JP4330688B2 - Toll collection system, toll collection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fee collection system and a fee collection method, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The non-stop automatic toll collection system (hereinafter referred to as the ETC system) performs wireless communication between the antenna installed at the toll booth on the toll road and the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle, replacing the current toll collection with a toll ticket. It is a system that unmanned toll gates. ETC is a registered trademark.
[0003]
When this ETC system is used, there is no tollee at the toll booth, so it is not possible to pay cash at the exit booth like a conventional toll booth.
[0004]
Therefore, the payment method is a prepaid method using a prepaid card or a postpay method using a credit card. Currently, an ETC dedicated card is being considered as a card used for the ETC system, and an ETC dedicated card must own an ETC dedicated card.
[0005]
However, considering operation with an ETC-dedicated card, the usage is limited, which hinders the spread of ETC systems.
[0006]
Therefore, it has been studied to make it possible to use a general-purpose credit card in addition to the ETC dedicated card.
By the way, when considering the use of a general-purpose credit card, there is a problem that it takes time to perform a security check.
[0007]
In the case of the ETC system, the vehicle-mounted device and the antenna can exchange information by wireless communication when the vehicle is passing through the communication area of the antenna installed in the exit lane when the vehicle enters the exit toll gate. Limited to. The communication area is 4-5 meters.
[0008]
If the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 40 km / h, the communicable time in the section of the communication area is 0.5 seconds or less.
[0009]
On the other hand, when shopping at a department store, etc., and paying with a credit card, a credit card usage fee search or a user blacklist search process is performed to determine whether the credit card can be used. Usually, it takes several seconds to several tens of seconds to proceed to a credit card settlement process.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The use of a general-purpose credit card for payment of tolls in the ETC system is indispensable for the spread of the ETC system. However, when considering the communication time at the exit of the toll road, With a card, it takes too much time to determine whether or not the card can be used, and the card cannot be used for the ETC system. This makes the user feel inconvenient and jeopardizes the spread of the ETC system.
[0011]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a fee collection system and a fee collection method in which a general-purpose credit card can be used for fee settlement in an automatic fee collection system.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the toll collection system of the present invention is installed at a toll road entrance, mounted on a vehicle entering the entrance, and a general-purpose card-like storage medium on which identification information for toll settlement is recorded Wireless communication means (7) for performing wireless communication with an on-vehicle device that transmits / receives information wirelessly by writing and writing entry information to the on-vehicle device and obtaining identification information of the card-like storage medium from the on-vehicle device And the use of the card-like storage medium depending on whether or not the identification information of the general-purpose card-like storage medium acquired by the entrance wireless communication means (7) is registered in a list in which the useless identification information is registered in advance. and determination means for determining whether (1), wherein is installed in the main line of the toll road, and the vehicle-mounted device and a wireless communication mounted on a vehicle traveling the main lane, determined by the determination unit Is one to write the determination result to the vehicle-mounted device has a main radio communication unit (9) for acquiring identification information of the card-shaped storage medium from the card-shaped storage medium inserted into newly the vehicle-mounted device during mains running, the An exit wireless communication means (10) that is installed at an exit of a toll road and wirelessly communicates with an onboard device mounted on a vehicle heading toward the exit, and obtains a determination result stored in the onboard device, and the exit wireless communication If the determination result obtained by the means (10) indicates that the card-shaped storage medium is not used, the vehicle is stopped by a circuit breaker to perform clerk processing, while if the card-shaped storage medium is usable, the card-shaped storage medium It is characterized by comprising fee collection processing means (3) for performing fee collection processing using identification information of the storage medium .
[0019]
The fee collection method of the present invention performs wireless communication between an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and equipped with a general-purpose or dedicated card-like storage medium in which identification information for fee settlement is recorded and the entrance wireless communication means (7). The entrance wireless communication means (7) writes the entrance information into the vehicle-mounted device and obtains the identification information of the card-like storage medium from the vehicle-mounted device; and the entrance wireless communication means (7) a step usability judgment means (1) determines the card-shaped storage medium depending on whether the identification information of the card-shaped storage medium is registered in the list that registered the identification information in advance unavailable, the determination result while writing to the pay mains installation mains wireless communication unit of the road (9) is the vehicle-mounted device and the vehicle-mounted device performs radio communication mounted on the vehicle, new the vehicle in the main line running OBE a step of acquiring the identification information of the card-shaped storage medium from the inserted card-shaped storage medium, the toll roads of the installed outlet wireless communication means to the outlet (10) mounted on the vehicle towards said outlet When the card-like storage medium is unusable , the step of acquiring the determination result stored in the vehicle-mounted device and the determination result obtained by the exit wireless communication means (10) The receipt processing means (3) stops the vehicle with a circuit breaker and sets it as a clerk process. On the other hand, when the card-like storage medium is usable, the charge-collection processing means (3) performs a fee collection process using the card-like storage medium identification information It is characterized by that.
[0022]
In the present invention, a fee at the entrance or main road using the established wireless communication means acquires the information of installed mounted to the vehicle-mounted device is a card-shaped storage medium in the vehicle, the card-shaped storage medium or use It is determined whether or not it is possible, and the information of the determination result is written in the vehicle-mounted device through wireless communication means, and the fee collection processing is performed based on the information on the vehicle-mounted device obtained by wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device at the exit of the toll road. This eliminates the need for time-consuming processing such as obtaining information on the card-like storage medium from the vehicle that has reached the exit of the toll road and requesting the host computer to determine whether or not the card can be used. Not only card-like storage media but also general-purpose card-like storage media can be used.
[0023]
In the present invention, when the vehicle enters the entrance of the toll road, the entrance wireless communication means installed at the entrance performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle and writes the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device. The identification information of the card-shaped storage medium is acquired from the vehicle-mounted device. Then, based on the acquired identification information of the card-shaped storage medium, it is determined whether the card-shaped storage medium can be used. During this time, when the vehicle reaches the main road of the toll road and travels along the main road, the main line wireless communication means is used to write information on the determination result in an on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle traveling on the main road. When the vehicle exits from the exit of the toll road, it uses the exit wireless communication means installed at the exit to wirelessly communicate with the in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle heading for the exit to obtain information stored in the on-vehicle device. Since the toll collection process is performed based on the information obtained from the vehicle-mounted device, the time for acquiring the information on the card-like storage medium from the vehicle that has reached the exit of the toll road and requesting the host computer to determine whether or not the card can be used Such a process becomes unnecessary, and not only a dedicated card-shaped storage medium but also a general-purpose card-shaped storage medium can be used in the automatic fee collection system.
[0024]
In order to use a general-purpose card-like storage medium such as a credit card in an automatic fee collection system, so-called ETC system, a process for determining whether or not a used credit card can be used (such as a search for card usage fee information or (Including blacklist search information) must be performed before passing the exit toll gate.
[0025]
However, in the current ETC system, the on-board device information is read only for a short time (less than 1 second) when passing through the entrance lane of the entrance toll gate, and only when passing through the exit lane of the exit toll booth. Time (less than 1 second).
Therefore, if the card is unusable as a result of reading the information on the credit card when passing through the entrance lane, the next opportunity to notify the user of the warning is when going through the exit lane. When the vehicle enters the ETC lane at the exit, a warning will be issued, and it will be too late to understand that the card cannot be used at this point.
For this reason, in order to use a general-purpose credit card in the ETC system, it is necessary to increase the chance of reading information on the vehicle-mounted device.
[0026]
Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to perform toll collection processing by wireless communication at the exit of the toll road by determining whether or not the credit card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device can be used while traveling on the main road of the toll road. Thus, a general-purpose credit card can be used for the fee settlement of the automatic fee collection system.
[0027]
In order to determine when the vehicle is traveling on the main road of the toll road, a plurality of antennas installed on the main road of the toll road are used for an automatic driving system that has already been considered for practical use.
[0028]
In the present invention, each time a card is mounted on the on-vehicle device on the expressway, it is determined whether or not the card can be used. If the determination result can be used, the information on the determination result is stored on the on-vehicle device. Is stored, and if it cannot be used as a result of the determination, it notifies the vehicle-mounted device to that effect and notifies it.
[0029]
Therefore, when the vehicle enters the exit lane, the user knows whether or not the card can be used. If the card can be used, the user can enter the ETC dedicated lane and pay the fee by automatic receipt processing. If the card is unusable, you can go to the manned exit booth from the beginning and make a payment using a method other than the card.
[0030]
There is also a method that does not use an antenna for an automatic driving system.
Specifically, for example, there are a method of using existing mobile communication system equipment such as a mobile phone and a car phone, or a method of installing a plurality of antennas dedicated to the ETC system on the main line. You may make it utilize the antenna installed on the main road of the highway for the automatic driving system of the highway currently considered to implement.
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a non-stop automatic toll collection system (hereinafter referred to as an ETC system) which is an embodiment of the toll collection system of the present invention.
[0033]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer as determination means. The host computer 1 includes an ETC processor 2 and 3 installed respectively on a toll road, for example, an entrance lane and an exit lane of a toll gate of an expressway, and an automatic driving system for automatically driving a vehicle traveling on the expressway ( A processor (hereinafter referred to as AHS processor 4) (hereinafter referred to as AHS processor) is connected via a dedicated communication line 5. The ETC processor 2 performs entrance processing such as entry toll gate information writing processing. The ETC processor 3 performs toll collection processing. The AHS processor 4 performs automatic driving control on a vehicle traveling on a highway.
[0034]
The ETC processors 2 and 3 and the AHS processor 4 are also connected to the telephone line 6. An entrance antenna 7 is connected to the ETC processor 2. The entrance antenna 7 is used for passing and storing entrance tollgate information by wireless communication to the vehicle-mounted device 11 mounted on the vehicle entering the vehicle driving path (hereinafter referred to as the main line) of the expressway from the entrance lane. The vehicle-mounted device 11 is provided with a slot, and a card-like storage medium such as an IC card or a credit card is attached to the slot. The IC card is a toll collection card dedicated to the ETC system. The credit card is, for example, a post-payment general-purpose card.
[0035]
A plurality of antennas 9 are connected to the AHS processor 4 via a communication controller 8. The plurality of antennas 9 are arranged along the main line of the highway. The plurality of antennas 9 is for obtaining information for AHS and information for ETC by wireless communication from the vehicle-mounted device 11 of the vehicle traveling on the main road of the highway. An outlet antenna 10 is connected to the ETC processor 3. When the vehicle passes through the exit lane, the exit antenna 10 wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 11 mounted on the vehicle (vehicle type information, vehicle-mounted device ID, entrance toll gate information, information on the card use determination result). , Card No., etc.) and the ETC processor 3 performs toll collection processing based on these information.
[0036]
The operation of the ETC system will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In this ETC system, a user (driver) who wishes to pay for a general-purpose credit card inserts a general-purpose credit card into the vehicle-mounted device 11 before the vehicle he / she drives enters the expressway. The vehicle-mounted device 11 detects from the magnetic information of the card that the inserted card is a general-purpose credit card.
[0037]
When the vehicle passes through the entrance lane of the expressway, when the vehicle enters the wireless communication area of the entrance antenna 7, a communication request is made from the entrance antenna 7 and a response from the vehicle-mounted device 11 is waited for.
[0038]
Here, if there is no response from the vehicle-mounted device 11, the ETC processor 2 determines that wireless communication is impossible (No in S101 in FIG. 2), and performs a process of issuing a normal pass ticket instead of an ETC process ( S102).
[0039]
On the other hand, if there is a response from the vehicle-mounted device 11 mounted on the vehicle, the ETC processor 2 determines that wireless communication between the entrance antenna 7 and the vehicle-mounted device 11 is possible (Yes in S101), and transmits and receives information. Will be done. In this transmission / reception of information, since the vehicle-mounted device ID is first sent from the vehicle-mounted device 11 to the ETC processor 2, the ETC processor 2 reads the vehicle-mounted device ID (S103), and then the vehicle-mounted device 11 Card No. For example, since the ID number of a general-purpose credit card is sent, the ETC processing machine 2 uses this card No. Is read (S104). This card No. Is referred to as identification information for fee settlement.
[0040]
Further, the entrance toll gate information is obtained from the ETC processor 2 in the in-vehicle device 11 by this wireless communication, and the entrance toll gate information is written in the memory inside the on-vehicle device 11 (S105). Subsequently, the ETC processor 2 transfers the ID number (card No.) of the general-purpose credit card obtained from the vehicle side to the host computer 1 which is a host computer of the ETC system through a dedicated communication line 5.
[0041]
Upon receiving the credit card ID number, the host computer 1 accesses the credit card-related server online to search for the card usage amount or the black list (list) in the same manner as the credit card payment at the store. It is determined whether or not the credit card is a usable card.
[0042]
Here, if the credit card is not usable, for example, this must be communicated to the user, but the vehicle has already passed through the entrance lane of the ETC system by the time the determination is confirmed on the host computer 1 side. Therefore, in the wireless communication using the entrance antenna 7 connected to the ETC processor 2 at the entrance toll gate, it is impossible to notify the vehicle-mounted device 11 that the card cannot be used.
[0043]
Therefore, the host computer 1 uses a plurality of AHS antennas 9 installed on the main line to notify the in-vehicle device 11 of the vehicle running on the main line by wireless communication that the credit card cannot be used.
[0044]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, when communication is possible between the vehicle-mounted device 11 mounted on the vehicle traveling on the main line and a plurality of AHS antennas 9 installed along the main line (Yes in S201), The ASH processor 4 is a card No. of the card set in the vehicle-mounted device 11 with respect to the vehicle-mounted device 11. Is sent from the vehicle-mounted device 11 to the card No. Is sent to the ASH processor 4 through the antenna 9. Is read (S202).
[0045]
And the ASH processor 4 is similar to the process of the ETC processor 2, and the card No. obtained from the vehicle side. Is transferred to the host computer 1 through the dedicated communication line 5.
[0046]
Card No. The host computer 1 that has received the received card No. Search processing is performed based on (S203).
[0047]
Here, if a determination result indicating whether or not the card can be used has already been obtained, information on the determination result is notified to the vehicle-mounted device 11 through the ASH processor 4, the communication controller 8, and the antenna 9.
[0048]
On the other hand, if the result of the search is different from the information at the entrance toll gate, the host computer 1 determines that the card is newly installed while traveling on the main line, and on / The credit card-related server is accessed on the line, a card usage amount search or blacklist search is performed, and it is determined whether or not the credit card is a usable card (S204).
[0049]
If the determination result shows that the credit card is not usable (No in S204), the information on the determination result is notified to the vehicle-mounted device 11 through the ASH processor 4, the communication controller 8, and the antenna 9.
[0050]
When the vehicle-mounted device 11 of the traveling vehicle receives this determination result information (unusable), the vehicle-mounted device 11 notifies the user that the credit card cannot be used (warning) by display or voice. (S205).
[0051]
When the user notices this warning and removes an unusable card from the vehicle-mounted device 11 and inserts another credit card or a card dedicated to the ETC system into the vehicle-mounted device 11, the vehicle-mounted device 11 again returns to the AHS antenna 9. And the communication controller 8 and the AHS processor 4 transfer the new card information obtained by the antenna 9 to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 obtains the new card information obtained from the AHS processor 4. It is determined again whether or not the card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 11 is a usable card based on the card information.
[0052]
Thus, whenever a new card is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 11 on the highway, the card information is sent to the host computer 1 via the AHS antenna 9, and whether or not the card can be used in the host computer 1. If the determination result is usable (Yes in S204), the information of the determination result is stored in the internal memory of the vehicle-mounted device 11 (S206). Even when the card cannot be used, the determination result is stored in the vehicle-mounted device 11 together with the notification that the card cannot be used.
[0053]
A vehicle with a credit card or IC card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 11 enters the exit lane of the exit toll booth, enters the wireless communication area of the exit antenna 10, and wirelessly communicates between the vehicle-mounted device 11 and the antenna 10. (Yes in S301 in FIG. 4), the vehicle-mounted device 11 is the wireless communication with the antenna 10, and the vehicle-side information stored in itself, that is, the determination result information whether the card is usable, The entrance toll gate information, vehicle ID, and the like are transmitted to the ETC processor 3.
[0054]
The ETC processor 3 from which the vehicle-side information is obtained determines whether or not the card mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 11 is usable from the information of the determination result included in the information (S302), and the card can be used. If so (Yes in S302), the ETC process as before is performed.
[0055]
If the card cannot be used (No in S302), or if communication with the vehicle-mounted device 11 is impossible (No in S301), the ETC processor 3 is a vehicle start controller (such as a circuit breaker). Then, the vehicle is stopped, the staff member is notified, and processing by the staff member is performed (S304).
[0056]
In this ETC system, instead of the AHS antenna 9, payment by a credit card may be performed using an antenna of a mobile phone system or a leaky coaxial cable.
[0057]
As described above, according to the ETC system of this embodiment, whether or not the credit card can be used is determined when passing through the entrance toll gate or on the main line, and information on the determination result is written in the vehicle-mounted device 11 at least on the main line. In the exit lane of the exit toll gate, the toll collection process can be performed simply by obtaining the information of the determination result from the vehicle-mounted device 11, so that it is not necessary to spend time in the exit lane to determine whether or not the credit card can be used. A general-purpose credit card can be used for payment.
[0058]
The fact that a general-purpose credit card can be used in this way can make the ETC system easier to use and familiar, and contribute to the spread of the ETC system. In the near future, a system that performs functions such as a credit card, a debit card, and electronic money with a single IC card is also being studied. To make these general-purpose IC cards usable, it is necessary to operate the ETC system. This is a prerequisite.
[0062]
According to the present invention, information on a card-like storage medium mounted on an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle is acquired using a wireless communication means installed at the entrance of a toll road or on the main line, and the card-like storage medium is used. Whether or not it is possible, writes the information of the determination result to the on-vehicle device through wireless communication means, and toll collection processing based on the information on the on-vehicle device obtained by wireless communication with the on-vehicle device at the exit of the toll road This eliminates the need for time-consuming processing such as obtaining information on the card-like storage medium from the vehicle that has reached the exit of the toll road and requesting the host computer to determine whether or not the card can be used. In addition to the card-shaped storage medium, a general-purpose card-shaped storage medium can be used.
[0063]
According to the present invention, when a vehicle enters the entrance of a toll road, the entrance wireless communication means installed at the entrance performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle and writes the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device. The identification information of the card-shaped storage medium is acquired from the vehicle-mounted device. Then, based on the acquired identification information of the card-shaped storage medium, it is determined whether the card-shaped storage medium can be used. During this time, when the vehicle reaches the main road of the toll road and travels along the main road, the main line wireless communication means is used to write the information on the determination result into the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle traveling on the main road. When the vehicle exits from the exit of the toll road, it uses the exit wireless communication means installed at the exit to wirelessly communicate with the onboard equipment mounted on the vehicle heading for the exit to obtain the information stored in the onboard equipment. Since the toll collection process is performed based on the information on the onboard equipment obtained, the time for obtaining information on the card-like storage medium from the vehicle that has reached the exit of the toll road and requesting the host computer to determine whether it can be used or not Such a process becomes unnecessary, and not only a dedicated card-shaped storage medium but also a general-purpose card-shaped storage medium can be used in the automatic fee collection system.
[0064]
As a result, a general-purpose credit card can be used for fee settlement in the automatic fee collection system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ETC system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation in the entrance lane in this ETC system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation on the main line in this ETC system.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation in the exit lane in this ETC system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2, 3 ... ETC processor, 4 ... AHS processor, 5 ... Dedicated communication line, 6 ... Telephone line, 7 ... Entrance antenna, 8 ... Communication controller, 9 ... AHS antenna, 10 ... exit antenna, 11 ... vehicle equipment.

Claims (5)

Wireless communication with an in-vehicle device installed at the entrance of a toll road, mounted on a vehicle entering the entrance and having a general-purpose card-like storage medium on which identification information for fee settlement is recorded and transmitting / receiving information wirelessly Performing entry and writing the entrance information to the on-vehicle device and obtaining the identification information of the card-like storage medium from the on-vehicle device, (7) ,
Whether or not the card-shaped storage medium can be used depends on whether or not the identification information of the general-purpose card-shaped storage medium acquired by the entrance wireless communication means (7) is registered in a list in which identification information that cannot be used in advance is registered. A determination means (1) for determining;
It is installed on the main line of the toll road, wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle traveling on the main line , and writes the determination result determined by the determining means to the vehicle-mounted device, while traveling on the main line Main line wireless communication means (9) for acquiring identification information of the card-like storage medium from the card-like storage medium newly inserted in the vehicle-mounted device ,
An exit wireless communication means (10) installed at the exit of the toll road and wirelessly communicating with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle heading for the exit to obtain the determination result stored in the vehicle-mounted device;
When the determination result obtained by the exit wireless communication means (10) indicates that the card-like storage medium is unusable, the vehicle is stopped by a circuit breaker for clerk processing, while the card-like storage medium is usable A fee collection system comprising fee collection processing means (3) for performing fee collection processing using identification information of the card-like storage medium . The determination means includes
Characterized in that access to the card-related server, determining the availability of said card-like storage medium with a result of the search or retrieval of the list of cards spend using identification information of the general-purpose card-shaped storage medium The fee collection system according to claim 1. The determination means includes
After the unusable card-shaped storage medium determined to be unusable from the identification information acquired by the entrance wireless communication means is taken out of the on-vehicle device, the card is newly inserted into the on-vehicle device while traveling on the main line 2. A toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein said card-like storage medium is re-determined based on identification information of the card-like storage medium acquired by said main line wireless communication means from said card-like storage medium. The main line wireless communication means is
The toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the toll collection system is an antenna of an automatic driving system that is arranged along a lane of the toll road and automatically drives the vehicle. Wireless communication is performed between the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle and equipped with a general purpose or dedicated card-like storage medium in which identification information for payment settlement is recorded, and the entrance wireless communication means (7), and the entrance wireless communication means (7 ) Writes the entrance information to the vehicle-mounted device and obtains the identification information of the card-shaped storage medium from the vehicle-mounted device;
Determining means the availability of the card-shaped storage medium depending on whether the identification information of said inlet wireless communication means (7) obtained by the said card-like storage medium is registered in the list that registered the identification information in advance unavailable The step (1) determines;
The determination result, the one main line installed in the main line of the toll road wireless communication means (9) is written to the vehicle-mounted device performs the vehicle-mounted device and a wireless communication mounted on the vehicle, newly during said main traveling Obtaining identification information of the card-like storage medium from the card-like storage medium inserted in the vehicle-mounted device ;
The exit wireless communication means (10) installed at the exit of the toll road performs wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle toward the exit, and acquires the determination result stored in the vehicle-mounted device;
When the determination result obtained by the exit wireless communication means (10) indicates that the card-like storage medium is not used, the toll collection processing means (3) stops the vehicle with a circuit breaker and performs clerk processing. A fee collection method , comprising: performing a fee collection process using identification information of the card-shaped storage medium when the card-shaped storage medium is usable .

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