GB2294795A

GB2294795A - Road use charging system

Info

Publication number: GB2294795A
Application number: GB9522182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Munro Groves Paterson
Original assignee: BICC PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 1994-11-01
Filing date: 1995-10-30
Publication date: 1996-05-08
Also published as: GB9522182D0

Abstract

An installation for charging motor vehicles for the use of roads or facilities includes: for each vehicle authorised to use the road(s) which it controls, an in-vehicle unit (IVU) and a a portable data carrier co-operating with it (a vehicle smart card, VSC); for each length of road to be charged to vehicles using it, a transaction unit including means for exchanging ID's and accounting information with the IVU of vehicles passing the transaction unit; and at least one settlement unit including means for at least reading accounting information from the VSC. The IVU and the VSC are uniquely related by encrypted ID's and the IVU and the VSC both hold a record of the accounting transactions in respect of the vehicle. Thus a verifiable account record is kept under the control of the vehicle owner only, avoiding invasion of privacy, and stolen or forged VSC's will not function with other vehicles. The IVU and/or VSC may contain data which enables checking of the driver's licence, vehicle tax, MOT certificate and/or insurance cover.

Description

Road Use Charging System This invention relates to apparatus for use in collecting or otherwise accounting for payments for the use of motor vehicles, and addresses the current desire of United Kingdom government (and others) for a system of charging for (or taxing) use of vehicles on a selective basis rather than (or more likely in addition to) on the basis of a flat-rate fee per annum and a tax on fuel at a fixed rate per unit volume, wherever consumed.Objectives in the design of such a system include avoiding delay to traffic for fee collection requiring no lane separation or other alteration to roadways (other than the installation of appropriate equipment alongside or over the carriageway) nor reduction in road capacity avoiding confrontation with drivers and the need to collect small debts provision of verifiable accounting with minimal invasion of privacy provision of prepayment facilities minimising opportunities for fraud or for the use of stolen account records and provision of "add-on" facilities, such as detection of legal violation, vehicle access control and parking fee accounting.

In the following description of the invention, certain abbreviations will be used, most of which are familiar at least in the United Kingdom, but which for avoidance of doubt are listed and defined, in a few cases specifically for the purpose of this application, as follows (in alphabetical order):: AVI Automatic Vehicle Identification DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority) The public authority responsible for authorising the use of vehicles on the road and/or for the licensing of drivers HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) A vehicle liable to higher rates of fee because of its weight or other characteristics ID (Identifier) A digital code unique to an individual piece of equipment ISO International Standards Organisation IVU (In-Vehicle Unit) Equipment specific to and permanently installed in an individual vehicle and forming part of a road use charging system MOT (Ministry of Transport Test) A periodic inspection of a vehicle to determine compliance with prescribed safety and pollution standards NPR (Number Plate Recognition) Automatic equipment (not specific to a road use charging system) for the identification of vehicles OCR (Optical Character Recognition) The automatic conversion of an optical image of alphanumeric text, especially the "number plate" of a vehicle, to machine-readable text form RAM (Random Access Memory) Digital memory that can be read, written and altered ROM (Read-Only memory) Digital memory that can be written once only as a permanent record and thereafter can only be read VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) A prepaid flat-rate government fee which is a precondition for the use of a vehicle on public roads (A token confirming that VED has been paid will be referred to as a "tax disc") VIN (Vehicle Identity Number or chassis number) A number or other code permanently identifying an individual vehicle VSC (Vehicle Smart Card) A portable data carrier which interacts with an IVU.

A complete installation in accordance with the invention comprises: for each vehicle authorised to use the road(s) which it controls, an IVU and a VSC; for each length of road to be charged to vehicles using it, a transaction unit including means for exchanging ID's and accounting information with the IVU of vehicles passing the transaction unit; and at least one settlement unit including means for at least reading accounting information from the VSC and is characterised by the facts that the IVU and the VSC are uniquely related by encrypted ID's and that the IVU and the VSC both hold a record of the accounting transactions in respect of the vehicle.

The invention includes an IVU constructed and programmed to relate to a VSC in this way, a road vehicle in which such IVU is installed, and the combination of such IVU or vehicle with a co-operating VSC.

Features relevant to basic functions Preferably the IVU is a secure unit in the sense that if it is removed from the vehicle or its case is opened, a record of the event is written into the IVU for subsequent investigation and/or the I W is disabled either permanently or temporarily. It may be powered from the vehicle electrical system, but is preferably powered by an internal long-life battery (such as a lithium battery) preferably with a solar cell as an additional power source to minimise battery demand.

In simple forms of the system, it is a self-contained unit independent of the operation of the vehicle, but if desired it may be coupled to the control system of the vehicle so that it can send a disabling signal to the vehicle if a significant legal violation is indicated or if no valid VSC is detected.

The VSC is preferably a smart card complying with ISO 7816 Parts 1, 2 and 3 or other appropriate Standards. As a minimum, it carries records of its encrypted ID (preferably written to it in ROM when first presented to the IVU) and of each chargeable transaction (identifying the transaction unit, date and time of the transaction, and the amount of charge), preferably written in RAM; preferably it also carries records of at least one of the VIN (chassis number), engine number and registration number of the vehicle (in ROM), the balance of the account and the date and time at which the VSC was last presented to and/or removed from the IVU (the latter can be achieved, with ample precision to be useful, by writing the present time to the RAM at any convenient interval - such as once a minute - while the VSC is in presentation to the IVU).

It may also usefully carry other data for additional functions discussed below.

The transaction units may communicate with the IVU's by any appropriate localised communication technique. Microwave links may be most reliable under road traffic conditions, but infra-red or other optical techniques are considered viable alternatives. As a minimum, the transaction unit needs to send an interrogation signal to obtain an ID signal from any IVU in range (this is essential to ensuring that it charges the vehicle once only and can be erased from memory as soon as a valid transaction is completed, to preserve privacy) and to transmit a signal to the IVU specifying its own ID and the charge to be applied to the account; preferably the IVU returns a verification signal. The transaction unit may be programmed to apply different charges at different clock times and/or on different days of the week and/or in different seasons. Different charge rates or exemptions for different classes of vehicle (cars, motor cycles, HGV's, local residents, emergency service or other public vehicles, for instance, or classes determined by environmental criteria) can be achieved either by the IVU transmitting a vehicle class code to the transaction unit to allow it to charge the appropriate fee, or by the transaction unit transmitting fee information in the form of a code that will be interpreted by the IVU according to a classification of the vehicle recorded in its memory. The first option is preferable as it enables the transaction unit to keep a tally of the charges it has allocated, allowing the proceeds to be distributed to different road operators if required.

Preferably the VSC is valid for a predetermined period and must be presented to the (or a) settlement unit where any debt shown to be outstanding must be paid before a new VSC will be issued for the next accounting period, or any remaining credit carried forward to the new VSC. It would be possible to provide an option for users to choose (or to be compelled, for example in case of bankruptcy or unfavourable credit rating) a VSC that becomes inoperable as soon as the balance on the account is a debit, but this is not thought a desirable mode of operation as enforcement costs are likely to be disproportionate to the debt so limited.

Features relevant to supplementary road use charging functions Preferably the IVU includes a display showing the balance of the account.

Preferably the system includes many (readily accessible) payment units capable of receiving cash and/or credit (say from a debit or credit card account) and entering a corresponding credit in the account on the VSC, to be copied into the IVU whan the VSC is next presented to it. Such payment units may be manned or automated, and may be combined with other facilities, such as fuel retailers (petrol/gas stations), motor dealers, car parks, banks, post offices and other retailers.

Since the account record is duplicated in the IVU (except for any payment transactions since the VSC was last removed from it) accounting cannot be evaded or falsified to the detriment of revenue by the loss of the VSC (accidental or not); since VSC's are only usable in one vehicle, replacement "blank" VSC's can be made available without serious enquiries and the IVU programmed to accept such blank card and write all the approriate account information to it on first presentation.Since a VSC functions only in the vehicle for which it was issued (or in the case of a blank replacement card, to the IVU of which it which it was first presented), there is no market created for stolen VSC's; it may be desirable that blank VSC's (as distinct from VSC's renewed on surrender of an expiring one) cannot accept credit entries until after they have been presented to the IVU and that an IVU which has accepted an written to a blank card therafter recognises only that card (and not the previous, lost, card) as belonging to it.

Features relevant to optional "add-on" functions Preferably the VSC serves also as an electronic tax disc.

In such case, the Settlement Unit(s) may be the DVLA and/or selected post office counter establishments, and any credit outstanding at the VED payment due date may be credited towards VED instead of being carried forward to the new VSC, so that the system may be used by the less financially adept motorist as a savings account for collecting for his VED payment. Preferably the VSC also records in ordinary visible writing at least the registration number of the vehicle and its own expiry date and the IVU has a window, visible through the windscreen, in which these written details are visible when the VSC is in place.

Preferably the apparatus of the invention can also be used to account for car parking fees, either using a transaction unit similar to the ones used for road use charges (appropriate for a large car park with single point entry and exit) or a transaction unit to which the VSC must be presented (appropriate for small and/or multi-access and kerb-side car parks). If desired, this feature could be extended to encourage park-and-ride usage by giving a credit, rather than applying a charge, for use of certain out-of-town car parks.

It can also be used for vehicle recognition for the automatic control of access of vehicles to private car parks or other secure areas.

Preferably the installation also includes an entry showing the insurance status of the vehicle and the insurance renewal date. This may be written by the issuing authority on the basis of insurance papers presented, but preferably the isssuing authority verifies by setting up a modem or like link with the insurance company concerned, so that the motorist is saved the need to bring the documentation and the issuing authority the need to check it and at the same time an opportunity for use of forged documents is eliminated.

Preferably the VSC becomes inoperative on expiry of the recorded term of insurance. Preferably safety test information (MOT test data) is similarly recorded and similarly used.

Subject to capacity, the installation can be expanded to record the mileage of the vehicle or even a full tachographic record.

Police (or other law-enforcement agencies) may be provided with interrogation units capable of reading the data recorded on the VSC, or selected parts of it.

Preferably the transaction units, or some of them, are combined with NPR units and the vehicle identity so deduced is compared with the ID (if any) obtained from the I W ; mismatch may be reported on a real-time or offline basis for investigation by enforcement authorities in cases where they are suspected as being other than reading errors by the machinery. Such reports can include video images of the suspect vehicle. In this way, vehicles with no (or a defective) IVU or with no VSC or an expired or otherwise inoperable one can be detected.

A further option is for the IVU to read not only the VSC but also a machine-readable driver's licence (either continually or on each engine start-up) so as to be operable only if the driver is qualified and/or insured to drive the vehicle. Driver identity may be included in the transaction record (or a separate file) to provide prima facie evidence of driver identity at the time of an accident, violation or other incident.

Transaction units can also be used to generate data for real-time traffic control and/or long-term traffic management and highway planning.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to a system in which the VSC serves as a tax disc and the duplicated account record includes (and the system uses as described) in addition to transaction records information on the VIN and registration number of the vehicle the insurance company, policy number, authorised driver(s) and policy expiry date of cover and the MOT test station, certificate number and expiry date.

The construction and programming of the various units of the system are a matter of routine computing and communications technology, and will not be detailed herein.

0. On expiry of his VSC, motorist A hands it in to his local main Post Office which is an authorises settlement unit.

The VSC is scanned by the Post office terminal and reports a credit balance of 15-70, which A accepts as correct. He pays the full amount of his VED plus 50, and the terminal automatically calls the insurance company shown on the expiring VSC and a central databank of MOT test certificates issued to verify that the information is valid and to update it if appropriate. A new VSC is generated and the VIN, ID, updated insurance and MOT test data and a starting credit balance of 65.70 written to the card.

1. Motorist A now drives five junctions along a motorway operated by Agency Z, an in doing so passes under five toll gantries, each of which exchanges ID's, received the registration number of the vehicle and successfully validates it against the NPR record, reports a charge of 0.50 into the account in the IW (which reads it on into the VSC), credits the proceeds to Agency Z (less a handling charge for the operation of the system) and then waits until the vehicle ceases to respond to its interrogation signal before erasing both the records that identify the vehicle. At the end of his journey, the IVU is showing a remaining credit of 63.20 2. Motorist B buys fuel at a service station that is also an authorised payment unit.The cost is 12-83 and he tenders 2 0-00 in banknotes; to avoid handling coins, he presents his VSC and accepts a credit transaction increasing his balance by 7-17.

3. Motorist C fails to renew his VCS whan due. Thereafter each time he passes a transaction unit, his IVU fails to respond to the interrogation signal from the unit (or returns a "void" signal) and the unit thus fails to validate with the NPR text read for the vehicle and includes the event in its next report to the police.

After a few days, it is clear that he has not just forgotten to insert a new VSC and a constable calls to investigate.

4. Motorist D continues driving after his insurance expires and is brought to the attention of the police and investigated in the same manner.

5. Motorist E disputes the balance shown on his IVU; he takes the VSC to his local main post office and asks for a print-out of the account. This shows that the vehicle was driven past several transaction units on the M25 and parked in a multistory car park in Wembley. Enquiries transfer to the motorist's teenage son.

6. Motorist E runs up a debt of 120 before his car fails its MOT test and is "taken off the road", so he does not renew his VSC. The amount of the debt is worth referring to a collection agency.

7. On a very wet day, a transaction unit report 446 mismatches between NPR and ID readings; this is attributed to OCR errors and no action taken.

Claims

1 A road use chaging system comprising: for each vehicle authorised to use the road(s) which it controls, an IW and a VSC; for each length of road to be charged to vehicles using it, a transaction unit including means for exchanging ID's and accounting information with the IVU of vehicles passing the transaction unit; and at least one settlement unit including means for at least reading accounting information from the VSC characterised by the facts that the IVU and the VSC are uniquely related by encrypted ID's and that the IVU and the VSC both hold a record of the accounting transactions in respect of the vehicle.

2 A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the IVU is a secure unit in the sense that if it is removed from the vehicle or its case is opened, a record of the event is written into the IVU for subsequent investigation and/or the IVU is disabled either permanently or temporarily.

3 A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the IVU is powered by an internal long-life battery.

4 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 in which the IVU has a solar cell as an additional power source.

5 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 in which the IVU is coupled to the control system of the vehicle so that it can send a disabling signal to the vehicle if a significant legal violation is indicated or if no valid VSC is detected.

6 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 in which the VSC is a smart card.

7 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 in which the VSC carries, in addition to its encrypted ID and details of each chargeable transaction at least one item of data selected from # at least one of the VIN (chassis number), engine number and registration number of the vehicle the the balance of the account the the date and time at which the VSC was last presented to and/or removed from the IVU.

8 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 in which the transaction units communicate with the IVLJ's by microwave links.

9 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 in which the transaction units communicate with the IVU's by infra-red or other optical links.

10 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 in which the transaction units are programmed to apply different charges at different clock times and/or on different days of the week and/or in different seasons.

11 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 in which the IVU is programmed to transmit a vehicle class code to the transaction unit to allow it to charge an appropriate fee.

12 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 in which the IVU includes a display showing the balance of the account.

13 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-12 comprising also payment units capable of receiving cash and/or credit and entering a corresponding credit in the account on the VSC, to be copied into the IVU whan the VSC is next presented to it.

14 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-13 in which the IVU's are programmed to accept a blank VSC and write all the approriate account information to it on first presentation.

15 A system as claimed in claim 14 in which such blank VSC's (as distinct from VSC's renewed on surrender of an expiring one) are so programmed that they cannot accept credit entries until after they have been presented to the IW.

16 A system as claimed in any one of claims in which the VSC serves also as an electronic tax disc and records in ordinary visible writing at least the registration number of the vehicle and its own expiry date while the IVU has a window, visible through the windscreen, in which these written details are visible when the VSC is in place.

17 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-16 including means for accounting for car parking fees.

18 A system as claimed in claim 17 in which the said means includes at least one car parking transaction unit similar to the ones used for road use charges.

19 A system as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 including at least one car parking transaction unit to which the VSC must be presented.

20 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-19 in which the IVU and the VSC record the insurance status of the vehicle and the insurance renewal date and the the VSC becomes inoperative on expiry of the recorded term of insurance.

21 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-19 in which the IW and the VSC record the safety test status of the vehicle and the test expiry date and the the VSC becomes inoperative on expiry of the recorded term of certification.

22 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-21 including also law-enforcement interrogation units capable of reading the data recorded on the VSC, or selected parts of it.

23 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-22 in which at least some transaction units are combined with NPR units and is programmed to compare the vehicle identity so deduced with the ID (if any) obtained from the IVU and to report mismatch on a real-time or offline basis for investigation by enforcement authorities.

24 A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-23 in which the IW's are constructed and programmed to read not only the VSC but also a machine-readable driver's licence and to be operable only if the driver is qualified and/or insured to drive the vehicle.

25 A system as claimed in claim 14 in which the IW is programmed to include driver identity in the transaction record or in a separate file.

26 A system substantially as described with reference to the Example Events described.

27 An in-vehicle unit constructed and programmed to operate with a VSC in the system claimed in any one of claims 1-26.

28 A road vehicle in which an in-vehicle unit as claimed in claim 27 is installed.

29 The combination of an in-vehicle unit as claimed in claim 27 or a vehicle as claimed in claim 28 with a co operating VSC containing the same transaction data.