EP3982336A1 - Toll server and system comprising a vehicle device for charging a toll and a mobile device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toll control center (100) for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, comprising a central communication device (120) and a central computing device (101) which is communicatively coupled to the central communication device (120), the central computing device (101) is designed to recognize and/or register the use of a traffic area subject to toll from identification data and/or position data and/or toll data received from a vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) and to To collect vehicle-related toll for the use of the toll traffic area and / or to register their collection, the central computing device (101) is also set up to send a failure message from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication devices g (120) and/or to detect a failure of the vehicle device (200) and/or a failure of at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device and in response to receiving the failure message and/or detecting the failure To initiate a method for registering at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, the central computing device (101) being communicatively coupled to a storage device which includes data relating to the toll network, and the central computing device ( 101) is set up to generate at least one target position on the basis of a determined starting position in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure using the data relating to the toll network, and wherein the central computing device (101) is set up to determined target positions via the central communication device (120) for selection by the user to a mobile device of the user and in response to a selection received via the central communication device (120) the selected target position when initiating the method for registering the usage authorization of the toll payer to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle.

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a toll control center, a toll collection system and a vehicle device for collecting a toll for the use of a traffic area subject to toll by a vehicle subject to toll.

State of the art

To collect the toll, usage-based billing toll systems are dependent on recording the route taken by the respective vehicles that are subject to the toll, at least in the area that is decisive for the use of the road that is subject to the toll. For example, the vehicle positions in the toll collection system operated by the German toll operator Toll Collect GmbH are regularly recorded in the area of the entrance to the respective traffic area subject to toll and the exit from this traffic area.

Toll data is understood here to mean data of traffic areas subject to tolls and/or toll fees, which are assigned to a user and are determined by toll identification and/or toll determination. Toll-relevant data is all data that is used to determine the toll fee, such as the identifier and/or the length of the road area subject to the toll, as well as vehicle data such as weight, number of axles and emission class. A basic fee or fee rate is usually linked to at least one toll-relevant data record, which, in conjunction with the other toll-relevant data, allows the total fee to be determined when the toll is collected.

In technical terms, toll recognition is understood here as the process of linking a used traffic area that is subject to toll and is recognized based on the recorded vehicle position(s) to the user. In other words, it is understood to mean that the user is linked for the first time to a used toll traffic area.

In technical terms, toll determination is understood here as the process of determining a toll fee from the traffic area that is used or that is likely to be used and is subject to toll, possibly taking into account vehicle data and times relevant to the toll.

In technical terms, toll collection is understood here to mean the process of collecting the specific toll fee from the user whose vehicle has verifiably used the toll road or will use it in the future, for example by taking cash, for example at a toll station terminal, by central debiting from an account or by decentralized deduction from a prepaid credit on a chip card arranged in a vehicle device.

A traffic area subject to toll is understood here to mean traffic areas for the use of which a toll fee is due. The amount of the toll fee can be determined, for example, based on the distance traveled on the traffic area subject to toll, for example measured in meters, based on the number of toll route sections used or as a lump sum or based on the time for using a specific route network subject to toll, for example in the case of a city toll.

The toll can be determined, for example, by calculating the toll or by reading out the relevant toll from a database.

In principle, a distinction can be made between different systems for recording the tolls to be levied:
On the one hand, decentralized surveying systems are known in which a position determination device is provided in the vehicle, for example in a vehicle device or vehicle device, which is also referred to as an “on board unit” (OBU). A GNSS receiver in the vehicle detects the vehicle's position via a GNSS system and a DSRC receiver in the vehicle can receive positions from roadside devices. In the decentralized system, this position data is processed in the on-board device to identify any traffic areas that are subject to tolls. The toll can be collected decentrally in the vehicle device, for example by debiting a prepaid credit. Alternatively, after transmission of the determined toll data to a Toll center are collected by the toll center, which carries out the debiting or invoicing. The toll is collected after driving on the toll road section.

Furthermore, centralized systems are known in which a position determination device is provided in the vehicle or a vehicle device, which transmits the position data to a toll center and the toll recognition, toll determination and toll collection are carried out in the toll center. A GNSS receiver in the vehicle records the position of the vehicle via a GNSS system and a DSRC receiver in the vehicle can receive positions from roadside devices. Toll recognition can be carried out in the vehicle device or in the toll center. If the toll is recognized outside of the vehicle device, only position data is transmitted to the toll center, which carries out the toll recognition. The toll is collected after driving on the toll road section.

Furthermore, toll collection systems are known which dispense with the use of GNSS receivers and carry out position determination and toll recognition exclusively via roadside vehicle detection devices. The vehicle that is subject to the toll sends a corresponding identification signal to the vehicle detection device on the road. The identification signals received from the roadside vehicle detection devices are transmitted to a toll center, which determines the toll on this basis and collects the toll. With this toll collection system, too, the toll is collected after driving on the toll road section.

For reasons of simplification, reference is always made here to a toll center. Instead of a toll center, the toll can also be collected by a separate toll service.

So far, the Toll Collect GmbH system has been designed to collect tolls when using the Autobahn in Germany, with roadside vehicle detection devices in the form of permanently installed control bridges spanning the road, which detect the license plate number of each passing vehicle and thus make a comparison with it enable a central database. In addition, mobile vehicle detection devices can also be provided, which serve to support the detection of the vehicles. This system can be extended to other streets.

On-board vehicle devices, also known as OBUs (On Board Units), which have a position determination device for determining the position of the vehicle or are coupled to a position determination device provided in the vehicle, have proven their worth for the individual and largely automatic recording of the use of the toll roads. The vehicle devices can correspondingly determine and/or record the position of the respective vehicle that is subject to toll and, using map material stored in the vehicle device, can recognize whether the vehicle is located on a traffic area that is subject to toll. If this is the case, the on-board device determines a toll fee for the use of the determined toll traffic area and transmits the corresponding toll data, which include the determined fee, to a toll control center. On the basis of the information transmitted by the vehicle device, the toll that is due can then be collected in the toll center, either by calculating the toll from the transmitted route data or by using the transmitted charge data. The toll due is then billed to the respective user or deducted from an existing credit.

In order to enable correct toll collection, the user must initialize the on-board unit before starting the journey and, among other things, enter vehicle data, such as the total weight of the vehicle, its emission class and the current number of axles. On this basis, the on-board unit, taking into account the position of the vehicle subject to toll and the comparison of the position of the vehicle subject to toll with a database in which the roads subject to toll are stored, determines the toll incurred for the respective trip and transmits this toll data at the latest Fulfillment of a certain criterion, for example when leaving the toll route, to the toll center.

In one variant, the position data determined by the position determination device over the course of the journey and recorded by the vehicle device are transmitted to the toll center continuously or when a certain criterion is met, for example when a predetermined amount of position data has been reached. The toll to be paid for the vehicle that is subject to the toll for this trip is then determined and collected centrally in the toll control center based on the vehicle data and the traffic areas identified as being used on the basis of the position data.

This method of collecting the toll data, in which the user of the vehicle subject to the toll only has to initialize the on-board unit and then the route is recorded, the toll data is transmitted to the toll center and the toll is collected after initialization without further user input referred to as the automatic method (AV). In this procedure, the toll is only determined after driving on the respective toll road section and is collected by being billed accordingly or deducted from a deposited or prepaid credit.

In the automatic method (AV), the vehicle device carried by the vehicle subject to the toll recognizes based on the comparison of position data, which were determined using the position determination device, with map data stored in a database, whether and if so, which route section subject to the toll is being driven on. Such a toll route section is then stored in a memory device of the vehicle device. Correspondingly, road sections subject to toll are stored section by section in the storage device in the vehicle device and then transmitted to the toll center as toll data when a predetermined criterion is met, for example after a predetermined number of stored road sections has been exceeded. The toll determination takes place on this basis either in the toll center or in the vehicle device. In the latter case, the toll to be collected is then transmitted to the toll center as toll data. In the automatic procedure (AV), the authorization to use the traveled, toll road section is acquired step by step after driving on each individual toll road section, with the toll being collected via the toll center after leaving the toll road section and transmission of the corresponding data to the toll center will.

In addition to the automatic procedure (AV), the toll collection system operated by Toll Collect GmbH can also be used to log in using the so-called manual procedure (MV).

In the manual process (MV), the respective user can use one of the approximately 3,600 toll station terminals, which are typically set up at truck stops, rest areas or petrol stations. Alternatively, a web service on the Internet can also be used in the manual process (MV).

In the manual procedure (MV), the user acquires a usage authorization for the respective toll route section before driving on the toll route section or a toll route that consists of one or more toll route sections. To do this, the user enters the planned entry and exit from the toll road at the toll station terminal or in the web service before driving on the route, which then defines the one or more toll sections of the route. The user can also enter via positions in his route, which are taken into account when determining the route to be traveled and which are used as a basis for calculating the toll fee due. The user of the manual procedure (MV) determines the route to be driven before actually driving on the toll route sections and pays the corresponding toll fee. The toll fee can either be paid directly at the toll station terminal or on the Internet, or it can be made available to registered users via the toll center in a monthly collective bill, or it can be deducted from an existing balance.

Booking a route using the manual method results in a fixed route that the user cannot leave without being considered a toll dodger. A change of route may be necessary, for example, if a section of the booked route is blocked or if a traffic jam occurs that you want to avoid. It can also happen that a user wants to stop at additional stations on the way. If the user wants to change his route after starting the journey booked using the manual method, he must do so at a stationary toll terminal so that the route he actually traveled remains traceable. The user then has to partially cancel the booked route and then book the new desired route.

In the vehicle devices or vehicle devices, a highly accurate position determination is possible using the position determination device, which has a GNSS receiver which receives specific signals from satellites of a global navigation satellite system (Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS for short), which are stationed in earth orbit and which corresponding position signals send out. The position determination device uses these signals in a known manner to calculate the own position. Examples of such GNSS systems are the US GPS system, the Russian GLONASS, the European Galileo and the Chinese compass system, the latter of which are still in the process of being set up. Either a position determination device that is already provided in the vehicle that is subject to the toll and which transmits its data to an OBU can be used as the position determination device, or the OBU itself can have a position determination device.

In addition, distance transmitters (tachometer, odometer) and direction transmitters such as a gyroscope or an electronic compass of the vehicle that is subject to the toll can also be connected to the position determination device in order to enable an even more precise position determination by dead reckoning. This can be particularly important when no GNSS data is available due to coverage, for example in a tunnel, and an exact position determination is still desired.

The information is transmitted to the toll center via a communication module present in the vehicle device, which uses a known mobile radio standard and communicates the data to the toll center using the GSM standard, for example. A two-way communication is not usually provided, but only the toll-relevant data determined by the vehicle device are transmitted to the toll control center when the vehicle device has completed the collection of the data.

If the user uses in-vehicle equipment and takes part in the automatic procedure (AV), then due to their obligation to cooperate, they have the obligation to log in using the manual procedure if the in-vehicle equipment should fail while driving. In this regard, the updated 2013 edition of the _" User information on truck tolls in Germany" from Toll Collect GmbH states that if the vehicle equipment fails while driving, the user must leave the toll road at the next exit and then a manual one must log on at a toll station terminal.

Accordingly, the failure of the automatic recording of the toll obligation by means of the vehicle equipment during the journey necessarily results in a journey interruption, in which the manual booking of the further journey must be carried out using the manual method.

The lack of operability of the vehicle device while driving can have various technical causes, for example a loss of reception of the GNSS signal or a malfunction of the positioning device. From the EP 2 487 506 A1 For example, a position determination device as well as a method and a computer program product for signaling an inoperability of such a position determination device in a vehicle device are known. Accordingly, it is known in principle that and how the operability of a position determination device can be checked and the lack of operability of the position determination device can be determined.

Presentation of the invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to specify a vehicle device, a toll control center and a method for collecting toll fees, which provide improved behavior in the event of a lack of operability.

This object is achieved by a toll center with the features of claim 1, a toll collection system with the features of claim 8 and a vehicle device with the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims and are also described below.

Accordingly, a toll center is proposed for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to a toll when using a traffic area that is subject to a toll, which comprises a central communication device and a central computing device that is communicatively coupled to the central communication device, the central computing device being designed to record the use of a toll that has taken place to recognize and/or register the traffic area from identification data and/or position data and/or toll data received from a vehicle device via the central communication device and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll and/or to register the collection thereof. According to the invention, the central computing device is also set up to receive a failure message from the vehicle device via the central communication device and/or to determine a failure of the vehicle device and/or a failure of at least one component used by the vehicle device and in response to receiving the failure message and/or the determination of the failure a procedure for to initiate registration of at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to toll, the central computing device being communicatively coupled to a storage device which includes data relating to the toll network, and the central computing device being set up to respond to the reception of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure based on the data relating to the toll network, to generate at least one target position on the basis of a determined start position, and wherein the central computing device is set up to display the determined target positions via the central communication device for selection by the user to transmit a mobile device of the user and, in response to a selection received via the central communication device, the selected target position in initiating the method of registering the user authorization to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.

Furthermore, a toll collection system for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, with vehicle equipment carried by the vehicle that is subject to toll to provide identification data for identifying the vehicle that is subject to toll, with a position determination device to determine at least one position of the vehicle that is subject to toll, and with at least one computing device that is set up to monitor the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component used by the vehicle device, the toll collection system being set up to recognize the use of a toll traffic area from position data determined by the position determination device and one to collect the vehicle-related toll for the use of the toll traffic area, and with a toll center wi e described herein. According to the invention, the toll collection system is also set up to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is subject to the toll and that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll if the computing device detects a defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one of the In-vehicle equipment used component determined.

Furthermore, according to a vehicle device for toll collection for a vehicle subject to toll is proposed, which has a position determination device, at least one decentralized communication device, a mobile device with a user interface, a mobile communication device and a mobile computing device, which is coupled to the user interface and the mobile communication device, and a decentralized computing device, which is communicatively coupled to the at least one decentralized communication device and the position determination device, wherein the decentralized computing device is set up to transmit identification data and position data and /or to send toll data via the at least one decentralized communication device to a toll control center in order to enable or confirm the collection of a toll fee related to the vehicle that is subject to toll for the use of a traffic area that is subject to toll, and wherein the decentralized computing device is also set up to ensure the proper Function of the vehicle device and/or the at least one decentralized communication device and/or one communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device to monitor ten position determination device. According to the invention, the decentralized computing device is set up to generate a failure message in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the at least one decentralized communication device and/or the position determination device and to send it to a toll center in order to initiate a method for the toll center in the toll center To initiate registration of at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, and wherein the mobile computing device of the mobile device is set up to receive at least one destination selection option via the mobile communication device from the toll center and to notify a user at the display user interface, to generate target position data in response to a user input to a displayed target choice and the generated target position data to be transmitted as part of booking data to the toll center using the mobile communication device.

Accordingly, if the vehicle equipment fails to be able to participate in the automatic toll collection procedure, the manual toll collection procedure is initiated without the driver of the vehicle subject to the toll having to interrupt his journey or having to drive through a section of the toll road without authorization or registration in the manual procedure.

A computing device includes at least one processor with an internal memory. According to an advantageous embodiment, the computing device is a single, preferably physically separable computer. According to another embodiment, it is It is a distributed system, ie several independent computers that appear to a user as a single coherent system. In the latter case, each of the computers would have at least one processor with an internal memory. The computers then work autonomously but are functionally coordinated with one another.

The decentralized communication device and optionally the decentralized position determination device are communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device, so that the components can exchange data with one another. However, the components do not necessarily have to be combined in one device, but can also be formed by multiple devices or interfaces.

In the case of externally located vehicle devices that send identification data via the decentralized communication device to a roadside detection device of a toll collection system that includes the toll control center, the at least one decentralized communication device is preferably designed as a DSRC communication device for short-range communication (dedicated short-range communication).

In the case of self-locating vehicle devices, the at least one decentralized communication device is preferably designed as a mobile radio communication device, for example as a GSM module, with the decentralized computing device being communicatively connected to a decentralized position determination device for self-locating of the vehicle device.

However, this is not mandatory, because self-locating vehicle devices can also receive position data from a roadside transmission device, for example from a position transmitter beacon, via a decentralized communication device designed as a DSRC communication device.

In the case in which the vehicle device is designed to determine the toll fee and to collect it automatically - for example by debiting a credit provided in the on-board unit, which can be included in the on-board unit in the form of a prepaid card, for example - it is sufficient to Confirmation from the decentralized computing device that the vehicle device has collected a toll fee related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for the use of a traffic area that is subject to the toll to the toll center to ship. The decentralized computing device can be designed to send such a message in response to a control request from a roadside control device of a toll collection system comprising the toll center and the vehicle equipment by means of DSRC communication with the control device to the control device, which sends this message - possibly in processed and /or supplemented form - forwarded to the toll center.

If a decentralized position determination device is provided which is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device, then this can be, for example, a position determination device provided by the vehicle, for example a navigation system installed in the vehicle. The position determination device can also be provided by a mobile device, for example a smartphone coupled to the decentralized computing device. The in-vehicle equipment, which is divided into several components, allows individual components to be replaced or supplemented in the event of a defect or for a hardware upgrade.

The vehicle device is preferably designed as a vehicle device which includes the position determination device in a housing in which the decentralized computing device is also arranged.

The decentralized communication device can be in the form of a communication device built into the vehicle, such as a built-in mobile phone or a telemetry device, or can be provided in the form of a smartphone or mobile phone, for example.

However, the individual components of the vehicle equipment can also be connected to one another in a single housing as an independent vehicle device, in which case the vehicle device can then be used, for example, in a DIN slot in a vehicle. The vehicle device can then preferably be installed as a unit in a vehicle and also be replaced as a whole.

Embodiments of the vehicle device according to the invention provide that the decentralized computing device, the failure message on the at least one decentralized Communication device sends to the toll center, via which it also sends the identification data and / or position data and / or toll data to the toll center.

However, this is not mandatory. The decentralized computing device can be coupled to a number of decentralized communication devices and can send the failure message to the toll center via a different decentralized communication device than the at least one decentralized communication device, via which it also sends the identification data and/or position data and/or toll data to the toll center. This case is to be preferred in particular if the decentralized computing device detects a failure of the at least one decentralized communication device via which the identification data and/or position data and/or toll data is to be sent to the toll control center. The failure of this at least one decentralized communication device can be such that this at least one decentralized communication device can no longer be used to send the failure message. In this case, the decentralized computing device preferably uses the other communication device to send the failure message to the toll center. For example, the other communication device can be a mobile device (e.g. a smartphone) which can be instructed by the decentralized computing device to send the failure message to the toll center via a short-range communication interface (e.g. for DSRC or Bluetooth communication).

According to a preferred embodiment, the decentralized computing device terminates an automatic toll collection method in response to the ascertained lack of proper functioning. To do this, it transmits the necessary final data to the toll center. The closing data can be part of the failure message, which will be explained later. However, they can also be transmitted separately.

The decentralized computing device is preferably also set up to send starting position data to the toll center together with the failure message. The decentralized computing device preferably generates the start position data on the basis of a position determined by the position determination device or adopts the start position data of a position determined by the position determination device. In this way, the method for registering the usage authorization can be carried out in the toll center starting from the transmitted starting position. Accordingly, the user can be sure that his journey is carried out completely legally even if a defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle equipment or the position determination device is detected and he is not possibly considered a toll dodger.

In a preferred development, a user interface that is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device is provided, and the decentralized computing device is set up to generate at least one destination selection option in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the position determination device and to display it to a user on the user interface to generate target position data in response to a user input for a displayed target selection option and to transmit the generated target position data via the decentralized communication device to the toll control center in order to define the toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. In this way, it is possible to give the user a choice from different destinations even if it is determined that the vehicle device and/or the position-determining device is not functioning properly. It is particularly preferably possible for the user to drive to a service point selected by the user or a toll terminal selected by the user in order to either repair the on-board device there or manually book a route to be traveled.

A user interface that is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device is preferably provided and the decentralized computing device is set up to receive at least one destination selection option from the toll center via the decentralized communication device after the failure message has been transmitted to the toll center and to display it to a user at the user interface in response to to generate a user input for a displayed destination selection option, destination position data, and to transmit the generated destination position data via the decentralized communication device to the toll control center in order to define the toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. In this way, the user can also use the vehicle equipment to pre-book a route that is subject to toll so that, for example, if the vehicle equipment fails, he can continue the journey to the end of the tour without having to drive to a toll terminal or have the on-board unit repaired or replaced.

In an advantageous development, the decentralized computing device is set up to generate maintenance data in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the position determination device and to transmit the maintenance data to the toll center via the decentralized communication device. The maintenance data can then be forwarded from the toll center to a service point in order to support the maintenance or repair of the failed vehicle device and to provide the maintenance staff with advance information.

According to one embodiment of the vehicle device, the communication device of the vehicle device is set up to transmit data both for the automatic toll collection method and for the manual toll collection method to the toll center. When data is transmitted, it does not matter how the data is actually transmitted, i.e. continuously, multiplexed or in data packets, for example. It is irrelevant whether the data is transmitted continuously or divided, e.g. in packets. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, the content, the design, the structure and the timing of the transmission of the transmitted data can vary. The communication device can be a wireless communication device. This wireless communication device preferably corresponds to the GSM, the UMTS and/or the LTE mobile radio standard.

The monitoring of the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the position determination device can be solved by software and/or hardware. The position determination device can, for example, comprise two devices for position determination. If the two devices determine, for example, significantly divergent positions, the decentralized computing device can conclude that the position determination device is working incorrectly. Then the ability of the vehicle equipment to carry out an automatic toll collection method has failed. Alternatively or additionally, the decentralized computing device can be set up to carry out a plausibility check on the position data determined by the position determination device. Of course, as already described above, other events, such as other technical reasons, can also lead to a failure in the ability to carry out the automatic method. This includes a - even if only temporary - interruption of the power supply to the vehicle equipment itself (line interruption outside) or from a component of the in-vehicle equipment (cable break inside). Implementations and methods suitable for detecting these events are known to those skilled in the art. The vehicle device's function of generating and sending the failure message can be maintained by a battery or another charge storage device in the vehicle device if the power supply to the vehicle device is interrupted.

When determining the position, it should be noted that this is carried out continuously, periodically or at least frequently as part of the automatic toll collection process. If it is precisely the failure of the position determination device that leads to the failure of the monitored function, then at this point in time it is no longer possible to determine the current position via the position determination device, which is used as a basis for determining the starting position. Rather, at least one position determined before the failure of the position determination device must serve as the basis as the last known position. For this purpose, the vehicle device can have a memory device in which the positions determined by the position determination device can be stored. The computing device can then use one or more of the stored positions to generate starting position data. In particular, the computing device can be set up to use an extrapolation method in order to generate the starting position data. This in turn means that the step of determining a position can take place before or after the failure of the monitored function is detected.

A journey interruption can be avoided by the fact that in the vehicle device a defective function of the vehicle device for carrying out an automatic toll collection procedure (herein also referred to as insufficient operability) is detected and the position is then automatically transmitted to the toll center for initiating a manual toll collection procedure. It is true that it is then no longer possible to carry out automatic toll collection, so that from this point in time the user would be a toll dodger if he is on a toll road section. By transmitting the failure message, the vehicle device actually intended for the automatic toll collection method initiates a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the toll vehicle for use of a toll traffic area ahead of the toll vehicle in the event of a lack of operability. In other words: the toll collection procedure is replaced by the automatic collection procedure (AV), in which a toll is collected after driving through the toll road section, switched to a collection procedure in which the right of use is acquired before driving through and the toll is collected.

Furthermore, a toll control center is proposed for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, comprising a central communication device and a central computing device which is communicatively coupled to the central communication device, the central computing device being designed to record the use of a traffic area that is subject to toll from identification data and/or position data and/or toll data received from a vehicle device via the central communication device and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll and/or to register the collection thereof. According to the invention, the central computing device is also set up to receive a failure message from the vehicle device via the central communication device and/or to determine a failure of the vehicle device or components used by the vehicle device and, in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure, a method to register at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the toll-paying vehicle.

In this way, the automatic method (AV) can be carried out in a toll collection system comprising the toll control center and the vehicle device, in which the authorization to use the vehicle that is subject to the toll is acquired after driving through a section of the route that is subject to the toll. Furthermore, if the vehicle equipment fails, an alternative method can be carried out, in which the authorization to use the toll route section is acquired before driving through. This procedure is similar to the manual procedure (MV), in which the usage authorization is acquired at a toll terminal or an Internet terminal before the start of the journey. The authorization to use acquired before actually using the route that is subject to the toll requires the rigid determination of a route to be traveled for the toll collection, so that this method no longer has the flexibility of the automatic method.

In the event of failure of the vehicle device and/or a component used by the vehicle device (e.g. a position determination device communicatively coupled to a decentralized computing device of the vehicle device or a decentralized communication device communicatively coupled to a decentralized computing device of the vehicle device), the authorization to use a traffic area located in front of the vehicle that is subject to the toll purchased, the journey can be continued on the toll road without the user being considered a toll dodger.

In the case in which the vehicle device is designed to determine the toll fee and to collect it automatically - for example by debiting a credit provided in the on-board unit, which can be included in the on-board unit in the form of a prepaid card, for example - it is sufficient if the central computing device receives a confirmation from the vehicle device from the vehicle device that the vehicle device has collected a toll fee related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for the use of a toll traffic area, as a result of which the toll center registers the collection of the fee by the vehicle device.

The central computing device is preferably set up to receive starting position data from the vehicle device via the central communication device together with the failure message and to use the starting position data as the starting position when initiating the method for registering the authorization to use the traffic area ahead of the vehicle subject to the toll and subject to the toll. Accordingly, a complete right of use for the toll traffic area is acquired.

The central computing device is preferably also set up to generate start position data from the last position of the vehicle device received before the failure message was received and/or the failure was detected, and the start position data as the start position when initiating the method for registering the authorization to use the vehicle that is subject to the toll to use the traffic area ahead that is subject to toll. This is particularly advantageous when the position determination device can no longer provide current position data.

In an advantageous development, the central computing device is set up to respond to the receipt of the failure message and / or the determination of the failure after a to generate predetermined criterion target position data and to use this as a target position when initiating the method for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle subject to toll. The vehicle that is subject to the toll can then be directed to a specified destination address and can legally travel on the traffic area that is subject to the toll.

In a preferred development, the central computing device is communicatively coupled to a storage device, which includes data relating to the toll network, in particular pre-stored destination position data and/or map material and/or toll network data, and the central computing device is set up to respond to the receipt of the failure message and/or or the determination of the failure to generate at least one target position on the basis of a determined starting position, the target position preferably being a toll station terminal closest to the starting position and/or a service facility closest to the starting position. In this way, dedicated targets can be set, which enable the failure state to be rectified.

In a particularly preferred development, the central computing device is set up to send the determined target positions via the central communication device for selection by the user to the vehicle device or a mobile device of the user, whose address (e.g. IP address or mobile phone number) is in a database of the toll center, for example is stored in connection with a user ID of the user, and in response to a selection received via the central communication device, to use the selected target position when initiating the method for registering the authorization to use the toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. The user can select from a selection of possible destinations and preferably enter his own destination up to which he wants to acquire usage authorization. Here, for example, you can book up to the end of the planned tour.

The central computing device is preferably set up to generate a message to confirm the registration of the usage authorization and to send the generated message to confirm the registration via the central communication device to the vehicle device or to a mobile device of a user to which the vehicle device in the Toll center is registered, the message preferably also includes target position data and more preferably Via positions. In this way, the user or the driver can be informed about the route he is taking has acquired a right of use and can drive legally. Furthermore, in the event of an inspection by an inspection authority, the right of use can be proven using a document derived from the confirmation.

The central computing device is preferably set up to determine the toll fees due between the starting position and the destination position on the basis of a predefined criterion when initiating the method for registering the usage authorization relating to the vehicle that is subject to the toll and to collect the calculated toll fees. This means that the toll can be collected using the known payment methods even if the automatic procedure fails.

Furthermore, a toll collection system is proposed for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, with vehicle equipment carried by the vehicle that is subject to toll to provide identification data for identifying the vehicle that is subject to toll, with a position determination device to determine at least one position of the vehicle that is subject to toll, and with at least one computing device that is set up to monitor the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component used by the vehicle device, the toll collection system being set up to recognize the use of a toll traffic area from position data determined by the position determination device and one to charge the vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the toll road area. According to the invention, the toll collection system is also set up to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is subject to the toll and that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll if the computing device detects a defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one of the In-vehicle equipment used component determined.

The position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll is preferably determined by means of the position determination device using the vehicle device.

The toll collection system particularly preferably comprises a vehicle device as described above and a toll control center as described above.

Correspondingly, if the vehicle device and/or the position determination device is not functioning properly, a method can be initiated in which the route is determined before the journey.

In this way, for example, in the above-described combination of vehicle device and toll control center, it is possible to continue driving without being considered a toll dodger even if the possibility of carrying out the automatic method fails.

This is also possible in toll collection systems in which the toll is not collected centrally but decentrally—for example, by debiting a credit provided in the vehicle device, which can be included in the vehicle device, for example, in the form of a prepaid card.

Furthermore, this is also possible in toll collection systems in which the failure of the on-board device and/or the position determination device is determined in the toll center - for example by the absence of an expected signal or by the receipt of incorrect or identifiably nonsensical position data.

In addition, this is also possible in toll collection systems that carry out the position determination via roadside detection devices, which, for example, only receive identification data from the vehicle device when passing and from this identification data received at the different roadside detection devices, the toll due section by section or by a later reconstruction of the route determine and collect accordingly. In such a toll collection system, the vehicle device typically does not have its own position determination device, but only sends identification signals.

The computing device for monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the position determination device is preferably correspondingly present in the vehicle device and/or in a mobile device carried in the vehicle and/or in a toll control center. Monitoring via a mobile device that is carried along, for example a smartphone, can take place, for example, via a communicative connection of the mobile device to the vehicle device and a transmission of a control signal or the transmitted data to the mobile device. The data received from the vehicle device is then stored in the mobile device or the control signal is monitored and/or evaluated and, if the control signal is absent and/or if there is a specified deviation from the expected data, the presence of a defect in the function of the vehicle device and/or the position determination device is determined. The failure of the position determination device and/or the vehicle device can also be determined in the toll center if no expected data or compromised data is received here. Furthermore, when receiving position data from a roadside detection device, the toll center can compare this data with the received position data and, if there is a predetermined discrepancy, determine the presence of a defect in the vehicle device and/or the position determination device.

A toll can preferably be collected by a toll center and/or the vehicle equipment and/or a mobile device carried in the vehicle. In the case of decentralized collection in the vehicle device and/or the mobile device, a credit can be present in these, which is then gradually used up by the toll collection. A survey can also be carried out via the mobile phone bill of the mobile device.

The position determination device is preferably configured in the vehicle device and/or by a mobile device carried in the vehicle and/or by at least one roadside detection device. Correspondingly, different position determination methods can be used, for example position determination by the position determination device provided in the vehicle device. A mobile device that is carried along can also use its properties to determine its position and communicate with the vehicle device or a toll center, so that a toll determination can be carried out in the vehicle device, the toll center or in the mobile device. The position can also be determined using roadside detection devices, the data from which can then be used to track the route.

Particularly preferably, a mobile device carried in the vehicle is set up to transmit a start position and/or an end position upon request during the method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for using a traffic area that is subject to the toll and is in front of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. This means, for example, that a toll center can take over if the on-board device fails another device, namely the mobile device, carry out a position determination and thus supply the method for pre-registration of the usage authorization with precise position data.

Furthermore, a method for collecting a toll for the use of a traffic area subject to toll by a vehicle subject to toll is proposed, with the steps of providing identification data for identifying the vehicle subject to toll by a vehicle device carried in the vehicle subject to toll, determining the position of the vehicle subject to toll using a position determination device, recognizing the use of a toll traffic area from the identification data and/or the position data, charging a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the toll traffic area, and monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one of the Vehicle equipment used component. According to the invention, the initiation of a method for registering at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll is provided in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component used by the vehicle device.

The position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll is preferably determined by means of the position determination device using the vehicle device.

All the above-described variants of the most varied toll collection systems can be operated with the method, for example toll collection systems in which the toll is collected centrally, in which the toll is collected decentrally, in which the vehicle device determines the position, in which the position is determined via roadside detection devices, in which a defect in the function of the on-board device and/or the position determination device in the on-board device, in the mobile device or in the toll center is detected.

• Senden von Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten über die dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung an eine Mautzentrale, um die Erhebung einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu ermöglichen oder zu bestätigen,
• Überwachen der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung und/ oder einer mit der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung kommunikativ gekoppelten Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung,
• Erzeugen, in Antwort auf einen festgestellten Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung und/oder der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung, einer Ausfallnachricht, und
• Senden dieser Ausfallnachricht über die dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung an die Mautzentrale, um in der Mautzentrale ein Verfahren zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für eine Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu initiieren.

Furthermore, a computer program product, which includes software code sections, which can be loaded into an internal memory of a decentralized computing device, which is communicatively coupled to at least one decentralized communication device, and which, when executed by the decentralized computing device, cause the decentralized computing device to perform the following steps:

• Sending position data and/or toll data via the decentralized communication device to a toll center in order to enable or confirm the collection of a toll fee related to the vehicle subject to toll for the use of a traffic area subject to toll,
• Monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or the at least one decentralized communication device and/or a position determination device communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device,
• Generate, in response to a detected lack of proper functioning of the vehicle device and / or the at least one decentralized communication device and / or the position determination device, a failure message, and
• Sending this failure message via the decentralized communication device to the toll control center in order to initiate in the toll control center a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll to use a traffic area that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll and is subject to the toll.

• Erkennen der erfolgten Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche aus von über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung einer Fahrzeugeinrichtung empfangenen Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten,
• Erheben einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogene Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung der mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche oder Registrieren einer Erhebung dieser Mautgebühr,
• Empfangen einer Ausfallnachricht der Fahrzeugeinrichtung über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung und/oder Feststellen eines Ausfalls der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung verwendeten Komponente, und
• Initiieren eines Verfahrens zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für die Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche in Antwort auf das Empfangen der Ausfallnachricht oder das Feststellen des Ausfalls.

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed which comprises software code sections which can be loaded into an internal memory of a central computing device which is communicatively coupled to a communication device and which, when executed by the central computing device, cause the central computing device to do the following steps to perform:

• Recognition of the use of a traffic area subject to toll from position data and/or toll data received via the central communication device of a vehicle device,
• Collection of a vehicle-related toll for the use of the toll traffic area or registration of collection of this toll,
• receiving a failure message from the vehicle device via the central communication device and/or determining a failure of the vehicle device and/or at least one component used by the vehicle device, and
• Initiating a method for registering at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the toll vehicle in response to the receipt of the failure message or the detection of the failure.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the toll center determines the nearest toll station terminal or the nearest service station for exchanging the vehicle device on the basis of the position data received from the vehicle device and this information (i.e. data) is automatically transmitted to the vehicle device and then displayed as the destination address on the vehicle device. For this purpose, the decentralized communication device of the vehicle device can be equipped with a receiving channel via which this information can be received. According to one embodiment, the decentralized communication device of the vehicle device is not only designed to send data to the toll center, but can also receive data from it.

According to a further embodiment, the position data of the nearest toll terminal or the service station can also be transmitted to a mobile phone carried in the vehicle that is subject to the toll, for example by SMS or by means of a push message. The vehicle device can thus transmit the starting position data as part of a failure message, which is indicative of a failure of the monitored function for carrying out the automatic toll collection method, via the decentralized communication device to the toll center and the vehicle device also includes a mobile device, which in turn has a user interface, a mobile Communication device, and a mobile computing device which is communicatively coupled to the user interface and the mobile communication device. The mobile computing device of the mobile device is set up to receive at least one destination selection option via the mobile communication device from the toll center and to display it to a user at the user interface, in response to a user input on a displayed destination selection option, to generate destination position data, and the generated destination position data as part of To transmit booking data to the toll center using the mobile communication device.

This embodiment is advantageous if the decentralized communication device of the vehicle device-for example for security reasons (see above)-only allows unidirectional communication starting from the vehicle device. Then destination selection options, which were generated by the toll center based on the previously transmitted failure message, can be transmitted to the mobile device. There the user can then make a selection and generate booking data and transmit it to the toll center. The mobile device can be a smartphone on which an application is installed that sets up the computing device of the smartphone accordingly.

In an advantageous development, it is also possible for the driver of the vehicle that is subject to the toll not only to carry out the manual booking to the next stationary toll terminal or to the nearest service station or to have it carried out automatically, but he can also make the manual booking to a desired destination. To do this, the driver enters the planned destination (and preferably the route planned to get there, if multiple routes are possible) and uses this to manually book the route that is subject to the toll, starting from the last known position of the automatic method to the destination. The vehicle equipment then serves as a kind of mobile toll terminal and must be equipped with a data input or at least data selection option.

According to one embodiment of the vehicle device, the vehicle device also has a user interface that is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device, and the computing device is also set up to display at least one destination selection option on the user interface, to generate destination position data in response to a user input for a displayed destination selection option, and to generate the generated destination position data to be sent to the toll center as part of the booking data.

Preferably, at least one destination selection option is displayed on the interface when a failure of the monitored function is detected, i.e. in response to a detected failure of the monitored function.

According to one embodiment of the vehicle device, the user interface is suitable for displaying elements and for receiving user inputs relating to at least one of the displayed elements. A user interface can be, for example, a touch screen or a combination of screen or LED display and input means, such as input keys, scroll wheel, joystick, touch pad, speech recognition or mouse. At a shown Target selection option is either an already specifically specified target position or one or more input fields, which can also be displayed consecutively, in which or in which a user can manually enter a target position.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the target position data also include route data relating to a route from the starting position to the target position.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the start position data can be transmitted as part of a failure message, which is indicative of a failure of the monitored function, via the decentralized communication device to the toll center and the decentralized computing device is also set up to provide at least one destination selection option after the failure message has been transmitted received by the toll center via the decentralized communication device from the toll center and displayed to a user at the user interface. Here the target position data is transmitted separately from the failure message. This is necessary because the toll control center can only send at least one destination selection option to the vehicle device in response to the receipt of a failure message.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the decentralized computing device is also set up to generate at least one destination selection option itself and to display it to a user at the user interface. This is a specific target selection option. For example, it can be the nearest service station or the nearest toll terminal.

This embodiment of the vehicle device has the advantage that the decentralized computing device does not have to receive any data from outside after the failure. This is particularly advantageous when incoming communication - for example for security reasons (see above) - is not possible or permitted at all (unidirectional communication) or incoming communication is restricted.

The vehicle device then preferably has a memory coupled to the decentralized computing device. Data is stored in this memory. These include at least one of the following elements: data relating to the toll network, user data, data relating to the vehicle, pre-stored destination positions and map data. Based on the in memory stored data and preferably the starting position data generated in the event of a failure, the decentralized computing device then generates at least one target selection option. According to this embodiment, the decentralized computing device then shows the user the at least one destination selection option on the user interface.

Preferably, the destination is then displayed and selected before the start position is transmitted, because then both the start position and the destination position can be transmitted to the toll center as part of a failure message. In this way, the amount of data to be transmitted separately can be reduced and the initiation process can be accelerated.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the decentralized computing device independently determines the best target position according to predetermined criteria and immediately transmits this as part of a failure message to the toll control center. At least one destination selection option is then not displayed. This has the advantage that the driver is not distracted by having to select destination options or confirm a booking request. In addition, the booking process is very quick.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the vehicle device also includes a memory which is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device and in which at least one destination selection option is stored. The decentralized computing device is also set up to call up the stored at least one destination selection option from the memory and to display it to a user at the user interface. This is advantageous because the user has already specified a destination address as a precaution in the event of a failure of the monitored operability. The memory can also be part of a navigation system, which is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device of the vehicle device. The vehicle equipment can then simply accept a destination entered in the navigation system.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the starting position data are transmitted to the toll center as part of a failure message which is indicative of the failure of the monitored function. Accordingly, the one failure message is such that it differs from other data received from the toll center. For example, they differ from booking requests that are transmitted by normal toll terminals.

According to a further embodiment of the vehicle device, the start position data and the destination position data are transmitted to the toll center as part of booking data. Posting data includes all data required to make a posting as part of the manual posting process. If the toll center is set up to determine the destination position data (which may include route data) itself, then the booking data do not need to include destination position data. Otherwise, the booking data also includes the target position data. In addition, the booking data can include further toll-relevant data, for example the number of axles of the vehicle and other toll-relevant information.

The driver receives a confirmation from the toll center for the route section booked in the manual method starting from the last known position of the vehicle device, for example in the form of an electronic receipt, which the vehicle device receives via the communication device.

According to one embodiment of the vehicle device, the decentralized communication device only allows unidirectional communication starting from the decentralized communication device. This is to be understood in terms of a high level of abstraction in the OSI. In the lower communication layers, data can of course be exchanged in both directions. If the decentralized communication device communicates according to the GSM standard, for example, data can of course be exchanged in both directions in order to establish, maintain and terminate a data connection.

According to a further embodiment, the decentralized communication device allows bidirectional communication. This means that it also allows communication in both directions in the top application layer of the OSI reference model. However, the communication received by the vehicle device is then preferably restricted. For example, the communication could then be restricted to the data required to carry out the manual toll collection method according to one of the embodiments given below. In particular, it could be limited to receiving an acknowledgment message or receiving destination choices.

The limitation of the communication can be implemented on the hardware side or on the software side. The decentralized communication device or even the decentralized computing device can be set up in such a way that communication is restricted or prohibited. For example, a type of firewall can be implemented in the communication device or the computing device.

The toll center can be a single computer. However, it can also be a distributed system. Accordingly, the computing device of the toll center includes at least one processor with an internal memory. According to one embodiment, the computing device is a single, preferably physically separable computer. According to another embodiment, this is a distributed system, i.e. several independent computers that appear to a user as a single coherent system. In the latter case, each of the computers has at least one processor with an internal memory. The computers then work autonomously but are functionally coordinated with one another.

According to a further embodiment, the toll center comprises a memory device, the memory device being communicatively coupled to the central computing device of the toll center, the memory device comprising data relating to a toll network, in particular pre-stored target position data or map material or toll network data, and the computing device being set up to determine the target position on the basis of the determined starting position and the data relating to the toll network. According to this embodiment, the central computing device is not dependent on further data transmitted by the vehicle device for determining the target position. The central computing device preferably determines the target position automatically, i.e. without further input from the user, whether via the vehicle device or via a mobile phone or via a service station. This has the advantage that the route section can be booked immediately and without further interaction on the part of the user. The booking is then quick and the user is not distracted from the traffic.

According to a further embodiment of the toll control center, the central computing device is set up to generate a message to confirm the initiation of the manual toll collection method and to send the generated confirmation message to the vehicle device via the central communication device.

According to a further embodiment of the toll control center, the computing device is set up to optionally transmit data to one of a large number of service facilities via the central communication device and to select one of the large number of service facilities on the basis of the previously determined target position data and to send maintenance data to the selected service facility via the central communication device to transfer.

The computer program product itself can be a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, for example a DVD, a CD-ROM, a flash disk or a hard disk.

In the above description of the various aspects of the invention, in order to avoid repetition, not all possible embodiments of all aspects have been explained in detail. However, it should be pointed out that, of course, embodiments of an aspect, insofar as they also relate to another aspect, further develop this accordingly. Thus, the methods and computer program products only briefly explained above are further developed by the embodiments of the products. The vehicle device is also further developed by embodiments of the toll center and vice versa the toll center by embodiments of the vehicle device. The individual embodiments are to be understood as concretization of the general aspects and can be combined with one another unless there are technical reasons to the contrary.

Brief description of the figures

• Figur 1 ein schematisches Blockdiagramm einer Recheneinrichtung eines Mautzentrales;
• Figur 2 ein schematisches Blockdiagramm der Fahrzeugeinrichtung;
• Figur 3 ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm des Verfahrens im Fahrzeugeinrichtung; und
• Figur 4 ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm des Verfahrens in der Mautzentrale.

Preferred further embodiments and aspects of the present invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. show:

• figure 1 a schematic block diagram of a computing device of a toll center;
• figure 2 a schematic block diagram of the vehicle device;
• figure 3 a schematic flowchart of the method in the vehicle device; and
• figure 4 a schematic flowchart of the procedure in the toll center.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are denoted by identical reference symbols in the different figures and a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with in order to avoid redundancies.

At least one preferred exemplary embodiment of (1.) the toll control center and (2.) the vehicle device is described below. Within the scope of the description of these two products, preferred embodiments of the methods are also described. Furthermore, a description of preferred embodiments (3.) of computer program products is given:

1. Toll center

First, a preferred embodiment of the toll center based on the figure 1 described. Toll center 100 initially includes a central computing device 101.

An exemplary central computing device 101 is shown as a block diagram in figure 1 shown. Instructions, for example in the form of software code sections, are executed in this central computing device 101, so that the central computing device 101 carries out one or more of the methods and functions described herein.

The central computing device 101 can only comprise a single computer. However, it can also be a distributed system . According to one embodiment, the central computing device 101 is a single, preferably physically separate, computer. According to another embodiment, this is a distributed system, ie several independent computers that appear to a user as a single coherent system. In the latter case, each of the computers would have at least one processor with internal memory. The several computers of the computing device then work autonomously but are functionally coordinated with one another.

The exemplary central computing device 101 comprises a central processor 102 (for example a CPU, a GPU or both) with an internal memory, a central main memory 104 and a central static memory 106, which are connected to one another via a central bus 108 are communicatively coupled. The central computing device 101 can also be communicatively coupled to a central user interface. This central user interface can have a display unit 110 (for example a flat screen or similar) and a first input unit 112 (for example a touch screen, input keys, a scroll wheel, a joystick, a touch pad, a mouse or a voice recognition system) and a second Input unit 114 (e.g. a touch screen, input keys, a scroll wheel, a joystick, a touch pad, a mouse or a speech recognition system) include. Of course, the central user interface can include the display unit 114 and the input unit(s) in an integrated device, such as a touch screen. Finally, the central computing device 101 also includes a central memory device 116, a central signal generation device 118 and a central communication device 120, which are communicatively connected to one another via the bus.

Central storage facility 116 includes a machine-readable medium 122 on which is stored software code portions and data such as instructions 124 required for the methods and functions of central computing facility 101 described herein. During the operation of the central computing device 101, the instructions 124 can also be loaded, at least in part, into the central main memory 104 and/or into the internal memory of the central processor 102, the central main memory 104 and the internal memory of the central processor being 102 is also machine-readable media.

However, the instructions 124 can also be transmitted or received via a network 126 by means of the central communication device 120, using one of the numerous known transmission protocols (e.g. HTTP).

While the machine-readable medium 122 (which is preferably non-transitory) is a single medium in an exemplary embodiment, the term " machine-readable medium " includes both a single medium and multiple media (e.g., a central or distributed database and any caches associated therewith). (" cache ") and servers) which store the instructions in the form of software code sections 124. The term " machine-readable medium " also includes any medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions 124 . This can be a solid state memory as well as an optical or a magnetic memory. Exemplary embodiments of the central Computing device 101 may be implemented in digital circuitry or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof.

Further details of the toll center 100, in particular with regard to the methods and functions which the toll center 100 can carry out using its specially configured central computing device 101, are explained below in the context of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle device 200.

2. Vehicle equipment

A preferred embodiment of a preferred vehicle device 200 is described below. This is a vehicle device 200 which is connected to a vehicle that is subject to the toll and is in particular installed in it. It can be installed, for example, in appropriate DIN slots or as a surface-mounted device.

The vehicle device 200 is suitable for use in an automatic toll collection method, for example the automatic toll collection method (AV) from Toll Collect GmbH. The vehicle device 200 has, among other things, a decentralized position determination device 230 , a decentralized communication device 220 and a decentralized computing device 201 , which is communicatively coupled to the decentralized position determination device 230 and the decentralized communication device 220 .

The decentralized arithmetic unit 201 can in principle be a general arithmetic unit, as has already been described with regard to the central arithmetic unit 101 of the toll control center 100 . With regard to the general explanations of the technical structure of the decentralized computing device 201, reference is therefore made to the top. A preferred embodiment of vehicle device 200 and also of decentralized computing device 201 of vehicle device 200 is described below.

An advantageous embodiment of vehicle device 200 is shown as a block diagram in FIG figure 2 shown. Accordingly, the vehicle device 200 includes, among other things, a decentralized computing device 201 with a decentralized decentralized processor 202, a plurality of different decentralized data memories 204, 216, 222, a power supply 214, which is preferably connected to the general power supply of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, and a user interface in the form of a display 210 on which data can be displayed by the decentralized processor 202 . The decentralized processor 202 is also equipped with a decentralized clock 240, a decentralized communication device 220 in the form of a mobile radio transmitter/receiver, which has a corresponding mobile radio antenna 221, and a decentralized position determination device 230, which has a GNSS receiver 232 communicatively coupled to a GNSS receiving antenna 234 has, communicatively coupled.

A first decentralized data memory 222 is a read-only memory, for example a ROM, EEPROM or FLASHMEMORY, and is used to store a computer program product. A computer program product in the form of toll software can be transmitted to data memory 222 via appropriate communication interfaces.

A decentralized main memory 204 is a main memory that is communicatively connected to the decentralized processor 202 in the form of a read/write memory, for example a RAM, and is used to temporarily hold at least parts of the toll software during operation of the vehicle device 200. For this purpose, the decentralized processor 202 loads during the Starting phase of the vehicle device 200 from the first decentralized data memory 222 the corresponding toll software in the main memory 204. The read-write memory 222 is also used to record position data, which are received by the decentralized processor 202 from the decentralized position determination device 230 and processed in the decentralized processor 202 .

Another decentralized data memory 216 is provided as a cryptographic memory, for example as ROM, EEPROM or RAM, can be provided in a security module with its own processor and is used to record booking data records of usage authorizations for using upcoming motorway sections.

The vehicle device 200 can communicate with a toll control center 100 via the communication device 220 . The mobile radio antenna 221 and the GNNS receiving antenna 234 can also be provided as externally arranged antennas on the vehicle that is subject to the toll.

In this exemplary embodiment, the decentralized computing device 201 has a monitoring means for monitoring the functionality of the vehicle device 200 .

A computer program product can be loaded from the decentralized data memory 222 into an internal memory of the decentralized processor 202 . If the computer program product is then executed on the decentralized computing device 201 at runtime, the decentralized computing device 201 is set up to monitor the operability and toll collection capability of the vehicle device 200 . For this purpose, the decentralized computing device 201 can be set up, for example, to carry out a constant comparison of the position data supplied by the decentralized position determination device 230 with the data of the respective radio cells determined via the mobile radio transceiver unit 220 and, in the event of a corresponding significant deviation, to report a lack of operability of the decentralized position determination device 230 signal.

Furthermore, data from a gyroscope, a magnetic compass, and data generated by the vehicle that is subject to the toll itself, such as the driving speed and the distance traveled, can be accepted and also compared with the position data determined via the decentralized position determination device 230 and the mobile radio transceiver unit 220 .

If the monitoring means determines that the position data differ greatly from one another, or that the decentralized position determination device 230 and in particular its GNNS receiving module 232 have failed completely, the monitoring means triggers an automatic transmission of a failure message to the toll control center 100 via the decentralized communication device 220. The last determined or known position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll can preferably also be transmitted to the toll control center 100 . In this way, the toll center 100 is informed that in the vehicle device 200 a lack of operational capability, for example of the position determination, was determined and the vehicle device 200 can therefore no longer participate in the automatic toll collection method (AV).

The decentralized computing device 201 is also set up to initiate a manual toll collection method (MV) in response to the detected failure of the respectively monitored function of the vehicle device 200 . For this purpose, the vehicle device 200 switches to the manual mode, so that toll collection can no longer be automated, but must be carried out manually.

A signaling means is also provided as part of the user interface 210, which can address an LED or a loudspeaker, for example, in order to inform the user of the vehicle device 200 that the vehicle device 200 is in a state of non-operability.

The vehicle device 200 is basically used to carry out the automatic collection method (AV) when operating the vehicle that is subject to the toll. A GNNS signal is received continuously, periodically or at intervals via the decentralized position determination device 230 and position information for the vehicle that is subject to the toll is generated from this. In the decentralized processor 202, the computer program product loaded into the data memory 204, in particular the toll software, will monitor whether the position determined by the decentralized position determination device 230 indicates that the vehicle that is subject to the toll is located in a section of the road that is subject to the toll. For this purpose, the determined position data are compared with map data stored in the memory 204 and a decision is made accordingly as to whether the vehicle that is subject to the toll is traveling on a section of the route that is subject to the toll. If this is the case, information regarding this route section is stored in vehicle device 200 or, as an alternative, the information is sent directly to toll center 100 .

If the information relating to the traveled toll route section is stored in on-board device 200, then after the occurrence of an event, for example after the end of a journey or after leaving the traffic area subject to toll, corresponding information is sent to toll control center 100 via decentralized communication device 220. The mobile radio connection between the decentralized communication device 220 and the toll center 100 preferably only exists temporarily for the transmission of the data, but can also exist permanently or temporarily during the operation of the vehicle device 200 .

In the toll control center 100, based on the data received, it is then possible either to determine the route which is subject to toll or to calculate the toll from the transmitted information and then to collect it.

Correspondingly, by comparing the position data with the operating data of the toll road sections in the decentralized processor 202, it is checked whether a toll road section is being used.

A data record is generated in the toll control center 100, which links the transmitted toll fee or the transmitted position data with the vehicle registration number that was also transmitted, as well as the other toll-relevant data, and correspondingly calculates a toll fee, which is then charged from an account of the user, which is held by a financial service provider, for example . The fee can also be deducted from a credit which was previously transferred in the prepaid method from the toll center 100 in the form of credit data to the vehicle device 200 and which is then present in the cryptographic data memory 216, for example.

Vehicle device 200 and in particular decentralized position determination device 230 are constantly monitored by decentralized computing device 201 and monitored for accuracy and/or plausibility of the generated position data, or it is monitored whether position data is generated at all. A sudden failure of the decentralized position determination device 230 can be due to the absence of a GNNS signal, for example, which can occur, for example, due to the satellite signals being shadowed by vegetation, buildings or topographies. The monitoring is then continued for a predetermined period of time in order to determine whether it is just a temporary failure, for example of the GNNS signal, or whether the decentralized position determination device 230 is generally no longer operational, for example due to a defect. If the decentralized computing device 201 determines that the vehicle device 200 is not operational, this is communicated to the user via the user interface 201 in the form of a signaling means, for example via the LED and/or a corresponding message on a display. At the same time, an acoustic signal or a voice message can also be played, so that the user is informed about the state of inoperability of the vehicle device 200.

In response to the determined failure of the monitored function, the position of the vehicle device 200 or the last position determined by the decentralized position determination device 230 is transmitted via the decentralized communication device 220 to the toll control center 100 by means of the decentralized communication device 220 . The decentralized Communication device 220 also transmits vehicle-relevant data, such as the license plate number, the weight, the emission class and the number of axles, as entered by the driver at the start of the journey in the automated collection process (AV).

Furthermore, the automatic method in the vehicle device 200 is ended when the monitoring means determines the status of the inoperability. For this purpose, a failure message is sent to the toll control center 100 .

When the vehicle device 200 receives a failure message, in particular the position data, and other vehicle-related data, the toll center 100 recognizes that the vehicle device 200 was found to be inoperable while driving and that for this reason the position data and the other data were transmitted. In an alternative, in addition to the data or instead of the data, a failure message is transmitted to the toll control center 100, which indicates the failure of the vehicle device 200 for automatic toll collection, preferably also information about the specific failed components.

The toll center 100 uses the position data and the other vehicle-related data, now for the vehicle subject to the toll, whose vehicle device 200 has transmitted this data and possibly a failure message, as a starting point and start data for carrying out the manual collection method (MM).

This means that both the vehicle device 200 and the toll control center 100 have switched from the automatic collection method (AV) to the manual collection method (MV) for detecting the toll for the respective vehicle that is subject to the toll. Furthermore, the starting position is transmitted to the toll control center 100 in the manual method (MV) without the user having to leave the route that is subject to the toll and without having to stop the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Furthermore, the data relevant to the vehicle are transmitted to the toll center 100 so that the toll center 100 can carry out the manual method on the basis of this data and a route on the traffic area subject to toll can be booked in advance before driving on it. The vehicle that is subject to the toll can thus continue to travel legally on the route section that is subject to the toll while paying the toll fees, since the toll fees can now be collected using the manual method despite the lack of operational capability of the vehicle device 200 . Unlike the automatic one Method in which the toll charges are collected after the actual driving on a toll route section, in the manual method the route on the toll traffic area is determined before driving on and the toll is charged for this route.

A user ID is already present for this vehicle device 200 since a user ID or a user account is fundamentally necessary to carry out the automatic method. For example, payment data, billing data, address data, contact data, information about stored credit, etc. are linked to the user ID, so that the toll control center 100 always has access to the contact data of the user of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, among other things.

When switching from the automatic method, in which the user of the vehicle subject to the toll is free to choose his route, to the manual method, in which the route is set in advance, a corresponding selection of the route to be traveled must be made from the default position of the on-board device 200 will. The following options are available for this:
When receiving the position data and the other vehicle-related data and/or the failure message, the toll center 100 preferably determines the service point closest to the failure position and uses the address of this service point as the destination address for the manual method. Correspondingly, the toll control center 100 manually books a route for the corresponding vehicle that is subject to the toll from the default position to the determined destination address. The vehicle that is subject to the toll can thus continue to drive on the traffic area that is subject to the toll even if the vehicle device 200 fails, without potentially being considered a toll dodger. The vehicle device 200 can then be repaired or replaced at the nearest service point, so that the vehicle that is subject to the toll can then be operated again in the automatic process and correspondingly without prior determination of a route.

In order to inform the driver of the vehicle that is subject to the toll about the route change if the vehicle device 200 fails and to inform him of the new destination address at the service point, the toll center 100 transmits the determined destination address to the vehicle device 200 for display on the display 210 and/or on a mobile phone/smartphone of the user.

The cell phone number of the mobile phone/smartphone is stored together with the user ID, which is necessary in any case when carrying out the automatic procedure.

The corresponding route from the failure position, which is defined by the position data transmitted by the vehicle device 200, to the destination address of the nearest service point, the route specified in the manual procedure (MV) is used as a basis for the manual procedure and the corresponding toll is paid to the user or to the person with the user ID linked user account.

In this way, if the vehicle device 200 fails or if it is determined that the vehicle device 200 is inoperable while driving, the user can continue driving without any problems and legally without having to interrupt the journey for manual log-in using the manual method, continue, and is routed directly to a service point where the faulty in-vehicle device 200 can be replaced.

The toll center 100 can also send a message to the service point after the transfer of the destination address regarding the nearest service point, in order to prepare the employees there for the imminent arrival of the vehicle subject to the toll with the defective vehicle device 200 and accordingly to support a speedy replacement of the vehicle device 200. Particularly preferably, not only the expected arrival time is transmitted, but also the device type of the defective vehicle device 200 stored with the user profile for the respective vehicle in the toll center 100 and--if transmitted by the vehicle device 200 with the failure message to the toll center 100--also the error type or information about the failed components of vehicle device 200.

In figure 3 a schematic flow chart of the method in the vehicle device 200 is shown. In step S10, vehicle device 200 is used in a known manner to determine and collect the data in the automatic method. In particular, vehicle device 200 determines in a known manner whether the vehicle that is subject to the toll is using a route section that is subject to toll and, if this is the case, sends a corresponding data record with the toll data to toll center 100 after driving through the route section that is subject to toll.

In step S12, the monitoring means checks whether vehicle device 200 is operational. If this is the case, the collection can be continued in the automatic method according to step S10. However, if vehicle device 200 is not operational for toll collection because relevant components have failed or are defective, the position data or the last known position data and preferably also other data such as vehicle data and/or a failure message are transmitted to toll center 100 in step S14. Furthermore, in step S16, the lack of operability is preferably signaled to the respective user of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, for example by a message on the display of vehicle device 200, by the flashing or display of an LED, preferably a red LED, and/or by the playing of an audio signal or one voice message.

Furthermore, if it was determined that vehicle device 200 was not operational, the automatic method is ended in step S18.

The transmission of the position data and possibly the failure message, the signaling of the lack of operability and the termination of the automatic method preferably take place here in each case automatically. Steps S14 to S18 can also be carried out simultaneously or in a different order. However, they only take place if it was actually determined in step S12 that the vehicle device 200 has a lack of operational capability for toll collection.

In figure 4 a schematic flow chart is shown in the toll control center 100, with the collection being carried out in the automatic method in a known manner in step S20, with the vehicle device 200 receiving the corresponding toll data.

If, in step S22, position data is suddenly received from the respective vehicle device 200 and/or a failure message instead of the toll data, then in step S24 further toll determination and toll collection are carried out using the manual method. For the toll determination and toll collection in the manual method, in step S25 the entry into the manual method is carried out with the received position data or with the last known position of the vehicle subject to the toll as the starting point.

If no position data and/or no failure message is received in step S22, then the collection is continued in the automatic method according to step S20.

Preferably, according to step S26, if the manual method is carried out and the toll center 100 has determined accordingly that the vehicle device 200 is not operational for toll collection, the address of the nearest service point at which the vehicle device 200 is repaired or repaired is determined in step S26 can be exchanged. The destination address of this next service point is then transmitted in step S28 to the vehicle device 200 for the user's information on the display 210 of the vehicle device, or sent to a mobile phone or smartphone of the user. Accordingly, the user of the vehicle that is subject to the toll can drive directly to the address of the service point without having to stop the vehicle and manually log into the manual method because the vehicle device 200 is not operational.

Furthermore, the route from the starting point defined via the received position data to the destination address of the service point is preferably determined by the toll control center 100 and stored as a route booked using the manual method. The toll due for this can be displayed to the user on the display 210 of the vehicle device 200 and can also be deducted directly from the user account.

Instead of being directed to a service point, the toll control center 100 can also specify another manual toll collection terminal as the destination address, so that the respective user can legally drive the vehicle subject to the toll to the next toll terminal and pay the toll, and then at the toll collection terminal the further ones planned itinerary using the manual method.

In a preferred development, it is also possible for the user, in the event of a signaled failure of vehicle device 200 and a corresponding switchover from the automatic method to the manual method, to use a destination address in the form of the address of a service point or a toll terminal instead of a destination address specified by toll center 100 to book an individual address. To do this, the user can deselect the destination address of the service point or toll terminal transmitted by the toll center 100 and enter his own address instead of the destination address specified by the toll center 100, for example the destination address of the route traveled from the outset. Because of this newly entered destination address, a new route is determined in the toll center via the traffic areas subject to toll, starting from the default position to the destination address, the route is booked for this user and the toll is collected. Any route that has already been automatically booked in the manual process, for example to the service point or to the toll terminal, is canceled or integrated accordingly.

The deselection of the automatically booked destination address to the service point or to the toll terminal can be carried out either through a corresponding design of the vehicle device 200 or via a mobile phone or smartphone of the user. The deselection of the automatically booked destination address can take place accordingly after it has been transmitted to the user.

In a preferred development, after the end of the automatic method, the user can also be given the opportunity to select either a destination address suggested by the toll center in the form of the nearest service point or the nearest toll terminal, or a destination address entered by the user that differs from the automatically generated addresses . Only after the address has been selected by the user is the route determined in the manual process and, based on the default position or the last known position of the vehicle subject to the toll, the route to the specified destination address is determined and the toll is collected in the manual process. Here, too, the user does not have to interrupt the journey, as the specification or selection of the destination address is possible without interaction with a toll terminal and can also be achieved by voice input.

1. 1. Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) für ein mautpflichtiges Fahrzeug, umfassend:
   • eine dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201), welche mit wenigstens einer dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) kommunikativ gekoppelt ist, wobei die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) dazu eingerichtet ist, Identifikationsdaten und/oder Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten über die wenigstens eine dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) an eine Mautzentrale (100) zu senden, um die Erhebung einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu ermöglichen oder zu bestätigen, und wobei die dezentrale
   • Recheneinrichtung (201) weiterhin dazu eingerichtet ist, die ordnungsgemäße Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) und/oder einer mit der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung kommunikativ gekoppelten Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230) zu überwachen,
   • dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
   • die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) dazu eingerichtet ist, in Antwort auf einen festgestellten Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) und/oder der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230) eine Ausfallnachricht zu erzeugen und an eine Mautzentrale (100) zu senden, um in der Mautzentrale (100) ein Verfahren zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für eine Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu initiieren.
2. 2. Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) nach Beispiel 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) weiterhin dazu eingerichtet ist, zusammen mit der Ausfallnachricht Startpositionsdaten bevorzugt auf Grundlage einer von der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230) bestimmten Position an die Mautzentrale (100) zu senden.
3. 3. Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) nach Beispiel 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine mit der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung (201) kommunikativ gekoppelte Nutzerschnittstelle (210) vorgesehen ist und die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) dazu eingerichtet ist, in Antwort auf einen festgestellten Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230) zumindest eine Zielauswahlmöglichkeit zu generieren und einem Nutzer an der Nutzerschnittstelle (210) anzuzeigen, in Antwort auf eine Nutzereingabe zu einer angezeigten Zielauswahlmöglichkeit Zielpositionsdaten zu generieren und die generierten Zielpositionsdaten über die dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) an die Mautzentrale (100) zu übermitteln, um die dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegende mautpflichtige Verkehrsfläche zu definieren.
4. 4. Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) nach Beispiel 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine mit der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung (201) kommunikativ gekoppelte Nutzerschnittstelle (210) vorgesehen ist und die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) dazu eingerichtet ist, nach der Übermittlung der Ausfallnachricht an die Mautzentrale (100) zumindest eine Zielauswahlmöglichkeit von der Mautzentrale (100) über die dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) zu empfangen und einem Nutzer an der Nutzerschnittstelle (210) anzuzeigen, in Antwort auf eine Nutzereingabe zu einer angezeigten Zielauswahlmöglichkeit Zielpositionsdaten zu generieren und die generierten Zielpositionsdaten über die dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) an die Mautzentrale (100) zu übermitteln, um die dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegende mautpflichtige Verkehrsfläche zu definieren.
5. 5. Mautzentrale (100) zur Erhebung einer Maut eines mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs beim Benutzen einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche, umfassend:
   • eine zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) und eine zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101), welche mit der zentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) kommunikativ gekoppelt ist, wobei die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu ausgebildet ist, die erfolgte Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche aus über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) von einer Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) empfangenen Identifikationsdaten und/oder Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten zu erkennen und/ oder zu registrieren und eine auf das Fahrzeug bezogene Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung der mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu erheben und/oder deren Erhebung zu registrieren,
   • dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
   • die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) weiterhin dazu eingerichtet ist, eine Ausfallnachricht der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) zu empfangen und/oder einen Ausfall der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder einen Ausfall wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung verwendeten Komponente (220, 230) festzustellen und in Antwort auf das Empfangen der Ausfallnachricht und/oder das Feststellen des Ausfalls ein Verfahren zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für die Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu initiieren.
6. 6. Mautzentrale (100) nach Beispiel 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) zusammen mit der Ausfallnachricht Startpositionsdaten von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) zu empfangen und die Startpositionsdaten als Startposition bei der Initiierung des Verfahrens zur Registrierung der Nutzungsberechtigung der dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu verwenden.
7. 7. Mautzentrale (100) nach Beispiel 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, Startpositionsdaten aus der letzten, vordem Empfang der Ausfallnachricht und/oder oder dem Feststellen des Ausfalls empfangenen Position der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) zu generieren und die Startpositionsdaten als Startposition bei der Initiierung des Verfahrens zur Registrierung der Nutzungsberechtigung der dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu verwenden.
8. 8. Mautzentrale (100) nach einem der Beispiele 5 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, in Antwort auf den Empfang der Ausfallnachricht und/oder das Feststellen des Ausfalls nach einem vorbestimmten Kriterium Zielpositionsdaten zu erzeugen und diese als Zielposition bei der Initiierung des Verfahrens zur Registrierung der Nutzungsberechtigung der dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu verwenden.
9. 9. Mautzentrale (100) nach einem der Beispiele 5 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) kommunikativ mit einer Speichereinrichtung gekoppelt ist, welche ein das Mautnetz betreffende Daten umfasst, insbesondere vorgespeicherte Zielpositionsdaten und/oder Kartenmaterial und/oder Mautnetzdaten, und die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, in Antwort auf den Empfang der Ausfallnachricht und/oder das Feststellen des Ausfalls anhand der das Mautnetz betreffenden Daten mindestens eine Zielposition auf Grundlage einer ermittelten Startposition zu generieren, wobei die Zielposition bevorzugt ein der Startposition nächstgelegenes Mautstellenterminal und/oder eine der Startposition nächstgelegene Serviceeinrichtung und/ oder eine Abfahrt aus dem Mautnetz ist.
10. 10. Mautzentrale (100) nach Beispiel 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, die ermittelten Zielpositionen über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) zur Auswahl durch den Nutzer an die Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) oder ein Mobilgerät des Nutzers zu übermitteln und in Antwort auf eine über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) empfangene Auswahl die ausgewählte Zielposition bei der Initiierung des Verfahrens zur Registrierung der Nutzungsberechtigung der dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu verwenden.
11. 11. Mautzentrale (100) nach einem der Beispiele 5 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, eine Nachricht zur Bestätigung der Registrierung der Nutzungsberechtigung zu generieren und
    die generierte Nachricht zur Bestätigung der Registrierung über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) an die Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) zu senden oder an ein Mobilgerät eines Nutzers zu senden, auf den die Fahrzeugeinrichtung in der Mautzentrale registriert ist, wobei die Nachricht bevorzugt auch Zielpositionsdaten und besonders bevorzugt auch Via-Positionen umfasst.
12. 12. Mautzentrale (100) nach einem der Beispiele 5 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu eingerichtet ist, während des Verfahrens zur Registrierung der auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung auf einer Route zwischen der Startposition und der Zielposition fällige Mautgebühren auf Grundlage eines vorgegeben Kriteriums bestimmt und die berechneten Mautgebühren erhebt.
13. 13. Mauterhebungssystem zur Erhebung einer Maut eines mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs beim Benutzen einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche,
    • mit einer von dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug mitgeführten Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) zur Bereitstellung von Identifikationsdaten zur Identifizierung des mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs, mit einer Positionsbestimmungseinrichtung zur Bestimmung wenigstens einer Position des mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs, und
    • mit mindestens einer Recheneinrichtung, die dazu eingerichtet ist, die ordnungsgemäße Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) verwendeten Komponente (220, 230) zu überwachen,
    • wobei das Mauterhebungssystem dazu eingerichtet ist, die erfolgte Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche aus von der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung bestimmten Positionsdaten zu erkennen und eine auf das Fahrzeug bezogene Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung der mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu erheben,
    • bevorzugt mit einer Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) gemäß Beispiel 1 bis 4 und mit einer Mautzentrale gemäß Beispiel 5 bis 12,
    • dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    • das Mauterhebungssystem weiterhin dazu eingerichtet ist,
    • ein Verfahren zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für eine Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu initiieren, wenn die Recheneinrichtung einen Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) verwendeten Komponente (220, 230) festgestellt hat.
14. 14. Mauterhebungssystem gemäß Beispiel 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Recheneinrichtung zur Überwachung der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) verwendeten Komponente (220, 230) in der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder in einem im Fahrzeug mitgeführten Mobilgerät und/oder in einer Mautzentrale vorliegt.
15. 15. Mauterhebungssystem gemäß Beispiel 13 oder 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Mautzentrale und/oder die Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder ein im Fahrzeug mitgeführtes Mobilgerät dazu eingerichtet ist, die Mautgebühr zu erheben.
16. 16. Mauterhebungssystem gemäß einem der Beispiele 13 bis 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung in der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder durch ein im Fahrzeug mitgeführtes Mobilgerät und/oder durch mindestens eine straßenseitige Erfassungsvorrichtung ausgebildet ist.
17. 17. Mauterhebungssystem gemäß einem der Beispiele 13 bis 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein im Fahrzeug mitgeführtes Mobilgerät dazu eingerichtet ist, während des Verfahrens zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für eine Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche auf Aufforderung eine Startposition und/oder eine Endposition zu übermitteln.
18. 18. Verfahren zur Erhebung einer Maut für die Benutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche durch ein mautpflichtiges Fahrzeug, umfassend die Schritte:
    • Bereitstellen von Identifikationsdaten zur Identifizierung des mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs durch eine in dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug mitgeführte Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200),
    • Ermitteln der Position des mautpflichtigen Fahrzeugs mittels einer Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung,
    • Erkennen der erfolgten Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche aus den Identifikationsdaten und/oder den Positionsdaten,
    • Erheben einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogene Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung der mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche, und
    • Überwachen der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) verwendeten Komponente (220, 230),
    • gekennzeichnet durch
    • das Initiieren eines Verfahrens zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für die Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche in Antwort auf einen festgestellten Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) verwendeten Komponente (220, 230).
19. 19. Computerprogrammprodukt, welches Softwarecodeabschnitte umfasst, die in einen internen Speicher einer dezentralen Recheneinrichtung (201), welche mit wenigstens einer dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) kommunikativ gekoppelt ist, geladen werden können und die, wenn sie von der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung (201) ausgeführt werden, die dezentrale Recheneinrichtung (201) dazu veranlassen, die folgenden Schritte durchzuführen:
    • Versenden von Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten über die wenigstens eine dezentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (220) an eine Mautzentrale (100), um die Erhebung einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu ermöglichen oder zu bestätigen,
    • Überwachen der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung und/oder einer mit der dezentralen Recheneinrichtung kommunikativ gekoppelten Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230),
    • Erzeugen, in Antwort auf einen festgestellten Mangel der ordnungsgemäßen Funktion der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder der wenigstens einen dezentralen Kommunikationseinrichtung und/oder der Positionsbestimmungsvorrichtung (230), einer Ausfallnachricht, und
    • Senden dieser Ausfallnachricht an die Mautzentrale (100), um in der Mautzentrale (100) ein Verfahren zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das mautpflichtige Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für eine Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche zu initiieren.
20. 20. Computerprogrammprodukt, welches Softwarecodeabschnitte umfasst, die in einen internen Speicher einer zentralen Recheneinrichtung (101), welche mit einer Kommunikationseinrichtung (130) kommunikativ gekoppelt ist, geladen werden können und die, wenn sie von der zentralen Recheneinrichtung (101) ausgeführt werden, die zentrale Recheneinrichtung (101) dazu veranlassen, die folgenden Schritte durchzuführen:
    • Erkennen und/oder Registrieren der erfolgten Nutzung einer mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche aus von über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) einer Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) empfangenen Positionsdaten und/oder Mautdaten,
    • Erheben einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogene Mautgebühr für die erfolgte Nutzung der mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche und/oder Registrieren einer Erhebung dieser Mautgebühr,
    • Empfangen einer Ausfallnachricht der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) über die zentrale Kommunikationseinrichtung (120) und/oder Feststellen eines Ausfalls der Fahrzeugeinrichtung (200) und/oder wenigstens einer von der Fahrzeugeinrichtung verwendeten Komponente (220, 230) und
    • Initiieren eines Verfahrens zur Registrierung wenigstens einer auf das Fahrzeug bezogenen Nutzungsberechtigung für die Nutzung einer dem mautpflichtigen Fahrzeug vorausliegenden mautpflichtigen Verkehrsfläche in Antwort auf das Empfangen der Ausfallnachricht und/oder das Feststellen des Ausfalls.

The present disclosure is further and further illustrated by the examples listed and numbered below:

1. 1. Vehicle equipment (200) for a toll vehicle, comprising:
   • a decentralized computing device (201) which is communicatively coupled to at least one decentralized communication device (220), the decentralized computing device (201) being set up to transmit identification data and/or position data and/or toll data via the at least one decentralized communication device (220). send a toll center (100) to enable or confirm the collection of a toll fee related to the vehicle subject to toll for the use of a toll traffic area, and wherein the decentralized
   • The computing device (201) is also set up to monitor the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or a position determination device (230) that is communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device,
   • characterized in that
   • the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to generate a failure message in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or the position determination device (230) and to a To send toll center (100) to initiate a method for registering at least one related to the vehicle subject to toll use authorization for use of a toll road ahead of the vehicle subject to toll in the toll center (100).
2. 2. The vehicle device (200) according to example 1, characterized in that the decentralized computing device (201) is also set up to send start position data together with the failure message, preferably on the basis of a position determined by the position determination device (230) to the toll center (100). .
3. 3. Vehicle device (200) according to example 1 or 2, characterized in that a user interface (210) communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device (201) is provided and the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to respond to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the position determination device (230), to generate at least one destination selection option and to display it to a user on the user interface (210), to generate destination position data in response to a user input for a displayed destination selection option, and to transmit the generated destination position data via the decentralized To transmit the communication device (220) to the toll control center (100) in order to define the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
4. 4. Vehicle device (200) according to example 2 or 3, characterized in that a user interface (210) communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device (201) is provided and the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to, after the failure message has been transmitted to the Toll center (100) to receive at least one destination option from the toll station (100) via the decentralized communication device (220) and to display it to a user at the user interface (210), to generate destination position data in response to a user input for a displayed destination option and to transfer the generated destination position data to transmit the decentralized communication device (220) to the toll center (100) in order to define the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
5. 5. Toll center (100) for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, comprising:
   • a central communication device (120) and a central computing device (101), which is communicatively coupled to the central communication device (120), wherein the central computing device (101) is designed to use the central communication device (120 ) to recognize and/or register identification data and/or position data and/or toll data received from a vehicle device (200) and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll and/or to register the collection thereof,
   • characterized in that
   • the central computing device (101) is also set up to receive a failure message from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) and/or a failure of the vehicle device (200) and/or a failure of at least one component used by the vehicle device ( 220, 230) and, in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure, to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
6. 6. Toll center (100) according to example 5, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to receive starting position data from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) together with the failure message and to receive the starting position data as the starting position to initiate the procedure for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
7. 7. Toll center (100) according to example 5, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to generate start position data from the last position of the vehicle device (200) received before the failure message was received and/or the failure was determined and to use the start position data as the start position when initiating the method for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
8. 8. Toll center (100) according to one of examples 5 to 7, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to generate target position data according to a predetermined criterion in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure and to use this as a target position when initiating the procedure for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
9. 9. Toll center (100) according to one of examples 5 to 8, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is communicatively coupled to a storage device which includes data relating to the toll network, in particular pre-stored destination position data and/or map material and/or toll network data , and the central computing device (101) is set up to generate at least one target position on the basis of a determined starting position in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure based on the data relating to the toll network, the target position preferably being one of the starting position closest toll station terminal and/or a service facility closest to the starting position and/or an exit from the toll network.
10. 10. Toll center (100) according to Example 9, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to transmit the determined target positions via the central communication device (120) for selection by the user to the vehicle device (200) or a mobile device of the user to transmit and in response to a selection received via the central communication device (120) to use the selected target position when initiating the method for registering the right to use the toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll.
11. 11. Toll center (100) according to one of examples 5 to 10, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to generate a message confirming the registration of the usage authorization and
    to send the generated message to confirm the registration via the central communication device (120) to the vehicle device (200) or to a mobile device of a user on which the vehicle device is registered in the toll center, with the message preferably also target position data and particularly preferred also includes via positions.
12. 12. Toll center (100) according to one of examples 5 to 11, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to register the usage authorization related to the vehicle subject to the toll on a route between the starting position and the destination position due during the method Determines tolls based on a predetermined criterion and collects the calculated tolls.
13. 13. Toll collection system for collecting a toll from a vehicle subject to toll when using a traffic area subject to toll,
    • with a vehicle device (200) carried by the vehicle that is subject to the toll for providing identification data for identifying the vehicle that is subject to the toll, with a position determining device for determining at least one position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, and
    • with at least one computing device that is set up to monitor the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200),
    • wherein the toll collection system is set up to recognize the use of a traffic area subject to toll from position data determined by the position determination device and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll,
    • preferably with a vehicle device (200) according to examples 1 to 4 and with a toll control center according to examples 5 to 12,
    • characterized in that
    • the toll collection system is still set up to
    • to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll and that is subject to the toll if the computing device used a defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or at least one of the vehicle devices (200). Component (220, 230) has detected.
14. 14. Toll collection system according to example 13, characterized in that the computing device for monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200) in the vehicle device and/or in a mobile device carried in the vehicle and/or in a toll center.
15. 15. Toll collection system according to example 13 or 14, characterized in that a toll center and/or the vehicle device and/or a mobile device carried in the vehicle is set up to collect the toll fee.
16. 16. Toll collection system according to one of examples 13 to 15, characterized in that the position determining device is formed in the vehicle device and/or by a mobile device carried in the vehicle and/or by at least one roadside detection device.
17. 17. Toll collection system according to one of examples 13 to 16, characterized in that a mobile device carried in the vehicle is set up to during the Method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is subject to the toll and that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll to transmit a start position and/or an end position when requested.
18. 18. A method for collecting a toll for the use of a toll traffic area by a toll vehicle, comprising the steps:
    • Providing identification data for identifying the vehicle that is subject to the toll by a vehicle device (200) carried in the vehicle that is subject to the toll,
    • Determining the position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll using a position determination device,
    • Recognition of the use of a toll traffic area from the identification data and/or the position data,
    • Collection of a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the toll road, and
    • Monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200),
    • marked by
    • the initiation of a method for registering at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220) used by the vehicle device (200), 230).
19. 19. Computer program product which comprises software code sections which can be loaded into an internal memory of a decentralized computing device (201) which is communicatively coupled to at least one decentralized communication device (220) and which, if they are executed by the decentralized computing device (201). , cause the decentralized computing device (201) to carry out the following steps:
    • Sending position data and/or toll data via the at least one decentralized communication device (220) to a toll center (100) in order to enable or confirm the collection of a toll fee related to the vehicle subject to the toll for the use of a traffic area subject to the toll,
    • Monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device and/or a position determination device (230) communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device,
    • generate, in response to a detected lack of proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and / or the at least one decentralized communication device and / or the position determination device (230), a failure message, and
    • Sending this failure message to the toll control center (100) in order to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll and is subject to toll in the toll center (100).
20. 20. Computer program product which comprises software code sections which can be loaded into an internal memory of a central computing device (101) which is communicatively coupled to a communication device (130) and which, when executed by the central computing device (101), cause the central computing device (101) to carry out the following steps:
    • Recognizing and/or registering the use of a traffic area subject to toll from position data and/or toll data received via the central communication device (120) of a vehicle device (200),
    • Collection of a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the toll traffic area and/or registration of collection of this toll fee,
    • Receiving a failure message from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) and/or determining a failure of the vehicle device (200) and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device and
    • Initiating a method for registering at least one vehicle-related usage authorization for the use of the toll Vehicle ahead toll road in response to receiving the failure message and / or detecting the failure.

Claims (15)

Toll center (100) for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to toll when using a traffic area that is subject to toll, comprising: a central communication device (120) and a central computing device (101), which is communicatively coupled to the central communication device (120), the central computing device (101) being designed to use the central communication device (120 ) to recognize and/or register identification data and/or position data and/or toll data received from a vehicle device (200) and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll and/or to register the collection thereof, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is also set up to receive a failure message from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) and/or a failure of the vehicle device (200) and/or a failure of at least one component used by the vehicle device ( 220, 230) and, in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure, to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle for the use of a toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, wherein the central computing device (101 ) is communicatively coupled to a storage device, which includes data relating to the toll network, and the central computing device (101) is set up, in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure based on the data relating to the toll network, min generate at least one target position based on a determined starting position, and wherein the central computing device (101) is set up to transmit the determined target positions via the central communication device (120) for selection by the user to a mobile device of the user and in response to a via the central communication device (120) received selection the selected target position at the initiation of the method for registering Authorization to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Toll center (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to receive starting position data from the vehicle device (200) via the central communication device (120) together with the failure message and to receive the starting position data as the starting position during initiation of the procedure for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Toll center (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to generate and to use the start position data as the start position when initiating the procedure for registering the right to use the toll traffic area ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Toll center (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to generate target position data according to a predetermined criterion in response to the receipt of the failure message and/or the determination of the failure and to use this as a To use the target position when initiating the procedure for registering the right to use the toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Toll center (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data relating to the toll network are pre-stored target position data and/or map material and/or toll network data and/or the target position is a toll station terminal closest to the starting position and/or a service facility closest to the starting position and/or exiting the toll network. Toll center (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to send a message to confirm the To generate registration of the usage authorization and to send the generated message to confirm the registration via the central communication device (120) to the user's mobile device, the message preferably also includes target position data and particularly preferably via positions. Toll center (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central computing device (101) is set up to register tolls due on a route between the starting position and the destination position during the method for registering the usage authorization relating to the vehicle subject to the toll Determines the basis of a predetermined criterion and collects the calculated tolls. Toll collection system for collecting a toll from a vehicle subject to toll when using a traffic area subject to toll, with a vehicle device (200) carried by the vehicle that is subject to the toll for providing identification data for identifying the vehicle that is subject to the toll, with a position determining device for determining at least one position of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, and with at least one computing device that is set up to monitor the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200), wherein the toll collection system is set up to recognize the use of a traffic area subject to toll from position data determined by the position determination device and to collect a vehicle-related toll fee for the use of the traffic area subject to toll, and with a toll control center according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toll collection system is still set up to to initiate a method for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is subject to the toll and is in front of the vehicle that is subject to the toll, if the computing device has detected a defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200). Toll collection system according to Claim 8, characterized in that the computing device for monitoring the proper functioning of the vehicle device and/or at least one component (220, 230) used by the vehicle device (200) in the vehicle device and/or in a mobile device carried in the vehicle and/or or available at the toll station. Toll collection system according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the toll center and/or the vehicle device and/or a mobile device carried in the vehicle is set up to collect the toll fee and/or that the position determination device in the vehicle device and/or by a device in the vehicle entrained mobile device and / or is formed by at least one roadside detection device. Toll collection system according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that a mobile device carried in the vehicle is set up to, during the method for registering at least one user authorization related to the vehicle subject to toll for use of a traffic area subject to toll ahead of the vehicle subject to toll, upon request a starting position and /or to transmit an end position. Toll collection system according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the vehicle device (200) has a decentralized computing device (201) which is communicatively coupled to at least one decentralized communication device (220), the decentralized computing device (201) being set up to to send identification data and/or position data and/or toll data via the at least one decentralized communication device (220) to a toll center (100) in order to enable or confirm the collection of a toll fee related to the vehicle subject to toll for the use of a traffic area subject to toll, and wherein the decentralized computing device (201) is further set up to ensure the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or a position determination device (230) communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device, wherein the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to respond to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or the position determination device (230) to generate a failure message and to send it to a toll center (100) in order to initiate a method in the toll center (100) for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll to initiate the use of a toll road ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll. Toll collection system according to Claim 12, characterized in that the decentralized computing device (201) is also set up to send start position data, preferably based on a position determined by the position determination device (230), to the toll center (100) together with the failure message. Vehicle equipment (200) for toll collection for a toll vehicle, comprising: - a position determination device (230), - at least one decentralized communication device (220), - a mobile device with a user interface, a mobile communication device and a mobile computing device, which is coupled to the user interface and the mobile communication device, - a decentralized computing device (201), which is communicatively coupled to the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and the position determination device (230), - wherein the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to send identification data and position data and/or toll data via the at least one decentralized communication device (220) to a toll center (100) in order to collect a toll fee related to the vehicle that is subject to toll for the enable or confirm use of a toll road, and - Wherein the decentralized computing device (201) is further set up to ensure the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least to monitor a decentralized communication device (220) and/or a position determination device (230) communicatively coupled to the decentralized computing device, whereby the decentralized computing device (201) is set up to generate a failure message in response to a detected defect in the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or the position determination device (230) and to a To send the toll control center (100) in order to initiate a method in the toll control center (100) for registering at least one usage authorization related to the vehicle that is subject to the toll for use of a traffic area that is ahead of the vehicle that is subject to the toll and is subject to toll,
and the mobile computing device of the mobile device is set up to receive at least one destination selection option from the toll center via the mobile communication device and to display it to a user on the user interface, to generate destination position data in response to a user input for a displayed destination selection option and to send the generated destination position data as part of booking data to transmit the toll center using the mobile communication device. Vehicle device (200) according to Claim 14, characterized in that the position determination device (230) is provided by a position determination device provided by the vehicle and/or by the mobile device, which is coupled to the decentralized computing device, and/or that the decentralized communication device is provided by a communication device installed in the vehicle and/or by the mobile device and/or that the mobile computing device of the mobile device monitors the proper functioning of the vehicle device (200) and/or the at least one decentralized communication device (220) and/or the position determination device (230) is present and / or that the decentralized computing device (201) is further set up, together with the failure message starting position data preferably on the basis of a to send the position determined by the position determination device (230) to the toll center (100).

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