JP2924422B2 - Automatic billing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic charging method for automatically charging usage fees such as tolls and parking fees in a non-stop state on a highway, a parking lot or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, on a highway, a parking lot, or the like, toll processing, parking fee, and the like are billed by "traffic engineering".
(As shown in Vol. 26 No. 4 pages 29 to 35 (issued by the Japan Society for Transportation Engineering, July 1, 1991), unique identification information, that is, an identification number as ID information is written. A method is proposed in which the travel history information is stored on the roadside equipment using a contract card, and the fee settlement process is notified to the user when necessary in the form of a usage statement or bill from the central processing unit of the roadside equipment. Have been.

[0003]

However, in the prior art as described above, since the ID card in which only the identification number as ID information is recorded is used as the contract card, the use history is stored on the user side. It was difficult to do. Therefore, there is no information on the part of the user, and there remains a question about the reliability, which may cause a trouble when the usage fee is settled.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. A non-contact IC card is used, and the non-contact ID card is provided with an information storage function. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic billing method that enables history confirmation or information collation with roadside equipment, thereby improving information reliability and preventing trouble during settlement.

[0005]

Technical solutions of the present invention for solving the above problems include a non-contact IC card having a function of storing information and transmitting and receiving information, and a method of reading information from and reading information from the non-contact IC card. It has a sending and receiving function of writing, using a card processing device that executes a charging process, and charging history information every time a toll gate is passed from the card processing device, for example, in the case of a prepaid card, the usage history or the remaining amount, In the case of a prepaid contract, the use history and the remaining amount are transmitted, and in the case of a postpaid contract, the use history is transmitted and stored in the contactless IC card.

Further, in order to ensure the reliability of the history information written in the non-contact IC card, in the above technical means, the history information written for each use in the non-contact IC card by the card processing device is re-used. The contents are read out and collated, and correction and rewrite processing are executed as necessary.

[0007] In addition, while managing information on accident cards such as theft and loss when a large number of unspecified prepaid cards are issued, the system can be operated in a bad environment of dust and vibration at a toll booth or the like. In the above-mentioned technical means, the card processing apparatus resides in a semiconductor memory (main memory of a CPU) for managing the information of an accident card resident in a semiconductor memory (main memory of a CPU) by omitting a magnetic disk memory generally used.

[0008] Also, in order to be able to respond to various contract conditions such as prepaid correspondence and postpaid correspondence for a specified number of contractors, a specified number of contractor contract information files are resident in a semiconductor memory (main memory). Then, contract information such as a prepaid contract and a postpaid contract and accident information can be searched, and an instantaneous charging process according to each contract content is executed.

Further, renewal contract information is added to the contractor contract information file, and when a card requiring a renewal contract enters, the detailed renewal information is received from the sales management system, so that it can be instantly sent to a toll booth. The renewal contract can be updated and written on the contactless IC card.

[0010]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a non-contact IC card having an information storage function is introduced, and pass history information is stored and stored in the non-contact IC card by a card processing device, so that it is stored on the user side. The information remains, and the usage record is double-stored on the road equipment side and the vehicle side, and the information can be collated with the road equipment side.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of a processing flow showing an automatic charging process according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG . 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire apparatus applied to the automatic charging method.

In this embodiment, a method for automatically charging a toll on an expressway is shown. Figure 1 to Figure
In 4 , reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle type discriminating device, which has a vehicle detecting function and a vehicle type discriminating function, and is installed at an entrance lane A of an expressway tollgate. Reference numeral 2 denotes a non-contact IC card having a function of storing information and transmitting and receiving information, and is provided on a front portion of the vehicle B or the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a card processing device installed at a tollgate, which performs non-contact information exchange with the non-contact IC card 2 via an information transmission medium such as a quasi-microwave. 4 is a toll collection machine installed in toll booth C, 5 is a traffic indicator installed near toll booth C, 6 is a business management system (contactless IC card subsystem), and these toll collection machines 4. The traffic indicator 5 and the business management system 6 are connected to the card processing device 3 for information processing. The business management system 6 is connected to an external financial institution 7 as needed.

First, when the vehicle B equipped with the non-contact IC card 2 enters the tollgate, the vehicle type discriminating device 1 detects the vehicle and transmits its signal to the card processing device 3 (step 101). The information is determined and transmitted to the card processing device 3 (step 102). The card processing device 3 receives the vehicle detection signal (step 301) and also receives the vehicle type identification information (step 30).
2). Further, the card processing device 3 receives the card information by transmitting the information from the non-contact IC card 2 (step 201) (step 303). Next, the card processing device 3 determines the type of card, that is, whether the card is a prepaid card treated as a cash voucher or a contract card from the above information (step 304). If the result of determination is that the non-contact IC card 2 is a prepaid card treated as a cash voucher, an accident search for the prepaid card is executed, and a determination process is performed as to whether the card is a normal card or an accident card (step 305). . Accident search processing for all voucher numbers
Is executed, the memory area increases and the search processing time increases, and it becomes difficult to perform automatic billing processing instantaneously. For example, accident card information (such as card No.) is stored and searched in a fixed area of about 10,000 units. It is necessary to adopt a method that does. In addition, the accident search is developed in the main memory (semiconductor memory) from the viewpoint of environmental reliability by shortening the search processing time and eliminating the disk memory. This makes it possible to achieve a search processing time of about 20 to 200 msec. If the result of determination in step 304 is that the non-contact IC card 2 is a card treated as a contract, the accident card and the normal card are sorted by contract information search (step 306). The contract card checks the contract contents (prepaid / postpaid), accident registration (theft / lost), presence / absence of contract renewal registration, etc. in the order of the contract number. Also in this processing, the instant search processing is achieved by address correspondence developed on the main memory (semiconductor memory). In other words, 10 Million 10 MBytes per contract 1 Byte,
Processing can be performed with the current memory capacity. As described above, by executing the information search process according to the card type and the contract type, it is possible to construct an excellent automatic charging system that can support various card types and contract types.

Next, in the card processing device 3, if the contract card is normal, a prepaid / postpaid contract judgment is made (step 307). Is determined (step 308). For a normal card determined to require no contract renewal processing in a prepaid contract and a normal prepaid card treated as a cash voucher, the remaining amount is checked whether the remaining amount is greater than a toll (step 309). A subtraction process is performed (Step 310). The new balance thus obtained is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 2 as balance information or update information (step 31).
1). Upon receiving the new balance (step 202), the contactless IC card 2 transmits the received update information to the card processing device 3 again (step 203), and then stores the update information in itself (step 204). . When the card processing device 3 receives the update information (step 31)
2) Check the update information (step 313), and correct or retransmit as necessary. The contents of the update information include date and time, balance, vehicle type information, tollgate number, and the like.
In this way, the travel history information of the vehicle B is stored and stored in the non-contact IC card 2, and the stored information remains on the user side, so that the use results are double-stored on the roadside and the vehicle side, and the data reliability is improved. Can be improved, and trouble prevention at the time of settlement can be expected. Further, in step 204, the non-contact IC card 2
The update information storage data stored in the card processing device 3
Since the confirmation processing has been performed between the two, the reliability of the data is extremely high, and the reliability of the system is further improved.

In the card processing device 3, the above-mentioned step 30
In 7, if it is determined that the contract card is a postpaid contract, the charge information is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 2 through a charge charging process (step 314), similarly to the case of the prepaid contract (step 315). Upon receiving the billing information (step 205), the non-contact IC card 2 transmits the billing information to the card processing device 3 again (step 206), and then stores the billing information in itself (step 207). Upon receiving the billing information (step 316), the card processing device checks the billing information (step 3).
17) Modify or retransmit as needed. The contents of the billing information include date and time, amount of money, vehicle type information, tollgate number, and the like. Data reliability is the same as in the case of the prepaid system.

In the card processing device 3, the above-mentioned step 30
8, when it is determined that the contract renewal process is necessary, the renewal information is searched, and the optional information is exchanged with the central processing unit (not shown) of the sales management system 6. Update information is obtained, and the current balance + new contract amount-
Execute the operation of calculating toll = new balance (step 31)
9). The new balance thus obtained is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 2 as balance information or update information in the same manner as described above (step 311). In the non-contact IC card 2,
After the above steps 202 and 203, the data is finally updated and stored as update information accumulation data (step 204). As a result, in particular, the renewal processing of the prepaid contract card only requires the transfer processing at the financial institution, and the processing can be performed in an extremely short time without causing traffic congestion when passing through the toll gate. Confirmation process (Step 3
A great effect can be given to the user without deteriorating the reliability in conjunction with 13).

Next, the card processing device 3 transmits the processing completion information to the traffic instructing device 5 when the fee processing for each vehicle is completed as described above (step 32).
0), and sends information such as traffic data and traffic data accumulation processing to the business management system 6 (steps 321 and 32).
2). On the other hand, the traffic instructing device 5 gives an instruction to the vehicle B to pass through the toll gate by receiving the information from the card processing device 3.

In the toll collection unit 4, if it is determined in step 305 that the prepaid card is an accident card, and if it is determined in step 306 that the contract card is an accident card, the accident card is manually notified. , Recovery and other incident response processing (step 40)
1) and manual toll collection (step 402), the number of passing vehicles is updated by receiving the processing completion information (step 403) (step 404), and the number of passing vehicles is created (step 405). Is sent to the sales management system 6 (step 406).

When the business management system 6 receives information from the card processing device 3 and the toll collection device 4 (step 601), it creates operation statistics such as a daily report and a monthly report (step 602). Is created and sent to the external financial institution 7 (step 603). Further, in the sales management system 6, the card processing device 3
When the toll data is received (step 604), individual toll data is created (step 605), an individual toll book is created and edited (step 606), and an individual toll billing process and the like is performed mainly on postpaid. (Step 607).

The external financial institution 7 debits the individual contract card from the individual or corporate account (step 70).
1), the collection of the shortage balance (step 702), the receipt of the amount at the time of the renewal contract (step 703), the settlement processing with the related public corporation or the like (step 704), and the like.

The sales management system 6 manages the ledger of the contractor based on information from the external financial institution 7 (step 6).
08) and renewal contract information management (step 609).

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, a non-contact IC card having an information storage function is introduced, and the passage history information is stored and stored in the non-contact IC card by a card processing device. Stored information remains on the user side,
The use record is double-stored between the roadside equipment and the vehicle side, and it is possible to check the information with the roadside equipment side, so that the reliability of the information can be improved and trouble at the time of settlement is prevented. it can.

Further, the reliability of the information becomes extremely high and the reliability of the system is further improved by performing the processing of confirming the stored data finally stored in the non-contact IC card with the card processing device. I do.

Further, in the case of a prepaid card treated as a cash voucher, the accident search function of the prepaid card is developed in a semiconductor memory (main memory) to shorten the search processing time and to improve the operability under adverse environmental conditions. Reliability can be ensured.

In the case of a card treated as a contract, a process for confirming the contract contents (prepaid / postpaid), accident registration (theft / lost), presence / absence of contract renewal registration, etc. in the order of the contract No. is performed in a semiconductor memory (main memory). ), An instant search process can be achieved by address correspondence. As described above, by executing the information search process according to the card type and the contract type, it is possible to support various card types and contract types.

In addition, since the card processing device has an update information search processing function, a new balance calculation function, and a balance information or update information transmission processing function, especially, the update processing of the prepaid contract card can be performed only by the transfer processing at a financial institution. Completed, processing can be performed in a very short time without congestion when passing through tollgates, and a great effect can be given to users without losing reliability together with system update information confirmation processing Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire apparatus applied to the automatic billing method;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle type discrimination device 2 Non-contact IC card 3 Card processing device 4 Toll collection machine 5 Traffic indicator 6 Business management system 7 External financial institution

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A installed on the vehicle side, and the non-contact IC card having a function of transmitting and receiving storage and information of the information, reading function information for this non-contact IC card, writer
Has a capacity and transmission and reception functions, an automatic charging method using a card processing apparatus for performing a charging process, the vehicle fee
Billing history information from the card processor when passing
And transmits the charging history information to the contactless IC card.
The card processing device stores the data in a predetermined card.
Based on the accident information, the
Perform a paid card accident search and if it is not an accident card,
The billing process for the contactless IC card is
Automatic billing method . 2. A billing history when a vehicle passes a tollgate.
Send information from the card processing device to the contactless IC card
After updating, the billing stored in the contactless IC card
The history information is read out and the billing history information written is correct
And if it is not correct, send the accounting history information again.
Update the card processing device, the card processing device
On the built-in semiconductor memory based on the
Perform an id card accident search.
The billing process is performed for non-contact IC cards
Automatic billing method . 3. A installed on the vehicle side, and the non-contact IC card having a function of transmitting and receiving storage and information of the information, reading function information for this non-contact IC card, writer
Has a capacity and transmission and reception functions, an automatic charging method using a card processing apparatus for performing a charging process, the vehicle fee
Billing history information from the card processor when passing
And transmits the charging history information to the contactless IC card.
The card processing device stores a predetermined contract
Contract information file that manages contract information and accident information
File on the built-in semiconductor memory
Prepaid billing and postpaid processing for contract cards
Automatic processing characterized by performing each corresponding processing of the billing processing
Billing method. 4. A charging history when a vehicle passes through a tollgate.
Send information from the card processing device to the contactless IC card
After updating, the charging history stored in the contactless IC card
Read the information and verify that the written accounting history information is correct.
If it is not correct, send the accounting history information again.
The card processing device updates the specified contract card
Contract information file that manages contract information and accident information
Is resident on the built-in semiconductor memory.
Prepaid billing and postpaid billing
Automatic billing method characterized by performing each corresponding process
Law. 5. A card processing device, comprising a renewal information of contract, to search for the card, retrieved target card
Contract compared with the update information, according to claim 3 or 4 automatic charging method according If not identical and updates records the updated information in the non-contact IC card.