EP4163885A1 - System and method for collecting tolls for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for collecting tolls for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system has a portable toll device, which is assigned to the motor vehicle, and a central data processing device. At least part of the time there is a communication connection between the portable toll device and the central data processing device. The portable toll device is set up: to determine position information at first regular time intervals during a journey of the motor vehicle, the position information comprising a position of the toll device; to store the determined position information in a memory and to transmit the stored position information to the central data processing direction when a predetermined condition occurs. The central data processing device is set up to evaluate the position information received from the portable toll device and to determine a toll fee from this. Furthermore, a method for toll collection is disclosed.

Description

The disclosure relates to a system and a method for toll collection for a motor vehicle.

background

A known method for collecting tolls is based on a satellite-supported system. Here, a toll road network is divided into several sections, with each section being assigned a tariff that determines the amount of the toll. The mapping of the toll road network to the sections forms part of the operating data of the toll system and is stored in a control center. With a vehicle device installed in a vehicle (a so-called OBU (OBU - on-board unit)), the position of the vehicle is determined at regular time intervals while driving with the aid of a global navigation satellite system. The positions of the vehicle are recorded in a so-called lane file, which is sent to the control center via mobile radio at certain intervals. The lane data is evaluated in the control center, namely the comparison of the determined positions with the toll sections and the calculation of the toll to be paid. The disadvantage here is that each vehicle that is subject to the toll has to carry special hardware, namely the OBU, in order to record its positions.

As a rule, devices carried by the driver (e.g. smartphone or tablet) have the functions required for automatic toll collection, such as position determination (e.g. via GPS (GPS - global positioning system)), communication via mobile communications and a (graphic) User interface. It is therefore desirable to use such devices for toll collection.

The document EP 3 002 733 A1 discloses a toll control center for collecting a toll from a vehicle that is subject to a toll when using a traffic area that is subject to a toll. The toll center includes a central computing device and a central communication device. The central computing device is set up to send an initiation request for initiating a toll collection process via the central communication device to receive the information from a mobile device in order to use the traffic area that is subject to toll by the vehicle that is subject to toll. The initiation request includes starting position data of the vehicle subject to the toll. The central computing device is further set up to initiate a toll collection method in response to the receipt of the initiation request and to terminate the initiated toll collection method in response to the occurrence of a termination event.

In the document EP 3 447 695 A1 control procedures for automatic toll collection are described. In one embodiment, a camera image of a vehicle is recorded at a checkpoint. The camera image is provided with an initial time stamp. Furthermore, the vehicle sends a toll message to a control center in a predetermined area of the checkpoint. The toll message includes lane information and a second time stamp, which indicates the time at which the message was sent. The camera image is used to determine in which lane of the road the vehicle is located. If the determined lane matches the lane information from the toll message and the two time stamps are close enough to each other, the check is rated as successful. In this embodiment, either an analysis of position data is required in order to determine the predetermined area for sending the toll message, or there must be a communication which triggers the sending of the toll message. In another embodiment, position data is continuously sent to a control center as toll information. With each piece of toll information, a toll message with the lane information and the associated time stamp is also sent to the control center. At a control point, the lane information is then in turn compared with a lane from a camera image. Large amounts of data (position data and toll messages) are continuously transmitted from the vehicle device to the control center.

Summary

The task is to provide improved technologies for participation in a toll system. In particular, the specification of dedicated hardware should be avoided and the convenience of participating in the toll system should be improved. The quality of toll collection should remain high so that due tolls are calculated correctly.

A system according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 14 are disclosed. Further embodiments are subject of dependent claims.

• während einer Fahrt des Kraftfahrzeugs in ersten regelmäßigen Zeitabständen eine Positionsinformation zu bestimmen, wobei die Positionsinformation eine Position des Mautgeräts umfasst,
• die bestimmten Positionsinformationen in einem Speicher abzulegen und
• die gespeicherten Positionsinformationen bei Eintreten einer vorbestimmten Bedingung an die zentrale Datenverarbeitungsrichtung zu übermitteln.

A system for toll collection for a motor vehicle is provided. The system has a portable toll device, which is assigned to the motor vehicle, and a central data processing device. There is at least part of the time a communication connection between the portable toll device and the central data processing device. In the present description, the central data processing device is also referred to as the control center for short. The portable toll device is set up:

• to determine position information at first regular time intervals while the motor vehicle is driving, the position information including a position of the toll device,
• to store the determined position information in a memory and
• to transmit the stored position information to the central data processing unit when a predetermined condition occurs.

The central data processing device is set up to evaluate the position information received from the portable toll device and to determine a toll fee from this.

• in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen (mittels eines tragbaren Mautgeräts) Bestimmen einer Positionsinformation, wobei die Positionsinformation eine Position des tragbaren Mautgeräts umfasst, wobei das tragbare Mautgerät einem Kraftfahrzeug zugeordnet ist,
• Ablegen der bestimmten Positionsinformationen in einem Speicher des tragbaren Mautgeräts.
• bei Eintreten einer vorbestimmten Bedingung, Übermitteln der gespeicherten Positionsinformationen von dem tragbaren Mautgerät an eine zentrale Datenverarbeitungsrichtung (Zentrale), und
• Auswerten der empfangenen Positionsinformationen in der zentralen Datenverarbeitungsrichtung und Bestimmen einer Mautgebühr.

Furthermore, a computer-implemented method for toll collection is disclosed. The procedure includes the following steps:

• at regular time intervals (by means of a portable toll device) determining position information, the position information comprising a position of the portable toll device, the portable toll device being assigned to a motor vehicle,
• Storing the determined position information in a memory of the portable toll device.
• upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, transmitting the stored position information from the portable toll device to a central data processing direction (central office), and
• Evaluating the position information received in the central data processing direction and determining a toll fee.

In all of the embodiments, the components can communicate with one another, ie between the portable toll device and the control center, wirelessly, for example by means of a cellular connection or via WLAN (WLAN - wireless local area network).

The portable toll device is associated with the motor vehicle for which the toll fee is to be determined. The portable toll device can be arranged in the motor vehicle or arranged on the motor vehicle. The portable toll device can be detachably arranged in the motor vehicle, for example in a holder. The portable toll device can be designed as a smartphone or as a tablet, for example. Such devices usually have all the necessary components for toll collection, so that a dedicated toll collection device such as an OBU is not required.

The portable toll device determines its position (and thus the position of the associated motor vehicle) at regular first time intervals. To determine the position, the toll device can be assigned a position detection device, for example installed in the toll device or coupled to the toll device. The position detection device can be designed as a GNSS receiver (GNSS—global navigation satellite system). Suitable GNSS systems are, for example, GPS, Glonass, Galileo or Beidou. Smartphones and tablets usually have a GNSS receiver built into the device. The position of the toll device (and the associated motor vehicle) includes at least one degree of longitude and one degree of latitude. Additionally, the position may include a direction, a speed, the number of GNSS satellites from which signals are acquired, and an HDOP value (HDOP - Horizontal Dilution of Precision, a confidence value for the horizontal accuracy of GNSS positioning). In addition to the position, the position information can also include a time stamp, the time stamp indicating when the position was determined.

The first regular time intervals for determining the position information can be small. For example, the position of the portable toll device can be determined every second, every 2 seconds or every 5 seconds. This is intended to ensure that the journey of the motor vehicle can be traced as precisely as possible (ideally without gaps) so that the toll fee can be determined precisely.

The center may include a processor and memory. The center can be designed as a server. The center is set up to evaluate the position information, so For example, to compare the positions of the toll device with a model of toll routes and to determine the toll fee to be paid from this.

• ein vorbestimmtes Zeitintervall ist abgelaufen,
• ein Ende der Fahrt wird bestimmt, und
• eine vorbestimmte Speicherkapazität in dem tragbaren Mautgerät wird erreicht.

The predetermined condition for transmitting the position information stored in the memory of the portable toll device to the central data processing device can be at least one of the following conditions:

• a predetermined time interval has expired,
• an end of the ride is determined, and
• a predetermined storage capacity in the portable toll device is reached.

The predetermined time interval can have any value between 2 minutes and 60 minutes, for example 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Any combination of the above conditions can also be provided. In a preferred embodiment, the position information is transmitted to the central office every X minutes (e.g. X=5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30) and as soon as an end of the journey is determined, the ones still in the memory of the toll device are transferred Position information transmitted to the control center.

The portable toll device can be set up, before starting a journey, by means of a user input, to record a vehicle identification of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable toll device and at least one vehicle characteristic of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable toll device and to transmit the vehicle identification and the at least one vehicle characteristic to the central data processing device. The user input can be made using an input device of the toll device, for example using a touch-sensitive display device (touch screen). The central data processing device can be set up to check the transmitted at least one vehicle property for consistency. The center can also be set up to transmit the result of the consistency check to the toll device. The toll device can be set up to output the result of the consistency check received from the control center, for example on the display device.

The at least one vehicle property can be selected from the elements of the following group: permissible total weight, number of axles, emission class, drive type and a combination of the aforementioned elements.

The vehicle identification can be the registration number of the motor vehicle. The vehicle identification can include a country of origin of the vehicle, for example as information on the license plate. The vehicle identification enables a clear identification of the motor vehicle. The vehicle identification can be used to check whether the motor vehicle is involved in the toll procedure while driving.

In many countries, including Germany, the amount of the toll to be paid depends on the characteristics of the motor vehicle. In these countries, the vehicle properties must be specified before the journey, for example by means of a user entry on the toll device. Provision can be made for the time of the change to be documented when there is a change in the information on the vehicle properties.

Vehicle properties for a vehicle identification can already be stored in the control center. The consistency check in the control center can be, for example, a comparison of the at least one vehicle property specified with a stored vehicle property. Alternatively or in addition, the consistency check can include a comparison of the specified total weight with the number of axles. If a heavy vehicle (e.g. 40 t) has only a few (e.g. 2) axles or a light vehicle (e.g. 5 t) has many (e.g. 4 or 5) axles, a corresponding information can be issued via the toll device. If the consistency check is negative, the user can be asked to check the entries and correct them if necessary.

The portable toll device can be set up to generate status information and to transmit it to the central data processing device. The central data processing device can be set up to check the status information transmitted by the portable toll device and to transmit an evaluation signal to the portable toll device as the result of the check. The evaluation signal is a release signal which releases the start of the journey or allows the journey to be continued if the result of the check is positive. The evaluation signal is a blocking signal which does not enable the start of the journey or does not allow the journey to be continued if the test is negative.

• eine Erhebungsbereitschaft des tragbaren Mautgeräts,
• einen Zeitstempel, der angibt, wann die Statusinformation erzeugt wurde,
• eine Fahrzeugkennzeichnung des dem tragbaren Mautgerät zugeordneten Kraftfahrzeugs, und
• eine Statuspositionsinformation, wobei die Statuspositionsinformation die Position angibt, an welcher die Statusinformation erzeugt wurde.

The status information can include at least one of the following information or any combination (preferably all) of the following information:

• a collection readiness of the portable toll device,
• a timestamp that indicates when the status information was generated,
• a vehicle identification of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable toll device, and
• status position information, the status position information indicating the position at which the status information was generated.

The status position information can be provided by the position detection device, for example as GNSS coordinates. The status position information includes at least a longitude and a latitude. Additionally, the status position information may include a direction, a speed, the number of GNSS satellites from which signals are acquired, and an HDOP value.

• das tragbare Mautgerät ist positionsbestimmungsfähig,
• das tragbare Mautgerät ist datenübermittlungsfähig,
• das tragbare Mautgerät weist eine ausreichende Energieversorgung auf und
• das tragbare Mautgerät ist mitteilungsfähig.

The readiness of the toll device to collect data indicates whether the toll device is set up and capable of participating in a toll system, i.e. whether it can fulfill its obligation to cooperate in the toll system. The collection readiness of the portable toll device may include at least one of the following states or any combination (e.g. all) of the following states:

• the portable toll device is capable of position determination,
• the portable toll device is capable of data transmission,
• the portable toll device has an adequate power supply and
• the portable toll device is capable of communication.

The states of readiness for collection are explained in more detail below.

In order to participate in toll-compliant operation, the position of the toll device (and thus of the associated vehicle) is determined during the journey at regular first time intervals, for example every second, every 2 seconds or every 5 seconds, and stored in a memory of the toll device becomes. At a later point in time, for example after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example after 10 minutes or after 20 minutes), after the end of the journey or when a predetermined memory capacity is reached, the stored position information is transmitted to the control center. Based on the position information, an evaluation is then carried out in the control center as to whether one or more toll routes have been traveled. An essential aspect of operation of the toll device in compliance with the toll obligation is therefore whether the toll device can determine its position in the predetermined regular first time intervals.

The toll device must therefore be able to determine its position. For a GNSS receiver to be able to determine its position, it must receive a sufficient number of satellite signals; usually signals from at least four satellites. For example, if a GNSS receiver receives too few satellite signals or no satellite signals at all, it cannot determine its position. In this case, he is not capable of position determination and a willingness to collect based on the position determination would be negative. Participation in the automatic toll system would therefore not be possible.

A technical defect in the toll device can also result in it not being able to determine its position. For example, although a sufficient number of GNSS satellite signals can be received, the processing of the signals in the toll device fails due to the defect and it is therefore not possible to determine the position.

If the portable toll device is embodied as a smartphone or tablet, other reasons for a negative positioning capability may be that a user has restricted the rights to use the positioning function or has switched off the positioning function (e.g. the GNSS receiver).

The position information and possibly the status information should be transmitted from the toll device to the control center. The transmission takes place wirelessly, for example via a cellular network or by means of WLAN. To check the readiness to collect, it can be queried whether there is a communication connection between the toll device and the control center and whether data transmission is possible, ie whether the toll device is capable of data transmission.

If a smartphone or a tablet is used as a portable toll device, its power supply is relevant. Finally, the portable toll device should transmit the position information collected during the journey to the control center, for example after the journey has ended. It must therefore be ensured that the toll device still has an adequate power supply at this point in time. Provision can therefore be made to set the willingness to collect to negative if the state of charge of a battery in the toll device falls below a first predetermined threshold, for example if less than 10% battery charge remaining. Provision can also be made for a message to be output to the user (driver) if the battery charge falls below a second predetermined threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold. For example, when the battery charge is 15%, a message can be issued with which the user is prompted to connect the toll device to a charger in order to avoid a further drop in the battery charge and a resulting negative willingness to collect.

The portable toll device can be set up to output the status of its collection readiness, e.g. B. as a visual signal and / or as an acoustic signal. For example, the status of the willingness to collect can be displayed with a display device of the toll device (eg “green” if there is a willingness to collect and “red” if there is no willingness to collect). Provision can also be made for the user to be informed of a change in one of the states of readiness for collection by means of a signal output, e.g. B. as a visual signal and / or as an acoustic signal. To do this, the toll device must be able to communicate. The output of such a signal (or such signals) must not be suppressed, as would be possible with the Android and iOS operating systems of smartphones and tablets, for example.

A further possibility for a negative willingness to collect can be a central blocking of the toll device for participation in the automatic toll system. A blocking signal can be sent from the control center to the toll device in order to set the collection readiness to negative. Such a block can be used, for example, if tolls due in the past were not paid on time or not at all. The control center can also send an unlock signal to the toll device to remove the lock, for example after existing debts have been settled.

It can be provided that when one or more of the statuses of the willingness to collect changes, the time of the change (e.g. with a time stamp) and/or a trigger for the change in the willingness to collect is documented in the status information.

Provision can be made for the portable toll device to be set up to generate initial status information before the start of a journey and to transmit it to the central data processing device, and for the central data processing device to be set up to to check the initial status information transmitted to the portable toll device and to transmit an initial evaluation signal to the portable toll device as the result of the test, the initial evaluation signal being a release signal if the test is positive, and the initial evaluation signal being a blocking signal if the test is negative fails. The initial status information can include the vehicle identification and the at least one vehicle characteristic. The initial status information can also include a timestamp that indicates when the initial status information was generated. The initial check in the control center can include the consistency check of the at least one vehicle property. The check of the initial status information is intended to ensure that the conditions for a trip booking are met centrally. If the check of the initial status information is positive, a trip booking is started. In this case, a unique booking identification number (booking ID) can be transmitted to the toll device together with the release signal. The booking ID is only valid for the trip booking (i.e. the approved trip). If the test is negative, the journey is not released, which is indicated by the blocking signal. In this case, the user must use an alternative to participating in the toll system.

Provision can also be made for the portable toll device to be set up to generate regular status information at second regular time intervals during the journey and to transmit it to the central data processing device, and for the central data processing device to be set up to check the regular status information and to send a regular evaluation signal to transmit to the portable toll device, wherein the regular evaluation signal is a release signal if the check is positive, and wherein the regular evaluation signal is a blocking signal if the check is negative. This enables continuous monitoring of the readiness for collection while driving. The comments on status information apply analogously to the regular status information. The regular status information can also include the booking ID. This enables a simple assignment of the regular status information to the trip and the trip booking.

In this embodiment, the status of the collection readiness of the portable toll device is checked at regular time intervals and corresponding regular status information is generated. Ideally, the generated regular status information is immediately transmitted to the control center. The second regular intervals can be any Take a value between 10 seconds and 10 minutes, for example 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes or 5 minutes. This means that very up-to-date information is available when the motor vehicle is checked, from which the fulfillment of the obligation to cooperate can be determined. In the simplest case, the willingness to collect (positive or negative) can be implemented as a single bit, so that the amount of data transmitted is very small.

In a preferred embodiment, the initial status information and the regular status information are combined. Before the start of the journey, the initial status information is generated by the toll device and sent to the control center for verification. During the journey, the regular status information is generated and sent to the control center for verification. This means that extensive information about the vehicle and the readiness of the toll device to collect is available at the head office, so that a high quality of toll collection is guaranteed.

As already mentioned, the generated regular status information is ideally transmitted from the portable toll device to the central data processing device immediately after it has been generated. If it is determined that it is not possible to transmit the regular status information generated to the central data processing device, for example because there is no communication link between the toll device and the central office, the regular status information generated in the second regular time intervals (possibly with their time stamps) in the Memory of the portable toll device saved. The stored regular status information is transmitted to the central office as soon as a connection is established from the portable toll device to the central office at a later point in time. This enables a complete tracking of the willingness to collect data.

Provision can be made to check the connectivity of the toll device with the control center, ie the ability of the toll device to transmit data, while driving. For this purpose it can be provided that the control center sends a confirmation to the toll device for each regular status information item received from the toll device. When regular status information arrives at the control center, a central timer can start running at a predetermined time in the control center. If further regular status information arrives at the control center within the time specified by the central timer, the central timer is reset and starts again from the beginning. If the central timer expires before any further regular status information arrives, this is regarded as a loss of communication with the toll device and the willingness to collect is set to negative at headquarters. In this case, the trip booking is terminated centrally. An analogous configured toll device timer can be implemented in the toll device with regard to the confirmations. When a confirmation is received from the control center, the toll device timer is started in the toll device. If another confirmation from the control center arrives in the toll device within the time specified by the toll device timer, the toll device timer is reset and starts running again. If the toll device timer expires before another confirmation arrives, this is considered a loss of communication with the central office. The readiness for collection is then set to negative in the toll device because the toll device is not capable of data transmission and the trip booking is terminated. It can be provided that the toll device issues a signal to the user to end the journey booking, for example an optical signal and/or an acoustic signal. The user must then use an alternative to participating in the toll system.

The central timer and the toll device timer can be set to the same time, for example 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Simultaneously running timers in the two components ensure that in the event of a loss of the communication link between the toll device and the control center, the same (negative) status of the collection readiness is determined in both components. The value of the timer can be adjusted to the size of possible dead spots. It can be estimated how large the dead spots are along the toll roads and in what time a motor vehicle (with a normal speed of 70 - 90 km/h) would have to have driven through a dead spot.

Provision can also be made for unscheduled status information to be transmitted to the control center immediately if there is a change in the willingness to collect, in particular if the willingness to collect is lost. The unscheduled status information includes the negative willingness to collect. Additionally, the unscheduled status information may include a timestamp indicating when collection readiness was lost and/or a loss of collection readiness trigger.

Provision can be made for the portable toll device to be set up to transmit a trip completion signal to the central data processing device in response to a user input, the trip completion signal indicating that the trip has ended, and wherein the central data processing device is set up, as a reaction to the end-of-travel signal, to determine a toll fee for the route covered using the previously transmitted position information and to transmit the toll fee determined to the portable toll device. The toll fee can be displayed on the toll device, for example on the display device. The user thus receives prompt information on the amount of the toll charge incurred.

It can further be provided that the portable toll device is set up to transmit all position information remaining in the memory of the portable toll device together with the trip completion signal to the central data processing device together with the trip completion signal. This ensures that all position information about the journey is available in the head office and the toll fee is calculated for the entire journey.

The portable toll device can be set up to perform the functions described here by installing an app. When installing the app, a unique app identification number (app ID) can be assigned. The app ID can be transmitted to the control center with the status information, for example the initial status information or the regular status information. This is intended to support the clarification of fraud attempts or technical problems. If the app is uninstalled and then reinstalled, a new app ID will be assigned. For example, a new installation of the app while driving can be detected.

Features disclosed in connection with the system can be applied analogously to the method and vice versa.

The terms “vehicle” and “motor vehicle” are used synonymously unless the context explicitly states otherwise.

Description of exemplary embodiments

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Systems zur Mauterhebung,

Fig. 2

eine Ausführungsform eines Verfahrens in einem Mautsystem,

Fig. 3

eine Ausführungsform eines Verfahrens zum Prüfen von Fahrzeugeigenschaften und

Fig. 4

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Verfahrens in einem Mautsystem.

Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. Show it:

1

a schematic representation of a system for toll collection,

2

an embodiment of a method in a toll system,

3

an embodiment of a method for testing vehicle properties and

4

another embodiment of a method in a toll system.

In the following, the same reference symbols are used for the same components/method steps.

In 1 a schematic illustration of a system for toll collection is shown. The system comprises a portable toll device 10 and a central data processing device (central) 20.

The toll device 10 has a processor 11 , a memory 12 , a communication unit 13 , a GNSS receiver 14 , an energy store 15 and a display device 16 . The toll device 10 can also have a loudspeaker (not shown). The display device 16 can be designed in the form of a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen). The energy store 15 is set up to supply the components of the portable toll device 10 with electrical energy. The energy store 15 is designed as a rechargeable secondary battery. The portable toll device 10 can be designed as a smartphone or as a tablet. The toll device 10 is assigned to a motor vehicle which is traveling on at least partially toll routes during a journey. The toll device 10 can, for example, be detachably arranged in a holder in the vehicle.

The control center 20 has a processor 21 , a memory 22 and a communication unit 23 .

The toll device 10 and the control center 20 are set up to exchange signals and/or data bidirectionally with one another by means of their communication units 13, 23, for example via mobile communications and/or via WLAN. The communication channels are in 1 shown with a dashed line.

Various methods for toll collection and the associated processes are presented below. All of the methods disclosed herein are implemented using the system below 1 executed.

2 shows a sequence of a method for toll collection. While the motor vehicle is driving, the toll device 10 uses the GNSS receiver 14 to determine its position at regular time intervals, for example every second, and thus the position of the associated motor vehicle (step 100). The position is stored as position information in the memory 12 (step 110). The position information includes at least a degree of longitude and a degree of latitude. When a predetermined event occurs, the position information stored in memory 12 is transmitted to control center 20 by means of communication unit 13 (step 120). The control center 20 evaluates the position information received using its processor 21 and calculates the toll fee to be paid (step 130).

3 shows a method sequence for detecting and checking vehicle properties. This process takes place before the start of the journey, i.e. before step 100 of in 2 illustrated procedure. The user first enters a country selection and the license plate number of the motor vehicle assigned to the toll device on the toll device 10 (step 200). Subsequently, properties of the motor vehicle are entered by the user (step 210). The properties include the weight of the vehicle, the number of axles on the vehicle (axle count), the emission class and the type of drive. The information entered is transmitted to the control center 20 in step 220 . The control center 20 checks the information received about the motor vehicle for consistency (step 230). For example, vehicle properties can already be stored in the control center for the license plate number, such as the weight and number of axles of a motor vehicle. In such a case, the values for weight and number of axles transmitted by the toll device must at least correspond to the stored values. It is possible for the user to increase the values, for example if one or more trailers are used. The consistency check can also include the coherence of the transmitted vehicle properties. For example, if a heavy vehicle has few axles or a light vehicle has many axles, this would not be consistent. The result of the check is sent from the control center 20 to the toll device 10 transmitted (step 240). The result of the check is output on the toll device (step 250). If the check is negative, the user is asked to check the entries again and correct them if necessary. The data entered with steps 200 and 210 can be stored in the toll device 10 . If the same vehicle is later used for another journey, this data can then be selected by the user so that it is not necessary to enter it again. Data from several motor vehicles can also be stored in the portable toll device 10, from which the user can select if required.

In a further embodiment, an initial status check is carried out before the start of the journey. The initial status check therefore takes place before step 100 of the in 2 illustrated procedure. In order to be able to start booking a trip, certain requirements must be met. These relate on the one hand to the fulfillment of technical and on the other hand to the financial conditions that are necessary for booking a journey.

In order for a trip booking to be approved by the head office, three criteria must be met. First, a check is made to determine whether the license plate and/or the toll device is blocked at the central end. Furthermore, it is checked whether a means of payment stored by the user is authorized. Finally, the transmitted vehicle properties (cf. procedure according to 3 ) checked for consistency. Only when all three conditions are met is a booking ID generated in the head office and sent to the toll device together with the booking release. If the trip booking is not approved, the booking rejection includes a text in which the reason for the rejection is given.

• das Mautgerät positionsbestimmungsfähig ist, also wenigstens die Signale von 4 GNSS-Satelliten empfangen und verarbeiten werden,
• das Mautgerät datenübermittlungsfähig ist, also eine Kommunikationsverbindung mit der Zentrale besteht (Mobilfunk oder Internet),
• das Mautgerät eine ausreichende Energieversorgung aufweist, also der Akkustand größer oder gleich 15 % ist,
• das Mautgerät mitteilungsfähig ist, also optische und/oder akustische Signale ausgeben kann, insbesondere zur Erhebungsbereitschaft, und
• alle Daten (z.B. Positionsinformationen und/oder Statusinformationen) zu einer vorherigen Fahrtbuchung an die Zentrale übertragen wurden.

If the booking release is available in the toll device, the readiness for collection is then checked in the toll device. The willingness to collect is given if

• the toll device is able to determine its position, i.e. it can receive and process at least the signals from 4 GNSS satellites,
• the toll device is capable of data transmission, i.e. there is a communication connection with the control center (mobile phone or Internet),
• the toll device has an adequate power supply, i.e. the battery level is greater than or equal to 15%,
• the toll device is capable of communicating, i.e. it can emit visual and/or acoustic signals, in particular when it is ready to collect, and
• all data (e.g. position information and/or status information) relating to a previous trip booking has been transmitted to the head office.

A flow of an embodiment with an initial status check is in 4 shown. First of all, the three aforementioned criteria (existence of a block, validity of the means of payment and consistency of the vehicle properties) are checked in the control center 20 (step 80). If the check is negative, a blocking signal is sent to the toll device (step 85) and a message is sent to the user; a trip booking is not started. If the check is positive, a release signal is transmitted to the toll device together with a booking ID (step 86). If the release has been given, the readiness of the toll device to collect is checked (step 90). If the willingness to collect is negative, a message to this effect is issued and the method ends (step 95). If the readiness to collect is positive, the trip booking is started (step 96). The journey can then be carried out. Steps 100 through 130 are the same as in FIG 2 known steps.

The automatic collection of the position information is an essential task of the portable toll device. Based on the position information sent by the toll device, the toll route covered is determined centrally, processed and billed accordingly.

The journey booking begins with the receipt of the booking approval. The journey booking is only started if there is a booking release from the head office and the willingness to collect is given. After the start of the journey booking, a corresponding signaling of the active booking is displayed on the display device 16 of the toll device 10 and is visible to the user (e.g. “journey active”). Furthermore, the user can see whether the willingness to collect is given. During an active booking of a trip, all data relevant to the vehicle and toll can be displayed on the display device 16 until the end of the booking. The data displayed includes, for example, the booking number, a booking duration and a map with the route taken. The card can be activatable and deactivatable.

The supplements described below are compatible with the in Figures 2, 3 and 4 The methods shown are compatible and can complement them.

It should be ensured during the journey that the booking approval or rejection is checked centrally at short intervals and reported to the user so that the journey booking can be interrupted promptly in the event of errors or blocks. The process of generating and sending the survey readiness starts immediately after the start of the booking. The regular status information on the readiness for collection is generated at preconfigured regular intervals (e.g. every 30 seconds, every 1 minute or every 2 minutes) and transmitted to the central office. The sending interval of the regular status information can be configured centrally.

• Zeitstempel (Generierung der Statusinformation)
• Position in mautpflichtigem Gebiet (Dienstgebiet, z. B. Deutschland) (ja/nein)
• Position
  • Ermittlungszeitpunkt (GNSSFixTime)
  • Längengrad (Longitude)
  • Breitengrad (Latitude)
  • Richtung (Heading)
  • Horizontalgenauigkeit (HDOP)
• Buchungs-ID
• Erhebungsbereitschaft ist gegeben oder nicht gegeben
• Status: grün, rot, gelb (grün: Erhebungsbereitschaft gegeben, gelb: Erhebungsbereitschaft gegeben mit Warnung, rot: Erhebungsbereitschaft nicht gegeben)
• Auslöser für Status rot oder gelb
  • GNSS Status (z. B. 3Dfix, Anzahl der GNSS Satelliten)
  • Konnektivität zur Zentrale nicht erfolgreich
  • Energiesparmodus.

The regular status information contains all information that is relevant for checking and issuing a booking approval during the journey. The regular status information includes the following data:

• Time stamp (generation of status information)
• Position in toll area (service area, e.g. Germany) (yes/no)
• position
  • Time of determination (GNSSFixTime)
  • longitude
  • latitude
  • direction
  • Horizontal Accuracy (HDOP)
• Booking ID
• Willingness to collect is given or not given
• Status: green, red, yellow (green: willing to collect, yellow: will to collect with warning, red: not willing to collect)
• Trigger for status red or yellow
  • GNSS status (e.g. 3Dfix, number of GNSS satellites)
  • Connectivity to panel unsuccessful
  • Power saving mode.

If there is a willingness to collect data, this is sent to the head office with all the attributes. In the event that the willingness to collect is not given, the trip booking on the toll device will be canceled. The termination is clearly signaled to the user and all processes in the app will be stopped. The message about the unwillingness to collect is sent to the head office, followed by the message about the end of the booking.

The control center responds to the regular status information either with "Approval of trip booking" or "Rejection of trip booking". Approval of the trip booking allows the user to continue booking a trip. A rejection of the trip booking ends the active trip booking. The reasons for a central refusal can be blocks or technical problems. After rejection of the trip booking, the processes of recording the position information and further generation of the readiness for collection are stopped. Each time a trip booking is aborted, a message about the end of the booking and the remaining position information is transmitted from the toll device 10 to the control center 20 .

• Zeitstempel,
• Breitengrad (in Millisekunden),
• Längengrad (in Millisekunden),
• Richtung (in Zehntelgrad),
• Geschwindigkeit (in Zentimeter pro Sekunde),
• NumSat als Anzahl der für die Ortung genutzten GNSS Satelliten,
• HDOP als Konfidenzlevel und
• Cell-ID als ID der aktuell eingebuchten Mobilfunkzelle.

In all of the exemplary embodiments, the position information is recorded by the toll device at a predefined time interval (every second) and transmitted to the control center at a configurable time. The position information includes the following data:

• Time stamp,
• latitude (in milliseconds),
• longitude (in milliseconds),
• direction (in tenths of a degree),
• speed (in centimeters per second),
• NumSat as the number of GNSS satellites used for positioning,
• HDOP as a confidence level and
• Cell-ID as ID of the currently registered mobile radio cell.

The journey booking is terminated with a user input. For this purpose, a button for ending the current trip booking is present on the display device 16 of the toll device 10 . By operating the "End trip" button, all processes are terminated and all toll-relevant and recorded data, in particular position information and status information, are transmitted to the control center. The user is informed that the toll device should remain switched on and/or the app should not be closed until the data has been transferred.

• einen Zeitstempel des Buchungsendes,
• Position in mautpflichtigem Gebiet (Dienstgebiet, z. B. Deutschland) (ja/nein) und
• die Buchungs-ID.

A trip completion message (or trip completion signal) signals the end of active trip booking. The trip completion message includes:

• a timestamp of the end of the booking,
• Position in a toll area (service area, e.g. Germany) (yes/no) and
• the booking ID.

After the end of the booking, the position information recorded and available in the app (in the memory of the toll device) is immediately transmitted to the head office. In the event that there is no mobile phone service after the end of the booking, the position information will be sent immediately to the head office when mobile phone reception is renewed or via a WLAN Internet connection. No new trip booking is started before the position information already recorded from the previous booking has been sent to the head office. If the message at the end of the booking is not received by the head office (e.g. if data is lost or the app is uninstalled), the journey booking is automatically completed by the head office. If the control center receives a negative willingness to collect, the active booking is canceled and the cancellation is signaled to the user. The position information is sent to the head office immediately after the booking is aborted. The lanes are secured, in terms of signing and encryption, stored in the app (in the memory of the toll device) and transmitted to the control center.

The position information received in the control center is buffered until it is complete or a partial booking occurs due to a timeout. The head office may only close the trip booking after the trip booking has been completed or after a preconfigured timeout has expired. The position information is only complete if it has been received with the "End of booking" message and the rest of the position information at the head office. An incomplete journey booking is noted centrally and is considered a partial booking. An incomplete journey booking occurs when, in a preconfigured period of time during an active journey booking, neither position information is received from the toll device nor is there a message at the end of the booking.

In the event of a mobile network failure, the recorded positions are buffered in the memory of the toll device for a preconfigurable time (e.g. 10 minutes or 20 minutes). After the pre-configurable time has elapsed, the toll device reports that the position information have not been transmitted to the head office, a negative willingness to collect and cancels the trip booking.

• Buchungs-ID,
• Buchungsstart (Datum, Uhrzeit)
• Buchungsende (Datum, Uhrzeit)
• Buchungsdauer
• Buchungsbetrag (Maut in EUR)
• Mautstrecke in Kilometer und
• verwendetes Zahlungsmittel.

After completing the journey, the toll fee is calculated in the control center based on the transmitted position information and transmitted to the toll device. The toll device then displays a summary of the journey. The summary includes the following information:

• booking ID,
• Start of booking (date, time)
• End of booking (date, time)
• booking duration
• Booking amount (toll in EUR)
• Toll route in kilometers and
• used means of payment.

Optionally, the route driven is also displayed on a map.

It is noted that "comprising" and "comprising" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the use of "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limitations.

The features disclosed in the description, the claims and the figures can be relevant for the realization of embodiments both individually and in any combination with one another.

Claims (14)

System for collecting tolls for a motor vehicle, wherein the system has a portable toll device, which is assigned to the motor vehicle, and a central data processing device, wherein there is at least part of the time a communication connection between the portable toll device and the central data processing device, wherein the portable toll device is installed - to determine position information at first regular time intervals during a journey of the motor vehicle, the position information comprising a position of the toll device, - store the determined position information in a memory and - to transmit the stored position information to the central data processing unit upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, and wherein the central data processing device is set up to evaluate the position information received from the portable toll device and to determine a toll fee therefrom. System according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the position information stored in the memory of the portable toll device to the central data processing device is at least one of the following conditions: - a predetermined time interval has expired, - an end of the ride is determined, and - a predetermined storage capacity in the portable toll device is reached. System according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the portable toll device is set up, before starting a journey, by means of a user input, to record a vehicle identification of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable toll device and at least one vehicle characteristic of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable toll device and to transmit the vehicle identification and the at least one vehicle characteristic to the to transmit central data processing device and wherein the central data processing device is set up to check the transmitted at least one vehicle property for consistency. System according to claim 3, wherein the at least one vehicle property is selected from the elements of the following group: permissible total weight, number of axles, emission class, drive type and a combination of the aforementioned elements. System according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the portable toll device is set up to generate initial status information before the start of a journey and to transmit it to the central data processing device, and wherein the central data processing device is set up to check the initial status information transmitted by the portable toll device and as a result to transmit the test an initial evaluation signal to the portable toll device, wherein the initial evaluation signal is a release signal if the test is positive, and wherein the initial evaluation signal is a blocking signal if the test is negative. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable toll device is set up to generate status information and to transmit it to the central data processing device and wherein the central data processing device is set up to check the status information transmitted by the portable toll device and to send an evaluation signal as a result of the check to transmit the portable toll device. System according to claim 6, wherein the status information comprises at least one of the following information: - a collection readiness of the portable toll device, - a timestamp that indicates when the status information was generated, - a vehicle identification of the motor vehicle associated with the portable toll device, and - status position information, the status position information indicating the position at which the status information was generated. The system of claim 7, wherein the collection readiness of the portable toll device comprises at least one of the following states: - the portable toll device is capable of position determination, - the portable toll device is capable of data transmission, - the portable toll device has an adequate power supply and - the portable toll device is capable of communication. System according to one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the portable toll device is set up to generate regular status information at second regular time intervals during the journey and to transmit it to the central data processing device, and wherein the central data processing device is set up to check the regular status information and enter it transmit regular evaluation signal to the portable toll device, wherein the regular evaluation signal is a release signal if the test is positive, and the regular evaluation signal is a blocking signal if the test is negative. System according to claim 9, wherein the generated regular status information is transmitted from the portable toll device to the central data processing device directly after the generation. System according to claim 9, wherein if it is determined that it is not possible to transmit the generated regular status information to the central data processing device, the regular status information generated in the second regular time intervals is stored in the memory of the portable toll device and the stored regular status information is sent to the be transmitted to the central data processing device as soon as a connection is made from the portable toll device to the central data processing device at a later point in time. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable toll device is configured to transmit a trip completion signal to the central data processing device in response to a user input, the trip completion signal indicating that the trip has ended, and wherein the central data processing device is configured in response to the end-of-travel signal to determine a toll fee for the distance traveled using the previously transmitted position information and to transmit the determined toll fee to the portable toll device. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the portable toll device is arranged, along with the trip completion signal, all remaining in the memory of the portable toll device To transmit position information together with the trip termination signal to the central data processing device. Computer-implemented method for toll collection, with the following steps: - determining position information at regular time intervals, the position information comprising a position of a portable toll device, the portable toll device being assigned to a motor vehicle, - Storing the determined position information in a memory of the portable toll device. - upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, transmitting the stored position information from the portable toll device to a central data processing direction, and - Evaluation of the received position information in the central data processing direction and determination of a toll fee.

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