JP2003208645A - Toll charging system, on-vehicle apparatus, host computer system and cellular phone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability of the whole system while reducing the cost of an onboard device to improve the penetration rate of the system. <P>SOLUTION: This toll charging system comprises a roadside device 6 for detecting a vehicle 2 which proceeded into the charging area of a tool road or the like and transmitting at least charging information a containing toll information and the address of a settlement service center device 7 toward the detected vehicle 2, which is provided on the road side of the charging area of a toll road or the like; the onboard device 3 for receiving the charging information a transmitted from the roadside device 6 and outputting instruction information so as to transmit the charging information a to the address contained in the received charging information a, which is provided on the vehicle 2; a cellular phone 4 for transmitting the charging information a to the address on the basis of the instruction information outputted from the onboard device 3; and the settlement service center device 7 for receiving the charging information a transmitted from the cellular phone 4 and performing the charging processing to this vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toll charge system, and more particularly to a toll charge system for automatically charging a toll road charge as a vehicle moves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a toll charging system for automatically charging a toll to a vehicle, an on-vehicle device is mounted on the vehicle, a credit card is inserted into the on-vehicle device, and communication with a roadside system is performed at a charging gate. Based on this, there is known a method of deducting a frequency corresponding to a toll from a credit card.

However, in such a method, since the driver needs to purchase an expensive on-vehicle device, its spread has not proceeded as expected.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toll charge system capable of reducing the cost of an on-vehicle device.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means for solving the problems will be described below by using the numbers and symbols used in the embodiments of the present invention. These numbers and symbols are added to clarify the correspondence between the description in [Claims] and the description in [Embodiment of the Invention]. However, the added numbers / codes should not be used for the interpretation of the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

The toll charging system according to the present invention is provided on the roadside of the charging area, detects a vehicle (2) that has entered the charging area, and at least the toll information and the traffic toward the detected vehicle (2). A roadside device (6) that transmits charging information (a) including the address of the charge settlement side, and a charging information (a) that is provided in the vehicle (2) and that is transmitted from the roadside device (6). , Based on the instruction information output from the vehicle-mounted device (3) that outputs instruction information to transmit the accounting information (a) to the address included in the received accounting information, and the instruction information output from the vehicle-mounted device (3). A mobile phone (4) for transmitting the charging information (a) to the address, and a charging device (7) for receiving the charging information transmitted from the mobile phone (4) and performing a charging process for this vehicle. It is characterized by In the toll billing system, the vehicle-mounted device (3)
The information can be transmitted from the mobile phone (4), and there is no need to perform bidirectional communication between the vehicle-mounted device (3) and the roadside device (6). Therefore, the vehicle-mounted device (3) that does not require bidirectional communication can be manufactured at low cost.

The billing device (7) transmits the billing processing result (b) to the mobile phone (4) as a transmission source, and the mobile phone (4) is transmitted from the billing device (7). It is preferable to receive the billing processing result (a) and display or voice output it.

The toll charging system according to the present invention includes an on-vehicle device (3) and a mobile phone (4) provided in the vehicle (2). The vehicle-mounted device (3) includes charging information (a) transmitted from the roadside device (6) provided on the roadside of the charging area and containing at least the toll charge information and the address of the toll payment side.
Receiving means (12) for receiving the information, and the receiving means (12)
And an instruction means (15) for outputting instruction information to the mobile phone (4) to transmit the billing information (a) to the address included in the billing information (a) received by. The mobile phone (4) transmits the billing information (a) to the designated address based on the instruction information output from the instructing means, and bills based on the transmitted billing information (a). The billing processing result (b), which is made at the processing side (7) and returned from the billing processing side (7), is received.

The mobile phone (4) preferably displays or voice-outputs the received billing processing result (b).

The vehicle-mounted device (35) according to the present invention is a receiver (35) for receiving the first information (37) from the roadside device (32).
a), an interface (35c) for connecting to the mobile phone (36), and second information (39) including at least a part of the first information (37), and generating the second information (3).
9) is output to the mobile phone (36) via the interface (35c).

The first information (37) includes a road ID for identifying the roadside device (32) and the vehicle-mounted device (3).
5) The vehicle (34) equipped with the vehicle preferably includes a passage time indicating a time when the vehicle (34) has passed through the roadside device (32).

The arithmetic unit (35d) adds the plate number written on the license plate of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle-mounted device (35) to the first information (37) to add the second information (39). Generate

The vehicle-mounted device further comprises a memory (35b) for storing the first information (37), and the arithmetic unit (35d) is connected to the interface (35c) to the mobile phone (36). When the mobile phone (36) is connected to the interface (35c), the second information (39) is sent to the mobile phone (3).
It is preferable to output to 6).

The vehicle-mounted device further includes a visual output device (35e), and the arithmetic unit (35d) performs a payment processing for charging the vehicle (34).
3), the second information (39) to the mobile phone (36)
And the first information (37) stored in the memory is erased after the second information (39) is transmitted, and the first information (37) is stored in the memory (35b).
Is stored, it is preferable that the visual output device (35e) outputs a visual output.

The calculator (35d) is connected to the vehicle (3
After transmitting the second information (39) using the mobile phone (36) to the settlement service center device (33) that performs settlement processing for the charge for 4), and after transmitting the second information (39), It is monitored whether the payment process is completed within a predetermined time, and when the payment process is not completed within a predetermined first time, the second information (39) is read using the mobile phone (36). It is preferable to send again to the settlement service center device (33).

The second information (39) is stored in the mobile phone (N) every time the first information (37) is received N times (N is a predetermined natural number of 2 or more) from the roadside device (32). Three
It is preferable to output to 6).

The vehicle-mounted device further comprises an input means (35g) operated by a user, and the arithmetic unit (35d).
Is instructed by the input means (35g), and
The mobile phone (3) is connected to the interface (35c).
It is preferable to output the second information (39) to the mobile phone (36) when 6) is connected.

It is preferable that the vehicle-mounted device further includes a light projector that projects light onto the roadside device (32) when the first information (37) is received.

The host computer system for the toll charging system according to the present invention receives the second information (39) from the mobile phone (36) through the wireless telephone line and the third information (38) from the roadside device (32). Is received, and based on the second information (39) and the third information (38),
It is provided with a host computer (33a) that performs settlement processing for billing the vehicle (34) that has passed through the roadside device (32).

In the toll fee charging system host computer system, the second information (39) is stored in the vehicle-mounted device (35) connected to the mobile phone (36) and is stored in the first vehicle 834). The license plate number is included, and the third information (38) includes the roadside device (3).
2) includes the second license plate number obtained by automatically recognizing the captured image (57) of the license plate of the vehicle (34), and the host computer (33)
Preferably, in a), the vehicle (34) is identified using the first license plate number and the second license plate number.

When the second information (39) having the same first license plate number as the second license plate number is not transmitted from the mobile phone (36), the host computer (33a) receives the first license plate number. And identifying the vehicle using only the second license plate number of the second license plate number.

The toll charge system host computer system further comprises a visual confirmation terminal (33d) having a display device (33f), and the host computer (33a) is the roadside device (32). The captured image (57) from the captured image (5
When the automatic recognition for recognizing the second license plate number from 7) has failed, the visual confirmation terminal (33
It is preferable that the captured image (57) is transmitted to d), and the visual confirmation terminal (33d) displays the captured image (57) on the display device (33f).

The second information (39) includes the first license plate number of the vehicle (34) stored in the vehicle-mounted device (35) connected to the mobile phone (36) and the first attached information. The third information (38) includes a second license plate number and second accessory information obtained by the roadside device (32) automatically recognizing a captured image of the license plate of the vehicle, and When the host computer (33a) fails in the automatic recognition for recognizing the second license plate number from the photographed image (57) and the first attached information and the second attached information match each other, Preferably, only the first license plate of the one license plate number and the second license plate number is used to identify the vehicle (34).

It is preferable that the first attached information and the second attached information include an image pickup ID which is changed every time the license plate of the vehicle (34) is photographed.

The host computer (33a) judges, based on the third information (38), whether or not the settlement processing is being performed, and when the settlement processing is not being performed, the roadside device ( It is preferable to transmit a connection request (40a) that prompts connection of the mobile phone (36) to the vehicle-mounted device (35) that has received the first information (37) from 32).

The mobile phone according to the present invention is connected to the vehicle-mounted device (35) used for charging a toll, and
A host computer (33) that performs payment processing of the toll on the information (39) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device (35).
Transmit to a) through a wireless telephone line.

The method of operating a mobile phone according to the present invention comprises the step of receiving information (39) from the vehicle-mounted device (35) used to charge a toll, and the information (39):
A host computer (33) that processes the toll payment
a), transmitting through a wireless telephone line.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a toll charge system according to the first embodiment. The toll charge system according to the first embodiment includes an on-vehicle device 3 and a mobile phone 4 mounted on a vehicle 2, a roadside device 6 and a settlement service center device 7 provided on the roadside.

In a charging area such as a toll road, a camera (not shown) for detecting the vehicle 2, VPD, laser VPD,
At least one of a tread, a loop coil, etc. is provided. When the vehicle 2 enters such a charging area, any of a camera, a VPD, a laser VPD, a step board, a loop coil, etc. (not shown) provided in the charging area detects it. Based on the recognition information, the roadside device 6 installed on the roadside encrypts the charging information a such as the address (telephone number) of the settlement service center device 7 and the charge by the narrow area communication, and then the onboard device 3 of this vehicle stores the encrypted information. Send. In addition, as a specific method of such short range communication, DSRC (Ded
icated Short Range Communication), optical beacon, radio wave beacon, Bluetooth, etc.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the vehicle-mounted device 3. The vehicle-mounted device 3 includes a narrow band receiver 12, a CPU 13, a memory 14, and an interface (I / F) 15.

The narrow area receiver 12 receives the billing information a transmitted from the roadside device 6 and uses the received billing information a in the CPU.
Transfer to 13. The vehicle-mounted device 3 and the mobile phone 4 do not decrypt the billing information a transmitted from the roadside device 6.

The CPU 13 causes the memory 14 to store the charging information a transferred from the narrow band receiver 12. Further, based on the billing information a, the I / F 15 is caused to make a call for payment request from the mobile phone 4 to the payment service center device 7.

The I / F 15 automatically dials the mobile phone 4 to the address of the settlement service center device 7 based on an instruction from the CPU 13.

The vehicle 2 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 3 having the above structure.
The plate number information described on the license plate is encrypted and registered, and when the billing information a is transmitted from the roadside device 6, the encrypted plate number information is added to the billing information a. You may do it. In this case, since the plate number information is encrypted, it cannot be read or tampered with by a third party.

The mobile phone 4 is automatically dialed by the I / F 15. When the payment service center device 7 is automatically dialed, the billing information a is transmitted to the payment service center device 7 via the wireless telephone line. Further, the billing processing result b transmitted from the settlement service center device 7 is received and output as character data or voice data.

The settlement service center device 7 decrypts the billing information a transmitted from the mobile phone 4 of the vehicle 2 and, based on this content, first authenticates whether it matches the information recognized by the roadside device 6. To do. Then, when the recognition information c recognized by the roadside device 6 and the transmitted billing information a are mutually authenticated, the billing process of the transmission source vehicle 2 is performed.
Then, the charging processing result b is returned to the mobile phone 4 of the vehicle 2 that is the transmission source via the wireless telephone line.

As a method of connecting the vehicle-mounted device 3 and the mobile phone 4, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b),
Wired using a PDC cable, a USB cable, etc., as shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d), wirelessly using Bluetooth or infrared rays, or as shown in FIG. 3 (e). In addition, there is a method in which the mobile phone 4 is directly fitted into the vehicle-mounted device 3 or the vehicle 2, and the like.

As a modified example of the configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 3 and the mobile phone 4, as shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 16 having the function of the mobile phone 4 may be built in the vehicle-mounted device 3.

Next, the operation of the toll charge system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be explained using the data flow chart shown in FIG. 5 and the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the vehicle 2 running on the road enters the charging area, a camera (not shown) and VP provided in the charging area.
D, laser VPD, footboard, loop coil or the like. Further, the license plate is recognized by a camera installed on the roadside, an electronic license plate (vehicle wireless tag) reader, or the like. Based on this recognition information c, the encrypted billing information a is transmitted from the roadside device 6 to the vehicle-mounted device 3 of the vehicle 2 by the narrow area communication. Further, this recognition information c is transmitted to the settlement service center device 7 (S1).

The transmitted billing information a is received by the narrow area receiver 12 of the vehicle-mounted device 3 and further transferred to the CPU 13. Then, in the CPU 13, the narrow band receiver 12
Based on the billing information a transferred from the server, it is determined whether to reject or accept the billing information a (S2). The case of rejecting (S2: No) is, for example, when the charges are different (when the charge for a large vehicle is charged even though it is a normal vehicle). When there is no contradiction in the billing information a (S2:
Yes), the billing information a is accepted, and the memory 14
Stored in the mobile phone 4 by the I / F 15.
Is the payment service center device 7 specified by the charging information a
Is automatically dialed to the address (phone number) of
3).

The mobile phone 4 is connected to the settlement service center device 7
Is automatically dialed, the billing information a is transmitted to the settlement service center device 7 using the wireless telephone line (S4).

In the settlement service center device 7, the billing information a transmitted from the mobile phone 4 of the vehicle 2 is decrypted, and based on this content, authentication is performed with the recognition information c recognized by the roadside device 6. Then, when the authentication is made, the charging process for the vehicle 2 as the transmission source is performed (S5). The billing processing result b is returned from the settlement service center device 7 to the mobile phone 4 of the transmission source vehicle 2 using the wireless telephone line (S6).

The billing processing result b transmitted from the settlement service center device 7 is received by the mobile phone 4 and output as character data on the display screen of the mobile phone 4,
Alternatively, it is output as voice data from the speaker of the mobile phone 4 (S7).

It is to be noted that the charging process result b as described in step S6 is not limited to the case of returning it to the mobile phone 4, and the driver voluntarily accesses the settlement service center device 7 to confirm the charging process result b. You can also Also,
It is also possible to transfer the billing processing result b received by the mobile phone 4 to the vehicle-mounted device 3 and display or voice-output the vehicle-mounted device 3.

As described above, in the toll fee charging system according to the present embodiment, by the above-mentioned operation,
Since the vehicle-mounted device 3 that communicates with the road-side device 6 is provided, the charging side can measure the accurate position of the vehicle 2 and specify the vehicle type, so that the correct toll can be presented.

The communication between the roadside device 6 provided on the roadside and the vehicle-mounted device 3 is only downlink from the roadside device 6 to the vehicle-mounted device 3 side, and is limited to the short range communication. The cost of the vehicle-mounted device 3 that does not communicate with the roadside device 6 can be reduced.

When transmitting the billing information a received from the roadside device 6 to the settlement service center device 7, the vehicle-mounted device 3 can do so by automatically dialing the mobile phone 4. As a result, the driver does not need to call the mobile phone 4 while driving, and safety during driving can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the IC card 21 is applied to the mobile phone 4 in the construction of the toll charge system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Only the configuration is different.

Therefore, here, only the different structure will be described with reference to FIG. 7, description of the same parts will be omitted, and duplicate description will be avoided.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the vehicle-mounted device 3 and the mobile phone 4 applied to the toll charge system according to the present embodiment. That is, the mobile phone 4 is provided with the transmitter / receiver 1
9, a CPU 20, and an IC card 21.

The transmitter / receiver 19 is used for making a normal call,
Data is transmitted and received between the vehicle-mounted device 3 and the settlement service center device 7. When sending and receiving data, C
When the data is received from the vehicle-mounted device 3 in cooperation with the PU 20, the received data is output to the CPU 20, while the data is received from the CPU 20 and the received data is transmitted to the payment service center device 7.

The CPU 20 writes data in the IC card 21 or reads data written in the IC card 21 based on the data received by the transceiver 19. Further, when the transceiver 19 transmits data, necessary data is passed to the transceiver 19.

The IC card 21 is a data writable storage medium, and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the mobile phone 4. In this IC card 21, a frequency corresponding to a toll on a toll road or the like is written. When paying a fee for a toll road or the like, the account is settled by reducing the frequency corresponding to the fee. IC like this
The card 21 can be purchased at a predetermined facility such as a gas station or a service area by paying a fee and having a frequency corresponding to the fee written therein. It is also possible to pay a fee at a predetermined facility and additionally write the frequency corresponding to the fee.

In this way, the transceiver 19 and the CPU 20
To the mobile phone 4 equipped with the IC card 21
The operation when an auto-dial request is made from / F15 will be described using the data flow chart shown in FIG. 8 and the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that steps S11 and S12 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are the same as steps S1 and S2 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

When there is no contradiction in the charging information a (S12: Y
In es), the I / F 15 makes an auto-dial request to the mobile phone 4. This autodial request is
It is received by the transceiver 19 (S13). When the transceiver 19 receives the auto-dial request, the CP
The U20 confirms the remaining frequency of the IC card 21, and outputs the confirmation result to the transceiver 19. And the transceiver 19
Dials the settlement service center device 7 using the wireless telephone line and transmits the billing information a and the remaining frequency information d of the IC card 21 (S14).

The settlement service center device 7 includes a mobile phone 4
The billing information a transmitted from the device is decrypted, and based on this content, it is first authenticated whether or not it matches the recognition information c transmitted from the roadside device 6. Then, if the charge can be collected from the remaining frequency of the IC card 21, the charging processing result b is returned to the transmitter / receiver 19 of the mobile phone 4 as the transmission source so as to deduct the frequency corresponding to the charge (S1).
5).

If the IC card 21 has a low remaining frequency and the fee cannot be collected, the charging process for the vehicle 2 as the transmission source is performed as described in the first embodiment. Then, the charging process result b is returned to the mobile phone 4 of the vehicle 2 that is the transmission source using the wireless telephone line (see S6).

The accounting processing result b returned from the settlement service center device 7 in step S15 is the transmitter / receiver 1
9 received. Then, the CPU 20
The frequency corresponding to the charge is subtracted from the remaining frequency of the C card 21 based on the charging processing result b, and a new frequency is written in the IC card 21 (S16). Also, the transceiver 1
As the withdrawal result information e, the frequency newly written in the IC card 21 is transmitted from 9 to the settlement service center apparatus 7 (S17).

When the payment service center device 7 receives the withdrawal result information e transmitted from the transmitter / receiver 19, the payment service center device 7 recognizes the completion of the payment (S18).

As described above, since the toll charge system according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, the IC card 21 is used to obtain the operational effects obtained in the first embodiment. By doing so, it is possible to perform similarly.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment,
A toll charging system specialized for road pricing is provided. In the third embodiment, in particular, information sent from the roadside device to the vehicle-mounted device, information sent from the roadside device to the settlement service center device, and information sent from the vehicle-mounted device to the settlement service center device via the wireless telephone line. , It is stipulated in the content specialized in road pricing.

As shown in FIG. 10, the third embodiment
In the toll charging system according to the embodiment, the roadside device 32 is provided at the boundary 31a of the charging area 31 which is the target area of road pricing. The roadside device 32 has a charging area 31.
It will be provided on all roads to enter. Roadside device 3
Different ID numbers (hereinafter, referred to as “road IDs”) are given to each of the two in order to identify the roadside device 32. The roadside device 32 is connected to a settlement service center device 33 for performing billing processing.

The vehicle 34 entering the charging area 31 receives the information sent from the roadside device 32 in order to receive the information.
The obligation to carry 5 is imposed. However, the vehicle-mounted device 35 is not provided with the function of transmitting to the roadside device 32. Instead, the vehicle-mounted device 35 is provided with a function of connecting to the mobile phone 36, and the vehicle-mounted device 35 uses the mobile phone 36 to communicate with the settlement service center device 33. First of implementation
Similar to the form, the vehicle-mounted device 35 does not have a communication function from the vehicle-mounted device 35 to the roadside device 32, so that the price of the vehicle-mounted device 35 is reduced.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the toll charge system of the third embodiment. The roadside device 32 includes a camera 41, an antenna 42, and a roadside control device 43. The camera 41 passes through the roadside device 32 and passes through the charging area 3
The vehicle 34 entering 1 is detected. When the camera 41 detects the vehicle 34, the camera 41 photographs the license plate of the vehicle 34. The antenna 42 is used by the vehicle 3 that enters the charging area 31.
4 is used for wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device 35.
The roadside control device 43 controls the camera 41 and the antenna 42.

The roadside control device 43 includes a clock device 43a, a memory 43b, an interface 43c, and a CPU 43.
Including d. The clock device 43a generates a time signal indicating the current time. The memory 43b stores the road ID given to the roadside device 32. Interface 43c
Provides a communication function from the roadside device 32 to the settlement service center device 33. The CPU 43d performs arithmetic processing in the roadside device 32 and controls the roadside device 32 as a whole.

The roadside control device 43 having such a configuration
When the camera 41 detects entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31, the vehicle ID is imposed on the vehicle 34, the road ID of the roadside device 32 through which the vehicle 34 has passed, the passage time when the vehicle 34 passed through the roadside device 32, and the vehicle 34. Billing information 3 showing the charge
7 is generated and transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 35 of the vehicle 34 by wireless communication. The billing information 37 is generated as follows. When the camera 41 detects the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31, the CPU 43d refers to the time signal generated by the clock device 43a to identify the passage time when the vehicle 34 has passed the roadside device 32. Further, the CPU 43d controls the vehicle 3
The vehicle type of the vehicle 34 is specified from the captured image of No. 4, and the charge charged to the vehicle 34 is determined. Information obtained from other sensors such as a tread and a photoelectric sensor may be used together to specify the vehicle type of the vehicle 34. Further, the CPU 43d has a memory 43b.
The road ID is read from and the billing information 37 indicating the read road ID, the passage time, and the charge is generated.

Further, the roadside control device 43 provides the recognition information 38 indicating the road ID of the roadside device 32 through which the vehicle 34 has passed, the passing time, and the plate number written on the license plate of the vehicle 34, to the settlement service center device 33. Send to.
The recognition information 38 is generated as follows. When the camera 41 detects the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31, the camera 41 images the license plate of the vehicle 34. The CPU 43d of the roadside control device 43 identifies the plate number described on the license plate of the vehicle 34 from the captured image of the license plate of the vehicle 34. Then, the CPU 43
d produces | generates the identification information 38 which shows the specified plate number, the above-mentioned road ID, and passage time.

The vehicle-mounted device 35 includes a narrow band receiver 35a, a memory 35b, an interface 35c, and a CPU 35d. The narrow area receiver 35 a receives the charging information 37 from the roadside device 34. The memory 35b stores the billing information 37 received by the narrow band receiver 35a. The above-mentioned road ID, passage time, and fare will be stored in the memory 35b. Further, the memory 35b stores the plate number of the license plate of the vehicle 34 in which the vehicle-mounted device 35 is mounted. The interface 35c is used to transmit information from the vehicle-mounted device 35 to the mobile phone 36. Further, the interface 35c is used as a control port for controlling the mobile phone 36 by the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35. The CPU 35d controls the entire vehicle-mounted device 35, and further executes calculations performed by the vehicle-mounted device 35. Furthermore, CP
The U 35d controls the mobile phone 36 via the interface 35c.

The vehicle-mounted device 35 having such a configuration adds the plate number stored in the memory 35b to the above-mentioned billing information 37 to generate billing information 39. Vehicle-mounted device 35
Transmits the generated billing information 39 to the settlement service center apparatus 33 via the wireless telephone line using the mobile phone 36.

The settlement service center device 33 includes a host computer 33a. Host computer 33a
Receives the billing information 39 transmitted from the mobile phone 36, further receives the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32, and stores it in the passing vehicle database 33b. Further, the passing vehicle database 33b further includes vehicles 34
Information on whether or not the charge for entering the charge area 31 has been settled is registered.

The host computer 33a is the mobile phone 3
6 and the contents of the billing information 39 sent from the roadside device 32
It authenticates whether or not the contents of the recognition information 38 sent from the device match. The host computer 33a uses the recognition information 38
If the contents of the billing information 39 and the contents of the billing information 39 match, the vehicle 3
The charging process for 4 is performed. By the billing process, the bill for entering the billing area 31 is settled. Further, the host computer 33a returns the charging process result information 40 indicating the result of the charging process to the mobile phone via the wireless telephone line.

The operation of the toll charge system of the third embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. Vehicle 34
When entering the charging area 31, the camera 41 of the roadside device 32
Detects that the vehicle 34 has entered the charging area 31. When the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31 is detected,
The CPU 43d of the roadside control device 43 uses the timepiece device 43a to identify the passage time when the vehicle 34 has passed the roadside device 32. Further, the CPU 43d determines the vehicle type of the vehicle 34, and determines the fee charged on the vehicle 34. CPU
43d produces | generates the billing information 37 which shows self road ID, a passage time, and a charge. The generated billing information 37 is
The vehicle-mounted device 3 mounted on the vehicle 34 by the antenna 42
5 is sent.

Further, the CPU 43d of the roadside controller 43
Identifies the plate number printed on the license plate of the vehicle 34 from the captured image of the license plate of the vehicle 34 taken by the camera 41. CPU 43d
Generates recognition information 38 indicating the above-mentioned road ID, passing time, and specified plate number. The generated recognition information 38 is transmitted to the payment service center device 33 by the interface 43c.

The narrow area receiver 35a of the vehicle-mounted device 35 receives the billing information 37 from the antenna 42 of the roadside device 32. When the billing information 37 is received, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35
Determines whether to reject or accept the charging information 37.
If there is a contradiction in the billing information 37, as in the case where the fee shown in the billing information 37 is a fee for a large vehicle, the CPU 35d determines that the billing information 37 is a normal vehicle. Refuse 37. If there is no contradiction in the billing information 37, the CPU 35d determines that the received billing information 37
Is accepted and stored in the memory 35b.

Further, the CPU 35d controls the mobile phone 36 via the interface 35c so that the mobile phone 36
The settlement service center device 33 is called.

When the wireless telephone line from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center apparatus 33 is established, the CPU 35d
Reads the plate number of the vehicle 33 stored in the memory 35b and uses the read plate number as the billing information 3
7 to generate billing information 39. CPU 35d
Sends the generated billing information 39 to the settlement service center device 33 via the established wireless telephone line.

The settlement service center device 33 determines whether or not the contents of the billing information 39 transmitted from the mobile phone 36 and the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32 match. Then, the charging information 39 and the roadside device 3
When the contents of the recognition information 38 transmitted from the second terminal match, the charging process for the vehicle 33 is performed. Charge processing result information 40 indicating the result of the charge processing is returned from the settlement service center device 33 to the mobile phone 36 of the vehicle 33 via the established wireless telephone line.

The charging process result information 40 is output as character data on the display screen of the mobile phone 36 or as voice data from the speaker of the mobile phone 36.
This completes the billing settlement process for the vehicle 33.

In the third embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the communication between the roadside device 32 and the vehicle-mounted device 35 is only the downlink from the roadside device 32 to the vehicle-mounted device 35.
The vehicle-mounted device 35 that does not communicate with the roadside device 32 can be manufactured at low cost. Thus, the third implementation
In the form, the cost of the vehicle-mounted device 35 adapted to the road pricing is reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment,
In order to eliminate the need to constantly connect the vehicle-mounted device 35 and the mobile phone 36, the operations of the vehicle-mounted device 35 and the mobile phone 36 of the toll charge system according to the third embodiment are improved. It is not preferable to always connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35 because it reduces the convenience of the mobile phone 36. Further, the user may forget to connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35. Therefore, the toll charge system according to the fourth embodiment performs an operation that eliminates the need for the vehicle-mounted device 35 and the mobile phone 36 to be constantly connected.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to the fourth embodiment. In the toll charge system of the fourth embodiment, the display LED 35e is provided on the vehicle-mounted device 35.
Has been added. The display LED 35e is used for the mobile phone 36.
Is not connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35, the mobile phone 36
Is used to prompt the user to connect to the vehicle-mounted device 35. The display LED 35e is turned on or off under the control of the CPU 35d.

In the fourth embodiment, when the mobile phone 36 is not connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35, the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b. When the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b, the CPU 35d displays the display LED 35.
The e is lit to prompt the user to connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35. When the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 while the charging information 37 is stored in the memory 35b, the charging information 39 is generated and the charging information 39 is transmitted to the settlement service center device 33. Be seen.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 35 when the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31 in the fourth embodiment.

The roadside device 32 is provided in the charging area 31 of the vehicle 34.
When the entry into the vehicle is detected, the billing information 37 is generated and the vehicle 3
4 to the vehicle-mounted device 35 of 4 by wireless communication. Similar to the third embodiment, the charging information 37 includes the road ID of the roadside device 32 through which the vehicle 34 has passed, the passage time when the vehicle 34 passed through the roadside device 32, and the charge imposed on the vehicle 34. It is shown.

The vehicle-mounted device 35 receives the billing information 37 by the narrow area receiver 35a (S21). Upon receiving the billing information 37, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35 determines that the billing information 37
Is rejected or accepted (step S2)
2).

If the vehicle 33 is an ordinary vehicle but the fee shown in the fee information 37 is a fee for a large vehicle, the CPU 35d determines that there is a contradiction in the fee information 37. , Reject the billing information 37. Billing information 3
If there is no contradiction in 7, the CPU 35d accepts the received billing information 37 and stores it in the memory 35b (step S23). If there is a contradiction in the billing information 37, the CP
U35d rejects the charging information 37 and discards it (end).

The operation of the vehicle-mounted device 35 when the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31 is completed. Reception of the billing information 37 and transmission of the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 are not performed in a series of operations.

On the other hand, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35 generates the billing information 39 from the received billing information 37 and transmits the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 in order to settle the billing as follows. To do so.

As shown in FIG. 14, the vehicle-mounted device 35
The CPU 35d monitors whether the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b (step S31). If the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b, the CPU
35d turns on the display LED 35e to turn on the mobile phone 36.
The user is requested to connect to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S32).

Further, the CPU 35d monitors whether or not the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S33). When the mobile phone 36 is not connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S33: NO), the display LED 35e is kept on until the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S32).

When the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35, payment processing for the charge imposed on the vehicle 34 is performed (step S34).

More specifically, the CPU 35 of the vehicle-mounted device 35
d controls the mobile phone 36 via the interface 35c, and the payment service center device 33 is connected to the mobile phone 36.
To make a call. When the wireless telephone line from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center device 33 is established, the CPU 35d
Reads the plate number of the vehicle 33 stored in the memory 35b and uses the read plate number as the billing information 3
7 to generate billing information 39. CPU 35d
Sends the generated billing information 39 to the settlement service center device 33 via the established wireless telephone line.

The settlement service center device 33 determines whether or not the contents of the billing information 39 transmitted from the mobile phone 36 and the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32 match. Then, the charging information 39 and the roadside device 3
When the contents of the recognition information 38 transmitted from the second terminal match, the charging process for the vehicle 33 is performed. Charge processing result information 40 indicating the result of the charge processing is returned from the settlement service center device 33 to the mobile phone 36 of the vehicle 34 via the established wireless telephone line.

The charging process result information 40 is output as character data on the display screen of the mobile phone 36 or as voice data from the speaker of the mobile phone 36.
This completes the billing settlement process for the vehicle 33.

When the payment processing for charging the vehicle 33 is completed, the CPU 35d turns off the display LED 35e, and further erases the charging information 37 for which the payment processing has been performed from the memory 35b (step S35).

In the toll charge system according to the fourth embodiment, charge information 37 is stored in the memory 35b until the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35. In the fourth embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 35 and the mobile phone 36 do not need to be constantly connected, and the convenience for the user is improved.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the toll charge system according to the fifth embodiment, the operation corresponding to the accidental interruption of the wireless telephone line during the communication from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center apparatus 33 is performed. Done. Therefore, among the operations of the vehicle-mounted device 35, the operation for transmitting the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 is changed as shown in FIG.

The CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35 uses the fourth embodiment.
Similar to the form, it is monitored whether or not the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b (step S41). If the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b, the CPU 35
The d turns on the display LED 35e and requests the user to connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S42).

Further, the CPU 35d monitors whether or not the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S43). When the mobile phone 36 is not connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S43: NO), the display LED 35e is kept lit until the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S42).

When the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35, a settlement process for the charge imposed on the vehicle 34 is performed (step S44). The settlement process in step S44 is
This is performed in the same process as step S34 of the fourth embodiment. When the wireless telephone line from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center 33 is cut off, the settlement process is interrupted,
Not completed.

[0104] CPU35d is, the settlement process is the start of the step S44, a predetermined period of time _{T 1} is the elapsed time, to check whether the settlement process has been completed (step S45). When the payment process is not completed, the CPU 35d waits for a predetermined time T ₂ (step S46), and then retries the payment process of step S44. The retries are repeated until the payment process is completed.

When the payment processing for charging the vehicle 33 is completed, the CPU 35d turns off the display LED 35e, and further erases the charging information 37 for which the payment processing has been performed from the memory 35b (step S47).

In the fifth embodiment, if the wireless telephone line is accidentally cut off during communication from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center apparatus 33, a retry is automatically performed to ensure reliable settlement processing. Execution has been realized.

(Sixth Embodiment) In the sixth embodiment,
Only when the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31 N times, the mobile phone 36 makes a call to the payment service center device 33, and the number of calls from the mobile phone 36 to the payment service center device 33 is reduced. There is. By reducing the number of calls from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center device 33, it is possible to suppress the communication cost imposed on the user.

In order to execute such operation, FIG.
In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG.
5, a charging counter 35f is added. The billing counter 35f indicates the number of billing information 37 stored in the memory 35b. With reference to the charging counter 35f, the CPUd of the vehicle-mounted device 35 determines whether to make a call from the mobile phone 36 to the payment service center apparatus 33.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of vehicle-mounted device 35 when vehicle 34 enters charging area 31 in the sixth embodiment.

Similar to the fourth embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 35 is
The narrow area receiver 35a receives the billing information 37 (S
21). When the billing information 37 is received, the CP of the vehicle-mounted device 35
The U 35d determines whether to reject or accept the billing information 37 (step S22). When there is a contradiction in the billing information 37, the CPU 35d rejects the billing information 37 and discards it (end). If there is no contradiction in the billing information 37, the CPU 35d accepts the received billing information 37,
The data is saved in the memory 35b (step S23).

Following the storage of the billing information 37 in the memory 35b, the CPU 35d increments the counter value stored in the billing counter 35f by 1 (step S2).
4). The counter value stored in the billing counter 35f matches the number of billing information 37 stored in the memory 35b.

With the above, the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 35 when the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31 is completed.

On the other hand, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35 transmits the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 while referring to the counter value stored in the billing counter 35f.

As shown in FIG. 18, the vehicle-mounted device 35
The CPU 35d monitors whether the counter value stored in the billing counter 35f is N or more (step S51). If the counter value is less than N, CPU3
5d does nothing (end).

On the other hand, when the counter value is N or more, C
The PU 35d displays the display LE in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment.
D35e is turned on to request the user to connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S52). When the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35, payment processing for the charge imposed on the vehicle 34 is performed (step S44). The settlement process in step S44 is performed in the same process as step S34 in the fourth embodiment. When the wireless telephone line from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center 33 is cut off and the settlement process is not completed, the CPU 35d waits for a predetermined time T ₂ as in the fifth embodiment (step S46). Then, the settlement process of step S44 is retried again. The retries are repeated until the payment process is completed.

When the payment processing for charging the vehicle 33 is completed, the CPU 35d turns off the display LED 35e, and further erases the charging information 37 for which the payment processing has been performed from the memory 35b (step S47). Furthermore, the CPU 35d
Clears the charging counter 35f, and the charging counter 3
The counter value stored in 5f is returned to 0.

In the sixth embodiment, the call from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center device 33 is made only after the vehicle 34 has entered the charging area 31 N times.
The number of calls from the mobile phone 36 to the settlement service center device 33 is reduced. Reducing the number of outgoing calls is preferable for the user because the communication cost can be suppressed.

(Seventh Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 19, in the seventh embodiment, the mobile phone 36 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 3.
A connection request e-mail 40a is transmitted from the payment service center device 33 to the mobile phone 36 in order to prompt the user to connect to the mobile phone 5. A vehicle registration database 33c is prepared in the host computer 33a of the settlement service center device 33 for transmitting the connection request electronic mail 40a. In the vehicle registration database 33c, the vehicle 34
The plate number and the e-mail address of the mobile phone 36 are registered in a one-to-one correspondence with each other. Using this vehicle registration database 33c, the connection request electronic mail 40a is transmitted to the mobile phone 36.

The connection request e-mail 40a is transmitted to the mobile phone 36.
Will be described in more detail.

When the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31, the roadside device 32 detects the entry of the vehicle 34. Further, the roadside device 32 captures an image of the license plate of the vehicle 34 using the camera 41, and detects the vehicle 3 from the captured image of the license plate.
Identify the plate number of 4. The roadside device 32 transmits, to the settlement service center device 33, recognition information 38 indicating its own road ID, the passing time when the vehicle 34 passed through the roadside device 32, and the identified plate number. The host computer 33a of the payment service center device 33 receives the recognition information 38 and registers it in the passing vehicle database 33b. At this point in time, payment for the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31 has not been made, so the host computer 33a registers information indicating that payment has not been made in the passing vehicle database 33b.

After that, when the charging information 39 is sent from the mobile phone 36 connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 of the vehicle 34, the payment is made, but when the charging information 39 is not sent, the payment is made. Not done

The host computer 33a periodically
The passing vehicle database 33b is searched to extract the plate numbers of the vehicles 34 that have not been settled among the vehicles 34 registered in the passing vehicle database 33. Further, the host computer 33a searches the vehicle registration database 33c using the extracted plate number as a search key, and acquires the e-mail address of the mobile phone 36 to be connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 of the vehicle 34 for which payment has not been made. . The host computer 33a sends the connection request e-mail 40a using the acquired e-mail address.

In the seventh embodiment, a connection request e-mail 40a prompting the user to connect the mobile phone 36 to the vehicle-mounted device 35 is sent from the settlement service center device 33 to the mobile phone 3.
6 has been sent to facilitate smooth settlement.

(Eighth Embodiment) The charging process should be performed after confirming the user's intention to pay the fee. Therefore, in the eighth embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 35 is provided with a charging / settling process start button 35g for instructing transmission of the charging information 39 from the mobile phone 36 to the payment service center 33.

FIG. 21 shows a process in which the vehicle-mounted device 35 transmits the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33. Similar to the fourth embodiment, the CPU 3 of the vehicle-mounted device 35
5d monitors whether the billing information 37 is stored in the memory 35b (step S31). When the charging information 37 is stored in the memory 35b, the CPU 35d
The display LED 35e is turned on, and the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 3
Request the user to connect to S5 (step S3)
2).

Further, the CPU 35d monitors whether or not the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S33). When the mobile phone 36 is not connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S33: NO), the display LED 35e is kept on until the mobile phone 36 is connected to the vehicle-mounted device 35 (step S32).

Further, the CPU 35d monitors whether or not the charging and settlement processing start button 35g has been pressed (step S3).
6). Unless the charging / settling process start button 35g is pressed, the charging process for charging the vehicle 34 is not performed (step S36: NO).

When the charge settlement processing start button 35g is pressed, the billing information 39 is transmitted to the settlement service center 33, and the settlement processing of the charge imposed on the vehicle 34 is performed (step S34). When the payment processing for the vehicle 34 is completed, the CPU 35d displays the display LED 35e.
Is turned off, and the billing information 37 for which payment processing has been performed is deleted from the memory 35b (step S35).

As described above, in the eighth embodiment, the charging / settling process start button 35g is provided on the vehicle-mounted device 35, and the charging / settling process to be imposed on the vehicle 34 after the user's intention to pay the fee is confirmed. Done.

(Ninth Embodiment) As described above, in the first to eighth embodiments, payment is performed using the vehicle-mounted device and the mobile phone. It may be disconnected or the user may not have the mobile phone 36. Further, automatic recognition of the plate number based on the imaged image of the license plate may fail when the license plate is dirty or damaged. In the ninth embodiment, measures against these cases are taken and the billing process is optimized.

As shown in FIG. 22, the ninth embodiment
In the form, the roadside device 32 includes the recognition information 38 indicating the road ID, the passage time, and the plate number, and the license plate captured image 5 obtained by capturing the license plate.
7 to the settlement service center device 33. The recognition information 38 and the license plate imaged image 57 are associated with each other and stored in the vehicle passage database 33b of the center computer 33a.

Further, in the ninth embodiment, the settlement service center 33 is additionally provided with a visual confirmation terminal 33d. The visual confirmation terminal 33d includes an input device 33e, a display device 33f, and a computing device 33g. The display device 33f displays the license plate imaged image 57 of the vehicle for which automatic recognition has failed. The input device 33e is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and is used to input the plate number visually confirmed.
The arithmetic device 33g controls the display of the license plate imaged image 57 on the display device 33f and processes the information received from the input device 33e.

The operation of the charging system in the ninth embodiment will be described in more detail below.

Similarly to the third embodiment, when the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31, the camera 41 of the roadside device 32 is used.
Detects that the vehicle 34 has entered the charging area 31. When the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31 is detected,
The CPU 43d of the roadside control device 43, and its own road ID,
Billing information 37 indicating the passing time when the vehicle 34 has passed the roadside device 32 and the charge is generated and transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 35.

Further, the CPU 43d of the roadside control device 43
Automatically identifies the plate number written on the license plate of the vehicle 34 from the captured image of the license plate of the vehicle 34 captured by the camera 41. The CPU 43d generates the recognition information 38 indicating the above-mentioned road ID, the passing time, and the specified plate number, and transmits the recognition information 38 to the settlement service center apparatus 33 using the interface 43c. Further, the CPU 43d transmits the license plate imaged image 57 to the settlement service center 33. The recognition information 38 and the license plate captured image 57 are associated with each other and stored in the vehicle passage database 33b. However, if the automatic recognition of the plate number fails, the CPU 43d does not insert the plate number into the recognition information 38.

The narrow area receiver 35a of the vehicle-mounted device 35 receives the charging information 37 from the antenna 42 of the roadside device 32. When the charging information 37 is received, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35
Reads the plate number stored in the memory 35b. The CPU 35d adds the read plate number to the billing information 37 to generate billing information 39. CPU
35d controls the mobile phone 36 to make a call to the settlement service center apparatus 33, and transmits the generated billing information 39 to the settlement service center apparatus 33 via the wireless telephone line.

In the settlement service center device 33, the billing process is performed based on the billing information 39 transmitted from the mobile phone 36 and the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32. FIG. 23 shows the contents of the charging process performed in the ninth embodiment. The contents of the charging process are divided into the following three cases.

Case 1: Charge information 39 from the mobile phone 36
Is transmitted, and the plate number is successfully recognized by the automatic recognition, the host computer 33a receives the road ID, the passage time, and the plate number shown in the charging information 39 from the mobile phone 36, and the roadside device 32. The road ID, the passage time, and the plate number shown in the transmitted recognition information 38 are compared. When the road ID, the passage time, and the plate number all match, the host computer 33a identifies the vehicle 34 from the matching plate number and performs the charging process.

On the other hand, if any of the road ID, passage time, and plate number does not match, the host computer 3
3a sends the license plate imaged image 57 received from the roadside device 32 to the visual confirmation terminal 33d. At the visual confirmation terminal 33d, the license plate image is displayed on the display device 33f, and the visual confirmation of the plate number and the manual charging process are performed.

Case 2: Mobile phone 36 to charging information 39
Is not transmitted, but the plate number obtained by automatic recognition is included in the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32. In case 2, the mobile phone 36 is powered off,
It is assumed that the user does not have the mobile phone 36. In case 2, the host computer 33a
Is the vehicle number from the plate number obtained by automatic recognition.
4 is specified and the billing process is performed.

Case 3: When the plate number by automatic recognition has failed In this case, the host computer 33a is
The license plate imaged image 57 received from is sent to the visual confirmation terminal 33d. In the visual confirmation terminal 33d, the license plate imaged image 57 is displayed on the display device 33f, and the visual confirmation of the plate number and the manual charging process are performed.

As described above, in the ninth embodiment, the power supply of the mobile phone 36 is turned off, or the user can
When 6 is not held, the accounting process is optimized when the automatic recognition of the plate number fails.

(Tenth Embodiment) As described above, in the ninth embodiment, when the plate number by automatic recognition fails, the plate number is visually confirmed.
A great deal of effort is required to perform visual confirmation in all cases where the plate number by automatic recognition fails.

In all cases in which the plate number by automatic recognition has failed, it is necessary to visually confirm that the time interval for updating the passing time described in the billing information 37 and the recognition information 38 is plural vehicles. 34 is a roadside device 32
This is because, if the time interval is longer than the time interval of passing through, the recognition information 38 having the same content may be associated with the plurality of license plate imaged images 57.
Therefore, in the tenth embodiment, the billing information 37, 39 and the recognition information 38 include an imaging ID changed every time the license plate is imaged, instead of the passage time,
It is guaranteed that different license plate imaged images 57 are associated with the recognition information 38 including different imaged IDs. Further, the visual work is reduced by utilizing the fact that the recognition information 38 including different imaging IDs is associated with different license plate captured images 57. In the following, the billing information 37, 39 and the recognition information 38 including the imaging ID instead of the passage time will be described as billing information 37 ', 39' and recognition information 38 ', respectively.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a billing system according to the eleventh embodiment. In the eleventh embodiment, an image pickup counter 43f that outputs an image pickup ID is used instead of the timepiece device 43a. Imaging counter 43f
Changes the imaging ID to be output each time the camera 41 images the license plate.

The roadside device 32 is provided in the charging area 31 of the vehicle 34.
When the entry into the vehicle is detected, the charging information 37 ′ indicating the own road ID, the imaging ID output by the imaging counter 43f, and the fee charged to the vehicle 34 is generated. The roadside device 32 is
The generated billing information 37 'is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 35 of the vehicle 34. Further, the roadside device 32 images the license plate of the vehicle 34 and acquires the license plate captured image 57. Further, the roadside device 32 identifies the plate number from the license plate imaged image 57, and generates recognition information 38 ′ indicating the road ID of itself, the imaged ID output by the imaging counter 43f, and the identified plate number. Roadside device 3
2 transmits the generated recognition information 38 'and the license plate captured image 57 to the payment service center device 33. Further, after the recognition information 38 'is generated, the imaging counter 43
f changes the output imaging ID. The change of the imaging ID is completed before the next imaging of the license plate of the vehicle 34, so that the identification information 38 ′ having the different imaging ID is associated with the different license plate imaging images.

FIG. 25 shows the contents of the charging process performed in the tenth embodiment. In the tenth embodiment, the process of billing processing when the plate number by automatic recognition fails is divided into two cases.

Case 3-1: The plate number by the automatic recognition has failed, but the billing information 39 is transmitted from the mobile phone 36 In this case, the plate number is included in the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32. Not shown. However, the road ID and the image pickup ID which respectively match the road ID and the image pickup ID shown in the billing information 39 'sent from the mobile phone 36.
When the recognition information 38 ′ including “1” exists, the probability that the vehicle 34 has passed the roadside device 32 is high.

Therefore, the recognition information 3 including the road ID and the image pickup ID which respectively match the road ID and the image pickup ID shown in the billing information 39 'sent from the mobile phone 36.
8'is present, the host computer 33a of the settlement service center device 33 transmitted from the roadside device 32
Identifies the vehicle 34 by the plate number shown in the billing information 39 'and performs billing processing for the vehicle 34.

On the other hand, the recognition information 38 'including the road ID and the image pickup ID which respectively match the road ID and the image pickup ID shown in the billing information 39' sent from the mobile phone 36.
If there is not, the host computer 33a sends the license plate captured image received from the roadside device 32 to the visual confirmation terminal 33d. At the visual confirmation terminal 33d, the license plate image is displayed on the display device 33f, and the visual confirmation of the plate number and the manual charging process are performed.

Case 3-2: When the plate number by automatic recognition fails and the charging information 39 is not transmitted from the mobile phone 36, the host computer 33a visually confirms the license plate picked-up image received from the roadside device 32. Terminal 33d
Send to. At the visual confirmation terminal 33d, the license plate image is displayed on the display device 33f, and the visual confirmation of the plate number and the manual charging process are performed.

In the tenth embodiment, the recognition information 38 'includes a road ID and an image pickup ID which respectively match the road ID and the image pickup ID shown in the billing information 39' sent from the mobile phone 36. When there is, the visual work is not performed and the visual work is reduced.

(Eleventh Embodiment) In the eleventh embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 35 is provided with a projector for projecting light toward the camera 41 of the roadside device 32 in order to ensure visual work.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of the toll charge system according to the eleventh embodiment. The vehicle-mounted device 35 is identified as a light projector that projects light toward the camera 41.
D35e is provided. The identification LED 35e is CP
It is turned on or off under the control of U35d. Another configuration of the toll charge system according to the eleventh embodiment is as follows:
This is the same as the ninth embodiment.

Next, the operation of the toll fee charging system according to the eleventh embodiment will be described.

When the vehicle 34 enters the charging area 31,
The camera 41 of the roadside device 32 indicates that the vehicle 34 is in the charging area 31.
It detects that you have entered the. When the entry of the vehicle 34 into the charging area 31 is detected, the CPU 43 of the roadside control device 43 is detected.
d generates charging information 37 indicating the road ID of itself, the passage time when the vehicle 34 has passed the roadside device 32, and the charge,
It transmits to the onboard equipment 35 using the antenna 42.

When the billing information 37 is received by the narrow area receiver 35a, the CPU 35d of the vehicle-mounted device 35 displays the identification LED.
35e is turned on. The identification LED 35e is the roadside device 32.
The light is projected toward the camera 41.

Subsequently, the roadside device 32 images the license plate of the vehicle 34 using the camera 41. At this time, the identification LED 3 is included in the license plate captured image 57.
The light output to the camera 41 is captured by 5e. The roadside device 32 generates the recognition information 38 indicating the above-mentioned road ID, the passing time, and the plate number identified by the automatic recognition, and transmits it to the settlement service center device 33 together with the license plate imaged image 57. The recognition information 38 and the license plate captured image 57 are associated with each other and stored in the vehicle passage database 33b. However, when the plate number recognition by the automatic recognition fails, the plate number is not included in the recognition information 38.

On the other hand, the narrow band receiver 35a of the vehicle-mounted device 35 is
The billing information 37 is received from the antenna 42 of the roadside device 32. Upon receiving the billing information 37, the vehicle-mounted device 35 adds the plate number stored in the memory 3b to the billing information 37 to generate billing information 39. The vehicle-mounted device 35 controls the mobile phone 36 to make a call to the settlement service center device 33, and transmits the generated billing information 39 to the settlement service center device 33 via the wireless telephone line.

In the settlement service center device 33, the mobile phone 3 is recognized from the recognition information 38 transmitted from the roadside device 32.
The billing information 39 sent from 6 and the billing process are performed. When the plate number is successfully recognized by the automatic recognition, the road ID included in each of the recognition information 38 and the billing information 39 and the passage time, as in the ninth embodiment.
If the plate numbers are compared and they match,
Payment is settled.

On the other hand, if the recognition of the plate number by the automatic recognition has failed, the license plate imaged image 57 is displayed on the visual confirmation terminal 33d. If the light from the recognition LED 35e is reflected in the displayed license plate captured image 57, it means that the license plate captured image 5
It means that the charging information 39 corresponding to 7 is sent from the mobile phone 36. The visual confirmation terminal 33d searches the billing information 39 for which the recognition information 38 having the same road ID and the passing time exists, in accordance with the operation by the operator. Furthermore, the visual confirmation terminal 33d displays the road ID, the passage time, and the plate number indicated in the retrieved billing information 39 on the display device 33f. Display device 3
The plate number displayed in 3f always includes the plate number of the license plate shown in the license plate imaged image 57. License plate captured image 5
Even if a part of the plate number of the license plate shown in FIG. 7 cannot be visually confirmed, the operator selects the plate number displayed on the display device 33f based on the visually recognizable part. Visual confirmation of the plate can be performed.

As described above, in the eleventh embodiment, the identification LED 35e for projecting light toward the camera 41 of the roadside device 32 is provided in the vehicle-mounted device 35 in response to the reception of the billing information 37, and the visual inspection work is performed. It is being ensured.

[0163]

As described above, the present invention provides a toll charge system capable of reducing the cost of an on-vehicle device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a toll charge system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the vehicle-mounted device.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a method of connecting an in-vehicle device and a mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example in which a board having a function of a mobile phone is built in an in-vehicle device.

FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram showing an operation of the toll charge system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the toll charge system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an on-vehicle device and a mobile phone applied to the toll charge system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a data flow diagram showing an operation of the toll charge system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of the toll charge system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a toll charge system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a toll fee charging system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a vehicle 3 according to a fourth embodiment.
4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 35 when 4 enters the charging area 31.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process of transmission of billing information 39 to a settlement service center 33 and a settlement process in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process of transmission of billing information 39 to a settlement service center 33 and a settlement process in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a vehicle 3 in the sixth embodiment.
4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 35 when 4 enters the charging area 31.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process of transmitting the billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 and a settlement process in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing steps of transmission of billing information 39 to the settlement service center 33 and settlement processing in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an operation of a host computer 33a in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an operation of a host computer 33a in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of a toll charge system according to an eleventh embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

a ... Billing information b ... Charge processing result c ... Recognition information d ... remaining frequency information e ... Withdrawal result information 2 ... Vehicle 3 ... In-vehicle device 4 ... Mobile phone 6 ... Roadside device 7 ... Payment service center device 12 ... Narrow area receiver 13, 20 ... CPU 14 ... Memory 15 ... Interface 16 ... Substrate 19 ... Transceiver 21 ... IC card 31 ... Charging area 32 ... Roadside device 33 ... Payment service center device 34 ... Vehicle 35 ... On-board device 36 ... Mobile phone 37 ... Billing information 38 ... Recognition information 39 ... Billing information 40 ... Charge processing result 40a ... Connection request e-mail 41 ... Camera 42 ... antenna 43 ... Roadside control device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G08G 1/017 G08G 1/017 1/09 1/09 F (72) Inventor Tomokazu Shimoda Kobe City Hyogo Hyogo Prefecture 1-1-1 Wadazakicho, Ward Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Kobe Shipyard (72) Inventor Tetsuya Tanaka 2-1-1, Niihama, Arai-cho, Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Takasago Research Institute (72) Inventor Hasegawa Rie 1-1-1, Wadasaki-cho, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Kobe Shipyard (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Furui 2-1-1, Niihama, Arai-cho, Takasago, Hyogo Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Takasago Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Yasuo Yoshikawa 1-1239 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture NTT Docomo Kansai Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ryosuke Okamoto 4-22, Ono-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture NTT Docomo Kansai Hyogo Branch F-term (reference) 5H180 AA01 BB04 BB05 BB12 CC03 CC04 CC18 CC21 EE10

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A roadside of a charging area, which detects a vehicle that has entered the charging area, and transmits charging information including at least toll information and an address of a toll settlement side toward the detected vehicle. And a vehicle-mounted device that is provided in the vehicle, receives billing information transmitted from the roadside device, and outputs instruction information to transmit the billing information to an address included in the received billing information. A mobile phone that transmits the billing information to the address based on the instruction information output from the vehicle-mounted device; and a billing device that receives the billing information transmitted from the mobile phone and performs billing processing on the vehicle. A toll charging system characterized by being equipped with. 2. The toll charge system according to claim 1, wherein the billing device transmits a billing process result to a mobile phone as a transmission source, and the mobile phone bills the bill sent from the billing device. A toll charge system characterized in that the processing result is received and displayed or output as voice. 3. A toll fee charging system including an on-vehicle device provided in a vehicle and a mobile phone, wherein the on-vehicle device is transmitted from a roadside device provided on a roadside of a charging area,
Receiving means for receiving billing information including at least toll fee information and an address on the toll settlement side, and to the mobile phone for transmitting the billing information to the address included in the billing information received by the receiving means. An instruction means for outputting instruction information, wherein the mobile phone transmits the billing information to the designated address on the basis of the instruction information outputted from the instruction means, and based on the transmitted billing information. The toll fee charging system is characterized in that the billing processing side receives the billing processing result returned from the billing processing side. 4. The toll charge system according to claim 3, wherein the mobile phone displays or outputs the received charge processing result. 5. A receiver for receiving the first information from the roadside device, an interface for connecting to a mobile phone, second information including at least a part of the first information, and generating the second information. An in-vehicle device including a computing unit that outputs to the mobile phone via the interface. 6. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, wherein the first information indicates a road ID for identifying the road-side device and a time when a vehicle equipped with the vehicle-mounted device has passed the road-side device. In-vehicle device including passing time. 7. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, wherein the arithmetic unit adds the plate number described in the license plate of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted to the first information, and the second information. A vehicle-mounted device that generates 8. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, further comprising a memory that stores the first information, wherein the arithmetic unit monitors whether the mobile phone is connected to the interface and displays the interface on the interface. An in-vehicle device that outputs the second information to the mobile phone when the mobile phone is connected. 9. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, further comprising a visual output device, wherein the computing unit provides the settlement service center device that performs settlement processing for billing the vehicle with the second information. When the first information stored in the memory is erased after the second information is transmitted by using a mobile phone and the first information is stored in the memory, the visual Vehicle-mounted device that outputs a visual output to the dynamic output device. 10. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, wherein the arithmetic unit transmits the second information to the payment service center device that performs payment processing for charging the vehicle by using the mobile phone, After transmitting the second information, monitoring whether the payment process is completed within a predetermined time, and when the payment process is not completed within a predetermined first time,
An in-vehicle device that retransmits the second information to the settlement service center device using the mobile phone. 11. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, wherein the second information is provided every time the first information is received N times (N is a predetermined natural number of 2 or more) from the roadside device. In-vehicle device output to mobile phones. 12. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, further comprising an input unit operated by a user, wherein the arithmetic unit is instructed by the input unit, and
An in-vehicle device that outputs the second information to the mobile phone when the mobile phone is connected to the interface. 13. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, further comprising a light projector that projects light onto the roadside device when the first information is received. 14. The roadside device receives second information from a mobile phone via a wireless telephone line, third information from a roadside device, and based on the second information and the third information. A host computer system for a toll fee charging system, which comprises a host computer that performs settlement processing for charging a vehicle that has passed through. 15. The host computer system for toll charge system according to claim 14, wherein the second information is a first license plate number of the vehicle stored in an on-vehicle device connected to the mobile phone. The third information includes a second license plate number obtained by the roadside device automatically recognizing a captured image of a license plate of the vehicle, and the host computer includes the first license plate number and the first license plate number. (2) A host computer system for a toll charge system, which identifies the vehicle using a license plate number. 16. The host computer system for toll fee charging system according to claim 14, wherein when the second information having the same first license plate number as the second license plate number is not transmitted from the mobile phone, The host computer system for a toll fee charging system, wherein the host computer executes identification of the vehicle using only the second license plate number of the first license plate number and the second license plate number. 17. The host computer system for a toll charge system according to claim 15, further comprising a visual confirmation terminal including a display device and an input device, wherein the host computer receives the image from the roadside device. When the image is received and the automatic recognition for recognizing the second license plate number from the captured image has failed, the captured image is transmitted to the visual confirmation terminal, and the visual confirmation terminal is A host computer system for a toll charge system, which displays the captured image on a display device. 18. The host computer system for toll fee charging system according to claim 15, wherein the second information is a first license plate number of the vehicle stored in an on-vehicle device connected to the mobile phone. , The first additional information, and the third information includes a second license plate number and second additional information obtained by the roadside device automatically recognizing a captured image of the license plate of the vehicle, The host computer selects the second image from the captured image.
Automatic recognition of the license plate number failed,
Further, when the first attached information and the second attached information match, the vehicle is identified using only the first license plate of the first license plate number and the second license plate number. Host computer system for toll charging system. 19. The host computer system for toll fee charging system according to claim 18, wherein the first attached information and the second attached information are changed each time the license plate of the vehicle is photographed. A host computer system for a toll charge system including an imaging ID. 20. The toll charge system host computer according to claim 14, wherein the host computer is based on the third information.
When it is determined that the payment processing is not being performed, and when the payment processing is not being performed, a connection request that prompts connection of the mobile phone to the vehicle-mounted device that has received the first information from the roadside device is issued. Host computer for toll billing system to send. 21. The information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device, which is connected to the vehicle-mounted device used for charging the toll, is transmitted to a host computer which performs the settlement processing of the toll through a wireless telephone line. mobile phone. 22. A step of receiving information from an on-vehicle device used to charge a toll, and a step of transmitting the information to a host computer which performs a settlement process of the toll through a wireless telephone line. How the mobile phone works.