positioning of said electronic toll device in a second reference geographical area, based on the current cell identifier (s) and the second reference cell identifier (s); in case of positive detection of positioning of said electronic toll device in said second reference geographical zone, activation of the location module; obtaining, with the location module, at least one second absolute location information; - Detecting an output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, from said at least one second absolute location information; - In the event of positive detection of the output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, deactivation of the location module. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said electronic toll device performs said output detection step of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone,
and in that , in the event of positive detection of the output of the electronic toll device of the said geographic toll zone, the radiocommunication module carries out a step of transmission of a toll message. Process according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said process comprises the following step: said electronic toll device sends to said remote server a location message comprising said at least one second absolute location information and said identifier associated with said electronic toll device;
in that said step of detecting the output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone is carried out by said remote server,
and in that , in the event of positive detection of the output of the electronic toll device of said geographic toll zone, said remote server performs the following steps: transmission to said electronic toll device of a second deactivation message of the location module; - generation of a toll end signal. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said step of obtaining said initialization information comprises a step of reading said initialization information in a storage means included in the electronic toll device. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said step of obtaining said initialization information comprises the following step: said radiocommunication module receives said initialization information from at least one source equipment. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that each source equipment is a spy device,
said first N1 reference cell identifiers being determined from at least some of the carriers received by a first spy device placed in the vicinity of said first reference geographical area, and
said second N2 second reference cell identifiers being determined from at least some of the carriers received by a second spy device placed in the vicinity of said second reference geographical area. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one source equipment is a server storing said initialization information. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said server receives said initialization information from one or more spy devices. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable and / or executable medium by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, when said program is run on a computer. A computer readable storage medium, possibly totally or partially removable, storing a computer program comprising a set of instructions executable by a computer to implement the management method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11. Electronic toll device comprising a location module (GPS) and a radio communication module (GSM) for receiving radiocommunication carriers, each carrier being associated with a cell of a radio communication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells, and being defined by a frequency and an identifier of said cell,
characterized in that said electronic toll device comprises: means for obtaining initialization information comprising a first predetermined list of N1 first reference cell identifiers, with N1≥1; means for determining at least one current cell identifier from at least one carrier detected by the radiocommunication module in at least one current geographical position of the electronic toll device; first means for detecting a positioning of said electronic toll device in a first reference geographical area, based on the current cell identifier (s) and the first reference cell identifier (s); activation means for activating the location module if said first detection means detect said positioning of said electronic toll device in said first reference geographical area; means for obtaining at least a first absolute location information; second means for detecting an entry of the electronic toll device in a geographic toll zone, based on said at least one first absolute location information; deactivation means making it possible to deactivate the location module if said second detection means detect said input of the electronic toll device in said geographic toll zone.

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