JP2001351134A - Road pricing method and its terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and precisely realize road pricing. SOLUTION: This method is provided with the first step for selecting a base station so as to regulate the charging area of a vehicle among the base stations of multiple portable telephone sets, the second step for loading a terminal device, which is added with characteristic specified information to be loaded on the vehicle and used and is capable of communicating with the selected base station, to the vehicle, the third step where a prescribed toll is charged to the terminal device from a charging side when the terminal device of the second step passes through the base station selected by the first step, and the fourth step where the side of the terminal device pays the toll charged by the third step to the charging side. Arrangement of an antenna only for road pricing is unnecessitated and the structure of an on-vehicle device is prevented from becoming complicated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to road pricing for charging vehicles passing through an area, and more particularly to a road pricing method that can use a base station for a portable telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, road pricing is performed using an area where a vehicle entrance can be specified (for example, an island or an area where a bridge is used as an entrance) as one pricing area.

However, it is not currently performed to divide an area, such as Tokyo, into or out of which vehicles enter and exit using a plurality of roads, and perform road pricing for each section.

In this area, an ETC (Electr) used on a toll road to perform road pricing is provided.
Sonic Toll Collection System
em: The use of a non-stop automatic toll collection system is being considered.

However, in order to use ETC, ETC must be used.
Antennas must be newly arranged in predetermined charging areas, and the on-board ETC device must be arranged in the passing vehicle.

[0006] For this reason, there is a drawback that the system is expensive and that arranging the antenna so as to cover all roads requires a lot of time and cost.

Further, the maintenance cost of the antenna becomes large,
This has the drawback that the burden on road pricing users is expected to increase.

[0008] In addition, the use of ETC has a drawback in that charging can be performed only at a charging point, and charging cannot be performed only for vehicles traveling in an area (for example, residents in the area).

Further, once the ETC antenna is installed,
There is a disadvantage that it is difficult to change the charging area.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves on this point. It is not necessary to arrange an antenna dedicated to road pricing, the structure of the vehicle-mounted device is not complicated, and the system construction and maintenance costs are reduced. Can be inexpensive, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a road pricing method in which charging points can be set densely, a charging area can be easily set, and a charging area can be easily changed.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first step of selecting a base station of a plurality of base stations of a cellular phone so as to define a charging area of a vehicle, and loading and using the base station on the vehicle. Loading a terminal capable of communicating with the selected base station, to which the terminal having the specific information added thereto is added, on the vehicle, and selecting the terminal in the second step in the first step A third step in which a predetermined toll is charged to the terminal from the charging side when passing through the base station, and the terminal pays the fee charged in the third step to the charging side. And a fourth step. The present invention is a terminal to which unique identification information for identifying the terminal that can be loaded on a vehicle is added, wherein the communication unit is capable of communicating with a base station of a mobile phone, and is transmitted from the base station. Area detecting means for detecting a signal for notifying a charging area of a vehicle toll, and when the charging area detecting means detects the signal for notifying,
Means for making a billing request on the billing side based on the specific information.

[0012]

Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange a dedicated antenna for road pricing, the structure of the vehicle-mounted device is not complicated, the construction and maintenance costs of the system can be reduced, and the charging points are set densely. In addition, it is possible to provide a road pricing system in which the charging area can be easily set and the charging area can be easily changed.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a terminal A mounted on a vehicle according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna, and a transmitting / receiving unit 2 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the antenna 1
Is connected. The transmission / reception unit 2, a display unit 3 for visually displaying data, an input unit 4 for inputting data, a mail unit 5 including an Internet connection function, an ID output unit 6 for outputting specific information unique to a terminal, A billing processing unit 7, which is a feature, is connected to the control unit 9. The storage unit 10 stores a control program, and further stores a block-by-block program sent from the computer system on the billing system side each time. Here, this terminal A
Is preferably constructed by adding a billing processor 7 to a mobile phone or PHS, but a mobile phone modified to a dedicated billing machine may be used.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of setting a charging area.
FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart for a user of the road pricing of the present invention to register a settlement method.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of the in-vehicle holding device B of the terminal A. 4, reference numeral 13 denotes a holding unit that holds the terminal A, and reference numeral 14 denotes a control unit that is electrically connected to the terminal A via the holding unit 13. This control unit 1
4, a display unit 15 and an audio output unit 16 are connected to each other.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a state in which the terminal A and the holding device B are mounted in a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 5, the holding device B is fixed to a position near the handle 19 of the dashboard 18 so that the driver can easily see the driving device while driving. The terminal A is inserted into the holding device B and held.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show operation flowcharts of one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6 to 10 illustrate operation flowcharts separately for the sake of space. A, B, C, D, E, and F in circles follow the corresponding ones in the figure. Means

The characteristic operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, setting of a charging area to be road-priced will be described with reference to FIG.

This example shows an example of performing road pricing in Tokyo. In Tokyo, mobile phone base stations are located to cover the entire area. A charging function for load pricing is added to the desired base station from the base station control side of the mobile phone operator. For example, in order to set the charging area C as shown in FIG. 2, a charging function for load pricing is added to the base station of the mobile phone indicated by a white circle in the figure, and a base station for road pricing is set. The other base stations indicated by black circles operate as ordinary mobile phone base stations.

The charging function can be added by setting a desired base station code number in a charging control program on the base station control side. The charging area can be easily set, and the charging area can be easily changed. be able to.

Further, a user who uses the present system needs to register user information in advance in the computer system D on the charging side of road pricing.

The registration form of the computer system D is accessed by the mail section 5 of the terminal A, which is preferably a portable telephone or a PHS (steps 1 and 2). In response to the access request, the computer system D transmits the registration form to the terminal A, and the terminal A displays the registration form on the display unit 3 (Steps 5 and 6).

In accordance with the registration form, the user specifies specific information (for example, numerical and English character information, a mobile phone number, etc.) uniquely assigned to each terminal A in order to specify each terminal A, Enter the password for identity verification and, if necessary, the name, address, date and time. Further, in accordance with the form, a billing settlement method, for example, a credit card number, a debit card number, a prepaid card number, or a settlement method such as a call charge and a simultaneous billing request from a mobile phone carrier is input and returned to the computer system D. (Steps 7 and 8), the computer system D registers this information as user data in the database (Steps 9 and 10). After completing the registration, the computer system D transmits a completion notification to the user, and the user confirms the completion of the registration (steps 11 to 14).

In the case where the mail section 5 is not built in the terminal A and the user is to be registered by a personal computer, the user accesses the registration form of the computer system D, and specifies the specific information of the portable telephone in the form. ,
Enter your password and payment information and, if necessary,
The address, date and time are also input and transmitted to the computer system D, and the computer system D registers this information as user data (steps 1 to 14).

When the user registers with a postcard or the like, the terminal-specific information,
Enter your password and payment information.
The address, date and time are also described and mailed to the billing side, and the billing side registers this information as user data.

The registered user sets the terminal A on the in-vehicle holding device B at the start of use of the vehicle. As a result, the terminal A is in a chargeable state, the in-vehicle holding device B displays on the display unit 15 that the terminal A is in the chargeable state, and further announces that the audio output unit 16 is in the chargeable state. (Step 20).

When the vehicle enters the charging area C, the terminal A receives the radio waves of the base station for which charging has been set, and the charging processing section 7 automatically recognizes that the terminal A has entered the charging area. In order to notify the driver (user) of the entry, a billing process start message is displayed on the display units 3 and 15, and further a billing process start sound is output from the voice output unit 16 (steps 21 to 24).

The terminal A also transmits the charging request data (date and time, terminal specific information, base station code which received the radio wave, etc.) from the charging processing section 7 to the charging side computer via the mail section 5 of the terminal A. Send to system D (step 2
5).

Here, the base stations for which charging is set are arranged so that the transmission areas of the radio waves overlap each other, but the charging request data is transmitted from the base station code which first received the radio wave among the base stations.

The computer system D receiving the billing request data from the billing processing unit 7 of the terminal A extracts the terminal specific information from the billing request data, determines the fee from a preset billing table, and adds this fee. Then, billing data (specific information of the terminal, date and time, amount, base station code, etc.) is created (steps 26 and 27).

Here, when the charging table is set to a flat rate, the charging table is set according to the date and time or the base station.
Weekday rates, night rates, day and holiday rates, special rates (free), etc. may be set. Further, a billing validity period is set, for example, a billing validity period such as one-day validity, half-day validity, and the like is set.

Further, the computer system D searches the registrant's database based on the specific information of the terminal A, and determines the settlement method of the user (step 28).

If there is no corresponding user in the registrant database, an unregistered message is transmitted to terminal A, and terminal A receives this unregistered message at mail unit 5 and displays it on display unit 3. In addition to the display, the billing processor 7 announces to the user from the audio output unit 16 and notifies the user of non-registration (steps 29NO-33). This “unregistered” message is also displayed on the display unit 15. The user registers the user in the computer system D on the spot in accordance with steps 1 to 14 described above. The “unregistered” message is displayed on the display unit 15 until the user registers and is charged.

The computer system D detects the user corresponding to the database, and if the settlement method of the user is “simultaneous billing with telephone bill”, transmits the billing data to the mobile phone carrier (step 36). .) Further, the computer system D stores the billing data in a billing database (step 37), and outputs a billing completion message (amount,
The charge validity period and the like are transmitted to the terminal A, and the terminal A receives this (steps 38 and 39).

The billing processing unit 7 of the terminal A stores the billing validity period of the billing completion message in the storage unit 10 (step 40), further displays the billing completion on the display unit 3, and
The voice output unit 16 announces the completion of charging, and the driver recognizes the completion of charging (steps 41 and 42). Further, the “billing completion” message is displayed on the display unit 15.

Further, the computer system D detects the user corresponding to the database, and if the payment method of the user is “payment by card”, the payment data obtained by adding the card number to the billing data is transferred to the payment center. (Step 35NO, 43-45).

The computer system of the settlement center that has received the settlement data searches the personal database based on the card number and determines whether the user can settle the billing fee (steps 46 and 47). If the settlement is possible, the settlement completion is transmitted to the computer system D (step 4).
8).

Upon receiving the settlement completion message, the computer system D stores the billing data in a billing database (step 37), transmits a billing completion message (amount of money, billing effective period, etc.) to the terminal A, Machine A receives this (steps 38 and 39). Terminal A
The charging processing unit 7 stores the charging validity period of the charging completion message in the storage unit 10 (step 40), and further displays the display unit 3.
Is displayed, and the voice output unit 16 announces the completion of charging, and the driver recognizes the completion of charging (steps 41 and 42). Further, the “billing completion” message is displayed on the display unit 15.

On the other hand, if the settlement center determines that the card cannot be settled, the settlement center computer system sends the settlement impossible to the charging-side computer system D (steps 47 and 49).

When the computer system D receives the settlement impossible message, it transmits the billing data for which settlement was impossible at the settlement center to the mobile phone carrier (step 50,
51).

When the computer system D receives the settlement impossible message, the computer system D transmits a charging impossible message (a message indicating that charging is not possible, an amount, a message for billing as a telephone bill, a charging valid period, etc.) to the terminal A. This is received (steps 50 and 52). Charge processing unit 7 of terminal A
Saves the billing validity period of the billing impossible message in the storage unit 10 (step 53), displays the billing completion on the display unit 3 and announces the billing completion by the voice output unit 16, and the driver notifies the billing completion. Recognize (steps 54 and 5
5). This “billing completion” message is displayed on the display unit 15.

Further, the computer system D detects a user corresponding to the database, and if the payment method of the user is “payment by prepaid card”, the payment data obtained by adding the prepaid card number to the billing data is used. It is transmitted to the prepaid card management system (steps 44NO, 56).

The computer system of the prepaid card management system which has received the payment data searches the prepaid card database based on the card number, determines whether the card number has a sufficient balance, and if payment is possible (step 58, 59YES, 60YES), the balance data of the corresponding prepaid card in the database is reduced by the fee, and the settlement completion message is sent to the computer system D.
(Steps 61 and 62).

Upon receiving the settlement completion message, the computer system D stores the billing data in a billing database (step 37), transmits a billing completion message (amount of money, billing validity period, etc.) to the terminal A, Machine A receives this (steps 38 and 39). Terminal A
The charging processing unit 7 stores the charging validity period of the charging completion message in the storage unit 10 (step 40), and further displays the display unit 3.
Is displayed, and the voice output unit 16 announces the completion of charging, and the driver recognizes the completion of charging (steps 41 and 42). Further, this “billing completion” message is displayed on the display unit 15.

On the other hand, the prepaid card management system searches the database using the prepaid card number, and if there is no corresponding data (step 59 NO) or if the balance of the corresponding prepaid card is insufficient (step 60 NO), settlement is performed. When it is determined that the settlement is impossible, the computer system of the settlement center transmits a settlement impossible message to the computer system D (step 63).

When the computer system D receives the settlement impossible message, the computer system D transmits the billing data, for which the settlement is impossible by the prepaid card system, to the portable telephone carrier (step 51).

When the computer system D receives the settlement impossible message, it transmits a charging impossible message (a message indicating that charging is not possible, the amount of money, a message for billing as a telephone bill, a charging valid period, etc.) to the terminal A. This is received (steps 50 and 52). Charge processing unit 7 of terminal A
Saves the billing validity period of the billing impossible message in the storage unit 10 (step 53), displays the billing completion on the display unit 3 and announces the billing completion by the voice output unit 16, and the driver notifies the billing completion. Recognize (steps 54 and 5
5). This "billing completion" message is displayed on the display unit 15.

In the above case, the vehicle is charged for the first time in charging area C.
Has been described, but when the vehicle enters and exits the charging area C a plurality of times, or passes through the next base station for which charging has been set, the processing of steps 65 to 67 is performed. That is, the vehicle enters the charging area and receives a radio wave from the base station (step 65). The charging processing unit 7 of the terminal A determines from the contents of the storage unit 10 whether it is within the charging valid period, and does not transmit the charging request data during the charging valid period (for example, the current day) (step 67).

On the other hand, if it is not within the billing validity period such as the first entry into the billing area, a billing process start message is displayed on the terminal A, and the voice output unit 16 outputs a billing process start sound. The accounting request data is transmitted to the accounting-side computer system D, and the same processing as described above is performed.

At a plurality of places inside the charging area C, enforcement machines for controlling illegally used vehicles are installed. For this control device, a general monitoring device including a traveling sensor, a monitoring camera, and an image processing unit is used.

When the vehicle approaches the monitoring device, the traveling sensor senses this, and aligns the monitoring camera with the vehicle (step 70). On the other hand, the display device 1 of the in-car holding device B
Reference numeral 5 is configured to be visible from outside the vehicle, and keeps displaying the “billing completion” message. The surveillance camera confirms the “billing completion” message from the image data. That is, the surveillance camera is programmed to recognize the pattern of “charging completed”, and when this pattern is present in the captured image, recognize the charging completed. If the surveillance camera recognizes "charging complete", the control operation is completed (steps 71, 72 YES, 73).

On the other hand, when a message of “unregistered” is displayed on the display device 15 of the in-car holding device B, or when the user is operating the charging area with the terminal A turned off. Does not display the "charging complete" message on the display unit 15.

In the case of this unauthorized use, the surveillance camera is not programmed to recognize "charging completed" in the image data, but is programmed to recognize the violation. When the surveillance camera recognizes the violation, the license plate of the vehicle and the photograph of the driver's face are imaged (steps 72NO, 74, and 75).
The license plate, the image data of the photograph of the driver's face, and the detection location code are transmitted to the computer system D of the billing system (step 76).

Computer system D of billing system
Receives the license plate and the image data of the driver's face photograph (step 77), searches the violator database from the number, and if the violator is a new violator, queries the computer system of the Land Transport Office (steps 79NO, 8).
0, 81).

The computer system of the Land Transport Office sends the name and address of the registrant of the queried number to the computer system of the charging system (steps 82 and 83).
The computer system of the billing system records the offender data in the offender database and mails a billing transfer form based on the detection location to the offender (step 8).
5).

If the offender is a re-offender, the offender is recorded in a database, and a billing payment form based on the location of detection is mailed (steps 84 and 85).

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first step of selecting a base station among a plurality of base stations of a mobile phone so as to define a charging area of a vehicle, A second step of loading, on the vehicle, a terminal capable of communicating with the selected base station, to which the specific information to be used is added, and the terminal of the second step being the first step A third step in which a predetermined toll is charged to the terminal from the charging side when passing through the base station selected in the step, and the terminal side determines the rate charged in the third step by the charging side. And a fourth step of paying to.

Therefore, there is no need to arrange a dedicated antenna for road pricing, the structure of the vehicle-mounted device is not complicated, the system construction and maintenance costs can be reduced, and the charging points can be set densely. This makes it possible to easily set a charging area and easily change the charging area.

Further, according to the present invention, the user of the terminal in the second step registers a settlement method in advance on the billing side,
The billing side is configured to charge the fee by the settlement method.

Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the billing procedure is not complicated and can be performed accurately. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a means for displaying the completion of charging so that it can be recognized from outside the vehicle and recognizing the display of completion of charging is provided in the charging area.

Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the user who violates the violation can be easily controlled. Further, the present invention is a terminal to which unique identification information for identifying the terminal which can be loaded on a vehicle is added, wherein the communication means capable of communicating with a base station of a mobile phone, Charging area detecting means for detecting a signal for notifying the charging area of the transmitted vehicle toll, and when the charging area detecting means detects the signal for notifying, a charging request is made to the charging side based on the specific information. Means.

Accordingly, the loading machine of the vehicle does not become complicated, the system can be constructed at low cost, and the billing accuracy is significantly improved.

Further, the present invention provides a charging area detecting means for detecting a signal for notifying a charging area of a vehicle toll transmitted from the base station, and a charging area detecting means for detecting a signal to be notified by the charging area detecting means. Means for requesting the charging side to perform charging based on the specific information is provided in the mobile phone.

Therefore, a dedicated vehicle loading machine is not required,
This has the effect of reducing the burden on the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a terminal A loaded on a vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of billing area setting.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart for a user of the road pricing of the present invention to register a settlement method.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of an in-vehicle holding device B of the terminal A;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a state where the terminal A and the holding device B are mounted in a vehicle.

FIG. 6 shows a part of an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a part of an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a part of an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a part of an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a part of an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

A terminal, 1 antenna, 2 transmitting / receiving section, 3 display section, 4 and 5 mail section, 6 ID output section, 7 billing section, 9 control section, 10 storage section, B holding device, 13
Holding unit, 14 control unit, 15 display unit, 16 audio output unit, 18 dashboard, 19 steering wheel

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first step of selecting a base station from among a plurality of base stations of a mobile phone so as to define a charging area of a vehicle, and unique identification information loaded and used on the vehicle is added. A second step of loading a terminal capable of communicating with the selected base station on the vehicle; and when the terminal in the second step passes through the base station selected in the first step. A third step in which a predetermined toll is charged to the terminal from a charging side, and a fourth step in which the terminal side pays the fee charged in the third step to the charging side. A road pricing method. 2. The road pricing system according to claim 1, wherein a user of the terminal in the second step registers a payment method in advance with the charging side, and the charging side charges the fee by the payment method. Method. 3. The road according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying charging completion so that the charging completion can be recognized from outside the vehicle, and a means for recognizing the charging completion display is installed in the charging area. Pricing method. 4. A terminal to which specific information for specifying the terminal that can be loaded on a vehicle is added, wherein the communication means is capable of communicating with a base station of a mobile phone, and transmitted from the base station. Charging area detecting means for detecting a signal notifying a charging area of a vehicle toll to be charged, and means for requesting a charging side based on the specific information when the charging area detecting means detects the signal to be notified. A terminal for road pricing, comprising: 5. The display device according to claim 4, further comprising: display means for displaying charging completion from outside the vehicle so as to be identifiable; and identification means disposed in a charging area for identifying the contents of the display. Terminal for road pricing. 6. A charging area detecting means for detecting a signal for notifying a charging area of a vehicle toll transmitted from the base station, and when the charging area detecting means detects the signal for notifying, the charging side is provided to the charging side. The mobile terminal for road pricing according to claim 4, wherein the means for making a charging request based on the specific information is provided in a mobile phone.