EP3346451B1 - Method for tracking toll-liable vehicles in a toll system and corresponding toll system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for tracking vehicles subject to tolls in a toll system and a correspondingly designed toll system.

In a toll system there are a variety of control needs. It extends in particular to the determination of the fulfillment of the toll user's obligation to cooperate, not to use defective vehicle devices for toll collection, to store truthful information on toll-relevant vehicle parameters, in particular vehicle size (permissible total weight), number of axles and emission class in the vehicle device and, in the absence of a vehicle device, the due vehicle class-dependent amount Toll must be paid in advance to a central data processing facility for the route to be traveled and the corresponding truthful information must be provided.

In this sense, any correspondence between a specific value of the readiness of a vehicle device for toll collection, the toll-relevant vehicle parameters and the route sections paid in advance or recognized by the vehicle device with the reference value expected for this control variable is referred to as control information. Positive control information is an expected agreement, negative control information is an unexpected deviation between the determined value and the expected reference value.

From the European patent application EP 2 624 231 A1 a method for tracking toll vehicles is known, in which mobile control devices in the form of recording vehicles each send the offense data record of an offense related to the toll vehicle with the location of the offense to a crime server, which has the positions of mobile control devices in the form of control vehicles and the offense data record forwarded to the control vehicle whose position corresponds sufficiently to the crime scene.

In the context of the invention of this application, the values of the control variables are determined by at least temporarily stationary control devices and are each compared with a reference value of this control variable, which is provided or predetermined by the controlled vehicle or a central data processing device. In addition, the stationary control device records identification information of the vehicle in the form of a license plate of the vehicle, which license plate also forms a control variable.

In all cases in which the specific value of the control variable does not match the expected reference value of this control variable, the stationary control device is designed to send negative control information about this deviation together with the recorded license plate of the vehicle as a so-called control case to a central data processing device.

Stationary control facilities are therefore able to identify control cases (i.e. vehicles with suspected toll violations), but are not able to track these toll vehicles in order to inspect them and, if necessary, punish them.

Such tracking requires a mobile device with which it is possible to catch up with or intercept the vehicle in question.

In the context of the control and tracking organization of a toll system, the task now arises of providing a mobile device with license plates of toll vehicles to be tracked, which are in such proximity to the mobile device that tracking with timely collection or interception is possible is.

This task is solved by a method and a toll system according to the independent claims. Advantageous further training is the subject of dependent claims. Features, advantages of various embodiments, exemplary embodiments and claim categories as well as comments thereon apply to other embodiments, exemplary embodiments and claim categories and can be transferred or exchanged to the extent that this is technically possible and without contradictions within the scope of the present invention.

In simple terms, the invention provides, among other things, a method for tracking vehicles subject to toll in a toll system, in which license plates of vehicles subject to toll recorded by control devices are transmitted to a central data processing device and forwarded by the central data processing device to a mobile device, the selection of the forwarded license plates being based on a request from the mobile device to the central data processing device is made; in which at least one selected control device is specified by the mobile device, from which detected identifiers are to be selected for forwarding and which the mobile device has determined depending on a presence position of the mobile device.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for tracking toll vehicles in a toll system according to claim 1 is provided.

In particular, the mobile device can be formed by a control vehicle, a vehicle device or a portable data processing device, for example a tablet PC or a smartphone.

In particular, the at least one presence position is determined by the mobile device by means of a positioning device included in the mobile device, preferably a GNSS receiver for receiving and processing signals from satellites of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). In particular, transmitting the request includes transmitting information identifying the selected first control device. In particular, the at least one stored identifier is selected based on the information identifying the selected first control device with the transmitted request. For example, the information identifying the first control device is a control device identifier of the first control device.

Preferably, the identifier transmitted by the first control device is stored in conjunction with at least one control device identifier of the first control device in the central data memory of the central data processing device, the transmission of the at least one request includes the transmission of the at least one control device identifier of the selected first control device and the stored one is selected License plate is carried out by the central data processing device based on the control device identifier of the first control device transmitted with the request.

In particular, the roadside control devices are provided by arranging the control devices on a section of the toll road network of the toll system. In this case, a route section identifier of a route section on which a control device is arranged can form a control device identifier of the control device arranged on this route section. The route section identifier is preferably not degenerate with regard to the direction of travel, that is to say: it is preferably dependent on the direction of travel in that it is different for lanes or roadways in different directions of travel of a road section. This means that the route section identifier of the control device can imply a direction of passage for toll-paying vehicles passing the control device.

In particular, the location information of the respective control device can represent a control device identifier of the respective control device or be included in a control device identifier identifying the respective control device or be linked to such a control device identifier. Consequently, the location information can also be represented by the route section identifier of the route section on which the control device is arranged.

Another example of location information is the location position of the control device.

In particular, the method according to the invention can be characterized in that at least one of the several control devices determines its location information by means of a position determination device included in the control device, the specific location position is transmitted from this control device to the central data processing device and the location position of this control device is independent of the transmission of the selected identifier is transmitted from the central data processing device to the mobile device.

In this regard, a distinction can be made between permanently stationary control devices, for example control bridges spanning the carriageway of a motorway and established control columns next to a toll road, and only temporarily stationary control devices, for example, in an unclaimed variant, parked control vehicles or, in a variant according to the invention, on stands or bridge railings fixed portable control devices. The latter can assume different, temporarily stationary positions at different times. Therefore, these are preferably equipped with a position determination device, preferably a GNSS receiver for receiving and processing Signals from satellites of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), with which these control devices can determine their location position and, based on the location position, the route section on which they are arranged through map matching.

The registration of the license plate of a vehicle is preferably carried out by means of an image recording device included in the control device through text recognition in an image of the license plate of the vehicle recorded by the image recording device.

Less preferably, the license plate of a vehicle is determined by means of a communication device from the control device, which is designed to receive a radio signal from the vehicle which contains the license plate coded accordingly.

Preferably, the detected identifier is transmitted to a central data processing device as a function of at least one piece of control information that the first control device has determined or received or expected, but not determined or received, this control information being provided by the first control device together with the detected identifier is transmitted to the central data processing device, is transmitted by the central data processing device together with the selected identifier to the mobile device and is displayed, in particular represented, on the display device together with the selected identifier.

Such control information includes, for example, the lack of correspondence between a license plate recorded by an image recording device of the control device and the license plate that the vehicle sends to the control device in a radio signal.

Further such control information includes, for example, the lack of agreement between the number of axles of the vehicle determined by a vehicle shape detection device of the control device and the number of axles that the vehicle sends to the control device in a radio signal.

Further such control information includes, for example, a lack of operational readiness of a toll collection device carried by the vehicle, with information about the lack of operational readiness being sent by the vehicle to the control device in a radio signal.

Further such control information includes, for example, the lack of a usage authorization of the vehicle for the section of route on which the control device is arranged, the control device determining the lack of usage authorization based on the recorded license plate by querying a database in which usage authorizations assigned to license plates are stored.

However, the transmission of the recorded license plate to a central data processing device does not necessarily have to be dependent on at least one piece of control information. Instead, the control devices can be designed to send each detected license plate - possibly without control information - to the central data processing device, with the central data processing device only storing those detected license plates for which control information is already available from other control devices. In this way, vehicles that have not yet been tracked can be tracked after they have been recorded again, even without current control information.

According to the invention, selecting at least the first control device by the mobile device includes determining a control area dependent on the presence position and checking whether the location of the first control device represented by the location information is in the control area, the first control device in the event of a positive result of the check is selected.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be further developed in such a way that movement information, for example a direction of travel or a standstill, of the mobile device is determined and the selection of at least the first control device by the mobile device depending on the specific movement information of the mobile device based on the location information provided several control devices.

Alternatively or cumulatively, based on the at least one presence position, at least one route section identifier of a route section can be determined by the mobile device on or on which the mobile device is present, the location information provided by the control devices each includes a route section identifier of the route section on which the respective control device is arranged , and the selection of at least the first control device by the mobile device takes place depending on the route section identifier of the mobile device determined by the mobile device based on the location information provided by the multiple control devices.

Such measures can avoid that control devices are selected by the mobile device, which cannot detect vehicles that have passed during a pursuit with sufficient reliability, for example because this would require traveling too long a distance in a direction of travel that is unfavorable for pursuit.

Finally, at least the stored license plate can be selected in response to receipt of the transmitted request by the central data processing device as a function of a control time that was transmitted by the first control device together with the detected license plate. Preferably, only the stored identifier is selected at which the transmitted request was received within a predetermined time difference after the check time.

Further embodiments of the method according to the invention can be provided in accordance with the features of the devices described below.

According to one aspect of the description, a mobile device is provided which is designed to receive location information from several, at least temporarily stationary, roadside control devices and to store it in a decentralized data memory, to determine its own presence position, at least a first control device depending on the determined presence position based on the stored location information of the multiple control devices, to send a request for at least one license plate recorded by the at least one selected first control device to a central data processing device, to receive a license plate sent by the central data processing device in response to the request and to send the received license plate through a Display, in particular display, display device.

Preferably, the mobile device is designed to register an entry relating to a specific license plate displayed and, as a result of the registration of this entry, to send a reservation message with the license plate determined by the input and reserved as such to the central data processing device.

To register said input, the mobile device preferably has an input means in the form of a keyboard, a cursor control (mouse, touchpad, joystick) or a touch-sensitive display device. In particular, the mobile device can be designed to carry out one or more preferred steps of the method according to the invention, which were described in the first aspect of the invention, provided that the mobile device was intended to carry out these steps.

According to a second aspect of the description, a central data processing device is provided, which is designed to receive license plates of toll vehicles recorded by several, at least temporarily stationary, roadside control devices, and to store the received license plates in each case as a license plate assigned to the control device from which the received one License plate was detected, to receive at least one request for at least one license plate detected by at least one selected first control device from at least one mobile device, to select at least one license plate from the stored license plates based on the received request, which was detected by the first control device, and at least send a selected identifier to the at least one mobile device from which it received the request.

In particular, the central data processing device can be designed to select from the stored license plates based on the received request only those license plates that were recorded by the first control device within a period of time that is dependent on a time when the request was received and a predetermined period of time.

Preferably, the central data processing device is finally designed to register to which of several mobile devices it has sent the at least one selected identifier, to receive a reservation message with a reserved identifier from a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and to receive a deletion instruction with the reserved one to send a license plate to at least one or all of those of the plurality of mobile devices to which it has sent the reserved license plate as a selected license plate without subsequently receiving a reservation message with the reserved license plate.

This measure can prevent drivers of control vehicles from starting to pursue a vehicle that is already being pursued by another control vehicle.

In particular, the central data processing device can be designed to carry out one or more preferred steps of the method according to the invention, which were described in the first aspect of the invention, provided that the central data processing device was intended to carry out these steps.

Finally, the invention also provides a toll system with the features of claim 8.

The central data processing device and the mobile device of the toll system are designed to interact with one another in accordance with the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Mautsystems,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts des erfindungsgemäßen Mautsystems von Fig. 1 mit erhöhtem Detaillierungsgrad und

Fig. 3

ein Ablauf- und Datenflussdiagram für Schritte des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens

The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment that is not to be viewed as restrictive. Shown schematically and not to scale

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a toll system according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a section of the toll system according to the invention Fig. 1 with increased level of detail and

Fig. 3

a process and data flow diagram for steps of the method according to the invention

Identical or identically acting components of different figures are provided with the same reference numerals unless described as exceptions.

Fig. 1 first shows a road network of a toll system 500, which in the middle of the illustration is a toll highway with two structurally separate lanes that have two lanes in each direction of travel. The directional lanes, to which arrows indicate the direction of travel/traffic flow, are divided into sections separated by junctions, which have the reference numbers 110, 130 and 150 for the south-north direction of travel, and the reference numbers 160, 140 and for the north-south direction of travel 120. In general, the reference symbol 1X0 is used to identify a route section It is also possible to change direction on the motorway at the junctions.

The roads in the sub-network can be toll-free or toll-free. They are also divided into separate route sections by connecting points, with one route section being assigned to each lane of the roadway, which is structurally unified for both directions of travel.

Continues to show Fig. 1 a central office 501 of the toll system 500, which includes a central data processing device 502. This central data processing device 502 is in Fig. 2 presented in more detail. It includes a central computing device 506, to which a central data storage 507 and a central communication device 505 (for example a modem, a router or a gateway) are coupled. Through the central communication device 505, the central data processing device 502 is designed to receive information via the mobile radio network 550 and to send information via the mobile radio network. Through the central computing device 506, the central data processing device 502 is designed to process received information and to determine or generate information intended for sending, to instruct the central communication device 505 to send information intended for sending, to read out information from the central data storage 507 or in the central data storage 507 to store.

Permanently stationary control devices are arranged in the form of control bridges 210, 220, 250 and 260 above the lanes of the toll motorway, assigned to the sections of these lanes. They determine the values of control variables of the vehicles that are moving towards the control bridges in the direction of travel. The control bridges 210, 220, 250 and 260 are assigned a direction of travel by the respective route section on which they are arranged. The control bridge 210 is arranged on the route section 110, the control bridge 250 is arranged on the route section 150, the control bridge 260 is arranged on the route section 160, and the control bridge 220 is arranged on the route section 120.

Temporarily stationary control devices are arranged in the form of a parked control vehicle 280 on the route section 180 and in the form of a portable control device 290 on the route section 190. The control vehicle 280 can be used both for tracking as a mobile device according to the invention and for stationary control as a roadside control device.

In summary, stationary, that is: permanently and temporarily stationary, control devices 2X0 are arranged on route sections 1X0 and assigned to them.

Mobile devices in the form of control vehicles 4X0 for tracking vehicles subject to toll are present at least temporarily on or along sections of route 1X0. While the control vehicles 400, 440 and 470 are traveling on the route sections 100, 140 and 170 in the so-called mobile tracking mode, the control vehicle 430 is parked at the stopping bay 131 of the route section 130 in the so-called stationary tracking mode.

As in Fig. 2 shown in detail using the control vehicle 470, the control vehicle 470 comprises a decentralized computing device 476, to which a display device 471, a decentralized data storage 477 and a decentralized communication device in the form of a mobile radio module 475 are coupled. Furthermore, a position determination device 472 in the form of a GNSS receiver, which is carried by the control vehicle 470, is coupled to the computing device 476 and is designed to determine its position from signals sent by satellites of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which it receives, and this Position as the presence position of the computing device 476 to provide.

This exemplary training of the control vehicle 470 applies to all control vehicles 4X0 of the toll system 500.

The 4X0 inspection vehicles can alternatively be used to track vehicles subject to tolls, as can the 280 inspection vehicle for stationary inspection. An alternative mobile control, in which, while driving past a vehicle subject to toll, a DSRC query signal is sent from a mobile DSRC communication device carried by the control vehicle to a mobile DSRC communication device (shown as an example in Fig. 2 using the reference number 264o) is also possible with the control vehicles 4X0 and 280 (DSRC = dedicated short-range communication). Since mobile control, in contrast to stationary control, is able to both control and track, it only plays a role in the invention insofar as it points out the multifunctionality of the control vehicles for tracking, stationary and mobile control.

Furthermore, there are Fig.1 Toll vehicles 3XY are shown, each of which has passed a control device 2X0 as a Y vehicle, through which their license plates (shown as an example in Fig. 2 were recorded using the reference number 364k). For example, the vehicle 361 has the control device 260 on the route section 140 Route section 160 passed first as the first vehicle, while the vehicle 364 on route section 160 passed the control device 260 as the fourth vehicle last. Accordingly, the first detection time of the first vehicle 361 registered by the control device 260 is longer ago than the fourth detection time of the fourth vehicle 364 registered by the control device 260.

A vehicle 311 at the stopping bay 131 of the route section was diverted from the route section 130 as part of a diversion control.

For the detailed description of the exemplary embodiment, the following is mostly referred to Figures 2 and 3 Referenced.

The stationary control devices 2X0, in particular the temporarily stationary control devices 280 and 290, are according to step S201 of Fig. 3 trained to determine their location information and, according to step S202, the determined location information by means of a stationary control device included in the stationary control device 2X0 (shown as an example in Fig. 2 by means of the reference number 265) via a mobile radio network (shown as an example in Fig. 2 by means of the reference number 550) to the central data processing device 502.

For example, the location information can be the route section 180 on which the control vehicle 280 is stationed for control, or a location position that the control device 2X0 determines by means of a position determination device (not shown) which is included in it. For example, this positioning device is a GNSS receiver that determines its position from signals sent by satellites of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that it receives. Furthermore, the stationary control devices 2X0 can be designed to determine their location information in the form of a route section identifier of the route section on which they are arranged, based on location positions determined by the position determination device, for example by map matching.

In this context, the control vehicle 280 used for stationary control, as well as the control vehicles 4X0 used for tracking, are designed to switch from a tracking operating mode in which it determines its presence position without sending it to the central data processing device 502 into a control operating mode in which it determines its location and/or the section of route traveled and this! sends this as location information to the central data processing device, and to switch from the control operating mode to the tracking mode. For example, the presence position can be the route section 180 on which the inspection vehicle 280 is stationed for inspection.

Each of the control vehicles 4×0 and 280 is configured to detect at least one signal representing a tracking operation mode or a control operation mode and to remain in the tracking operation mode due to the detection of at least one tracking signal representing the tracking operation mode when it is in the tracking operation mode, or to switch to the tracking mode of operation when it is in the control mode of operation, and to remain in the control mode of operation when it is in the control mode of operation and to switch to the control mode of operation when it is in the tracking mode of operation in response to at least one control signal representing the control mode of operation .

in the present case, each of the control vehicles 4x0 and 280 is trained from the tracking operation mode to the control operation mode when the control vehicle 4x0, 280 registers that a DSRC communication device of the control vehicle is switched on while the control vehicle is at a standstill. The control vehicle is designed 4 × 0, 280, based on several determined within a predetermined time frame Presence positions to determine whether these specific presence positions differ so little from each other that this corresponds to a standstill, so that the presence positions are location positions.

The central data processing device 502 is designed to receive the location information of various, in particular the only temporarily stationary, road-side control devices 280, 290 and to collect generally known location information of the permanently stationary (stationary) control devices, which are in a data memory, not shown, of the central data processing device 502 or are stored in the central data storage 507 of the central data processing device 502, to add:
According to step S501, the location information of the control devices 2X0 is transmitted regularly or event-controlled in the form of an update from the central data processing device 502 to the control vehicles 4X0 that are in the control operating mode. For example, the location information of the roadside control devices 280, 290, which are only temporarily stationary, can be transmitted regularly every minute or event-controlled only when the central data processing device 502 receives changed location information. For example, the location information of the permanently stationary roadside control devices 210, 220, 250, 260 can be transmitted regularly on a daily basis or event-controlled only if the location information of a newly permanently stationary roadside control device has been registered in the central data processing device 502.

In any case, this transmission of location information of the stationary control devices 2×0 provides the mobile device of the control vehicle with the location information of the stationary control devices 2×0.

Preferably, the location information each includes passage direction information (i.e. information about the direction of travel in which the toll vehicles 3XY pass the respective control device) or is transmitted to the control vehicles 4X0 in conjunction with such passage direction information. If the location information is a route section identifier of the route section on which the control device 2X0 is arranged, the route section identifier contains passage direction information because the route section identifier identifies a directional roadway (highways) or a directional lane (subordinate roads).

The control vehicles 4X0 are designed as mobile devices according to the invention, the location information received from the stationary control devices and, if necessary, the associated passage direction information in their respective decentralized data memory (reference number 477 in Fig. 2 ) according to step S401 in Fig. 3 save. The location information of the control devices can be linked to an individual identifier of the control device from the central data processing device 502 to the respective control vehicle 4X0 and stored in the decentralized data memory (4X7) of the respective control vehicle. This control device identifier can be used independently of the location information to identify the control device 2X0, which is advantageous in cases where the location information is only rough (e.g. in the form of the route section identifier of a relatively - e.g. a few kilometers - long route section ) and 2X0 applies to several different control devices. Nevertheless, the location information can also be considered a - possibly non-individual - control device identifier, regardless of its uniqueness.

Finally, the central data processing device 502 is also designed to send a deletion instruction to the control vehicles for deleting location information about temporarily or permanently no longer available or active stationary control devices 2X0. Such a deletion instruction can, for example, be generated in the central data processing device 502 in that a control vehicle 280, which is used for stationary control, sends a corresponding operating mode change signal to the central data processing device 502 as a result of a change from the control operating mode to the tracking operating mode, or to the central data processing device 502 no longer receives location information from a roadside control device 280, 290 that is only temporarily stationary beyond a predetermined period of time.

The control devices 2X0 are designed to detect license plates of passing toll vehicles 3XY according to step S203 in Fig. 3 to capture and to send the captured license plate to the central data processing device 502 according to step S204.

The control devices 2X0 are described below using the exemplary control device 260 from Fig. 2 described in more detail: Associated with each lane 161 (right lane in the direction of travel) and 161 '(left lane in the direction of travel) are vehicle shape detection devices 261, 261' for the shape detection of the control device, which are aligned against the direction of travel, image recording devices 262, 262' for image recording of and stationary DSRC communication devices 263, 263 'for DSRC communication with vehicles approaching the control device 260 on the respective lanes 161, 161'.

In the present case, the control device 260 determines with the vehicle shape detection device 261 the reference values of the control variables permissible total weight of the vehicle 364 and number of axles of the vehicle 364, with the image capture device 262 from an image recording of the license plate 364s the identification information of the vehicle 364 in the form of the license plate 364k, said image recording corresponds to step S203 according to the invention of license plate detection. By means of the stationary DSRC communication device 263, the control device 260 determines from one or more DSRC signal(s) received from the mobile DSRC communication device 364o of the vehicle 364 to the control variables the values that are used for the toll calculation in the vehicle device, not shown, which is from the Vehicle 364 is carried for toll collection and is coupled to the DSRC communication device 364o of the vehicle 364, the following are taken as a basis: namely the permissible total weight of the vehicle 364 set in the vehicle device and the set number of axles of the vehicle 364 as well as the license plate number of the vehicle, which is used to assign the Toll fee is used to a vehicle user. In addition, the control device 260 determines the status of the vehicle device's readiness for collection from a DSRC signal.

Alternatively, the reception of a DSRC signal containing the vehicle license plate 364k can also be understood as license plate detection according to the invention according to step S203.

In principle, the mobile DSRC communication device 364o can also be designed as a vehicle device used for toll collection, without the need for another device for toll collection in the vehicle 364.

The control device 260 uses its control computer 264 to compare the reference values determined ("measured") with the devices 261 and 262 with the values of the control variables supplied ("used") by the DSRC signal(s) and with a DSRC signal received state of readiness for collection with the reference state “ready for collection”. In the event of a deviation, there is a control case and, in accordance with step S204, the control device sends the imaged identifier 364k together with negative control information about the detected deviation by means of the stationary communication device 265, which is designed as a mobile radio module, in a control data record via the mobile radio network 550 to the central data processing device 502. The control data record also includes a control time, which represents the time of passage of the vehicle 364 at the control bridge 260. This check time can correspond, for example, to the time when the image was taken of the license plate 364s or to the time when a specific DSRC response signal (e.g. VST signal, VST = vehicle service table) was received, which the mobile DSRC communication device sends in response to receipt of a sends query signal (e.g. BST signal, BST = beacon service table) emitted by the stationary DSRC communication device 263.

Furthermore, an identifier of the control device 260 is included in the control data set. This identifier can correspond to the location information of the control device according to the invention; or the location information according to the invention can be determined by the central data processing device 502 from the identifier of the control device 260, which is linked to the location position of the control device 260 in a data memory of the central data processing device 502.

In particular, sending the identifier or the location information of the control device 260 can make steps S201 and S202 unnecessary, at least for the permanently stationary control bridges 210, 220, 250, 260, because the location information of these permanently stationary control bridges known from the installation planning is also available without steps S201 and S202 can be previously stored in the central data processing device 502. Steps S201 and S202 may also be unnecessary for the stationary control devices 280, 290 that are only temporarily stationary. In such a case, the central data processing device 502 would receive the (current) location information of the stationary control devices 280, 290, which are only temporarily stationary, for the first time with a control data record in step S204 from such a control device 280, 290; and step S501, in which location information from the control devices 280, 290 is transmitted to the mobile devices 4×0, would follow step S204 without the detected identifier being transmitted in step S501.

As a result of the receipt of the identifier 364k in step S204, the central data processing device 502 stores the identifier 364k recorded and transmitted by the control device 260 by means of its central computing device 506 in step S502, linked to the identifier and / or the location information of the control device in the central data memory 507.

Instead of generating a control data set only in the case of negative control information and transmitting it to the central data processing device 502, the control devices 2X0 can be designed alternatively or optionally, even in the case of only positive control information (i.e. no deviation between the measured or determined data was detected by the control device 2X0 Reference values and the values of the control variables used or present in the vehicle) to send a control data record with the license plate and without (in this case always positive) control information to the central data processing device 502.

In the central data processing device 502, negative control information from one or more previous checks by one or more other control devices 210, 220, 250 can be stored for the recorded license plate (e.g. 364k) as so-called “old cases” that still require tracking. In this case, the central data processing device 502 links the stored negative control information with the received control data set without control information to form a control data set with the negative one Control information(s) of the “old case”. This makes it possible to track a toll vehicle 364 even if it is currently free of defects, but there is an old defect in the vehicle 364 that has not yet been resolved.

The control vehicle 470 determines its presence position every second by means of the position determination device 472 carried by the control vehicle 470, in particular a GNSS receiver, according to step S402. Preferably, the control vehicle 470 also determines movement information, in particular a direction of travel or a standstill, of the control vehicle by means of the position determination device 472.

The control vehicle 470, in particular its decentralized computing device 476, then compares one of the specific presence positions with the location information of the control devices 2X0 stored in the decentralized data memory and, in accordance with step S403, selects those control devices whose location information is spatially correlated sufficiently with the specific presence position. A first example of the sufficient spatial correlation of location information with the specific presence position is the location position embodied by the location information falling below a predetermined first distance of, for example, 50 kilometers from the specific presence position.

A second example of a sufficient spatial correlation of location information with the specific presence position is the fact that a location position embodied by the location information is included in a control area, which the control vehicle 470 determines depending on the presence position. Alternatively, the decentralized computing device 476 first determines from one or more specific presence positions using map matching the route section identifier of a route section that is currently being traveled by the control vehicle, then compares the specific route section identifier with a map of stored route section identifiers, which are represented by the location information of the control devices and finally selects the control devices according to step S403, which are each arranged on a route section whose stored route section identifier spatially correlates sufficiently with the specific route section identifier.

In addition, the selection can be dependent on the passage direction information that is stored in the location information or in addition to the location information of the control device in the decentralized data memory 477. In particular, control devices selected based on their spatial correlation are subjected to a second selection process, in which those selected control devices whose passage direction information is incompatible with the presence position and/or the specific one are discarded. For example, those control devices whose location exceeds a predetermined second distance, which is smaller than the first distance, from the presence position and whose direction of passage points away from the presence position are to be rejected.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the selection of the control device can also be dependent on specific movement information of the vehicle. In particular, control devices selected based on their spatial correlation are subjected to a second selection process, in which those selected control devices whose location information or passage direction information is incompatible with the specific movement information of the control vehicle are discarded. For example, in the event of a standstill, control devices whose location exceeds a predetermined second distance, which is smaller than the first distance, from the presence position must be rejected.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the selection of the control device can also be dependent on a specific route section orientation of the route section on or on which control vehicle 4X0 is present, e.g. B. which the control vehicle 470 drives on or on which a control vehicle 430 is located Fig. 1 is parked. In particular, control devices selected based on their spatial correlation are subjected to a second selection process in which those selected control devices whose location information or passage direction information is incompatible with the specific route section orientation are rejected. For example, control devices whose respective passage direction is oriented antiparallel rather than parallel to the specific route section orientation are rejected if their location exceeds a predetermined second distance, which is smaller than the first distance, from the presence position.

In general, a control area is determined by a control vehicle 4X0 depending on the presence position, the movement information and/or the route section orientation, for which those control devices are selected whose location is included in the control area and whose direction of passage is a compatibility criterion with regard to the movement information and/or the Section alignment fulfilled.

The control area can be determined in such a way that it does not include the presence position.

Related to the control vehicles 400, 430, 440 and 470 from Fig. 1 This leads to the following selection results: The control devices 210, 220, 260 and 290 are selected by the moving control vehicle 400. The control devices 210 and 290 are selected by the stationary control vehicle 430. The control devices 210, 220, 260 and 280 are selected by the moving control vehicle 440. The control devices 210, 250, 260 and 280 are selected by the moving control vehicle 470.

The selected control devices are clearly identifiable by their control device identifiers and/or their location information is sufficiently identifiable. In the present exemplary embodiment, the control vehicle 470 sends a set of selected control device identifiers of the selected control devices 210, 250, 260 and 290 by means of its decentralized communication device 475 according to step S404 as part of a message via the mobile radio network 550 to the central data processing device 502. This message is considered the request according to the invention according to the license plates of vehicles in need of tracking recorded by these control devices 210, 250, 260 and 290 and transmitted to the central data processing device 502.

Based on the received control device identifiers, the central data processing device 502 now checks which control devices have identifiers recorded with the received control device identifiers in the central data storage 507. The central data processing device 502 selects identifiers that are linked to the received control device identifiers in the central data memory 507 by means of the central computing device 506, according to step S503.

In particular, the central data processing device 502 compares the request time (in particular the receipt) of the request from step S404 with the control times of the control data set of the vehicle detected by the respective control device. Only those license plates are selected whose check times are no more than a predetermined time difference of, for example, 10 minutes before the time of the request.

The central data processing device 502 then sends the selected license plates (in particular the license plate 364k) of the vehicles 364 and 351 (the vehicles 363 and 352 did not form control cases) together with the control data set and assigned to the control device identifiers of the control devices 250 and 260, which the corresponding vehicle 364 and 352 each recorded, according to step S504 via the mobile network 550 to the control vehicle 470.

The vehicle 361 is also stored in the central data processing device 502 as a control case of the control device 260. However, its control time is further back than the predetermined time difference compared to the request time, so that the license plate of the vehicle 361 is not transmitted from the central data processing device 502 to the control vehicle 470.

The control vehicle 470 receives the selected license plate, in particular the license plate 364k of the vehicle 364 and the license plate (351k, not shown) of the vehicle 351 along with the identifiers of the control devices by which the license plate was recorded, as well as the other contents of the associated control data sets (time of control, negative control information). In addition, the transmitted data may contain further information that helps the driver of the control vehicle to decide which vehicle 364 or 351 he should follow from the two vehicles 364 and 351, for example: number of unexplained control cases, frequency of visits to the toll area, etc.

At least the transmitted license plates 364k of the vehicle 364 and the license plate of the vehicle 351 are displayed on the display device 471 by means of the display device 471 of the control vehicle 470 at the instigation of the decentralized computing device 476, to which the data received by means of the decentralized communication device 475 were provided by the decentralized communication device 475 shown in step S405. Preferably, the selected license plates 364k of the vehicle 364 and 351k of the vehicle 351 are displayed in a map on the display device, in which the selected control devices are each shown arranged according to their locations by means of a control device symbol and the text of their identifier and in which the current presence position of the Control vehicle 470 is shown. In particular, the selected identifiers 364k, 351k are displayed in a spatially consistent arrangement with the respective control devices shown, from which the selected identifiers 364k, 351 were detected. For example, the text of the identifier 364k is shown located closer to the control device symbol of the control device 260 than to the control device symbol of the control device 250.

The control vehicle 470 is further designed to generate or receive a reservation signal for reserving one of the license plates 364k shown.

This reservation signal can be triggered using an input device (not shown) of the control vehicle 470 by marking or entering text on the license plate shown.

The control vehicle 470 is preferably designed to send a reservation message, which includes the reserved license plate 364k, to the central data processing device 502 as a result of the generation or reception of the reservation signal. The driver of the control vehicle can thus inform the central data processing device 502 that he is tracking the vehicle 364 with the reserved license plate 364k.

In response to receipt of the reservation message, the central data processing device 502 provides the control data record of the reserved identifier 364k stored in the central data storage 507 with a reservation note.

The central data processing device 502 is designed not to select identifiers for which a reservation note is stored in the central data memory 507 in step S503 of selection according to the invention. Furthermore, the central data processing device 502 is designed to send a deletion instruction for the reserved license plate to all those control vehicles 4X0 (with the exception of the reserving control vehicle 470) to which it sent the reserved license plate as a selected license plate before the reservation message arrived.

The control vehicles 4X0 are designed to suppress the display of the reserved license plate on the display device in response to receiving the deletion instruction.

While in this exemplary embodiment the control vehicle 4X0 was always referred to as a mobile device according to the invention, the mobile device according to the invention can also be carried by a control vehicle and possibly completely or partially mechanically connected to the control vehicle or by a portable device, not necessarily - at least however detachable - data processing device mechanically connected to the control vehicle 470, for example a tablet PC or smartphone, can be formed. Such a mobile device designed as a tablet PC or smartphone also preferably includes the described components of the display device 471, the position determination device 472, the decentralized communication device 475, the decentralized computing device 476 and the decentralized data storage 477.

Reference symbol list

1X0

Route section X

161

In the direction of travel, the first (right) lane of route section 160

161'

in the direction of travel, the second (left) lane of route section 160

162

Travel/traffic flow direction arrow

2X0

Stationary control device on section X

261

first vehicle shape detection device from stationary control device 260

261'

second vehicle shape detection device from stationary control device 260

262

first image recording device from stationary control device 260

262'

second image recording device from stationary control device 260

263

first stationary DSRC communication device from stationary control device 260

263'

second stationary DSRC communication device from stationary control device 260

264

Control computer of stationary control device 260

265

stationary communication device from stationary control device 260

3XY

Y. Vehicle that was detected by control device 2×0

364o

DSRC mobile communication device from vehicle 364

364s

License plate of vehicle 364

364k

License plate of vehicle 364

4X0

Control vehicle on section X

471

Display device of control vehicle 470

472

Position determination device of control vehicle 470

475

Decentralized communication device from control vehicle 470

476

Decentralized computing device of control vehicle 470

477

Decentralized data storage from control vehicle 470

500

Toll system

501

Toll center

502

central data processing facility

505

central communication facility

506

central computing facility

507

central data storage

Claims (10)

1. A method for tracking toll-paying vehicles (3XY) in a toll system (500), comprising the steps:

   - provision of multiple, at least temporarily fixed, roadside control devices (2X0), which may be permanently fixed control devices or portable control devices attached to erected tripods or bridge railings, configured at least to capture the registration plates (3XYk) of toll-paying vehicles (3XY);

   - capture (S203) of at least one registration plate (364k) of a toll-paying vehicle (364) by at least one first control device (260) of the multiple control devices (2X0);

   - transmission (S204) of the captured registration plate (364k), along with a control time, from the first control device (260) to a central data processing device (502);

   - storage (S502) of the transmitted registration plate (364k) as a registration plate (364k) captured by the first control device (260) in a central data store (507) of the central data processing device (502);

   - provision of at least one mobile device (470) with a display device (471) for displaying registration plates (3XYk) of toll-paying vehicles (3XY);

   - provision (S501, S401) of location information of the multiple control devices (2X0) in a decentralized store (477) of the mobile device (470);

   - determination (S402) of at least one presence position of the mobile device (470);

   - selection (S403) of at least the first control device (260) by the mobile device (470) depending on the determined presence position of the mobile device (470) based on the location information provided for the multiple control devices (2X0), involving determining a control area depending on the presence position and checking whether the location represented by the location information of the first control device (260) is within the control area, wherein if the result of the check should be positive, the first control device (260) is selected;

   - transmission (S404) of at least one request for at least one registration plate (364k) captured by the selected first control device (260) from the mobile device (470) to the central data processing device (502);

   - selection (S503) of at least the stored registration plate (364k) in response to receiving the transmitted request by the central data processing device (502) depending on the control time transmitted by the first control device (260) along with the captured registration plate (364k), if the request transmitted for the stored registration plate (364k) is received within a predetermined time difference from the control time;

   - transmission (S504) of the selected registration plate (364k) from the central data processing device (502) to the mobile device (470);

   - display (S405) of the registration plate (364k) by the display device (471) of the mobile device (470).
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that:

   - the registration plate transmitted by the first control device (260) is stored in conjunction with at least one control device identifier of the first control device (260) in the central data store (507) of the central data processing device (502),

   - the transmission (S404) of the at least one request includes transmitting the at least one control device identifier of the selected first control device (260), and

   - the selection (S503) of the stored registration plate (364k) is carried out by the central data processing device (502) based on the control device identifier of the first control device (260) transmitted with the request.
3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
   the location information of the respective control device (2X0) represents a control device identifier of the respective control device (2X0) or comprises a control device identifier identifying the respective control device (2X0) or is associated with a control device identifier of this kind.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   at least one (280, 290) of the multiple control devices (2X0) determines (S201) its location information by means of a position determination device included in the control device,

   the determined location position of this control device (280, 290) is transmitted (S202) to the central data processing device (502) and

   the location position of this control device (280, 290) is transmitted (S501) independently of the transmission of the selected registration plate (364k) from the central data processing device (502) to the mobile device (470).
5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the transmission of the captured registration plate (364k) to a central data processing device (502) depends on at least one piece of control information that has been determined or received, or is expected but has not yet been determined or received, by the first control device (260), wherein this piece of control information

   - is transmitted from the first control device (260) to the central data processing device (502) along with the captured registration plate (364k),

   - is transmitted from the central data processing device (502) to the mobile device (470) along with the selected registration plate (364k), and

   - is displayed on the display device (471) along with the selected registration plate (364k).
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

   movement information of the mobile device (470) is determined and

   the selection (S403) of at least the first control device (260) by the mobile device (470) takes place depending on the determined movement information of the mobile device (470) based on the location information provided of the multiple control devices (2X0).
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

   based on the at least one presence position determined by the mobile device, at least one section identifier of a section on, or at, which the mobile device (470) is present is determined,

   the location information of the control devices (2X0) provided includes in each case a section identifier of the section where the respective control device (2X0) is arranged, and

   the selection (S403) of at least the first control device (260) by the mobile device (470) takes place depending on the section identifier of the mobile device (470) determined by the mobile device (470) based on the location information of the multiple control devices (2X0) provided.
8. A toll system (500)

   having multiple, at least temporarily fixed, roadside control devices (2X0), which may be permanently fixed control devices or portable control devices attached to erected tripods or bridge railings, configured to capture registration plates (3XYk) of toll-paying vehicles (3XY) and send the captured registration plates (3XYk) to the central data processing device (502),

   having at least one mobile device (470) for tracking toll-paying vehicles which is configured

   - to receive location information on the multiple, at least temporarily fixed, roadside control devices (2X0) and store it in a decentralized data store (477),

   - to determine its own presence position,

   - to select at least one first control device (260) from the multiple, at least temporarily fixed, roadside control devices (2X0) depending on the presence position determined based on the stored location information of the multiple control devices (2X0), while determining a control area depending on the presence position, if the check of whether the location represented by the location information of the first control device (260) is within the control area should be positive,
   and

   having at least one central data processing device (502) for tracking toll-paying vehicles, configured

   - to receive registration plates (3XYk) of toll-paying vehicles (3XY) captured by the multiple, at least temporarily fixed, roadside control devices (2X0),

   - to store the received registration plates (3XYk) as registration plates (3XYk) associated with the respective control device (2X0) from which each received (3XYk) registration plate was captured,

   wherein the mobile device (470) is further configured

   - to send a request for at least one registration plate (364k) captured by the at least one selected first control device (260) to a central data processing device (502),

   wherein the central data processing device (502) is further configured

   - to receive the request for at least one registration plate (364k) captured by at least one selected first control device (260) from at least one mobile device (470),

   - to select at least one registration plate (364k) from the stored registration plates (3XYk) based on the request received, which registration plate was captured by the first control device (260) with a time period which is dependent on a time of the received request and a predetermined time duration, and

   - to send the at least one selected registration plate (364k) to the at least one mobile device (470) from which it received the request,

   and wherein the mobile device (470) is configured

   - to receive the registration plate (104) sent in response to the request from the central data processing device (502) and

   - to display the received registration plate (364k) through a display device (471).
9. The toll system according to Claim 8, characterized in that
   the mobile device (470) is configured

   - to register an input regarding a specific displayed registration plate (364k) and,

   - as a result of the registration of this input, to send a reservation message with the registration plate determined by the input and reserved as such to the central data processing device (502).
10. The toll system according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that
    the central data processing device (502) is configured

    - to register to which of multiple mobile devices (4X0) it has sent the at least one selected registration plate (364k) in each case,

    - to receive a reservation message with a reserved registration plate (364k) from a first mobile device (470) of the multiple mobile devices (4X0) and

    - to send a deletion instruction with the reserved registration plate (364k) to at least one, or all, of the multiple mobile devices (4X0) to which it has sent the reserved registration plate (364k) as a selected registration plate (364k), without subsequently receiving a reservation message with the reserved registration plate (364k).

Images