EP1866872A1

EP1866872A1 - Method and device for automatic route registration

Info

Publication number: EP1866872A1
Application number: EP06722678A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nils Mathner
Original assignee: T Mobile International AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Priority date: 2005-04-05
Filing date: 2006-03-22
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: DE102005015693A1; US20090043498A1; WO2006105754A1; US7996149B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for automatic route registration, especially for use in a toll system. The invention also relates to a route analysis device, especially for use in a device for automatic route registration. The aim of the invention is to provide road users with inexpensive onboard units for vehicles and to facilitate registration especially for toll routes. For this purpose, a planned route can be automatically registered in a central device without the client having to do something. An automatic registration of routes is carried out especially when a new route has to be determined once a vehicle has left the originally planned route.

Description

Method and device for automated route booking

The invention relates to a method and a device for automated Fahrstreckeneinbuchung, in particular for toll collection. The invention further relates to a route analysis device, which is particularly suitable for use in an apparatus for automated route booking.

In order to be able to charge road users for the costs of maintaining and expanding motorway networks in a fairer way, road pricing systems, also known as tolls, are used. Two types are distinguished here, namely systems for general and route-dependent toll collection.

Essentially, three methods for route-dependent toll collection are known.

In the first application, a toll collection system is used which is based on short distance communication with the aid of so-called beacon systems. Such beacon systems are characterized in that a microwave transmitter is implemented in a vehicle. At the toll road sections corresponding microwave antennas are attached, the passing vehicles, which are equipped with a microwave transmitter, detect and report to a central office to calculate the tolls incurred can. In the second application, the toll collection system is based on complex onboard systems. On-board systems include onboard units (OBU) installed in vehicles. The on-board units evaluate up-to-date location information, which is acquired, for example, by means of a GPS navigation system. With the aid of stored map data, the onboard unit calculates the distance traveled and determines from this the passable toll sections which are then sent to a central station. A disadvantage of such

Onboard systems can be seen in the fact that the onboard units installed in vehicles are technically complex and therefore expensive devices. In addition, the map data stored in on-board units must be constantly updated as the road geometries change.

In the case of a third toll collection system, the planned route must be checked in manually via the Internet or by means of stationary terminals before departure. This will usually be data on the

Start of journey, truck data, start time, destination manually entered by the freight forwarder via the Internet or by the drivers themselves at stationary terminals. Based on the entered data, the route is determined and the resulting toll is calculated. If the planned route is entered at a stationary terminal, the driver must pay the calculated toll immediately in cash or otherwise.

Toll collection systems that require manual route booking have the disadvantage that, as soon as the driver leaves the booked route, either the Internet has to be booked in via the new route or, for example, a petrol station has to be approached, at which a stationary terminal is installed on which the new route can be booked and paid.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel method and a novel device for automated route booking and a route analysis device, which avoid the disadvantages of the above-mentioned toll collection systems.

It should already be pointed out at this point that the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention for automated route booking are advantageously used in an offboard toll collection system. However, there are others too

Fields of application, such as systems for the automatic creation of a logbook conceivable. It should also be noted that the term "route" or "route" in addition to ordinary roads, for example, also recorded waterways.

An essential core idea of the invention is to provide road users cost-effective on-board units available and to facilitate the booking in particular of toll roads by a planned route, also called route, can be automatically booked in a central facility without the Customer must be self-employed. An automated booking of routes takes place in particular even if a new route must be determined after a vehicle has left the currently planned route. The invention solves the above-mentioned problem on the one hand by the method steps of claim 1.

Thereafter, a method for automated Fahrstreckeneinbuchung, which in particular for

Toll collection is provided. Before driving, for example, the driver of a vehicle enters a destination at an input device. The input device may or may not be installed in the vehicle. Depending on a starting location and the entered destination, a current, planned route is determined by a navigation device. The starting location may be the current location of a vehicle, which may be determined automatically by the navigation device. In the

Navigation device may be a GPS (Global Positioning System) capable device.

The current route determined by the navigation device is transmitted to a route analysis device which preferably divides the current route into at least one route section as a function of a predetermined property. If the predetermined property relates to a toll, the route analysis device subdivides the route into the associated toll road sections.

Each section of the route is automatically registered in an evaluation device. Registered legs may be evaluated for a predetermined parameter, which may be a toll. The evaluation device may be part of a toll system, which is the one for a calculated toll incurred toll charged the customer and charged to the customer.

Under predetermined conditions, a new route to the destination can be determined. In this case, the newly determined route is automatically transferred to the route analysis device without the customer having to take action.

In the route analysis device, the current and the newly determined route is compared. Furthermore, the route analysis device causes the unused, that is not passed, sections of the current route to be canceled and the added route section of the newly determined route to be automatically registered.

In this way, it is ensured that a driver only has to pay a toll for the sections of the route that he actually used on the way to the destination.

An important advantage for the driver or the forwarder is that he does not have to worry about the actually used route, even if the route is changed. Because the registration, cancellation and evaluation of sections is done automatically.

Advantageous developments of the method are the subject of the dependent claims.

When determining a suitable route to the destination additional parameters, in particular the time, traffic disruptions, route lengths, fuel costs and the like can be considered. In order to always be able to offer the driver an optimal driving route, the current route is checked at predetermined times and, if necessary, a new route to the destination is determined.

A new route to the destination entered can also be determined when a road user leaves the current route.

As already mentioned, the destination and optionally further preferred positions can be entered manually at an input device or via an automated interface. The automated interface ensures that the destination to

Navigation device and optionally automatically transmitted to a navigation server.

For example, in order for a freight forwarder to check a toll bill charged to him, those in the

Route analysis device determined route sections transmitted to a customer-specific control device. The control device is designed such that it can calculate the height of the toll on the basis of the actually used sections.

The above-mentioned technical problem is also solved by a device for automated route booking.

Thereafter, means are provided for inputting at least one destination. A first navigation device is used to determine a route in dependence on a starting location and the entered destination.

It should be mentioned at this point that the input device can also be implemented separately from the navigation device in the form of an automatic interface, for example in the office of a freight forwarder. In this case, a second navigation device can be installed in a vehicle and designed to transmit position data, while the first navigation device is assigned to the route analysis device and designed to determine a route in response to position data received from the second navigation device. Preferably, the input device is formed with a wired or wireless interface for automatically transmitting the destination to the first navigation device.

Alternatively, the input device and the first navigation device may be formed as a unit and installed in a vehicle.

The first navigation device is assigned a device for the automatic transmission of a determined route to a route analysis device, which subdivides the determined route into at least one route section as a function of a predeterminable characteristic and automatically enters an evaluation device. The evaluation device is for evaluating each

Track section formed with respect to a predetermined parameter. Under predestined conditions, the first navigation device can determine a new route to the destination.

Furthermore, the route analysis device has a

Means for comparing a current route and a newly determined route and a control device that causes the cancellation of unused sections of the current route and the entry of added sections of the newly determined route in the evaluation.

The route analysis device and the evaluation device are preferably located at separate locations. Here, the

Route analysis device and the evaluation communicate with each other via wired or wireless interfaces.

In a particular embodiment, the

Evaluation device Part of a toll collection system.

Alternatively, route analysis device and evaluation device can also be implemented in one and the same location.

Expediently, the route analysis device has a memory device in which the current route and a newly determined route can be stored. The above-mentioned technical problem is also solved by a route analyzing device.

The route analysis device has a device for receiving data representing a route. A subdivision device is used to subdivide the route into at least one route section, depending on a predetermined property. A comparator is used to compare the sections of a current route and a newly determined route. Furthermore, a control device is provided which, in response to the result of the comparator device, logs in the route sections of a current route which

Canceling unused sections of the current route and / or the booking of added sections of a newly determined route initiated.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to two embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Show:

Fig. 1 an inventive automated

Route booking system used in a toll system. FIG. 2 shows an alternative automated one

Route booking system using a navigation server, and

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the invention shown in Fig. 1 and 2 route analysis device. FIG. 1 shows an automated route booking system, generally designated 10, which includes, for example, a vehicle 20

Track analysis device 40, a toll system 50 and a control system 60 has. The route booking system 10 is used, for example, for offboard toll collection. Offboard in this case means that the toll fee for a toll route outside the vehicle 20 is calculated. The route analysis device 40 may communicate with the toll system 50 and the control system 60 via a wired or wireless interface. The interface is designated in FIG. 3 as transmitter 45. It should be noted at this point that the interface can also be a transmitting / receiving device.

As shown in FIG. 1, an input device 32 and a navigation device 35 are installed in the vehicle 20. Navigation device 35 and input device 32 may form a unit. The navigation device 35 is assigned a wireless interface 37, via which the navigation device 35 can communicate directly with the route analysis device 40.

Fig. 2 also shows an automated one

A route enrollment system which differs from the system shown in FIG. 1 in that a nevigation server 70 is connected to the route analyzer 40 via an interface 72. In this case, the navigation server 70 determines from a predetermined one

Start location and a destination a route, which he transmits to the route analysis device 70. Start and destination can be at the input device 32 or an outside entered by the vehicle 20 and transmitted to the navigation server 70. The Nävigationsgerät 35 is used in this embodiment, to transmit position data of the current route regularly or when leaving the planned routes to the navigation server 70. The navigation server 70 can recognize based on the transmitted position data when the vehicle 20 leaves the current route. If the current route has been left, the sewing server 70 determines a new route and transmits the data of the new route to the route analysis device 40.

The position data generated by the navigation device 35 can also be used by the route analysis device 40 to determine used and unused sections of a route currently logged in the toll system 50.

As will be explained in detail later, this is

Track analysis device 40 is able to ensure that unused sections of the currently booked route in the toll system 50 automatically canceled and track sections of a newly determined route are booked. A control system 60 may in turn be connected to the route analysis device 40.

FIG. 3 shows the route analysis device 40 according to the invention in more detail. The route analyzer

40 has, on the input side, a receiver 41, which stores the position data transmitted by the sewing device 35 or by the navigation server 70, which is a driving route represent, receive. The receiver 41 forwards the position data characterizing a route to a device 42 which divides the route into the associated toll road sections. For this serves the

Subdivision device 42 expediently a database in which all toll road sections of a digitally stored map are stored. On the basis of the received position data, which represent the current route, the subdivision device 42 is able to determine the toll road sections belonging to the route. The toll road sections are stored in a route memory 43. As explained in more detail below, are in the route memory and the toll road sections of other routes. A route comparator 46 is connected to the route memory 43 to compare a current route with a newly determined route. The route comparator 46 is connected to a control device 44, which transmits control data via the transmitter 45 to the toll system 50 in response to the output signal of the route comparator 46. The control data cause an evaluation device implemented in the toll system 50 to cancel, for example, unused toll sections of the current route and to automatically add in additional toll sections of a newly determined route in the toll system. The control device 44 can be connected directly to the subdivision device 42 in order first to cause the transmitter 45 to automatically transmit the toll route sections belonging to a current route to the toll system 50 and then to the toll system 50 Toll system 50 to book the toll sections.

The mode of operation of the automated driving route booking system illustrated in FIG. 1 will be explained in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.

Let us first assume that the driver of the vehicle 20 inputs the destination of his planned route at the input device 32. The navigation device 35 now determines the planned route from the current location and the entered destination. The position data belonging to the planned route is transmitted via the wireless interface 37 to the route analysis device 40. The planned route, that is to say the current route to be booked in, is forwarded by the receiver 41 to the subdivision device 42, which subdivides the planned route into the associated toll road sections. The toll road sections performing data are stored in the route memory 43. In addition, the determined toll road sections are forwarded to the control device 44, which ensures that the toll road sections are transmitted via the transmitter 45 to the toll system 50 and registered there.

It is conceivable, for example, that the toll system 50 or the route analysis device 40 generates a confirmation message, which is sent to the vehicle 20 or the forwarder for confirmation of the currently booked toll road sections.

Furthermore, it is now assumed that the driver of the vehicle 20 the current, posted in the toll system 50 Route has left. The navigation device 35 then determines a new route to the initially entered destination. The position data of the newly determined route are in turn transmitted to the driving distance analysis device 40. The

Subdivision device 42 divides the newly determined route into the associated toll road sections, which in turn are stored in the route memory 43. It should be noted that the navigation device 35 not only determine complete routes and transmit the corresponding data to the route analysis device 40, but additionally can continuously transmit position data of the currently used route to the route analysis device 40. In response to these positional data, the route comparator 46 is able to pass through a

Comparison of the data stored in the route memory 43 for the currently booked route and the newly determined route to recognize the unused sections of the current and new route. The route comparator 46 transmits the result

Control device 44, which causes the toll system 50 to cancel the unused sections of the route currently booked and booked the added sections of the newly determined route.

Again, the route analysis device 40 or the toll system 50 may generate a confirmation message indicating to the driver or forwarder which routes have been canceled and which of the routes have been re-booked. Instead, as shown in Fig. 1, the position data from the navigation device 35 directly to

Route analysis device 40 to transmit, it is conceivable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the position data generated by the navigation device 35 via the interface 37 to the navigation server 70, which provides for forwarding the data to the route analysis device 40. As already described above, the navigation server 70 also serves to determine the route to be booked into the toll system 50 and new routes, as well as to transmit the corresponding route data to the route analysis device 40.

The route analysis device 40 may be configured to transmit to the control system 60 the route sections which have been booked, canceled and / or subsequently booked in the toll system. For example, the control system 60 is owned by the carrier and is configured to calculate tolls to be paid for a route used to check the toll calculation generated in the toll system 50.

For this purpose, it is necessary that the control system 60 all toll sections and the amount of

Toll charge each toll section knows.

Claims

claims

A method for automated route booking, in particular for toll collection, comprising the following steps: at least one destination is entered at an input device; a current route is determined at least in dependence on a start location and the entered destination; the current route is connected to a

Transfer route analysis device (40) which divides the current route into at least one section; and each route section is automatically booked in an evaluation device; under predetermined conditions, a new route to the destination is determined; the newly determined route is automatically transmitted to the route analysis device (40); the route analysis device (40) compares the current and the newly determined route and causes the unused sections of the current route to be canceled and the added sections of the newly determined route to be booked.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the route is determined in dependence on additional parameters, in particular the time, traffic disruptions, route length and / or toll costs.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the current route is checked at predeterminable times and, if appropriate, a new route to the destination is determined.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a new route to the destination is determined when a road user leaves the current route.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the destination are entered manually or via an automated interface.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the booked route sections are evaluated with respect to a predetermined parameter, in particular a toll.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the route sections determined in the route analysis device (40) are checked in a customer-specific control device (60).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the current route of a vehicle in a arranged navigation device (35) or in a navigation server (70) is determined.

9. A device for automated route booking, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising means (32) for inputting at least one destination; a first navigation device (35; 70) for determining a route as a function of a start location and the input destination, a device (37; 72) associated with the first navigation device (35; 70) for automatically transmitting a determined route to a route analysis device (40). which subdivides the determined travel route into at least one route section and initiates the registration of route sections in an evaluation device (50), wherein the first navigation device (35; 70) can determine a new route to the destination under predetermined conditions, and the route analysis device (40) Device (43) for comparing a current route and a newly determined route and a control device (44), the cancellation of unused sections of the current route and the booking of additional sections of the newly determined route in Auswe rteeinrichtung (50) causes.

10. A device for automated route booking according to claim 9, characterized in that the input device (32) and the first navigation device (35) form a unit that can be installed in a vehicle (20).

11. The device for automated route booking according to claim 9, characterized in that the input device (32) can be implemented separately from the navigation device (35) at a central location that a second navigation device (35) installed in a vehicle (20) and the Transferring position data is formed, and that the first navigation device (70) the

Means associated with route analysis device (40) and designed to determine a route in response to position data received from the first navigation device (35).

12. A device for automated Fahrstreckeneinbuchung according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the driving distance analysis device (40) and the evaluation device (50) are implemented at separate locations.

13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the evaluation device (50) is designed for evaluating each booked route section with respect to a predetermined parameter.

14. Route analysis device, in particular for use in an apparatus for automated route booking according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized by means (41) for receiving data representing a route, means (42) for dividing the route into at least one section a means (43) for comparing the

Track sections of a current route and a newly determined route and a control device (44), which causes the entry of sections of a current route, the cancellation of unused sections of the current route and / or the entry of added sections of the newly determined route.